'This is how wars start': Does Central Jersey include both Ocean and Union counties?
Say what? Union County's part of Central Jersey?
Those are fighting words. "This is how wars start," tapped one commenter on Reddit's New Jersey subreddit.
A debate about the state's demarcation by north, south and (gasp!) central has raged for decades. But proposed legislation that's working its way through the halls of Trenton may decide it, at least from a marketing and tourism point-of-view.
The bill would establish three tourism regions in the state for marketing and promotion. There would be Northern, Southern and Central regions.
Some of it's easy. North Jersey is defined as Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties; South Jersey would be Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties.
But for Central, things get a little tricky. It would include Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean counties. And just about everyone in the state — all 9.3 million of us — has their own borders in mind. (Assuming they acknowledge Central Jersey at all).
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“This is not about cartography. This is not about geography,” said Assemblyman Roy Freiman, D-Somerset, the bill's sponsor. “This is about New Jersey’s economy. This is about making sure we take full advantage of the amazing state we live in.”
And Sergio Granados, chairman of the Union County Board of County Commissioners, is all in. "We are Central Jersey strong," he said. (After all, Union is a part of the Central New Jersey County Commissioners Association, although that came in a decision that led to debates because it placed Ocean County in South Jersey.) "Union County continues to be a place where you invest and you want to live and most important, you want to visit and be a part of."
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Of course, Union County has a wide variety of towns, from suburban places like New Providence and Summit to the more urbanized spots like the Bayway Refinery in Linden. The southern end of the runways and the new Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport are actually located in the Union County seat of Elizabeth.
And so on Reddit, the border lines are just not settled. (Will they ever be?)
"They're better off just not having a central jersey tbh. Not sure how Union county is supposed to be central Jersey when can you spit east and hit someone in Staten Island," one Redditor said.
"CRRNJ (Central Railroad of New Jersey, now NJ Transit's Raritan Valley line) called it in 1849 officially and you can't take it back," said another commenter. The Raritan Valley line runs through the spine of Union County, and includes Plainfield, Fanwood, Westfield and Roselle Park.
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"I'm all about keeping nnj an exclusive and small club, but union is not central," a poster wrote on Reddit.
"Funny. I came here to say thank God it’s finally being recognized that Union County isn’t North Jersey.," said a pro Central Jersey comment.
And there's plenty of debate about Ocean County's Central Jersey inclusion.
"Kind of whack to make all of ocean county south Jersey. Brick and Toms River are more like Monmouth County as opposed to true South Jersey Piney country like Lacey or Barnegat," wrote one commenter.
"Idk if county lines will ever work for ocean because north of Lacey still feels very much like central jersey, but south of that and you’re in the wrong town city slicker," stated another.
David P. Willis: dwillis@gannettnj.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Does Central Jersey include both Ocean and Union counties?
