Joisey/Trivia: Difference between revisions

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Geographically, New Jersey can be divided into the following regions, [[Hollywood Geography|only some of which are recognized by Hollywood]]:

* '''Newark:''' The largest city in New Jersey, and its most famous ghetto. Took over New York's role as [[Gangsterland]] after New York became cleaner -- something that is [[Truth in Television]]. ''Time'' magazine did a cover story on it, calling it the most dangerous city in America. Also the site of the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, the largest seaport on the East Coast (and, as recently as 1985, the largest in the world), and Newark Liberty International Airport, one of the New York area's three airports (and one of the worst in the country, if not the world). Sometimes, Camden or Asbury Park is used in this role. Often cited as the home of Lauryn Hill, even though [[Did Not Do the Research|she is actually from middle-class South Orange]]. The closer you live to Newark, the more likely you are to pronounce it "Nork", not "New-werk". If you are utterly lost, you will pronounce it "New-ark", which is in Delaware, not New Jersey.

* '''Newark:''' The largest city in New Jersey, and its most famous ghetto. Took over New York's role as [[Gangsterland]] after New York became cleaner -- something that is [[Truth in Television]]. [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]] did a cover story on it, calling it the most dangerous city in America.{{context}} Also the site of the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, the largest seaport on the East Coast (and, as recently as 1985, the largest in the world), and Newark Liberty International Airport, one of the New York area's three airports (and one of the worst in the country, if not the world). Sometimes, Camden or Asbury Park is used in this role. Often cited as the home of Lauryn Hill, even though [[Did Not Do the Research|she is actually from middle-class South Orange]]. The closer you live to Newark, the more likely you are to pronounce it "Nork", not "New-werk". If you are utterly lost, you will pronounce it "New-ark", which is in Delaware, not New Jersey.

* '''The New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway:''' The state's main north-south highways, both of which are toll roads. With regards to the Turnpike, this trope and stereotype refers specifically to the "Chemical Coast," the industrial areas cluttered around the northern part of the Turnpike, centered on the cities of Newark and Elizabeth. This area is highly polluted, giving the whole stretch a distinctive smell (the phrase "15 Miles of Universal Fart" has been used to describe it). Stereotypes of this region often overlap with those of Newark. The Interstate Highway System took many of its design cues from the Turnpike.<br />The Garden State Parkway extends much further south, serving as the main artery to the Shore extending all the way down to Cape May, as well as cutting through much of the heart of New Jersey's [[Suburbia]]. In the summer, it often turns into the Garden State Parking Lot thanks to the dreaded phenomenon known as "Shore traffic".<br />A run-into-the-ground joke aimed at New Jerseyans is the "You're from Jersey? What exit?" line. Neither the Turnpike nor the Parkway [[wikipedia:File:NewJerseyTurnpike.jpg|services every possible town in the state]], but using this line to a real New Jerseyan just might earn you [[Never Heard That One Before|a boot up the ass]].

** Unless it's Exit 63 on the Parkway, which is synonymous with Long Beach Island.

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** '''Jersey City:''' New Jersey's second-largest city (although some estimates suggest it could possibly overtake Newark as the largest city after the results of the 2010 census are in). The city is very, ''very'' [[Melting Pot|ethnically diverse]], and hosts many ethnocultural parades and events. Consists largely of working-class neighborhoods, although the downtown/waterfront area has been gentrified into an affluent yuppie- and hipster-magnet in the past decade as Manhattan became too expensive (its location next to yuppie Hoboken furthers this stereotype), while the Greenville neighborhood could be best described as [[Gangsterland|a chunk of Newark that broke off]].

:The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are geographically located just off the coast of Jersey City in the Hudson River, causing many New Jerseyans to express the view that they are (or should be) property of Jersey City, and thus the State of New Jersey, not New York. However, most New Yorkers will [[Berserk Button|angrily dismiss this idea]] if you mention it in their presence. The city government uses images of the Statue of Liberty on official documents and the "Welcome to Jersey City" signs.

** '''Hoboken:''' The yuppie and hipster capital of New Jersey. Home of Stevens Institute of Technology, otherwise known as New Jersey's MIT.

:* '''Hoboken:''' The yuppie and hipster capital of New Jersey. Home of Stevens Institute of Technology, otherwise known as New Jersey's MIT.

* '''Bergen County:''' New Jersey's most populous county. The part that most New Yorkers see coming over the George Washington Bridge. Often stereotyped largely as a land of rich Republicans (or, as that map above puts it, "Christie Country"<ref>After current Republican Governor Chris Christie.</ref>), though central and southeastern Bergen are more moderate, and the county has voted Democratic during Presidential elections since 1996. It's typically ranked in the top five counties in the nation with the highest property taxes; the fact that ''two'' other New Jersey counties are in front of it for the top spot<ref>Hunterdon County is at #1, while Somerset County at #4.</ref> says something about the state. Despite being about 9% Jewish and having a sizable Muslim minority, it is the last county in New Jersey, and one of the last counties in the nation, that still has blue laws on the books closing shops on Sundays. Most people have opted to keep it not due to religion, but in order to protest commercialization and in order to have one day of peace and quiet per week.

** '''Koreatown:''' Southern Bergen County (specifically Fort Lee, Leonia and Palisades Park, just over the George Washington Bridge) is home to the largest Korean enclave in the world outside [[Los Angeles]] and Korea itself. Much of the area is thoroughly bilingual, with road signs and even ballots offered in both English and Korean. It's telling that, when [[Girls' Generation]] and other [[Korean Pop Music|K-pop]] groups [http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-10-23/entertainment/30326066_1_korean-wave-pop-jingle-ball arrived to tour in America], their first New York area stop was in Overpeck County Park, not in New York itself. It helps that the climate of the area is similar to that of [[South Korea|Seoul]].