North Jersey is a name for the northern part of the U.S. State of New Jersey, which is sandwiched between two important cities: New York City (which North Jersey locals refer to as "The City") and Philadelphia (which South Jersey locals refer to as "The City").Some define North Jersey as all points in New Jersey north of I-295 in the western part of the state and all points north of I-195 in the eastern part of the state. Following this definition, Central Jersey would not exist. Others, primarily those who live in the northern tier of counties, count only that area north of the mouth of the Raritan River.New Jersey's relationship and location relative to New York City and Philadelphia led Benjamin Franklin to describe the state as "a barrel tapped at both ends.
Northern New Jersey was the site of some of the earliest European settlements in what would become the United States of America. During the American Revolutionary War, New Jersey was a strategic location between the capitol of the fledgling United States, New York City, and the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Important materials necessary to the war effort were produced in Northern New Jersey.
