Jersey Shore

Popular term used to describe the Atlantic Ocean coastline of the State of New Jersey in the United States. New Jersey natives who are planning to go to the area often say they are going "down the shore". The term "Jersey Shore" is often shortened to simply "The Shore" by natives of New Jersey (just as the name of the state is sometimes shortened to just Jersey). The Jersey Shore is composed of the coastal communities of (from north to south) Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties. Though the city of Cape May has been a summer retreat since the 1760's, the Jersey Shore did not become a truly popular summer resort area until the mid-19th century, when railroads made it relatively easy for people to travel to the region. Summer tourism accounts for a large percentage of the economies of the four Jersey Shore counties, especially in Atlantic (home of Atlantic City) and Cape May counties (Cape May County's economy is almost entirely dependent on tourism). Jersey Shore locals sometimes refer to summer tourists as bennies (most often heard in Monmouth and Ocean counties) or shoobies (generally used in Atlantic and Cape May counties). Visitors to the Jersey Shore often ask why the region is called "shore" and not "beach." The truth is, nobody knows. See also New Jersey, Jersey, South Jersey, North Jersey, Sopranoland, Atlantic City, A.C., Exit Zero, bennies, shoobies, gunderson, Wally and Marge.