Living in New Jersey comes with a mix of oddball quirks, local legends, and uniquely Jersey experiences that aren’t obvious to newcomers or outsiders.
Quirky and Unusual Facts
New Jerseyans often identify themselves by exit numbers, thanks to the “What Exit?” joke about Parkway and Turnpike culture; this shorthand is so popular that it’s found on T-shirts and tourism slogans.
The state has two food rivalries: North Jersey prefers “Taylor Ham” and “hero” sandwiches while South Jersey swears by “pork roll” and “hoagies.” The existence of “Central Jersey” is debated fiercely by locals.
Route 9 in West Creek is home to the Chair House—a 75-year-old home with a chair mounted on its steeple, inspiring wild tales and ship captain lore.
Ocean Grove features a real tent city, where 100+ canvas tent structures create a unique summer community; joining “the Tenters” requires an interview with an association, like joining a secret society.
Lucy the Elephant, a six-story elephant-shaped building, is one of America’s most famous roadside oddities; built in Margate in 1881 as a real estate lure, Lucy is now a historical landmark and Airbnb rental.
The Jersey Devil is an official “state demon,” complete with numerous legends and alleged sightings in the Pine Barrens—locals hold festivals and sports teams celebrate the myth.
Clinton Road in West Milford is notoriously haunted; visitors tell of ghost legends, weird lights, and mysterious happenings—some say tossing coins in a stream brings them back, thanks to a “ghost boy”.
New Jersey holds bizarre laws, like the rule against slurping soup in public in Newark, and an old ordinance forbidding smiling at police officers in some towns.
More Local Oddities
New Jersey is the site of the first drive-in movie theater, opened in Camden in 1933; drive-ins remain a special local institution.
Hidden tunnels under Passaic were built for industry and continue to spark urban legend and underground curiosity.
North Jersey and South Jersey root for entirely different sports teams—Giants versus Eagles—mirroring the culture split.
These offbeat details help explain why New Jersey’s charm often takes newcomers by surprise, blending history, folklore, and everyday oddities into everyday life.
SOURCES
(https://www.reddit.com/r/newjersey/comments/1kinf22/whats_the_most_random_or_unusual_thing_you_know/)(https://thesunpapers.com/nj/fun-facts/)
(https://www.journeythroughjersey.com/blog/10-facts-you-probably-didnt-know-about-new-jersey/)(https://nj1015.com/5-weird-things-you-can-only-find-in-nj/)
(https://new-jersey-injury-lawyers.com/blog/bizarre-yet-true-fascinating-facts-about-new-jersey/)
