Marlton takes its name from marl, a mineral also known as glauconite that is useful as fertilizer, says Parris. And Glassboro began as home to a glass industry supported by local sand and water. A few industries have disappeared like the production of bog iron in the Pinelands, notes Parris. South Jersey's landscape still has farms and forests. But the region now criss-crossed with a sophisticated highway system also is dotted with malls and diners, shops and schools, playgrounds and business parks.
Planners expect development to continue, particularly in Gloucester and Burlington counties.
That's been going on for decades and those areas are starting to fill in. He expects dramatic growth in the area near Woolwich, Swedesboro and Logan fueled in part by the impact of two heavily traveled highways Interstate 295 and Route 322 and the Commodore Barry Bridge from Logan to Pennsylvania. He also expects strong development in Elk Township along the Route 55 corridor. In Camden County, where many municipalities are largely built-out, observers expect development to be strongest in towns like Winslow and Gloucester Township, which grew by 14.7 percent and 9.4 percent respectively in the first eight years of this decade. Planners also expect more development on Camden's Waterfront, which recently added the Children's Garden, an interactive exhibit at the New Jersey State Aquarium.