The Bay of New Jersey: A Proposed Name Change for Delaware Bay
A new bill introduced by Republican state Sen. Michael Testa seeks to rename the historic Delaware Bay to “The Bay of New Jersey,” inspired by President Trump’s renaming of the Gulf of America. If passed, state agencies will be directed to use the new designation in publications, signage, websites, and materials.
Testa, a longtime supporter of President Trump, believes that the current name does not reflect the significance of the bay to New Jersey’s fishing industry and overall economy. The bay has been named after the neighboring state of Delaware since 1610.
Testa’s proposal comes in the wake of President Trump renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. This move has sparked humorous suggestions from other state leaders, such as Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont proposing to rename the Long Island Sound as the “Connecticut Sound.”
In a separate bill, Testa also suggested reclaiming a piece of land on Salem County’s shoreline that was previously considered part of Delaware in a border agreement.
