New Jersey lawmakers are making waves with a proposal to rename the Delaware Bay as the “Bay of New Jersey,” asserting a claim of state pride over the iconic waterway shared with neighboring Delaware.
The bill, S4670, was introduced by Republican State Senator Michael Testa as part of the 2024-2025 legislative session. It would require all New Jersey departments and agencies to update signage, websites, publications, and other references to adopt the new name. The legislation also directs the state to formally notify federal agencies of the change.
Supporters argue that the bay — historically named after Thomas West, the 3rd Baron De La Warr, by 17th-century English colonists — is more closely tied to New Jersey’s culture, economy, and infrastructure than to Delaware’s. They say the waterway’s role as the outflow of the Delaware River and its vital connection to New Jersey justify the rebranding effort.
If enacted, the bill would represent a rare move by a state to unilaterally rename a federally recognized body of water that borders another state. There is no mention of Delaware’s interests in the measure, and officials there have not yet publicly responded to the proposal.
The renaming push could face significant legal and bureaucratic hurdles. Geographic names in the United States are subject to review by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which typically weighs historical precedent, regional usage, and stakeholder input before approving any changes.
This is such an important usage of our elected officials taxpayer funded salaries.This will undoubtably save our state From all of the issues that it faces. For example high property taxes, corruption, one of the highest amount of people leaving the state from all the states in the country. All we have to do is rename the Delaware River after New Jersey, all problems resolved.
Leave the name as is. It comes off the the Delaware River so it makes sense it is Delaware Bay.
and here I thought the Delaware was an American Indian name