Atlantic City, New Jersey

Atlantic City is a seaside resort city in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located on Absecon Island and is known for its casinos, nightlife, boardwalk, and beautiful beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. Because of its many casinos, it is often called the "Las Vegas of the East Coast."

The city inspired the U.S. version of the popular board game Monopoly, which uses several street names and places from Atlantic City. Casino gambling was legalized there in 1976, and the first casino opened two years later. For many years, from 1921 to 2004, Atlantic City hosted the Miss America pageant.

As of the 2020 census, Atlantic City had a population of 38,497 people. The city was officially created, or incorporated, on May 1, 1854, from parts of Egg Harbor Township and Galloway Township. It is bordered by several communities, including Absecon, Brigantine, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway Township, Pleasantville, Ventnor City, and the Atlantic Ocean itself.

History

Before Atlantic City was founded, the area was a summer home for the Lenape, a Native American tribe. European settlers are believed to have arrived around 1783 when Jeremiah Leeds built a home there.

19th century

In 1850, Atlantic City began to grow as a resort town and was named in 1853. Its special location made it a popular spot for visitors. The first hotel, the Belloe House, was built in 1853, and train service started in 1854, connecting it to Philadelphia. The famous Absecon Lighthouse was approved the same year.

By 1874, nearly half a million people visited each year. Jonathan Pitney, known as the "Father of Atlantic City," helped develop the city as a healthy place to visit. He worked with Samuel Richards to build a railroad and the first large hotel, the United States Hotel, which could hold 2,000 guests.

The first boardwalk opened in 1870 to keep sand out of hotels. It was later expanded and improved. The first road to the mainland was completed in 1870, and more train services began in 1878. Big hotels like the United States Hotel and Surf House appeared all over the city.

In 1883, salt water taffy was created in Atlantic City when a storm flooded a shop with ocean water.

20th century

The early 1900s saw many new large hotels built along the boardwalk, such as the Marlborough-Blenheim and the Traymore Hotel. These hotels were very fancy and had many modern comforts.

Tourism was very popular in the 1920s, known as Atlantic City’s golden age. During this time, some people in the city did not follow the national ban on alcohol, which made the city very popular. Many famous entertainers performed in nightclubs during the 1930s and 1940s.

After World War II, Atlantic City faced hard times. Cars became common, letting people visit for shorter trips. New places like Miami Beach became popular, and many of Atlantic City’s big hotels closed or were torn down.

Legalized gambling

Main article: Gambling in New Jersey

In 1976, New Jersey allowed casino gambling in Atlantic City. The first legal casino, Resorts International, opened in 1978. More casinos were built, but the city still had many problems. Boxing matches and shows like Cirque du Soleil also became popular.

21st century

Legalized sports betting

With new casinos opening in other places, Atlantic City’s tourism dropped. Plans for big new casinos faced many problems. In 2012, Superstorm Sandy caused flooding but did not badly damage tourist areas.

In 2018, New Jersey allowed sports betting after a court decision. Several casinos in Atlantic City began offering sports betting.

Food desert

In 2022, Atlantic City was ranked as one of the areas in New Jersey with the least access to grocery stores. Most residents had to travel far for food. Plans began to build a new supermarket, and in 2025, a project was announced to expand the existing Save-A-Lot store with help from development authorities. The project is expected to finish by the end of 2026.

Geography

Atlantic City is a seaside city in New Jersey. It covers an area of 17.21 square miles, with 10.76 square miles of land and 6.45 square miles of water. The city is located on Absecon Island, near other places like Ventnor City, Margate City, and Longport.

The city is about 60 miles southeast of Philadelphia and 125 miles south of New York City. It has a humid subtropical climate, meaning it has warm, humid summers and cool winters. There are often cooling sea breezes in the summer, but sometimes it can get very hot and humid. In winter, it can also get very cold with strong winds.

Demographics

See also: Black history in Atlantic City, New Jersey

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Atlantic City had a population of 38,497. The median age was 37.9 years. About 23.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 15.8% were 65 years or older. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males.

Almost all residents, 99.9%, lived in urban areas.

There were 15,859 households in Atlantic City. About 28.9% of these households had children under 18 living in them. Around 24.2% were married couples, while 28.5% had a male householder without a spouse, and 40.3% had a female householder without a spouse. About 40.2% of households were made up of single individuals, and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.

There were 20,419 housing units, with 22.3% being vacant.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 39,558 people in the city. The population density was 3,680.8 per square mile. There were 20,013 housing units.

The racial makeup included 26.65% White, 38.29% Black or African American, 0.61% Native American, 15.55% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 14.03% from other races, and 4.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people made up 30.45% of the population.

Of the households, 27.3% had children under 18. About 25.9% were married couples living together, 22.2% had a female householder without a husband, and 44.8% were non-families. Around 37.5% of households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.50, and the average family size was 3.34.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census, there were 40,517 people living in the city. The population density was 3,569.8 inhabitants per square mile. There were 20,219 housing units.

The racial makeup was 44.16% Black or African American, 26.68% White, 0.48% Native American, 10.40% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 13.76% from other races, and 4.47% from two or more races. About 24.95% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Economy

In September 2014, the greater Atlantic City area had one of the highest unemployment rates in the country at 13.8%, out of a labor force of around 141,000.

Tourism district

In July 2010, Governor Chris Christie announced plans to help improve the city and its businesses. This included creating the Atlantic City Tourism District in January 2011, a special area focused on tourism. The district includes famous spots like boardwalk casinos, marina casinos, the Atlantic City Outlets, and Bader Field. Changes were made to attract new businesses and visitors.

The tourism district covers several key areas in the city, such as the Marina District, Ducktown, Chelsea, South Inlet, Bader Field, and Gardner's Basin. It also includes roads leading into the district.

Casinos and gambling

Gambling in Atlantic City began in the 1920s. In 1976, New Jersey allowed casinos only in Atlantic City. Resorts Atlantic City opened in 1978 and was the first casino. Today, Atlantic City is known for its casinos, which bring many visitors and create jobs. However, some casinos closed in 2014 due to competition from other states.

Current casinos

Renamed casinos

Closed casinos

Cancelled casinos

Boardwalk

Main article: Atlantic City Boardwalk

The Atlantic City Boardwalk opened in 1870 and is the world's longest and busiest boardwalk. It stretches over 5 miles and has many shops, restaurants, and attractions. Some famous spots along the Boardwalk include Boardwalk Hall, House of Blues, and the Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum.

Shopping

Atlantic City has many shopping areas, some inside or near the casinos. These include themed shops and malls like Playground Pier, Tanger Outlets The Walk, and The Quarter at Tropicana.

Exhibition

Boardwalk Hall was Atlantic City's main convention center until the Atlantic City Convention Center opened in 1997. The Convention Center has large spaces for meetings and events.

Arts and culture

Monopoly

Atlantic City is famous for its connection to the board game Monopoly. Properties on the game board are named after real places in and near Atlantic City. The game was first learned in Indianapolis by Ruth Hoskins, who brought it to Atlantic City. She created a new board with local street names and taught it to friends. One friend, Charles Darrow, made changes and claimed to have invented the game. Some street names on the board reflect the neighborhood’s status at the time.

One property, Marvin Gardens, is a misspelling of the actual location, “Marven Gardens.” This mistake was introduced by Charles Todd and later copied by Charles Darrow. It wasn’t until 1995 that the company apologized for the error. Some locations have changed since the game was made, like Illinois Avenue, now called Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Attractions

Atlantic City has many fun attractions. In the early 1900s, the Steel Pier had exciting acts like horse diving and high-divers. Rolling chairs, pushed by attendants, have been a boardwalk tradition since 1876. The Absecon Lighthouse, built in 1854, is the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey. Though it’s not used for navigation anymore, its light still shines every night. Nearby, Lucy the Elephant is a huge, elephant-shaped building that’s become a symbol of the area.

Miss America pageant

Atlantic City was home to the Miss America competition from 1921 to 2004, and again from 2013 to 2018. It began as a beauty contest to extend the tourist season after Labor Day. The winner received a Golden Mermaid trophy. The event became very popular on television in the 1960s and was seen as a symbol of the United States. A large statue of the longtime host, Bert Parks, stands at the Atlantic City Convention Center.

Boardwalk Empire

The TV show Boardwalk Empire, set in Atlantic City during the Prohibition era, brought attention to the city’s history. The show, starring Steve Buscemi, is based on a book about a real political leader in Atlantic City.

Festivals and other recurring arts events

• The TidalWave Music Festival happens each August on the beach, featuring country music.
• The North to Shore Festival started in June 2023, offering music and entertainment in Atlantic City and nearby places.
• The Adjacent Music Festival, focusing on emo and pop-punk music, will take place on the beach in May 2023.
• The first Frantic City indie and punk festival was held in 2022 at the Orange Loop Amphitheater.
• The Bamboozle festival, planned for May 2023, was cancelled because of missing paperwork.
• An annual event called the Miss’d America Pageant features performers in a style similar to the Miss America pageant.
• Thunder over the Boardwalk is an airshow that draws many visitors each year.

Religious events

• A Ratha Yatra festival is held each year by the local Hindu community.
• A Faith and Law Enforcement March brings together police and religious groups.

The Orange Loop

The Orange Loop is a neighborhood near the beach known for live music. It’s home to places like Anchor Rock Club and Tennessee Beer Hall. The area gets its name from the orange-colored streets on the Monopoly board. In 2022, the Orange Loop Amphitheater hosted an indie rock music festival.

Sports

Atlantic City has a long history with sports. The Atlantic City Race Course in Hamilton Township was a place where horse racing happened from 1946 until 2015.

The ShopRite LPGA Classic is a women's golf tournament that has been held near Atlantic City since 1986. It is part of the LPGA Tour.

Atlantic City is also famous for boxing. Since 1887, the city has hosted many boxing matches. In the 1980s, Atlantic City became a big place for major boxing fights, sometimes matching Las Vegas. Famous fighters like Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, and Mike Tyson have all fought there. Many of these matches took place at Donald Trump's Trump Plaza.

Parks and recreation

Atlantic City is one of five places in the state that lets people use the beach for free. It is the only place not in Cape May County to have this. The other places are Wildwood, North Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, and Strathmere in Upper Township. The beaches have lifeguards to keep people safe.

Government

Local government

Atlantic City uses a special way of running its city government called the Mayor-Council system. This system started on July 1, 1982. The Mayor and the City Council are chosen by voters to serve four-year terms. The Council has nine members, with one from each of six areas of the city and three who represent the whole city. They meet to make rules and check on how the city is spending money.

As of 2024, the Mayor of Atlantic City is Marty Small Sr., and there are several members on the City Council who help run the city together.

Federal, state and county representation

Atlantic City is part of New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional district. For the United States Congress, it is represented by Jeff Van Drew. In the New Jersey Legislature, the city is part of the 2nd legislative district.

Atlantic County has its own government, with a county executive and a group of commissioners who help make decisions for the whole county.

Politics

Atlantic City has many voters who support the Democratic party. In past elections, Democratic candidates have received more votes than Republican candidates in the city.

City and state agencies

New Jersey Casino Control Commission

The New Jersey Casino Control Commission is a state agency that makes sure casinos in Atlantic City follow the rules and stay honest.

New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement

This group helps make sure casinos pay the right taxes, follow the rules, and handle any problems that customers have.

Casino Reinvestment Development Authority

This group uses money from casinos to improve Atlantic City and other places in New Jersey.

Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority

This group used to promote Atlantic City for tourists and conventions but is now part of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.

Atlantic City Special Improvement District

This group worked to keep the business areas of Atlantic City clean and attractive but is also now part of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority.

Fire department

The Atlantic City Fire Department (ACFD) offers fire protection and emergency medical services to the city. It works from six fire stations spread across the city, organized into one battalion. Each station is led by a battalion chief, who reports to a Deputy Chief or Tour Commander during each shift.

Police department

Main article: Atlantic City Police Department

The city is kept safe by the Atlantic City Police Department. They help with about 150,000 calls every year. The leader of the police is called the Chief of Police, and the current chief is James A. Sarkos.

Education

The Atlantic City School District provides schooling for students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades. During the 2020–21 school year, the district had 11 schools, with about 6,553 students and 617 teachers, giving a student-to-teacher ratio of about 10.6 to 1.

Schools in the district include places like Venice Park School, Brighton Avenue School, and Atlantic City High School, among others. Students from nearby towns such as Brigantine, Longport, Margate City, and Ventnor City also attend Atlantic City High School.

Public school students can also choose to attend the Atlantic County Institute of Technology or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts. There are also nearby colleges like Atlantic Cape Community College and Stockton University.

Media outlets

Newspapers and magazines

See also: Newspapers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• The Press of Atlantic City

the diving horse magazine

Former publications:

• Atlantic City Insiders
• Atlantic City Weekly
• Casino Connection

Radio stations

• WEHA 88.7 FM – Gospel
• WAYV 95.1 FM – Top 40
• WTTH 96.1 FM – Urban AC
• WFPG 96.9 FM – AC (Lite Rock 96.9)
• WENJ 97.3 FM – Sports
• WTKU 98.3 FM – Classic hits (Kool 98.3)
• WZBZ 99.3 FM – Rhythmic (The Buzz)
• WZXL 100.7 FM – Rock (The Rock Station)
• WLRB 102.7 FM – Contemporary Christian (K-Love)
• WMGM 103.7 FM – Active rock (WMGM Rocks)
• WSJO 104.9 FM – Top 40 (SoJo 104.9)
• WPUR 107.3 FM – Country (Cat Country 107.3)
• WWJZ 640 AM – Religious
• WMID 1340 AM – Oldies
• WOND 1400 AM – News/Talk
• WPGG 1450 AM – Talk
• WBSS 1490 AM – Regional Mexican

Television stations

See also: Media of Philadelphia § Television stations

Atlantic City is part of the Philadelphia television market. There are six stations licensed in the area.

• WACP Channel 4 Atlantic City (Independent)
• WMGM-LP Channel 7 Atlantic City (Silent)
• WMGM-TV Channel 40 Wildwood (Justice Network)
• W45CP-D Channel 45 Atlantic City (Daystar)
• W48DP-D Channel 48 Atlantic City (EICB TV)

Infrastructure

Transportation

Roads and highways

As of May 2010, Atlantic City had about 104 miles of roads. Some roads are kept up by the city, some by the county, and others by state and regional groups. The main roads into the city include Black Horse Pike, White Horse Pike, and the Atlantic City Expressway.

Public transportation

Atlantic City has many ways to get around. Trains can take you from Philadelphia to the city. There are also many bus lines that connect Atlantic City to nearby places like New York City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Inside the city, there are several bus routes that help people get to different spots.

Airline service

Commercial airplanes fly into Atlantic City International Airport, which is just a short drive away. Some people also fly into airports in Philadelphia, Trenton, or Newark and then drive to Atlantic City. An old airport in the city, Bader Field, is closed, and there are plans to turn it into a place with homes and jobs.

Healthcare

Atlantic City has a hospital system called AtlantiCare. It has two hospitals and special care centers for things like heart health and cancer.

Utilities

The city gets its natural gas from South Jersey Industries. There are places that make and give out electricity, like Atlantic City Electric. The Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm, which started in 2005, was the first wind farm along the U.S. coast.

In popular culture

Further information: Category:Films shot in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Atlantic City has been shown and talked about in many movies, TV shows, and songs. Some famous films set there are The King of Marvin Gardens, Atlantic City, The Godfather Part III, Rounders, and Snake Eyes. Popular TV shows that feature the city include Mr. Belvedere, The Simpsons, How I Met Your Mother, The Sopranos, and Boardwalk Empire. Songs about Atlantic City include On the Boardwalk (In Atlantic City) by June Haver and "Atlantic City" by Bruce Springsteen.

Notable people

See also: Category:People from Atlantic City, New Jersey

People who were born in, lived in, or were closely connected to Atlantic City include:

• Hakeem Abdul-Shaheed (born 1959), a person involved in illegal activities and organized crime.
• Jack Abramoff (born 1958), a former political advisor who was involved in well-known political issues. He was born in Atlantic City and lived there until he was 10.
• Robert Agnew (born 1953), a sociology professor at Emory University and leader of a professional group for criminologists.
• Joe Albany (1924–1988), a jazz pianist.
• Abdullah Anderson (born 1996), a football player for the Atlanta Falcons.
• James Avery (1945–2013), an actor known for playing a family leader in the TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
• Harry Bacharach (1873–1947), who served as mayor of Atlantic City at different times between 1912 and 1935.
• Isaac Bacharach (1870–1956), who worked in government representing New Jersey's 2nd congressional district from 1915 to 1937.
• Edward L. Bader (1874–1927), who was mayor of the city from 1920 to 1927.
• Joseph Carleton Beal (1900–1967), who helped write the Christmas song Jingle Bell Rock.
• Barry Beckham (born 1944), a writer of plays and novels.
• Edwin Blum (1906–1995), a writer of films including Stalag 17 and The New Adventures of Tarzan.
• Jack Boucher (1931–2012), a photographer who worked for over 40 years for the National Park Service, starting in 1958, and was the main photographer for the Historic American Buildings Survey.
• Bugs Bower (1922–2020), a musician, music organizer, leader of a music group, and music recording producer.
• Fredrick Brennan (born 1994), a computer programmer and design creator who started the website 8chan.
• Horace J. Bryant (1909–1983), the first African American to hold a high government position in New Jersey.
• Benjamin Burnley (born 1978), a musician and leader of the band Breaking Benjamin.
• Greg Buttle (born 1954), a football player who was part of the New York Jets team.
• Mark H. Buzby (born 1956), a former naval officer who later worked for a government organization that supports shipping.
• Carole Byard (1941–2017), an artist and book illustrator for children who received special awards for her work.
• Harry Carroll (1892–1962), a music writer who created songs like "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" and "By the Beautiful Sea".
• Rosalind Cash (1938–1995), an actress recognized for a TV show.
• Rocky Castellani (1926–2008), a boxer known for a famous fight.
• Vera Coking, a property owner who stood up against efforts to take her home.
• Jack Collins (born 1943), a government leader who served the longest in the state's history.
• Lawrence J. Delaney (born 1935), a scientist and business leader who worked for the government.
• Al Dempster (1911–2001), an artist who worked on animations for Walt Disney Animation Studios.
• Stuart Dischell (born 1954), a writer and teacher of literature.
• Bruce Ditmas (born 1946), a jazz musician who played drums.
• Sidney Drell (1926–2016), a scientist who studied theoretical physics and worked on important agreements.
• Robert Ettinger (1918–2011), a teacher known for his ideas about life after death based on his book The Prospect of Immortality.
• Frank S. Farley (1901–1977), a long-time government leader and key figure in local politics.
• Vera King Farris (1938–2009), a leader of a university.
• Andrew Fields, a college basketball coach and former professional player.
• Chris Ford (born 1949), a basketball coach for several teams including the Boston Celtics.
• Helen Forrest (1917–1999), a famous singer during the big band era.
• Anne Francine (1917–1999), an actress and singer.
• John F. Gaffney (1934–1995), a government leader who served in the state's legislature.
• John J. Gardner (1845–1921), who worked in government and was mayor of Atlantic City.
• Patsy Garrett (1921–2015), an actress.
• Milton W. Glenn (1903–1967), who worked in government representing New Jersey's 2nd congressional district from 1957 to 1965.
• Myron Goldfinger (1933–2023), an architect known for designing special houses.
• William Green (born 1979), a football player who was part of the Cleveland Browns team.
• Marjorie Guthrie (1917–1983), a dancer and teacher, and wife of folk musician Woody Guthrie.
• Cornelia Hancock (1840–1927), a volunteer nurse during the American Civil War.
• John R. Hargrove Sr. (1923–1997), a judge appointed by a president.
• Celestine Tate Harrington (1956–1998), a musician who played using her mouth because of limited movement in her hands.
• James Hillman (1926–2011), a developer of ideas about human understanding.
• Pete Hunter (born 1980), a football player for the Seattle Seahawks.
• Walter S. Jeffries (1893–1954), who worked in government representing New Jersey's 2nd congressional district from 1939 to 1941.
• Candy Jones (1925–1990), a fashion model, writer, and radio talk show host.
• Marvin Josephson (1927–2022), a talent agent and business leader who started ICM Partners.
• Allan Kaprow (1927–2006), an artist and creator of performance art.
• Amy Kennedy (born 1978), a teacher, supporter of mental health, and someone who worked in government.
• Marie Kibler (1912–1978), a gymnast who competed in the Olympic games.
• Pinky Kravitz (1927–2015), a radio and print journalist known for his long-running show.
• Martha Krebs, a scientist who worked for a top government science group and started an important research center at UCLA.
• JoAnna LaSane (1935–2019), a model, dancer, and arts leader.
• Lee B. Laskin (1936–2024), a lawyer, government leader, and judge.
• Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000), a painter known for his pictures of African-American life.
• E. Grey Lewis (1940–2005), a lawyer who worked for the government.
• Bill Libby (1927–1984), a sports writer known for books about athletes.
• James J. McCullough (born 1942), a government leader who served in the state's senate.
• Don McGahn (born 1968), a lawyer who worked closely with a U.S. president.
• Bob Merrill (1921–1998), a music writer and screenwriter.
• Arnold Newman (1918–2006), a photographer known for pictures of famous people.
• John P. O'Neill (1952–2001), a security expert who worked at a very important building.
• Joshua Ozersky (1967–2015), a writer about food and its history.
• Chris Pallies (1957–2019), a professional wrestling performer known as King Kong Bundy.
• Reese Palley (1922–2015), a business person, art seller, writer, and sailor.
• Joseph B. Perskie (1885–1957), a judge in the state's highest court.
• Jacqueline Reses, a business leader, investor, writer, and someone who helps others.
• Monique Samuels, a television performer known for being on a popular real-life show.
• Alfredo Silipigni (1932–2006), a music leader and starter of an opera group.
• Jeremy Slate (1926–2006), an actor and music writer.
• George Smathers (1913–2007), a government leader from Florida.
• Larry Steele (1913–1980), a leader of music shows with African-American performers.
• Dave Thomas (1932–2002), the founder of the Wendy's fast-food restaurant chain.
• Jean Webster (1935–2011), a cook who provided free meals to people in need.
• Jim Whelan (1948–2017), a government leader and former mayor of Atlantic City.
• Norman Joseph Woodland (1921–2012), the inventor of the barcode.
• Albert Zugsmith (1910–1993), a film creator.