Atlantic City, New Jersey
**Geography and Demographics**:
– Atlantic City is located in Atlantic County, New Jersey, covering an area of 17.21 sq mi.
– Coordinates: 39°21′45″N 74°25′30″W.
– The population of Atlantic City was 38,497 in 2020, with an urban population of 294,921.
– Situated on 8.1mi-long Absecon Island, it borders municipalities like Absecon, Brigantine, and Egg Harbor Township.
– The city is positioned 60mi southeast of Philadelphia and 125mi south of New York City.
– Historical population growth shows significant increases over the years, with fluctuations in population figures over the decades.
**Attractions and History**:
– Atlantic City is known for its casinos, nightlife, and boardwalk, with Atlantic Ocean beaches and coastline.
– The board game Monopoly is inspired by Atlantic City, which also hosted the Miss America pageant from 1921 to 2004.
– Before its founding, Atlantic City was a summer home for the Lenape tribe, with the city being incorporated in 1854.
– The first commercial hotel, the Belloe House, was built in 1853, and the first boardwalk in Atlantic City was constructed in 1870.
– The city is often referred to as the Las Vegas of the East Coast, with a rich history dating back to the mid-19th century.
**Transportation and Infrastructure**:
– Atlantic City is accessible by road and rail, with a well-developed transportation network.
– The first road connecting the city to the mainland was completed in 1870, and the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway was constructed to meet growing demand.
– Albany Avenue was the first toll-free road to the mainland, enhancing connectivity within the city and beyond.
– The city’s infrastructure has evolved over the years to support its status as a major tourist destination on the Jersey Shore.
**Economy, Tourism, and Development**:
– Casino gambling was legalized in Atlantic City in 1976, contributing significantly to the city’s economy.
– Tourism plays a significant role in the economy of Atlantic City, which is part of the larger Philadelphia metropolitan area.
– Plans for a new supermarket in Atlantic City have faced delays, impacting the availability of fresh, healthy food for the majority of the population.
– Atlantic City has seen economic fluctuations, with the introduction of gambling, urban decline, and competition affecting its overall development and growth.
**Historic Hotels, Prohibition Era, and Entertainment**:
– Iconic historic hotels like Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel and Traymore Hotel have played a significant role in Atlantic City’s past.
– The Prohibition era and the rise of Nucky Johnson brought about illegal activities and the formation of the National Crime Syndicate.
– Nightclub entertainment in the mid-20th century thrived with popular venues like the 500 Club, Clicquot Club, and Jockey Club.
– The city’s history is intertwined with influential figures, organized crime, and vibrant entertainment districts that have shaped its cultural identity over the years.
Atlantic City, sometimes referred to by its initials A.C., is a Jersey Shore seaside resort city in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Located in South Jersey on Absecon Island, the city is prominently known as the "Las Vegas of the East Coast." Known for its taxis, casinos, nightlife, boardwalk, and Atlantic Ocean beaches and coastline, Atlantic City inspired the U.S. version of the board game Monopoly, which uses various Atlantic City street names and destinations in the game. New Jersey voters legalized casino gambling in Atlantic City in 1976, and the first casino opened two years later. From 1921 to 2004, Atlantic City hosted the Miss America pageant, which later returned to the city from 2013 to 2018.
Atlantic City, New Jersey | |
|---|---|
 Flag  Coat of arms  Logo | |
| Nicknames: Monopoly City "The World's Famous Playground" | |
| Motto(s): Consilio et Prudentia (Latin) "By Counsel and Wisdom" | |
 Location of Atlantic City in Atlantic County highlighted in red (left). Inset map: Location of Atlantic County in New Jersey highlighted in orange (right). | |
  Atlantic City Location in Atlantic County  Atlantic City Location in New Jersey  Atlantic City Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates: 39°21′45″N 74°25′30″W / 39.36250°N 74.42500°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  New Jersey |
| County | Atlantic |
| Incorporated | May 1, 1854 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Faulkner Act (mayor–council) |
| • Body | City Council |
| • Mayor | Marty Small Sr. (D, December 31, 2025) |
| • City Council | |
| • Administrator | Anthony Swan |
| • Municipal clerk | Paula Geletei |
| Area | |
| • City | 17.21 sq mi (44.59 km2) |
| • Land | 10.76 sq mi (27.87 km2) |
| • Water | 6.45 sq mi (16.72 km2) 37.50% |
| • Rank | 165th of 565 in state 8th of 23 in county |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • City | 38,497 |
| • Estimate (2022) | 38,561 |
| • Rank | 61st of 565 in state 2nd of 23 in county |
| • Density | 3,577.8/sq mi (1,381.4/km2) |
| • Rank | 188th of 565 in state 4th of 23 in county |
| • Urban | 294,921 (US: 138th) |
| • Urban density | 1,810.7/sq mi (699.1/km2) |
| • Metro | 274,534 (US: 179th) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (Eastern (EDT)) |
| ZIP Codes | 08401–08406 |
| Area code | 609 |
| FIPS code | 3400102080 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0885142 |
| Website | www |
As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 38,497, a decline of 1,061 (−2.7%) from the 2010 census count of 39,558, which in turn reflected a decrease of 959 (−2.4%) from the 40,517 counted in the 2000 census. Atlantic City and Hammonton are the two principal municipalities of the Atlantic City-Hammonton metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses those cities and all of Atlantic County for statistical purposes. Atlantic City, Hammonton, and the surrounding Atlantic County constitute part of the larger Philadelphia metropolitan area, the nation's seventh-largest metropolitan area as of 2020.
The city was incorporated on May 1, 1854, from portions of Egg Harbor Township and Galloway Township. It is located on Absecon Island and borders Absecon, Brigantine, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway Township, Pleasantville, Ventnor City, and the Atlantic Ocean.