Atlantic City, New Jersey

• 1. Founding And Early Development

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  The first commercial hotel in Atlantic City, the Belloe House, rose at the intersection of Massachusetts and Atlantic Avenues in 1853. This structure marked the beginning of a resort town that would eventually become known as the Las Vegas of the East Coast. Three years earlier, Jonathan Pitney had persuaded municipal authorities to build a railroad to the beach, connecting this remote parcel of land to Philadelphia. The Camden and Atlantic Railroad began service in 1854, bringing almost 500,000 passengers annually by 1874. That same year, construction on the Absecon Lighthouse was approved with a $35,000 appropriation from Congress. Major Hartman Bache directed the work starting in 1855. By 1870, the first boardwalk was built along a portion of the beach to keep sand out of hotel lobbies. Businesses were restricted, and the boardwalk was removed each year at the end of the peak season until its expansion proved too popular to take down. In 1879, the Traymore Hotel opened as a small boarding house before growing into a 16-story landmark. Josiah White III purchased land near Ohio Avenue in 1902 to construct the Marlborough House, which later merged with the Blenheim to form the massive Marlborough-Blenheim Hotel. This sprawling four-story structure could house 2,000 guests and covered some 14 acres. Salt water taffy was conceived in 1883 when David Bradley's shop flooded during a storm, soaking his candy. He sold the treat to a girl who walked down to show her friends, and Bradley's mother loved the name enough to give it that title.

• 2. Prohibition And Organized Crime

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  Enoch L. Nucky Johnson rose to power during Prohibition, which lasted nationally from 1919 to 1933. His income reached as much as $500,000 annually through kickbacks on illegal liquor, gambling, and prostitution operating in the city. Atlantic City became known as The World's Playground because alcohol smuggled into the city was easily obtained at restaurants and other establishments. Local authorities largely unenforced Prohibition laws, allowing the resort's popularity to grow further. In May 1929, Johnson hosted a conference for organized crime figures from all across America that created a National Crime Syndicate. Masseria family lieutenant Charles Lucky Luciano and former Chicago South Side Gang boss Johnny the Fox Torrio called this meeting. Meyer Lansky and Benjamin Siegel served as muscle for the gathering. Gangster and businessman Al Capone attended the conference and was photographed walking along the Atlantic City boardwalk with Johnson. Mayor Edward L. Bader led the initiative in 1923 to construct the Atlantic City High School at Albany and Atlantic Avenues. He initiated a public referendum in November 1923 where residents approved the construction of a Convention Center. The city passed an ordinance approving a bond issue for $1.5 million to purchase land for what is now Boardwalk Hall. During the 1930s through the 1960s, popular venues on the white-populated south side included the 500 Club, the Clicquot Club, and the Jockey Club. In the Northside neighborhood, home to African Americans in the racially segregated city, a black entertainment district reigned on Kentucky Avenue. Four major nightclubs drew both black and white patrons: Club Harlem, the Paradise Club, Grace's Little Belmont, and Wonder Gardens.

• 3. Mid-Century Decline And Demographics

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  The neighborhood known as the Inlet became particularly impoverished following World War II. The automobile became more readily available to many Americans after the war, allowing them to come and go as they pleased rather than staying for weeks. The advent of suburbia played a significant role as families moved to private houses with air conditioning and swimming pools. Cheap jet airline service allowed visitors to travel to year-round resort places such as Miami Beach and the Bahamas. By the late 1960s, many of the resort's once great hotels were suffering from high vacancy rates. Most were either shut down, converted to cheap apartments, or converted to nursing home facilities by the end of the decade. The Breakers, The Chelsea, the Brighton, the Shelburne, the Mayflower, the Traymore, and the Marlborough-Blenheim were demolished in the 1970s and 1980s. Of the many pre-casino resorts that bordered the boardwalk, only the Claridge, the Dennis, the Ritz-Carlton, and the Haddon Hall survive today. The city hosted the 1964 Democratic National Convention which nominated Lyndon Johnson for president and Hubert Humphrey as vice president. The convention cast a harsh light on Atlantic City during its long period of economic decline. Many felt that the friendship between Johnson and Governor Richard J. Hughes led Atlantic City to host the event. As of the 2010 census, the population was 39,558, reflecting a decrease of 959 from the 40,517 counted in 2000. The racial makeup included 38.29% Black or African American residents and 26.65% White residents.

• 4. Gambling Industry Revival

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  New Jersey voters legalized casino gambling in 1976 after a failed referendum in 1974. Resorts International opened on the 26th of May 1978, becoming the first legal casino in the eastern United States. A ribbon-cutting ceremony featured Governor Brendan Byrne. Other casinos were soon constructed along the Boardwalk and later in the marina district for a total of nine today. Mike Tyson fought most of his fights in Atlantic City in the 1980s, helping the city achieve national attention as a gambling resort. By the end of the decade, it was one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. In 1999, the Atlantic City Redevelopment Authority partnered with Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn to develop a new roadway called The Tunnel Project. This $330 million tunnel stretched from the Atlantic City Expressway to a barren section near the Marina. The roadway officially became the Atlantic City-Brigantine Connector and funnels incoming traffic into the city's marina district. Borgata opened in July 2003, bringing an influx of developers with plans for grand, Las Vegas-style mega casinos. Despite economic conditions and the late 2000s recession, many proposed mega casinos never advanced further than initial planning stages. Pinnacle Entertainment purchased the Sands Atlantic City for $250, $270 million and closed it on the 11th of November 2006. The following year, the resort was demolished in an implosion, the first of its kind in Atlantic City. MGM Resorts International announced in October 2007 that it would pull out of all development for Atlantic City.

• 5. Modern Economic Challenges

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  Four casino closures took place in 2014: the Atlantic Club on January 13, the Showboat on August 31, the Revel on September 2, and Trump Plaza on September 16. Casino revenue declined from $5.2 billion in 2006 to $2.9 billion in 2013. In 2019, the Atlantic City area had the highest rates of foreclosures in the nation at 1.33 percent of housing units. This disproportionately affected Black residents in neighborhoods segregated by redlining. As of 2024, there was only one functioning supermarket in Atlantic City, the Save-A-Lot food store located in Renaissance Plaza. The nearest full-service supermarket is in neighboring Ventnor City, which is away from the majority of the population. Unemployment stands at 7.4%, more than the state's rate of 4.8%. Only 13% of households own a vehicle according to 2021 U.S. Census Data. Governor Chris Christie announced in July 2010 that a state takeover of the city and local government was imminent. Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind poll showed that 43% opposed the measure while 29% favored direct state oversight. On the 29th of April 2011, boundaries for the state-run tourism district were set. The district includes heavier police presence, beautification projects, and infrastructure improvements. In October 2025, after efforts to construct a ShopRite had failed, the city announced a $20 million deal to redevelop Renaissance Plaza centered around an expanded Sav-A-Lot supermarket.

• 6. Geography And Climate Profile

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  Atlantic City has a total area of 17.21 square miles including 10.76 square miles of land and 6.45 square miles of water. The city is located on Absecon Island along with Ventnor City, Margate City, and Longport to the southwest. It borders Atlantic County municipalities of Absecon, Brigantine, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway Township, Pleasantville, and Ventnor City. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Atlantic City has a humid subtropical climate with warm, moderately humid summers and cool winters. During summer months, a cooling afternoon sea breeze is present on most days but episodes of extreme heat can occur. Winter brings episodes of extreme cold and wind with wind chill values below zero. The plant hardiness zone at Atlantic City Beach is 7b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit. The average seasonal snowfall total occurs between November and April, with February being the snowiest month. Northern Cordgrass dominates vegetation types covering 73% of potential natural vegetation forms as Coastal Prairie. Superstorm Sandy struck on the 29th of October 2012, producing an all-time record low barometric pressure reading of 943 mb for both Atlantic City and the state of New Jersey.