Atlantic City
Home of the world's first boardwalk and the streets on the Monopoly board.
- Population
- 38,497 (2020 census)
- Incorporated
- May 1, 1854
- First boardwalk
- June 26, 1870
- Tides
- Two highs, two lows a day
Then
- 1854
The city incorporates on May 1, and the Camden and Atlantic Railroad begins service. Jonathan Pitney, the “Father of Atlantic City,” pictures it as a health resort.
- 1857
The Absecon Lighthouse is first lit on January 15.
- 1870
On June 26, the first boardwalk in the world opens, built as a temporary summer walkway.
- 1898
Steel Pier opens and becomes the most famous of the city's piers.
- 1921
The contest that becomes Miss America begins on September 7 as a two-day event.
- 1920s
During Prohibition, which goes largely unenforced here, political boss Nucky Johnson rises to power.
- 1976–1978
New Jersey voters legalize casino gambling in Atlantic City in 1976, and Resorts opens as the first casino in May 1978.
Now
Casinos line the Boardwalk, and Steel Pier still juts into the ocean. The Absecon Lighthouse stands a few blocks inland.
The street names on the U.S. Monopoly board come from Atlantic City and its neighbors.
On the water
From NOAA's predictions for Atlantic City, NJ over the next 365 days. Heights are in feet above mean lower low water (MLLW).
- Pattern
- Two highs and two lows a day, close in size
- Typical daily range
- 4.3 ft
- Biggest swing
- 6.3 ft on Jan 23
- Smallest swing
- 2.4 ft on Apr 26
- Highest high
- 5.7 ft, Aug 2 at 8:18 PM
- Lowest low
- −1.1 ft, Jan 23 at 2:13 PM
13 tide stations around Atlantic City
- Atlantic City (Ocean)0.6 mi
- Absecon Channel, State Route 87 bridge1.4 mi
- Ventnor City, ocean pier3.5 mi
- Pleasantville, Lakes Bay, Great Egg Harbor Inlet5.2 mi
- Absecon, Absecon Creek, U.S. Hwy. 30 bridge5.8 mi
- Brigantine Channel @ Hoffman Thorofare5.8 mi
- Dock Thorofare, Risley Channel6.3 mi
- Longport (inside), Great Egg Harbor Inlet7.1 mi
- Main Marsh Thorofare8.2 mi
- Steelmanville, Patcong Ck., 2.5 nm above ent.9.5 mi