Atlantic City is located along the state of New Jersey’s southern coastline, on Absecon Island. Long before the city became famous for its boardwalks, casinos, and nightlife, people were drawn to the region’s natural beauty and sandy beaches. Throughout the 19th century, people from Philadelphia and other nearby cities treated the island as a summer vacation spot. There were few permanent residents until the 1850’s when resident Dr. Jonathan Pitney visualized the island as a future resort. He teamed up with Philadelphia engineer Richard Osborne, and together they worked to bring the railroad to the island. In 1854, the tracks were laid and the two men began development; Osborne is credited with naming Atlantic City, while Pitney is credited with the layout and names of the streets.

In the decades that followed, Atlantic City prospered as new hotels, restaurants, and other businesses began cropping up, and train lines were expanded to accommodate an increasing number of visitors. Atlantic City’s main claim to fame—the Boardwalk--was built during this time. Its initial purpose was to reduce the amount of sand that collected in train cars and hotel lobbies as people walked to and from the beaches, but since then the Boardwalk has become an icon of the city, an attraction in and of itself. Atlantic City at the turn of the 20th century saw major growth and development in the addition of banks, schools, roads, hospitals, libraries, and up-to-date residential areas that replaced the old summer cottages of years past. These improvements attracted year-round residents; in 1900, Atlantic City’s population was over 27,000 people, up from the mere 250 residents that were counted just 45 years prior.

Today Atlantic City has a population of over 40,000, and still serves as a major attraction for tourists from all over the world. With a reputation as a city that is “always turned on,” it is hard to ignore Atlantic City’s 11 major casinos, all featuring exciting nightclubs and restaurants. But away from the noise and the bright lights, the city offers a variety of cultural attractions and recreation for visitors and residents alike, such as the Atlantic City Historical Museum and Art Center on Garden Pier, the Absecon Lighthouse and the Atlantic City Aquarium. The city provides world-class shopping at Atlantic City Outlets—the Walk, the Pier Shops at Caesars, and the Quarter at Tropicana, to name just a few. For outdoor recreation, Atlantic City is a premier East Coast golfing destination with over 30 beautiful courses to choose from. And of course, there is nothing more “Atlantic City” than an evening stroll on the world-famous Boardwalk.

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