By Matthew Fortuna
One of the renowned cities of the East Coast of the
United States, Atlantic City, New Jersey is famous around the world for casinos, its
beaches and its
romantic boardwalk. Situated on Absecon Island in the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic City has a metropolitan population of over 250,000 and has a history that dates back to before the Civil War. Popular as a destination on the board game Monopoly, the history of Atlantic City is proud with both tradition and legend.
Incorporation
Atlantic City was first incorporated into the state of New Jersey in 1854, when a railway was built connecting the city to the populous Philadelphia, increasing traffic to the beach town.
Boardwalk
First built in 1870, the miles of Boardwalk that make the city famous were built as a favor to the city's hotel owner situated along a seven mile stretch of beach.
Amusement Park
Another staple of the Atlantic City shores, the Ocean Pier park was first opened in 1882, the first such amusement park on the beach.
Early 1900s
The beach was expanded in the early 1900s with the purchase of many large tracts of land for the development of hotels and the tourist industry.
Historic Hotels
Many historic hotels would open in the city in the early 1900s, including the Chalfonte-Haddon Hall Hotel, which housed over 1,000 guests.
Democratic National Convention
In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson was elected nominee for President by the Democratic National Convention, hosted in Atlantic City.
Resources
About the Author:
Matthew Fortuna is a full-time freelance writer with a journalism degree from Wayne State University, living in the Detroit metropolitan area. He has written about a wide range of topics across varying publications, including Demand Studios, wiseGEEK.com and Suite101.com, among others. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Wayne State University.
