Atlantic County, New Jersey

Atlantic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 census, the county was the state's 15th-most-populous county,<ref name=Largest2020>Table1. New Jersey Counties and Most Populous Cities and Townships: 2020 and 2010 Censuses, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Accessed December 1, 2022.</ref> with a population of 274,534,<ref name=Census2020/><ref name=LWD2020/> a drop of 15 from the 2010 census count of 274,549.<ref name=Census2010/> The United States Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program estimated a 2024 population of 279,114, an increase of 4,580 (+1.7%) from the 2020 decennial census.<ref name=PopEst/> Its county seat is the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township.<ref name=CountyMap>New Jersey County Map, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed January 6, 2023.</ref> The county is part of the Jersey Shore<ref>"Regions: North, Central, South, Shore - Best of NJ", Best of NJ, Accessed May 30, 2024. "Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean County make up the Jersey Shore region."</ref> and of the South Jersey region of the state.<ref>Willis, David P. "'This is how wars start': Does Central Jersey include both Ocean and Union counties?", Asbury Park Press, February 20, 2023. Accessed March 31, 2024. "North Jersey is defined as Sussex, Warren, Morris, Passaic, Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties; South Jersey would be Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Salem, Cumberland and Cape May counties. But for Central, things get a little tricky. It would include Hunterdon, Somerset, Union, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, and Ocean counties."</ref>

The most populous place in Atlantic County was Egg Harbor Township, with 47,842 residents at the time of the 2020 census;<ref name=LWD2020/> Galloway Township, covered Template:Convert, the largest total area of any municipality, though Hamilton Township has the largest land area, covering Template:Convert.<ref name=CPH232/> Atlantic County forms the Atlantic City–Hammonton metropolitan statistical area,<ref>New Jersey: 2020 Core Based Statistical Areas and Counties, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 22, 2022.</ref> which is also part of the Delaware Valley combined statistical area / Philadelphia metro area.<ref>May 2012 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Definitions, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed October 7, 2013.</ref><ref>Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas, Office of Management and Budget, February 28, 2013. Accessed October 7, 2013.</ref>

History

Etymology

The county was named after the Atlantic Ocean, which borders the county's eastern coast.

History

Since the 6th millennium BC, Native American people have inhabited New Jersey. By the 17th century, the Absegami tribe of the Unalachtigo Lenape tribe – "people near the ocean" – stayed along the streams and back bays of what is now Atlantic County. The group referred to the broader area as Scheyichbi – "land bordering the ocean".<ref name="Story"/><ref name="mp2000"/> European settlement by the Dutch, Sweden, and England contributed to the demise of the indigenous people. In 1674, West Jersey was established, and its provincial government designated the court of Burlington County in 1681, splitting off Gloucester County five years later from the southern portion. This county was bounded by the Mullica River to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Great Egg Harbor River and Tuckahoe River to the south.<ref name="Story"/> Great Egg Harbour Township, also called New Weymouth and later just Egg Harbor, was designated in 1693 from the eastern portions of Gloucester County.<ref name="Story"/>

The region's early European settlers, many of them Quakers, lived along the area's waterways. In 1695, John Somers purchased Template:Convert of land on the northern shore of the Great Egg Harbor Bay in 1695, the same year he began ferry service across the bay to Cape May County. His son, Richard, built Somers Mansion between 1720 and 1726, which is the oldest home in existence in the county.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Daniel Leeds first surveyed the coastal waters of Egg Harbor in 1698, eventually finding Leeds Point.<ref name="achis">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1735, according to folklore, Mother Leeds gave birth to her 13th child in the area during a strange thunderstorm; this child would become the Jersey Devil.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the early 18th century, George May founded Mays Landing.<ref name="achis"/>

In 1774, the northern portion of Egg Harbor Township became Galloway Township.<ref name="Story"/> In 1785, residents in what is now Atlantic County requested to split from Gloucester County to the New Jersey legislature, wanting a local court. Mays Landing – the region's largest community at the time, had more saloons than churches. Criminals could escape custody before reaching Gloucester City on a four-day wagon ride.<ref name="jail">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1798, the western portion split off to become Weymouth Township, and in 1813, the northwestern portion partitioned to become Hamilton Township. On February 7, 1837, the New Jersey legislature designated Atlantic County from Galloway, Hamilton, Weymouth, and Egg Harbor townships,<ref name="Story">Template:Cite book</ref> choosing Mays Landing as the county seat. In the same year, the Board of Freeholders was established as the county government.<ref name="achis"/> As of the 1830 census, the townships making up Atlantic County only had a population of 8,164, making it the least populated New Jersey county. By that time, a continuous line of houses extended from Somers Point to Absecon.<ref name="hist">Template:Cite book</ref>

Mullica Township was established from Galloway Township in 1837.<ref name="Story"/> In 1852, Dr. Jonathan Pitney recommended Absecon Island as a health resort, and formed the Camden and Atlantic Railroad to construct the line from Camden to the coast. The company purchased land from Atlantic and Galloway Townships in 1853, then promoted and sold the lots. Atlantic City formed on May 1, 1854, in advance of the rail line opening on July 4 of that year.<ref name="beac">Template:Cite journal</ref> In 1858, Egg Harbor City was formed from portions of Galloway and Mullica townships. In 1866, Hammonton was founded from Hamilton and Mullica townships. A year later, portions of Hamilton Township split off to become Buena Vista Township. In 1872, Absecon was split from portions of Egg Harbor and Galloway townships.<ref name="Story"/> By 1885, more than half of the county's population lived in Atlantic City, and by 1910 this more than two-thirds of the county lived there.<ref name="mp2000"/>

With more people moving to the area in the late 1800s into the early 1900s, several municipalities were created in short succession – Margate City (then called South Atlantic City) in 1885, Somers Point in 1886, Pleasantville and Linwood in 1889, Brigantine in 1890, Longport in 1898, Ventnor in 1903, Northfield and Port Republic in 1905, and Folsom in 1906. On May 17, 1906, the eastern coastal boundary of Atlantic County was established. The final municipalities in the county to be created were Corbin City from Weymouth Township in 1922, Estell Manor from Weymouth Township in 1925, and Buena from Buena Township in 1948. In 1938, the county's western border was clarified with Camden and Burlington counties using geographic coordinates.<ref name="Story"/> After a peak in prominence in the 1920s during the prohibition era, Atlantic City began declining in population in the 1950s as tourism declined. The county's growth shifted to the mainland.<ref name="mp2000"/><ref name="survey"/>

In 1973, the New Jersey Coastal Area Facilities Review Act required additional state permitting for construction in the eastern half of the county.<ref name="mp2000"/> In the same ballot as the 1976 presidential election, 56.8% of New Jersey voters approved an initiative to allow legalized gambling in Atlantic City. Two years later, Resorts Atlantic City opened as the first casino in the city, and there were 15 by 1990. Since then, five have closed, including four in 2014, while two casinos – the Borgata and Ocean Resort Casino – have opened. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City opened in 2018, refurbishing the former Trump Taj Mahal.<ref name="lib">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="mp2000"/> In 1978, Congress created the Pinelands National Reserve, which created the Pinelands Commission and a management policy for the seven counties in the Pine Barrens, including Atlantic County.<ref name="mp2000"/><ref name="cmp">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Concurrent with the 1980 Presidential election, Atlantic County residents voted in favor to create a new state of South Jersey, along with five other counties in a nonbinding referendum.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

Atlantic County is located about Template:Convert south of New York City and about Template:Convert southeast of Philadelphia.<ref name="mp2000">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It is roughly Template:Convert in width by Template:Convert in height.<ref name="hist"/> According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert was land (82.7%) and Template:Convert was water (17.3%).<ref name=CensusArea>2020 Census Gazetteer File for Counties in New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed April 1, 2023.</ref>

The county lies along the Atlantic Coastal Plain, with sea level and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Adjacent to the coast are three barrier islands – Absecon Island (Which contains Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, and Longport), Brigantine Island, and Little Beach.<ref name="mp2000"/> To the west of the barrier islands, Template:Convert stretch of marshlands, inlets, and waterways connect and form the Intracoastal Waterway.<ref name="intercoastal">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="hist"/> Beneath the county is a mile of clay and sand that contains the Kirkwood–Cohansey aquifer, which supplies fresh groundwater for all of the streams and rivers in the region. The interior of the county is part of the Pine Barrens, which covers the southern third of New Jersey, and is prone to forest fires. Lowland areas are swampy and contain pitch pine or white cedar trees. Upland areas in the west of the county are hilly, containing oak and pine trees.<ref name="mp2000"/> The highest elevation in the county – about Template:Convert above sea level – is found near the border with Camden County, on the west side of Hammonton.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The county's western boundary with Burlington and Camden counties, clarified in 1761, is a manmade line about halfway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Delaware Bay.<ref name="Story"/>

Climate

Template:Climate chart In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Mays Landing have ranged from a low of Template:Convert in January to a high of Template:Convert in July, although a record low of Template:Convert was recorded in February 1979 and a record high of Template:Convert was recorded in June 1969. Average monthly precipitation ranged from Template:Convert in February to Template:Convert in March.<ref name="weather"/>Template:Dead link

The county has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Average monthly temperatures in central Atlantic City range from Template:Convert in January to Template:Convert in July, while in Folsom they range from Template:Convert in January to Template:Convert in July.<ref>Time Series Values for Individual Locations, Oregon State University. Accessed January 6, 2023.</ref>

In December 1992, a nor'easter produced the highest tide on record in Atlantic City, Template:Convert above mean lower low water.<ref name="ncdc"/> Former Hurricane Sandy struck near Brigantine as an extratropical cyclone, which produced an all-time minimum barometric pressure of Template:Convert and wind gusts to Template:Convert in Atlantic City, as well as a storm surge that inundated low-lying areas. Three people died in the county during the storm, and damage was estimated at $300 million (2012 USD).<ref>Template:Cite report</ref><ref name="ncdc">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Demographics

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 274,549 people, 102,847 households, and 68,702 families in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 126,647 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup was 65.40% (179,566) White, 16.08% (44,138) Black or African American, 0.38% (1,050) Native American, 7.50% (20,595) Asian, 0.03% (92) Pacific Islander, 7.36% (20,218) from other races, and 3.24% (8,890) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.84% (46,241) of the population.<ref name=Census2010/>

Of the 102,847 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18; 45.6% were married couples living together; 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present and 33.2% were non-families. Of all households, 26.9% were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.17.<ref name=Census2010/>

23.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.9 years. For every 100 females, the population had 94.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 91 males.<ref name=Census2010/>

Government

County government

In 1974, Atlantic County voters changed the county governmental form under the Optional County Charter Law to the County executive form. Atlantic County joins Bergen, Essex, Hudson and Mercer counties as one of the five of 21 New Jersey counties with an elected executive.<ref>Rinde, Meir. "Explainer: What's a Freeholder? NJ's Unusual County Government System", NJ Spotlight, October 27, 2015. Accessed February 25, 2018. "Five counties – Atlantic, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Mercer – opted for popularly elected county executives in addition to freeholder boards."</ref> The charter provides for a directly elected executive and a nine-member Atlantic County Board of County Commissioners, responsible for legislation. The executive is elected to a four-year term and the freeholders are elected to staggered three-year terms, of which four are elected from the county on an at-large basis and five of the freeholders represent equally populated districts.<ref name=Commissioners>Atlantic County Board of County Commissioners, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed October 9, 2022.</ref><ref name=DistrictMap/> In 2016, freeholders were paid $20,000 a year, while the freeholder chairman was paid an annual salary of $21,500.<ref>Gallo Jr., Bill. "Which N.J. county freeholders are paid the most?", NJ.com, March 11, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2017. "Freeholder chairman: $21,500; Other freeholders: $20,000"</ref>

Template:As of, Atlantic County Executive is Dennis Levinson (R, Northfield), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2027.<ref>County Executive, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed May 17, 2022.</ref> Members of the Board of County Commissioners are (with terms for chair and vice-chair ending December 31):<ref name=Commissioners/><ref>Atlantic County 2022 Manual, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed October 9, 2022.</ref><ref name=DistrictMap>Atlantic County District Map, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed January 3, 2023.</ref>

District	Commissioner
Commissioner District 1: Atlantic City, Egg Harbor Township (part), Longport, Margate City, and Ventnor City.	Ernest D. Coursey (D, Atlantic City, 2025)<ref>Ernest D. Coursey, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed October 9, 2022.</ref>
Commissioner District 2: Absecon, Egg Harbor Township (part), Linwood, Northfield, Somers Point and Pleasantville	Chair Maureen Kern (R, Somers Point, 2027)<ref>Maureen Kern, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed October 9, 2022.</ref>
Commissioner District 3: Egg Harbor Township (part) and Hamilton Township (part)	Andrew Parker III (R, Egg Harbor Township, 2026)<ref>Andrew W. Parker III, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed January 3, 2023.</ref>
Commissioner District 4: Brigantine, Galloway Township, Egg Harbor Township (part), and Port Republic	Richard R. Dase (R, Galloway Township, 2025)<ref>Richard R. Dase, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed October 9, 2022.</ref>
Commissioner District 5: Buena, Buena Vista Township, Corbin City, Egg Harbor City, Estell Manor, Folsom, Hamilton Township (part), Hammonton, Mullica Township and Weymouth Township	Vice-chair James A. Bertino (R, Hammonton, 2027)<ref>James A. Bertino, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed October 9, 2022.</ref>
Commissioner At-Large	Michael Ruffu (R, Margate, 2027)<ref>[1], Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed January 13, 2025.</ref>
Commissioner At-Large:	June Byrnes (R, Somers Point, 2026)<ref>Caren L. Fitzpatrick, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed October 9, 2022.</ref>
Commissioner At-Large	Amy L. Gatto (R, Hamilton Township, 2025)<ref>Amy L. Gatto, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed October 9, 2022.</ref>
Commissioner At-Large:	John W. Risley (R, Egg Harbor Township, 2026)<ref>John W. Risley, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed October 9, 2022.</ref>

Democrats have not won a county-wide office since 2020. Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the New Jersey State Constitution, each county in New Jersey is required to have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the County Clerk and County Surrogate (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the County Sheriff (elected for a three-year term).<ref>New Jersey State Constitution (1947), Article VII, Section II, Paragraph 2, New Jersey Department of State. Accessed October 26, 2017.</ref> Atlantic County's constitutional officers are:<ref>Constitutional Officers, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed October 9, 2022.</ref>

Title	Representative
County Clerk	Joseph J. Giralo (R, 2026, Hammonton)<ref>[2], Contact Us, Atlantic County Clerk's Office. Accessed May 29, 2023.</ref><ref>Members List: Clerks, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed January 3, 2023.</ref>
Sheriff	Joe O'Donoghue (R, 2026, Egg Harbor Township)<ref>[3], Atlantic County Sheriff's Office. Accessed October 9, 2022.</ref><ref>Members List: Sheriffs, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed October 9, 2022.</ref>
Surrogate	James Curcio (R, 2025, Hammonton)<ref>Surrogate's Office, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed October 21, 2017.</ref><ref>Members List: Surrogates, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed October 9, 2022.</ref>

The Atlantic County Prosecutor is William E. Reynolds of Absecon, New Jersey, who took office in June 2022 after being nominated the previous month on May 16, 2022, by Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy and receiving confirmation on August 8, 2022, from the New Jersey Senate.<ref>"Confirmation Of Atlantic County Prosecutor & Media Inquiries", Office of the Atlantic County Prosecutor, August 12, 2022. Accessed October 9, 2022. "The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office is proud to announce that the New Jersey State Senate unanimously approved William E. Reynolds, of Absecon, as the next Atlantic County Prosecutor at a special session on August 8, 2022."</ref><ref>"Governor Murphy Announces Nominations of Burlington County and Atlantic County Prosecutors", Governor of New Jersey, press release May 16, 2022. Accessed October 9, 2022. "Governor Phil Murphy today nominated LaChia Bradshaw to serve as Burlington County Prosecutor and William Reynolds to serve as Atlantic County Prosecutor."</ref> Atlantic County, along with Cape May County, is part of Vicinage 1 of New Jersey Superior Court. The Atlantic County Civil Courthouse Complex is in Atlantic City, while criminal cases are heard in May's Landing; the Assignment Judge for Vicinage 1 is Michael Blee A.J.S.C.<ref>Atlantic/Cape May Counties, New Jersey Courts. Accessed October 21, 2017.</ref>

Federal representatives

The 2nd Congressional District covers all of Atlantic County.<ref>2012 Congressional Districts by County, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections. Accessed October 2, 2013.</ref><ref>Plan Components Report, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, December 23, 2011. Accessed October 2, 2013.</ref> Template:NJ Congress 02

State representatives

The 23 municipalities of Atlantic County are part of four legislative districts.

District	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Assembly <ref name=":0" />	Municipalities
1st	Mike Testa (R)	Antwan McClellan (R) Erik K. Simonsen (R)	Corbin City, Estell Manor and Weymouth Township. The remainder of this district covers portions of Cape May County & Cumberland County.
2nd	Vincent J. Polistina (R)	Don Guardian (R) Claire Swift (R)	Absecon City, Atlantic City, Brigantine, Egg Harbor Township, Galloway Township, Hamilton Township, Linwood, Longport, Margate City, Northfield, Pleasantville, Port Republic, Somers Point and Ventnor City.
4th	Paul D. Moriarty (D)	Dan Hutchinson (D) Cody Miller (D)	Buena and Buena Vista Township. The remainder of this district includes portions of Camden County and Gloucester County.
8th	Latham Tiver (R)	Michael Torrissi (R) Andrea Katz (D)	Egg Harbor City, Folsom, Hammonton, and Mullica Township. The remainder of this district includes portions of Burlington County.

Politics

In national elections, Atlantic County is competitive, in contrast to the other three counties on the Jersey Shore– Monmouth, Ocean, and Cape May counties– which tend to lean Republican. The county flipped to Donald Trump in 2024, having previously not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since George H. W. Bush in 1988. It is considered a swing county in down-ballot races, and Republicans hold most of its seats in the state legislature and in county-level offices. As of October 1, 2021, there were a total of 209,135 registered voters in Atlantic County, of whom 74,565 (35.7%) were registered as Democrats, 57,223 (27.4%) were registered as Republicans and 74,404 (35.6%) were registered as unaffiliated. There were 2,943 (1.4%) voters registered to other parties.<ref>Statewide Voter Registration Summary, New Jersey Department of State, as of October 1, 2021. Accessed January 6, 2023.</ref> Among the county's 2010 Census population, 62.5% were registered to vote, including 76.7% of those ages 18 and over.<ref name="VoterRegistration">Statewide Voter Registration Summary Template:Webarchive, New Jersey Department of State Division of Elections, as of October 31, 2014. Accessed May 11, 2015.</ref><ref>GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State – County / County Equivalent from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed May 11, 2015.</ref>

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CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Year	Republican	Democratic
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2021	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|55.3% 44,977	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|44.0% 35,736
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2017	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|42.5% 28,456	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|55.1% 36,952
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2013	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|62.2% 43,975	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|36.1% 25,557
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|2009	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|48.5% 35,724	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|45.3% 33,360
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2005	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|43.2% 28,004	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|53.3% 34,539
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|2001	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|41.0% 27,547	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|57.5% 38,623
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|1997	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|47.3% 31,364	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|43.9% 29,091
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|1993	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|39.5% 25,833	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|58.4% 38,186
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|1989	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|34.2% 21,987	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|64.8% 39,917
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|1985	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|69.1% 38,477	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|29.8% 16,611
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|1981	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|51.5% 33,466	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|47.3% 30,716
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|1977	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|39.4% 25,020	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|58.0% 36,790
style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|1973	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Republican|46.2% 27,547	style="text-align:center;" Template:Party shading/Democratic|51.1% 30,513

Economy

The Bureau of Economic Analysis calculated that the county's gross domestic product was $12.4 billion in 2021, which was ranked 15th in the state and was an 8.8% increase from the prior year.<ref>Gross Domestic Product by County, 2021, Bureau of Economic Analysis, released December 8, 2022. Accessed July 17, 2023.</ref>

When Atlantic County was first established in 1837, its sparse population subsided on clams, oysters, and fishing. An early industry was shipbuilding, using the sturdy oak trees of the Pine Barrens.<ref name="hist"/> Bog iron furnaces opened in the early 1800s, but declined by the 1850s due to the growth of the Philadelphia iron industry. Around this time, several people and cotton mills opened. The first railroad across the county opened in 1854, intended to assist the bog iron industry; instead, it spurred development in Atlantic City, as well as the growth of farming towns.<ref name="mp2000"/> Farmers began growing grapes, cranberries, and blueberries.<ref name="survey"/> The competition dropped the price of travel to 50¢, affordable for Philadelphia's working class.<ref name="lemon">Template:Cite news</ref> Travelers often brought their lunch in shoe boxes, leading to their nickname "shoobies".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Legalized gambling and the growth of the casino industry employed more than 34,145 people as of 2012.<ref name="lib"/>

Breweries, distilleries, and wineries

In 1864, Louis Nicholas Renault brought property in Egg Harbor City and opened Renault Winery, the oldest active winery in New Jersey, and third-oldest in the United States. During the prohibition era, the winery obtained a government permit to sell wine tonic for medicinal purposes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=nyt>Template:Cite news</ref> Tomasello Winery grew its first vineyard in 1888, and opened to the public in 1933. Gross Highland Winery operated in Absecon from 1934 to 1987, when it was sold to developers. Balic Winery opened in 1966 in Mays Landing,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> although its vineyards date back to the early 19th century.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Sylvin Farms Winery opened in 1985 in Egg Harbor City.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2001, Bellview Winery opened in the Landisville section of Buena.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A year later, DiMatteo Vineyards opened in Hammonton,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and in 2007, Plagido's Winery opened in the same town.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1998, Tun Tavern Brewery opened in Atlantic City across from the Atlantic City Convention Center, named after the original Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, which was the oldest brew house in the country, opening in 1685.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2015, Tuckahoe Brewing moved from Ocean View to a facility in Egg Harbor Township capable of producing four times the amount of beer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Garden State Beer Company opened in 2016 in Galloway.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2018, Hidden Sands Brewery opened in Egg Harbor Township.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2014, Lazy Eye Distillery opened in Richland in Buena Vista Township.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Little Water Distillery opened in Atlantic City in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Municipalities

File:Atlantic County, New Jersey Municipalities.png

Index map of Atlantic County (click to see index key)

The 23 municipalities in Atlantic County (with 2010 Census data for population, housing units and area) are:<ref>GCT-PH1: Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County – County Subdivision and Place from the 2010 Census Summary File 1 for Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States Census Bureau. Accessed January 18, 2014.</ref>

Municipality (with map key)	Map key	Mun. type	Pop.	Housing units	Total area	Water area	Land area	Pop. density	Housing density	School district	Communities<ref>Locality Search Template:Webarchive, State of New Jersey. Accessed May 11, 2015.</ref>
Absecon	11	City	9,137	3,365	7.29	1.90	5.40	1558.8	623.6	Pleasantville (9–12) (S/R) Absecon (PK-8)
Atlantic City	10	City	38,497	20,013	17.04	6.29	10.75	3680.8	1862.2	Atlantic City
Brigantine	12	City	7,716	9,222	10.36	3.98	6.39	1479.5	1443.8	Atlantic City (9–12) (S/R) Brigantine (PK-8)
Buena	17	Borough	4,501	1,855	7.58	0.00	7.58	607.4	244.8	Buena	Landisville Minotola
Buena Vista Township	18	Township	7,033	3,008	41.53	0.47	41.05	184.4	73.3	Buena	Collings Lakes CDP (1,501) East Vineland CDP (925) Milmay CDP (part) (919) Newtonville CDP (742) Richland CDP (623)
Corbin City	2	City	471	212	8.94	1.28	7.67	64.2	27.7	Ocean City (9–12) (S/R) Upper Township (K-8) (S/R)
Egg Harbor City	14	City	4,396	1,736	11.44	0.51	10.93	388.1	158.8	Greater Egg Harbor (9–12) Egg Harbor City (PK-8)
Egg Harbor Township	21	Township	47,842	16,347	74.93	8.34	66.6	650.5	245.5	Egg Harbor Township	Bargaintown CDP (5,360) English Creek CDP (3,364)
Estell Manor	1	City	1,668	673	55.10	1.78	53.32	32.5	12.6	Buena (9–12) (S/R) Estell Manor (K-8)
Folsom	16	Borough	1,811	717	8.44	0.24	8.2	229.8	87.4	Hammonton (9–12) (S/R) Folsom (PK-8)	Penny Pot
Galloway	22	Township	37,813	14,132	115.21	26.14	89.07	419.3	158.7	Greater Egg Harbor (9–12) Galloway Township (PK-8)	Absecon Highlands CDP (1,414) Cologne CDP (1,461) Germania CDP (297) Leeds Point CDP (205) Oceanville CDP (793) Pomona CDP (7,416) Smithville CDP (7,242) Stockon University CDP (2,428)
Hamilton Township	20	Township	27,484	10,196	113.07	1.94	111.13	238.5	91.8	Greater Egg Harbor (9–12) Hamilton Township (PK-8)	Mays Landing CDP (5,603) McKee City CDP (9,758) Mizpah CDP (479)
Hammonton	15	Town	14,711	5,715	41.42	0.53	40.89	361.8	139.8	Hammonton
Linwood	5	City	6,971	2,798	4.24	0.38	3.87	1834.9	723.9	Mainland Regional (9–12) Linwood (PK-8)
Longport	4	Borough	893	1,656	1.56	1.17	0.39	2323.7	4299.4	Ocean City (9–12) (S/R) Margate (K-8) (S/R)
Margate City	6	City	5,317	7,114	1.63	0.22	1.42	4490.3	5027.4	Atlantic City (9–12) (S/R) Margate (K-8)
Mullica Township	23	Township	5,816	2,360	56.9	0.48	56.42	108.9	41.8	Greater Egg Harbor (9–12) Mullica Township (PK-8)	Elwood CDP (1,215) Nesco CDP (422) Sweetwater CDP (805)
Northfield	7	City	8,434	3,260	3.44	0.04	3.40	2533.7	957.8	Mainland Regional (9–12) Northfield (K-8)
Pleasantville	9	City	20,629	7,219	7.30	1.60	5.69	3556.5	1267.9	Pleasantville
Port Republic	13	City	1,101	444	8.58	1.10	7.48	149.0	59.3	Greater Egg Harbor (9–12) (S/R) Port Republic (K-8)
Somers Point	3	City	10,469	5,556	5.16	1.13	4.03	2678.8	1378.7	Mainland Regional (9–12) Somers Point (PK-8)
Ventnor City	8	City	9,210	7,829	3.52	1.57	1.95	5457.4	4011.8	Atlantic City (9–12) (S/R) Ventnor (PK-8)
Weymouth Township	19	Township	2,614	1,220	12.45	0.36	12.09	224.6	100.9	Buena (9–12) (S/R) Weymouth Township (PK-8)	Dorothy CDP (1,057)

Education

Institutions of higher education in Atlantic County include:

• Atlantic Cape Community College in Mays Landing serves students from both Atlantic and Cape May counties, having been created in 1964 as the state's second county college.<ref>History, Atlantic Cape Community College. Accessed October 2, 2013.</ref> Rutgers University offers an off-site program at Atlantic Cape Community College that allows students with an associate degree from an accredited college to earn a bachelor's degree from Rutgers.<ref>Rutgers Off Campus - Atlantic Cape, Rutgers University. Accessed October 28, 2013.</ref>
• Stockton University, in Galloway Township, was established to provide a four-year college serving the South Jersey area.<ref>History, Stockton University. Accessed October 21, 2017.</ref>

School districts include:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} - Text list</ref> Template:Div col

• Absecon City School District (listed as K-12, but only has K-8)
• Atlantic City School District
• Brigantine City School District (listed as K-12, but only has K-8)
• Buena Regional School District
• Corbin City School District (non-operating school district)
• Egg Harbor Township School District
• Estell Manor City School District (listed as K-12, but only has K-8)
• Folsom Borough School District (listed as K-12, but only has K-8)
• Hammonton Town School District
• Longport Borough School District (non-operating school district)
• Margate City School District (listed as K-12, but only has K-8)
• Pleasantville City School District
• Port Republic City School District (listed as K-12, but only has K-8)
• Ventnor City School District (listed as K-12, but only has K-8)
• Weymouth Township School District (listed as K-12, but only has K-8)

Secondary:

• Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District
• Mainland Regional School District

Elementary: Template:Div col

• Egg Harbor City School District
• Galloway Township School District
• Hamilton Township School District
• Linwood City School District
• Mullica Township School District
• Northfield City School District
• Somers Point City School District

Health and police services

AtlantiCare is the largest non-casino employer, with a staff of over 5,500 people over five counties, established in 1993 by the Atlantic City Medical Center Board of Governors. Atlantic City Hospital opened in 1898, becoming Atlantic City Medical Center in 1973. Two years later, the hospital built its Mainland Division in Pomona.<ref name="atlanticare">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> AtlantiCare has also opened four urgent care centers.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1928, Dr. Charles Ernst and Dr. Frank Inksetter built Atlantic Shores Hospital and Sanitarium in Somers Point as a private institute for the treatment of alcohol and drug dependency. In 1940, citizens turned the facility into the not-for-profit Shore Medical Center, which has expanded over time to add more beds and units.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="report">Template:Cite report</ref>

In 1840, the first county jail opened in Mays Landing, designed by Thomas Ustick Walter, who also designed the U.S. Capital building. This facility was replaced by newer facilities in 1932, 1962, and the current Gerard L. Gormley Justice Facility in 1985, which can hold 1,000 inmates. The facility has been controlled by the Atlantic County Department of Public Safety since 1987.<ref name="jail"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Parks and recreation

National protected areas

• Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge covers Template:Convert of coastal habitat in Atlantic and Ocean counties.<ref>Edwin P. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge Template:Webarchive, United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Accessed October 24, 2017. "Welcome to the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, where more than 47,000 acres of southern New Jersey coastal habitats are actively protected and managed for wildlife and for you."</ref>
• Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River runs from Camden County to Great Egg Harbor.<ref>Great Egg Harbor River, United States National Park Service. Accessed October 24, 2017. "Starting as a trickle near Berlin, NJ, the River gradually widens as it picks up the waters of 17 tributaries on its way to Great Egg Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean. Established by Congress in 1992, nearly all of this 129-mile river system rests within the Pinelands National Reserve."</ref>

Transportation

File:1906AtlanticCityTrainWreck.jpg

1906 Atlantic City train wreck recovery

The indigenous people of New Jersey developed a series of trails across the state, including one from current-day Absecon to Camden.<ref name="Story"/> Early transportation relied on the region's waterways. An early coastal road was constructed in 1716 from Somers Point to Nacote Creek in Port Republic. Roads into the county's interior were slow, unreliable, and muddy, with one main roadway along the Mullica River that eventually connected to Burlington. Roads later connected the region's industries in the 19th century,<ref name="survey"/> until the county's first railroad opened in 1854, which brought more people to the region.<ref name="hist"/> By 1870, the Camden and Atlantic Railroad Company carried 417,000 people each year. Also in that year, the Pleasantville and Atlantic Turnpike opened, crossing Beach Thorofare into Atlantic City.<ref name="survey"/> A railroad competitor, the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway, opened in 1877 after only 90 days of construction.<ref name="beac"/> Other rail lines connected farms and cities throughout the county by the end of the 19th century.<ref name="survey"/> A notable railroad tragedy occurred on October 28, 1906, when three train cars derailed on a draw bridge into Template:Convert deep water in Beach Thorofare, killing 53 people, with only two survivors.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Improved roads reduced the reliance on railroads by the 1950s.<ref name="survey"/>

In the late 1800s, a bridge opened in Mays Landing, providing road access to the county's interior.<ref name="bee">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The first car in Atlantic City was seen in 1899. By the 1890s, visitors began riding bicycles in the coastal resort towns, and thousands of people would ride from Camden to the coast on weekends.<ref name="survey">Template:Cite report</ref> Amid pressure from motorists and cyclists, the county improved the conditions of the roads in the early 20th century. The first road bridge to Atlantic City opened in 1905, using Albany Avenue on what is now US 40/US 322. In 1916, the causeway that is now New Jersey Route 152 opened between Somers Point and Longport. In 1919, the White Horse Pike (US 30) was completed from Atlantic City to Camden, and repaved through the county in 1925. Also in 1922, the Harding Highway (US 40) opened from Pennsville Township to Atlantic City, named after then-President Warren G. Harding.<ref name="lemon"/> In 1928, the Beesley's Point Bridge opened, replacing the ferry between Somers Point and Cape May County.<ref name="bee"/> The Black Horse Pike (US 322) opened in 1935, connecting Atlantic City to Camden. Most of the county's older bridges were replaced over time; formerly the oldest still in existence was a swing bridge from 1904 that crosses Nacote Creek in Port Republic,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="survey"/><ref name="lemon"/>Template:Failed verification but work on that bridge's replacement began in summer of 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Great Egg Harbor Bridge opened in 1956, marking the completion of the Garden State Parkway, which connected Cape May and Atlantic counties, continuing to North Jersey.<ref name="bee"/> In 1964, the Atlantic City Expressway opened between the Parkway and Camden County, and a year later was extended into Atlantic City. In 2001, the Atlantic City–Brigantine Connector was built, connecting the Expressway with Atlantic City's marina district.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

As early as 1990, the South Jersey Transportation Authority had plans to construct an Atlantic County Beltway as a limited-access road, beginning along Ocean Heights Avenue in southern Egg Harbor Township at a proposed Exit 32 with the Garden State Parkway. The proposed road would pass west of the Atlantic City Airport and reconnect with the Parkway at Exit 44 via County Route 575 in Galloway Township. The routing was later truncated from U.S. 40 (the Black Horse Pike) to Exit 44 on the Parkway. The project was considered "desirable" but was not funded.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref><ref>Template:Cite report</ref>

Roads and highways

Template:As of, the county had a total of Template:Convert of public roadways, of which Template:Convert were maintained by the local municipality, Template:Convert by the county, Template:Convert by the NJ Department of Transportation, and Template:Convert by either the New Jersey Turnpike Authority or South Jersey Transportation Authority. State and local park services are responsible for Template:Convert of roadway, while Template:Convert fall under federal jurisdiction (either military, National Park Service, or other federal agency).<ref>Atlantic County Mileage by Municipality and Jurisdiction, New Jersey Department of Transportation, 2017. Accessed June 7, 2024.</ref>

Major highways

Major roadways include:<ref>Fast Facts About Atlantic County, Atlantic County, New Jersey. Accessed October 21, 2017.</ref><ref>Atlantic County Road Map, New Jersey Department of Transportation. Accessed December 1, 2019.</ref>

• Garden State Parkway (with Template:Convert in the county)
• Atlantic City Expressway (Template:Convert)
• U.S. Route 9
• U.S. Route 30
• U.S. Route 40
• U.S. Route 206
• U.S. Route 322
• Route 49
• Route 50
• Route 52
• Route 54
• Route 87
• Route 152

Public transportation

NJ Transit's Atlantic City Line connects the Atlantic City Rail Terminal in Atlantic City with the 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, with service at intermediate stations at Hammonton, Egg Harbor City and Absecon in the county.<ref>Atlantic City Rail Line, NJ Transit. Accessed December 24, 2013.</ref><ref>South Jersey Transit Guide Template:Webarchive, Cross County Connection, as of April 1, 2010. Accessed May 11, 2015.</ref>

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Atlantic County, New Jersey

External links

• Atlantic County website
• History of Atlantic County, New Jersey