Atlantic County Shore Resort
Welcome to Atlantic City, the Atlantic County seaside resort known worldwide for its boardwalk, casino hotels, and wide ocean beaches on Absecon Island.
Atlantic City occupies much of Absecon Island, a barrier island on the New Jersey coast in Atlantic County, about 60 miles southeast of Philadelphia. It was laid out in the mid-19th century as a seaside resort, and its famous Boardwalk, built in 1870, made it one of the country's first great beach destinations. Salt water taffy is said to have been invented here in 1883, and grand hotels lined the shore for generations. The Absecon Lighthouse, among the tallest in the United States, still stands as a reminder of that era. In 1976 New Jersey voters approved casino gambling for the city, and the first casino opened in 1978, reshaping the economy around gaming, hospitality, and tourism. Today casino hotels such as Bally's, Caesars, Tropicana, Hard Rock, and Ocean stand along the Boardwalk, joined by the convention center, the Steel Pier, and a year-round calendar of concerts, conventions, and events. Away from the resort core, Atlantic City is also a working residential city of roughly 38,600 people, with neighborhoods of rowhouses, single-family homes, and condominiums. Public schools fall under Atlantic City Public Schools, and families also have access to private and parochial school options in the city and nearby shore towns. The city sits at the eastern end of the Atlantic City Expressway, and NJ Transit's Atlantic City Rail Line offers direct rail service from Philadelphia's 30th Street Station. Atlantic City International Airport lies nearby in Egg Harbor Township, and NJ Transit buses and local jitneys move people around the island. The city's compact, walkable core means many visitors park once and explore the Boardwalk on foot. Its blend of beach, entertainment, and everyday neighborhoods makes Atlantic City distinct among New Jersey shore towns — a place where the casino and resort economy coexists with long-established residential blocks, parks, and community institutions that operate year-round.
Atlantic City is in Atlantic County, New Jersey. The city occupies Absecon Island, a barrier island on the Atlantic Ocean, about 60 miles southeast of Philadelphia and roughly 125 miles south of New York City.
Atlantic City is known as a seaside resort with a famous Boardwalk, wide ocean beaches, and a row of casino hotels including Bally's, Caesars, Tropicana, Hard Rock, and Ocean. Casino gambling was legalized in New Jersey in 1976, and the city has been a major Northeast beach destination since the late 19th century.
NJ Transit's Atlantic City Rail Line runs directly from Philadelphia's 30th Street Station to the rail terminal next to the Atlantic City Convention Center, with no transfers. By car, the Atlantic City Expressway is the main route into the city from the west.
Atlantic City is served by the Atlantic City Public Schools district, which operates elementary, middle, and high schools within the city and is part of Atlantic County's school choice program. Private and parochial school options are also available in the area.
Atlantic City is both a resort destination and a year-round city of about 38,600 residents. Beyond the casino district, neighborhoods such as Venice Park hold single-family homes, and the city offers beaches, parks, and everyday amenities alongside its tourism economy.
City Guide
Atlantic City's housing stock reflects its dual identity as a resort and a year-round city. High- and mid-rise condominium buildings line the beach block, many advertising Atlantic Ocean views over the casino district. Farther from the water, neighborhoods such as Venice Park hold blended blocks of prewar and midcentury single-family homes that resemble landlocked New Jersey suburbs, along with rowhouses and smaller multifamily buildings. This range means buyers can find oceanfront condos, modest bungalows, and classic brick homes within a compact island footprint, suiting both second-home buyers near the shore and residents who live and work in the city year-round.
The resort and casino district hugs the Boardwalk, where high-rise hotels and condos cluster around the beach. To the west and north, residential neighborhoods spread across the island. Venice Park is a well-known inland neighborhood of detached single-family homes from the prewar and midcentury eras. The city's street grid runs between Atlantic and Pacific Avenues and out toward the bay, with the beach block, the midtown business area, and quieter residential streets each offering a different feel. Historic landmarks such as the Absecon Lighthouse anchor the northern end of the island near Gardner's Basin.
Atlantic City's lifestyle centers on the Boardwalk, which stretches along the beach and is lined with casino resorts, restaurants, shops, and attractions including the Steel Pier and its observation wheel. Residents and visitors enjoy ocean beaches with seasonal lifeguard patrols, beachfront dining, live music, and casino entertainment that runs into the night. Beyond the gaming floors, the city has an established local culture of diners, neighborhood restaurants, and community institutions. The pace is livelier than a typical shore town, with conventions, headline performances, and year-round events drawing people to the island in every season.
Public education in Atlantic City is provided by the Atlantic City Public Schools district, which serves students from pre-kindergarten through high school. The district operates elementary, middle, and high schools within the city and participates in New Jersey's school choice program as part of Atlantic County's public school landscape. Families also have access to private and parochial school options in the city and surrounding shore communities. For higher education and training, Atlantic Cape Community College and Stockton University, which has a campus in Atlantic City, serve the region.
Atlantic City is connected to the Philadelphia region by the Atlantic City Expressway, the primary highway into the city from the west. NJ Transit's Atlantic City Rail Line runs directly from Philadelphia's 30th Street Station to the rail terminal adjacent to the Atlantic City Convention Center, with no transfers. Within the city, NJ Transit buses and local jitney shuttles move riders along the island. Atlantic City International Airport, in nearby Egg Harbor Township, offers scheduled airline service for regional and national travel. The city's compact, walkable core means many visitors park once and explore the Boardwalk on foot.
The Atlantic City Boardwalk is the city's central recreation corridor, offering ocean views, beach access, and attractions such as the Steel Pier and its observation wheel. Public beaches run the length of the island with seasonal lifeguard patrols. The Absecon Lighthouse, one of the tallest in the nation, offers climbs and views over the shore. Gardner's Basin, at the north end, is home to the Atlantic City Aquarium and waterfront dining. Casino resorts provide pools, spas, and entertainment venues, while the convention center and Boardwalk Hall host major events, concerts, and sporting contests throughout the year.
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