Atlantic County, New Jersey

Atlantic County
County
Atlantic City's boardwalk, the nation's first boardwalk, at night
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New Jersey
New Jersey's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°28′N 74°38′W / 39.47°N 74.64°W / 39.47; -74.64
Country	United States
State	New Jersey
Founded	1837
Named for	Atlantic Ocean[1]
Seat	Mays Landing[2]
Largest municipality	Egg Harbor Township (population) Galloway Township (total area) Hamilton Township (land area)
Government
• County executive	Dennis Levinson (R, term ends December 31, 2023)[3]
Area [4]
• Total	671.84 sq mi (1,740.1 km2)
• Land	555.51 sq mi (1,438.8 km2)
• Water	116.32 sq mi (301.3 km2)  17.3%
Population  (2020)[5][6]
• Total	274,534
• Estimate  (2023)[5][7]	275,213
• Density	410/sq mi (160/km2)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	atlantic-county.org

Interactive map of 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,^[8] with a population of 274,534,^[5][6] a drop of 15 from the 2010 census count of 274,549.^[9] Its county seat is the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township.^[2] The county is part of the Jersey Shore^[10] and of the South Jersey region of the state.^[11]

The most populous place in Atlantic County was Egg Harbor Township, with 47,842 residents at the time of the 2020 census;^[6] Galloway Township, covered 115.21 square miles (298.4 km²), the largest total area of any municipality, though Hamilton Township has the largest land area, covering 111.13 square miles (287.8 km²).^[12] Atlantic County forms the Atlantic City–Hammonton metropolitan statistical area,^[13] which is also part of the Delaware Valley combined statistical area / Philadelphia metro area.^[14][15]

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

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".^[16][17] 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.^[16] Great Egg Harbour Township, also called New Weymouth and later just Egg Harbor, was designated in 1693 from the eastern portions of Gloucester County.^[16]

The region's early European settlers, many of them Quakers, lived along the area's waterways. In 1695, John Somers purchased 300 acres (120 ha) 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.^[18] Daniel Leeds first surveyed the coastal waters of Egg Harbor in 1698, eventually finding Leeds Point.^[19] 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.^[20] In the early 18th century, George May founded Mays Landing.^[19]

In 1774, the northern portion of Egg Harbor Township became Galloway Township.^[16] 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.^[21] 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,^[16] choosing Mays Landing as the county seat. In the same year, the Board of Freeholders was established as the county government.^[19] 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.^[22]

Mullica Township was established from Galloway Township in 1837.^[16] In 1852, Dr. Jonathan Pitney recommended Absecon Island as a health resort, and formed the Camden and Atlantic Railroad Company 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.^[23] 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.^[16] 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.^[17]

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.^[16] 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.^[17][24]

In 1973, the New Jersey Coastal Area Facilities Review Act required additional state permitting for construction in the eastern half of the county.^[17] 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.^[25][17] 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.^[17][26] 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.^[27]

Atlantic County is located about 100 miles (160 km) south of New York City and about 60 miles (97 km) southeast of Philadelphia.^[17] It is roughly 30 mi (48 km) in width by 20 mi (32 km) in height.^[22] According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of the 2020 Census, the county had a total area of 671.84 square miles (1,740.1 km²), of which 555.51 square miles (1,438.8 km²) was land (82.7%) and 116.32 square miles (301.3 km²) was water (17.3%).^[4]

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.^[17] To the west of the barrier islands, 4 mi (6.4 km) stretch of marshlands, inlets, and waterways connect and form the Intracoastal Waterway.^[28][22] 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.^[17] The highest elevation in the county – about 150 ft (46 m) above sea level – is found near the border with Camden County, on the west side of Hammonton.^[29] 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.^[16]

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Mays Landing have ranged from a low of 24 °F (−4 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −11 °F (−24 °C) was recorded in February 1979 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in June 1969. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.99 inches (76 mm) in February to 4.21 inches (107 mm) in March.^{[30][dead link‍]}

The county has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Average monthly temperatures in central Atlantic City range from 33.9 °F (1.1 °C) in January to 75.2 °F (24.0 °C) in July, while in Folsom they range from 32.7 °F (0.4 °C) in January to 76.3 °F (24.6 °C) in July.^[31]

In December 1992, a nor'easter produced the highest tide on record in Atlantic City, 9.0 ft (2.7 m) above mean lower low water.^[32] Former Hurricane Sandy struck near Brigantine as an extratropical cyclone, which produced an all-time minimum barometric pressure of 948.5 mbar (28.01 inHg) and wind gusts to 91 mph (146 km/h) 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).^[33][32]

This section needs expansion with: examples with reliable citations. You can help by adding to it. (September 2021)

The 2010 United States census counted 274,549 people, 102,847 households, and 68,702 families in the county. The population density was 494.1 inhabitants per square mile (190.8/km²). There were 126,647 housing units at an average density of 227.9 per square mile (88.0/km²). 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.^[9]

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.^[9]

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.^[9]

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.^[35] The charter provides for a directly elected executive and a nine-member 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.^[36][37] In 2016, freeholders were paid $20,000 a year, while the freeholder chairman was paid an annual salary of $21,500.^[38]

As of 2024^[update], Atlantic County Executive is Dennis Levinson (R, Northfield), whose four-year term of office ends December 31, 2027.^[39] Members of the Board of County Commissioners are (with terms for chair and vice-chair ending December 31):^[36][40][37]

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).^[50] Atlantic County's constitutional officers are:^[51]

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.^[58][59] 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.^[60]

The 2nd Congressional District covers all of Atlantic County.^[61][62] For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's 2nd congressional district is represented by Jeff Van Drew (R, Dennis Township).^[63]

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

In national elections, Atlantic County leans Democratic, in contrast to the other three counties on the Jersey Shore–Monmouth, Ocean, and Cape May counties–which tend to lean Republican. It has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since George H. W. Bush in 1988. However, it is considered a swing county in down-ballot races, and Republicans hold most of its seats in the state legislature. 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.^[65] Among the county's 2010 Census population, 62.5% were registered to vote, including 76.7% of those ages 18 and over.^[66][67]

In the 2020 presidential election, Democrat Joe Biden received 73,808 votes (52.7%) in the county, ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 64,438 (46.0%). In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 60,924 votes (51.0%) in the county, ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 52,690 votes (44.1%), and other candidates with 3,677 (3.1%). In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 65,600 votes (57.9%) in the county, ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 46,522 votes (41.1%) and other candidates with 1,057 votes (0.9%), among the 113,231 ballots cast by the county's 172,204 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.8%.^[68][69] In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 67,830 votes (56.5%) in Atlantic County, ahead of Republican John McCain with 49,902 votes (41.6%) and other candidates with 1,310 votes (1.1%), among the 120,074 ballots cast by the county's 176,316 registered voters, for a turnout of 68.1%.^[70]

In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 35,724 votes (47.7%), ahead of Democrat Jon Corzine with 33,361 votes (44.5%), Independent Chris Daggett with 3,611 votes (4.8%) and other candidates with 913 votes (1.2%), among the 74,915 ballots cast by the county's 166,958 registered voters, yielding a 44.9% turnout.^[72] In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 43,975 votes in the county (60.0%), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 25,557 votes (34.9%) and other candidates with 947 votes (1.3%), among the 73,258 ballots cast by the county's 176,696 registered voters, yielding a 41.5% turnout.^[73][74] In the 2017 gubernatorial election, Republican Kim Guadagno received 28,456 (42.5%) of the vote, and Democrat Phil Murphy received 36,952 (55.1%) of the vote. In the 2021 gubernatorial election, Republican Jack Ciattarelli received 55.3% of the vote (44,977 ballots cast) to Democrat Phil Murphy's 44.0% (35,736 votes), making it one of the three counties that Ciattarelli flipped Republican.

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.^[76]

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.^[22] 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.^[17] Farmers began growing grapes, cranberries, and blueberries.^[24] The competition dropped the price of travel to 50¢, affordable for Philadelphia's working class.^[77] Travelers often brought their lunch in shoe boxes, leading to their nickname "shoobies".^[78]

Legalized gambling and the growth of the casino industry employed more than 34,145 people as of 2012.^[25]

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.^[79][80][81] 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,^[82] although its vineyards date back to the early 19th century.^[83] Sylvin Farms Winery opened in 1985 in Egg Harbor City.^[84] In 2001, Bellview Winery opened in the Landisville section of Buena.^[85] A year later, DiMatteo Vineyards opened in Hammonton,^[86] and in 2007, Plagido's Winery opened in the same town.^[87]

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.^[88] In 2015, Tuckahoe Brewing moved from Ocean View to a facility in Egg Harbor Township capable of producing four times the amount of beer.^[89] Garden State Beer Company opened in 2016 in Galloway.^[90] In 2018, Hidden Sands Brewery opened in Egg Harbor Township.^[91]

In 2014, Lazy Eye Distillery opened in Richland in Buena Vista Township.^[92] Little Water Distillery opened in Atlantic City in 2016.^[93]

Interactive map of municipalities in Atlantic County.

The 23 municipalities in Atlantic County (with 2010 Census data for population, housing units and area) are:^[94]

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.^[96] 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.^[97]
• Stockton University, in Galloway Township, was established to provide a four-year college serving the South Jersey area.^[98]

School districts include:^[99]

Secondary:

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

Elementary:

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.^[100] AtlantiCare has also opened four urgent care centers.^[101] 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.^[102][103]

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.^[21][104]

• Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge covers 47,000 acres (19,000 ha) of coastal habitat in Atlantic and Ocean counties.^[105]
• Great Egg Harbor Scenic and Recreational River runs from Camden County to Great Egg Harbor.^[106]

The indigenous people of New Jersey developed a series of trails across the state, including one from current-day Absecon to Camden.^[16] 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,^[24] until the county's first railroad opened in 1854, which brought more people to the region.^[22] 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.^[24] A railroad competitor, the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railway, opened in 1877 after only 90 days of construction.^[23] Other rail lines connected farms and cities throughout the county by the end of the 19th century.^[24] A notable railroad tragedy occurred on October 28, 1906, when three train cars derailed on a draw bridge into 30 ft (9.1 m) deep water in Beach Thorofare, killing 53 people, with only two survivors.^[107] Improved roads reduced the reliance on railroads by the 1950s.^[24]

In the late 1800s, a bridge opened in Mays Landing, providing road access to the county's interior.^[108] 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.^[24] 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.^[77] In 1928, the Beesley's Point Bridge opened, replacing the ferry between Somers Point and Cape May County.^[108] 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,^{[109][24][77][failed verification]} but work on that bridge's replacement began in summer of 2021.^[110] 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.^[108] 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.^[111]

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.^[112][113]

As of 2017^[update], the county had a total of 1,984 miles (3,193 km) of public roadways, of which 1,395 mi (2,245 km) were maintained by the local municipality, 373 mi (600 km) by the county, 144 mi (232 km) by the NJ Department of Transportation, and 58 mi (93 km) by either the New Jersey Turnpike Authority or South Jersey Transportation Authority. State and local park services are responsible for 7 miles (11 km) of roadway, while 8 mi (13 km) fall under federal jurisdiction (either military, National Park Service, or other federal agency).^[114]

Major roadways include:^[115][116]

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.^[117][118]

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

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