History of Atlantic City

The dozen casinos that dot the world’s first and longest ocean-front boardwalk have helped Atlantic City regain the fame it enjoyed as one of the country’s first seaside resorts.

The infamous boardwalk

Atlantic City was founded in 1793 and began its rise in 1854, the same year that saw the opening of train links to Philadelphia and New York. Sixteen years later, the city unveiled its boardwalk, which became an attraction where the well-heeled could stroll along the breezy coast.

Miss America pageant

In 1921, the city began hosting the Miss America pageant, drawing national crowds and attention as well as extending its busy summer season beyond the traditional closing date, American Labour Day. The city gained further worldwide fame in 1935, with Parker Brothers’ wide release of the popular Monopoly board game, which was marked by Atlantic City street names.

After losing much of its appeal with the introduction of cheaper flights to beaches in Florida in the mid-20th century, the city began to fall into disrepair. Its stature as host city to the Democratic National Convention in 1964, which nominated Lyndon B Johnson in his successful bid for the US presidency, only served to highlight its decaying infrastructure. To force a turnaround, in 1976, the state paved the way for casino gambling.

Casinos open

Two years later, Resorts International opened as the first legal gambling house on the East Coast and today, 12 casinos are in operation along the beach and marina. In the last 30 years, the city has regained much of its fame with the glamour and grandeur of its gambling houses, although there’s been much contention as to the effect it has had beyond the beachfront and marina.

Recent times

In recent years, the city has done much to develop attractions to draw in younger audiences.  These include parks and shopping areas in newly redeveloped blocks near to the beach.