History of Atlantic City New Jersey

Atlantic City is a seaside resort city in New Jersey, known for its casinos, boardwalk, and beaches. It has a long and varied history, dating back to the 17th century. Here are some of the highlights of its past:

• The original inhabitants of the island were the Lenni-Lenape Indians, who used it as a summer home and enjoyed its natural resources
• The first recorded owner of the island was Thomas Budd, an Englishman who received it as a settlement of a claim in the late 1670s. 
• The first permanent settler on the island was Jeremiah Leeds, who built a house and a farm there in 1785. He and his descendants were the only residents of the island until the mid-19th century
• Dr. Jonathan Pitney, a physician from Absecon, envisioned the island as a health resort and partnered with Richard Osborne, a civil engineer from Philadelphia, to bring the railroad to the island in 1854. They named the new town Atlantic City
• The first boardwalk was built in 1870 to help hotel owners keep sand out of their lobbies. It was later expanded and became a popular attraction for tourists and locals alike
• The city’s golden age was the 1920s, when it was a hub of entertainment, gambling, and alcohol during the Prohibition era. It also hosted the Miss America pageant from 1921 to 2004, and again from 2013 to 2018
• The city faced economic decline and social problems in the second half of the 20th century, as competition from other resorts and air travel reduced its appeal. It also suffered from corruption, crime, and racial tensions
• In 1976, New Jersey voters legalized casino gambling in Atlantic City, hoping to revitalize the city’s economy and tourism industry. The first casino opened in 1978, and soon more followed along the boardwalk and marina district
• The city has faced new challenges in the 21st century, such as natural disasters, competition from other states, and the COVID-19 pandemic.