Atlantic City, NJ

Located on Absecon Island off the New Jersey shore, Atlantic City is the most famous and popular gambling destinations in the northeastern United States. The city is home to roughly 40,000 permanent residents.

Atlantic City is famous for being the inspiration behind the Parker Brothers board game Monopoly. The city experienced a construction boom from 1903 to 1940. During that time, hundreds of hotels were erected around the boardwalk area. The inventor of Monopoly, Charles Darrow, based his creation on Atlantic City because of his fondness for childhood vacations spent in the beachside city. Most of the "real estate" in the board game is based on actual streets in Atlantic City.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Atlantic City is divided into several districts. The communities are known as: The North Inlet, The South Inlet, Bungalow Park, the Marina District (also known as Back Maryland), Venice Park, Downtown (Midtown), Ducktown, Chelsea, and Chelsea Heights.

Notable areas around town include:

• The Boardwalk extends from Absecon Inlet to the city's limits and is home to a variety of shopping establishments, restaurants, casinos, and amusements. Several piers extend off the boardwalk into the Atlantic Ocean, most notably the Piers at Caesars, Steel Pier and the Garden Pier.
• Steel Pier is a roughly 1,000-foot pier housing an ocean-side amusement park. Traditionally, the boardwalk and piers had been made of wood; however, a fire in 1982 led to Steel Pier's reconstruction, achieved by using concrete and steel. Historic in more ways than one, this pier hosted several Miss America competitions in the 1930s and at one time could count both the famous high-diving horse and the water-skiing dog as local attractions.
• Garden Pier is the location of the Atlantic City Historical Museum and the Atlantic City Art Center.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Much of Atlantic City's economic development revolves around tourism, and specifically casinos. However, the city has been trying to diversify the economy through the development of retail shopping, themed restaurants, night clubs, museums, theaters, minor league baseball and other recreational attractions. Non-gaming industries in Atlantic City include services, retail trade, real estate development, distilling, and deep sea fishing.

The New Jersey Casino Control Commission is a regulatory agency developed to provide support, control and reinforcement for the many area casinos. In doing so, the commission serves to protect the public and the economic growth of the city.

Some of the city's most prominent casinos include:

• Atlantic City Hilton, a beach-themed resort with more than 75,000 square feet of gaming area and hundreds of rooms. The casino includes a number of slot machines and table games. Treasure Palace, an Asian-style room located on the second floor of the building, offers visitors a unique gaming experience.
• Bally's offers themed rooms and games and includes a Wild West casino. Bally's is also equipped with a variety of dining options, recreational activities and more than 80,000 square feet of gaming space.
• Caesars is full of action, boasting approximately 145,000 square feet of gaming space. In addition to the nearly endless maze of gambling options, guests can relax at the spa, play some golf or enjoy the pier's shops.
• Tropicana offers guests approximately 125,000 square feet of gaming space and luxury rooms and suites. The Top of the Trop, one of the hotel's nightclubs, offers a beautiful view of the city.
• Trump Marina is luxury at its finest and includes stellar views of the city and a glass atrium that spans an impressive five stories. In addition to plenty of gaming opportunities, this hotel offers guests fitness and relaxation opportunities.
• Trump Taj Mahal consists of more than 1,000 rooms and suites, countless slot machines and table games, and is the host of the United States Poker Championship. Falling in line with luxury, this hotel offers guests a spa, fine dining and plenty of shopping.

SHOPPING

• Atlantic City Outlets, also known as The Walk, is a great place to shop. This open-air shopping center is the only outlet mall in South Jersey and contains over 100 stores.
• Pier Shops at Caesars is a unique shopping experience with upscale stores and restaurants. On the first floor, The Boardwalk, there are gift stores, entertainment and upscale shopping. The second floor, The Skybridge, offers more upscale shopping. The third floor, The Promenade, houses a number of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Finally, on the fourth floor, visitors will find The Club. This pier also houses the area's largest indoor water fountain.

EDUCATION

Atlantic City is home to Atlantic Cape Community College, an accredited two-year college offering a number of full-time and continuing-education programs.

SPORTS TEAMS

• The Atlantic City Diablos, a member of the National Premier Soccer League, participate in the Eastern Conference. They play all home games at St. Augustine Prep School, located in Richland, New Jersey, just west of Atlantic City.
• The Atlantic City Surf is a minor league baseball team and a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball. All home games are played at Bernie Robbins Stadium.

LOCAL MEDIA

AM radio stations:

• WWJZ 640 AM - kids
• WMID 1340 AM - oldies
• WOND 1400 AM - news/talk
• WENJ 1450 AM - sports
• WTAA 1490 AM - Spanish

FM radio stations

• WAYV 95.1 FM - hot AC
• WTTH 96.1 FM - urban AC
• WXKW 97.3 FM - news/talk
• WTKU 98.3 FM - oldies
• WZBZ 99.3 FM - Top 40
• WZXL 100.7 FM - rock
• WJSE 102.7 FM - alternative
• WMGM 103.7 FM - classic rock
• WPUR 107.3 FM - country

Newspapers:

• The Press of Atlantic City
• Atlantic City weekly
• Su Voz
• Le Estrella de Atlantic County
• Casino Connection
• Dan Klein's South Jersey Insider