Atlantic County, N.J.
Atlantic County, N.J. is located on the southern part of the New Jersey shore, just north of Cape May County. It reaches from Great Egg Harbor Inlet north to Little Egg Inlet and extends inland along the Great Egg Harbor and Tuckahoe Rivers on the south and the Mullica River (once known as the Little Egg Harbor River) to the north.
Atlantic County, like Ocean County to the north, has a true barrier island at the coast. It is wider than the barrier island of Ocean County, but considerably shorter. Some low-lying areas are undeveloped, while others are the most developed areas on the coast. The back-bays in Atlantic County have few large areas of water suitable for boating. The Intracoastal Waterway passes through the county in a marked, but mostly narrow, channel. The majority of the back-bays are marsh and shallow waters.
The most significant community on the coast in Atlantic County is Atlantic City. Atlantic City Airport is located on the mainland, a short ride from Atlantic City, and is the largest airport on the coast. There are a few other well-developed communities on the short coast, as well as some mainland cities.
Atlantic City
Atlantic City is located on the coast at Absecon Inlet, about the center of Atlantic County, halfway between Great Egg Harbor Inlet and Little Egg Inlet. Atlantic City is the largest, most active community on the New Jersey coast. Although long a popular vacation destination, since the beginning of legalized gambling in 1976, the city has seen the construction of several high-rise hotels creating a skyline that makes the city easy to spot. In addition to gambling, the city offers top-level shows and entertainment, restaurants, a 7 mile boardwalk with traditional summer beach businesses, an excellent ocean beach and boating facilities for small and large boats and yachts.
Brigantine
The City of Brigantine lies immediately north of Atlantic City, just across Absecon Inlet. It is a conservative community of about 12,000 permanent residents. Like other communities on the Atlantic County coast, it stands in contrast to Atlantic City in that it strives to remain primarily residential with specifically targeted efforts at tourism. There are a few resorts and motels serving tourists, as well as restaurants and other businesses. The city seeks to attract family vacationers and does not offer the nightlife of some towns. It is, of course, just across the inlet from Atlantic City. Brigantine offers guarded beaches, surf fishing, a boat ramp and marinas. There are also small museums and a small lighthouse.
Margate City
Margate City is a community of about 8,000 people just south of Atlantic City and quite a contrast. Margate has no hotels or motels, and only limited rentals of privately owned homes and condos. Many of the homes are second homes for their owners. Margate does have a nice ocean beach, several marinas and a selection of fine restaurants. The only real tourist attraction is "Lucy the Elephant", a six story wooden elephant built originally 1881 as a hotel and restaurant. Now Margate has no hotels.