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1887 Map of Atlantic City

Name: 1887 Topographic Map of Atlantic City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1887
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1887

About this map

Atlantic City stands as a dense grid of development on the southern end of the barrier islands, already a major destination reached by an extensive network of iron rails in the late 19th century. Four distinct lines, including the Camden and Atlantic Railroad and the Philadelphia & Atlantic City Railroad, cross the wetlands of the mainland to connect the city to the interior. The Absecon Light and several Life Saving Stations along the coast highlight the critical maritime hazards of this era, marking the narrow inlets like Brigantine Inlet and New Inlet.

Away from the bustling resort, the mainland is characterized by small agricultural and maritime settlements such as Leeds Point, Smithville, and Oceanville. The landscape between the mainland and the outer beaches like Brigantine Beach is a complex web of salt marshes and tidal channels, including Reeds Bay and Great Bay. This survey captures the coast before modern dredging and development significantly altered the shoreline, showing the natural configuration of features like Egg Island and Pullen's Island.