1894 Map of Atlantic City

About this map

Atlantic City emerges as a dense urban grid at the southern edge of this late nineteenth-century coastal landscape, dominated by the intricate marshland and waterways of the New Jersey shore. The island's development is anchored by the Absecon Light and several vital rail lines, including the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Railroad and the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad, which carried travelers across the wetlands of Egg Harbor. To the north, the barrier islands of Island Beach and Brigantine Beach protect a complex system of lagoons and channels like Reeds Bay and Little Bay. Inland, established settlements such as Smithville, Leeds Point, and Oceanville sit along the rising topography of Galloway, connected by early road networks that skirt the edge of the salt marshes. This survey documents the transition of the region from a series of isolated coastal outposts and maritime hubs to a connected seaside destination.