Historical Markers in
Atlantic County, New Jersey

3rd Battalion Gloucester County Militia 44th National Encampment Grand Army of the Republic 8-inch Finishing Building 8-Inch Plant Receiving Building 8-Inch Pouring Building 87th Infantry Division Monument 9-11-2001 9-11-2001 A City Is Born A Pane in the Glass Factory A. Phillip Randolph Absecon Lighthouse Absecon Presbyterian Church Absecon United Methodist Church All Veterans Memorial American Hotel Asbury Methodist Church Atlantic City Expressway Atlantic City Workers Monument Atlantic County Court House Atlantic County Parks Along the Great Egg Harbor River Auxiliary Power System Baptist Church of Hammonton Barbara Walker Bass Harbor Battle of Chestnut Neck Bay Avenue Night Life BeBe Shopp Belcoville 1917 Bethlehem Loading Co. Bette Cooper Bog Ore Brigantine Golf and Country Club British Anchor Burial Ground of Col. Richard Somers Camp Boardwalk Capenter Walkway Carolyn Sapp Casino Control Act Charles A. Mills Cheryl Prewitt Christopher Joseph Ford Chronology Civil War Memorial Clarence C. Davenport, Sr. Clark's Mill Meeting House Clifford J. Newsome Colleen Hutchins Colonel Richard Wescoat Cora Hillery Boggs CSure Children's Park Debbye Turner Deborah Bryant Debra Barnes Debra Muffett Dedicated to the Men and Women Who Lost Their Lives at Sea Donna Axum Dorothie W. Dorrington, ED.S Dorothy Benham Dr. Jonathan Pitney Early Meeting House Edna Patricia Hall Elizabeth Ward Elwood G. Davis Elwood Samuel Roberts II Estellville Glass Factory Evelyn Ay Fallen Soldiers Memorial Fannie Lou Hamer Father John Quaremba Fay Lanphier Frances Burke Frank Burnett Doggett Jr. M.D. Franklin Inn Friends Meeting House and Burying Ground Friendship Church Gaskill Park George Wheaton's Shipyard George William Nelson Sr. Getting Around Somers Point Ginkgo Great Egg Coast Guard Station Great Egg Harbor National Scenic and Recreational River Greek Temple Monument War Memorial Green Roof! / Renewable Energy Projects Harold Corry Heather Whitestone High Water Mark Historic Gardener's Basin Historic Landmarks of Ventnor Historic Smithville Inn Home of the Miss America Pageant Honor Roll Howard Persina Howard "Fritz" Haneman Hubert U. Barbour, Sr. Introduction Jacque Mercer Jacqueline Mayer James L. Cooper James L. Usry Jane Jayroe Jean Bartel Jeremiah Leeds Jeremiah Leeds Grave Jo-Carroll Dennison John Herbert Brooks John L. Lewis John R. Jasper, Jr. Joseph T. Allmond Judith Ford Kate Shindle Kaye Lani Rae Rafko KeeperÂ’s Dwelling / Lightkeepers of Absecon Lighthouse Kellye Cash Keystone Kimberly Aiken Korean War Memorial Kylene Barker Laurel Lea Schaefer Leanza Cornett Leavander W. Johnson Lee Meriwether Leedsville Schoolhouse Lighthouse History / Absecon Lighthouse Facts Longport Veterans Monument Lynda Mead Maceo H. Turner Margaret Gorman Margaret Lee Caution Margaret "Maggie" Creswell Margate City Post 397 Veterans Memorial Margate City World War I Monument Margate City World War II Memorial Maria Fletcher Marian Bergeron Marian McKnight Marilyn Buford Marilyn Meseke Marilyn Van Derbur Marjorie Vincent Mary Ann Mobley Mary Campbell Mayor Lorenzo T. Langford Meeting House Michael L. Cohen Miss America Nancy Fleming Nena Langley New Jersey Korean War Memorial Nicole Johnson Norma Smallwood Ore Boat or Barge Pamela Eldred Patricia Donnelly Paul "Skinny" D'Amato Pennsylvania Railroad Steel Caboose #477466 Persian Gulf War Memorial Phyllis George Pierre Hollingsworth POW / MIA Monument POW★MIA Privateers Purple Heart Memorial Put On Your Best Suit! Rebecca King Richard Somers Memorial Building Rose Coyle Rosemary LaPlance Ruth Malcomson Sara Spencer Washington Sharlene Wells Sharon Ritchie Shawntel Smith Shipbuilding ShipÂ’s Rib Shirley Cothran Smith's Meeting House Somers Mansion Somers Point Bapist Church Somers Point City Hall Somers Point World War I Memorial Somers Point World War I Monument Somers Point World War II Memorial Soundra E. Usry-Hollingsworth Spanish War Marker Submarine Veterans Memorial Susan Akin Susan Perkins Susan Powell Suzette Charles Swimming the Ladder to Success Tara Holland Tawny Godin Terry Meeuwsen The Anchorage The Brigantine Lighthouse The Daniel Estell House The Estellville Methodist Church The Etna (Aetna) Furnace The Fishing Pier Then & Now The Flattening House The Head of the River Church The Labyrinth at Longport The Life-Saving Station The Linwood Historic District The Melting Furnace The Pot House The Presbyterian Church, Mays Landing The Roundhouse Museum The Tie That Binds The Whaling Bark Stafford They Called It “KY & The Curb” This Section of Steel Beam Thomas Morris House Transportation Tsgt. Harold R. Brown Memorial Plaza U.S. Navy Commandant Richard SomersÂ’ Birthplace USCS Steamer Robert J. Walker / Assistant Keepers' Dwelling Vanessa Williams Venice Park Honor Roll Ventnor Ventnor City Police Department Ventnor City POW-MIA Monument Ventnor City Veterans Memorial Ventnor City World War I Monument Venus Ramey Veterans Memorial Veterans Memorial Veterans Memorial Veterans Memorial Veterans Memorial Veterans Memorial Vietnam War Memorial Vietnam War Memorial Vietnam War Memorial Viking Row Club Virgie Lee Jordan Vonda Van Dyke Wagon Walter P. Reuther Wastewater Treatment / ACUA Welcome to Atlantic County Park at Estell Manor! Welcome to Atlantic County's Park at Weymouth Furnace Welcome to Port Republic, New Jersey Weymouth Furnace Wilbert "Huff" Royal William K. Phillis War Memorial William "Sonny" Lea Wiltsey's Sawmill Wind Farm / Green Fleet Women's Veterans Memorial World Trade Center World Trade Center, New York City Artifact #10098H World War I Memorial World War II Memorial World War II Memorial World War Memorial Bridge World War Memorial Bridge World War Memorial Bridge Across Great Egg Harbor Bay Yolande Betbeze Zion United Methodist Church "The Tree Monument"
The oldest lighthouse in the United States, the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, is located in New Jersey. The lighthouse was built in 1764 and still functions as an aid to navigation.
Atlantic County, located in the southeastern part of New Jersey, has a rich history that stretches back to precolonial times. The land that is now Atlantic County was originally home to the Lenape Native American tribe, who had an established society based on fishing, hunting, and agriculture. European settlers began arriving in the area in the 17th century, with English, Dutch, and Swedish colonizers trading with the Lenape for furs and other resources.

In 1694, Atlantic County was officially established as a part of Gloucester County. However, it wasn't until 1837 that the county was formally organized and separated from Gloucester County. The name "Atlantic" was chosen due to the region's proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The county saw rapid growth and development in the 19th century, thanks to improvements in transportation, especially the construction of the Camden and Atlantic Railroad.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Atlantic County experienced a boom in population and tourism. The seaside resorts of Atlantic City and Margate became popular destinations, attracting wealthy vacationers from cities like Philadelphia and New York. Atlantic City became particularly famous for its boardwalk and casino industry, establishing its reputation as the "Las Vegas of the East."

However, the county also faced challenges in the 20th century. The Great Depression of the 1930s hit Atlantic City hard, leading to a decline in tourism and economic instability. In recent years, efforts have been made to revitalize the county, with a focus on diversifying the economy beyond tourism and casinos. Atlantic County continues to be an important center for agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare, while also preserving its historical and cultural heritage.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Atlantic County, New Jersey.

  • 1673 - The land that would later become Atlantic County is discovered and explored by English settlers.
  • 1837 - Atlantic County is officially established as a county in the state of New Jersey.
  • 1854 - The City of Atlantic City is incorporated as a separate municipality within Atlantic County.
  • 1870 - The first railroad reaches Atlantic City, spurring a period of growth and development.
  • 1884 - The famous Boardwalk is constructed in Atlantic City, becoming a popular attraction.
  • 1920s - Atlantic City experiences a period of prosperity and becomes a popular tourist destination.
  • 1944 - The first legal casino opens in Atlantic City, marking the beginning of the city's casino industry.
  • 1976 - Gambling is legalized in New Jersey, leading to a boom in casino construction in Atlantic City.
  • 1989 - The Showboat Casino Hotel becomes the first casino to open a hotel tower in Atlantic City.
  • 2013 - The Revel Casino Hotel opens and closes within a year, reflecting the decline of Atlantic City's casino industry.
  • 2015 - Atlantic City files for bankruptcy, facing financial troubles and declining revenues.