Ocean City's Location

Ocean City, New Jersey is sandwiched between three large cities: New York City in the northeast 130 miles away, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the southwest 65 miles away, and Washington D.C., our nation's capitol, in the southeast 200 miles away.

Benjamin Franklin called South Jersey itself "a barrel tapped at both ends". South Jersey is theoretically the area within the Philadelphia sphere of influence, whereas North Jersey is the area within New York City's influence.

Street Map For Ocean City, New Jersey.

Population

Ocean City is a city in New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 15,378 in the winter months. In the summer months, the town's population can (and often does) swell over 110,000 every week.

Dry Island

Ocean City is known as a family seaside resort that has prohibited the sales of alcoholic beverages within its limits since the city's founding in 1879 by four Methodist ministers. Ocean City is a very popular vacation area in South Jersey. More families flock here than any other New Jersey beach. The Travel Channel rated Ocean City as the Best Family Beach of 2005.

History

Originally known as Peck’s Beach, an eight mile stretch of sand dunes, meadows, and cedar swamps, was used as a staging spot for John Peck's whaling operation. The island had served as a summer fishing camp for local Indians, a grazing land for cattle driven out from the mainland, and an occasional hunting or picnic spot for mainland residents who would come out by boat. Original ownership of the land was by the Somers family.

Several individuals had made their home on the island, most notable of which was Parker Miller who had served as an agent for marine insurance companies. He and his family lived in a home at about what is now the corner of Seventh Street and Asbury Avenue.

In 1879, four Methodist ministers, Ezra B. Lake, James Lake, S. Wesley Lake, and William Burrell chose the island as a suitable spot to establish a Christian retreat and camp meeting on the order of Ocean Grove. They met under a tall cedar tree, which stands today at Sixth Street and Asbury Avenue. Having chosen the name “Ocean City”, the founders incorporated the “Ocean City Association”, laid out street and lots for cottages, hotels, and businesses. The Tabernacle was built between Wesley and Asbury Avenues and between Fifth and Sixth Streets. Camp meetings were held by the following summer.

From these beginnings Ocean City has grown into the town as it exists today. The first bridge was built to the island in 1883, while the first railroad soon followed. The first school began in 1881. The boardwalk grew and was relocated several times. The ship Sindia joined other shipwrecks on the beach in 1901. A large fire in 1927 changed the town significantly.

Activities

We would like to invite you to visit Ocean City, New Jersey, America's Greatest Family Resort. We are extremely proud of our island with eight miles of pristine sandy beaches with our two and a half miles of beautiful boardwalk with all of its amusements, dining, and shopping, especially in our charming downtown area. Fishing, boating, and waterskiing are encouraged here in our back bays.

Ocean City is located only minutes from Atlantic City's casinos, dining, and entertainment. We are also just a short drive from the National Historical Landmark Resort, Victorian Cape May. Let's not forget about the several top rated golf courses in the United States.

Whether you want to spend your vacation relaxing on a sandy beach, dining on great seafood, enjoying the area's unique shopping, or if you want an action packed vacation with activities like parasailing, jet-skiing, four-star golf, deep sea fishing, surfing, and the exciting casino nightlife, Ocean City is the place you want to be!

More information about Ocean City's rich history can be accessed through the Ocean City Museum Website.