Chapter II Ocean & Atlantic Counties [The Spectacular History of the New Jersey Shore]

Ocean County begins in the north at Point Pleasant, and extends south to Little Egg Harbor. In the 17th century, a Native American tribe, the Lenni Lenape, were using this area as a fishing and hunting ground.

By the 18th century, Quakers were settling in the region. Whaling and fishing villages were being formed. As Quaker families began taking in guests to the shore, small vacation resorts began to form. By the end of the 1800s, beach communities like Chadwick, Bay Head, Lavalette, Mantaloking, and Ortley Beach were being incorporated. Other towns, like Seaside Park, Seaside Heights, Point Pleasant, and Beach Haven, were developing into seaside resorts, attracting thousands of vacationers. In 1953, the state set aside 3,000 acres of pristine oceanfront land, and created Island Beach State Park.

In the 1700s, the majority of Atlantic County's coastline was owned by one man, Jeremiah Leeds. As portions of his land were sold off, seaside towns were formed, with names like Longport, Ventnor, and Margate. By the 1850s, prominent physician, Dr. Jonathon Pitney had began developing a seaside resort in the area. Before long, three railroad lines were carrying thousands of visitors to the resort. It would be named Atlantic City, and would become America's Playground by the turn of the century, featuring a mile-long boardwalk, top entertainment acts, amusement piers, and luxurious, grand hotels. The small island of Brigantine was incorporated in 1890.


Music Credits
Scott Buckley - Sleep CC BY 4.0
Lauren Duski - Allabout
Unicorn Heads - Your Suggestions
Scott Buckley - Dreamt of Flying CC By 4.0