Atlantic County, New Jersey, isn’t just Atlantic City and neighboring beach resort towns…although that’s definitely a significant destination for business opportunities. The county also offers multiple residential areas with opportunities for a variety of businesses. Let WCRE be your guide in finding the ideal spot for your Atlantic County commercial real estate.
There is, of course, Atlantic City itself – a bustling town of beautiful casinos, a world class boardwalk, and multiple successful restaurants, towns, legal services, entertainment options and so much more. It’s a fantastic opportunity to plant your business and make it work, with thousands of visitors from around the world throughout the year. In addition, with the Expressway and U.S. Routes 30, 40 and 322 all leading to this destination, it’s a great spot to set up your business where thousands of drivers will pass by each day.
At 561 square miles, Atlantic County sits between New Jersey’s 2nd largest county, Ocean, at 636 sq. mi. and Sussex, with 521 sq. mi. In population, Gloucester County ranks above Atlantic County as Atlantic County currently has 274,000 residents. This places it just behind Gloucester County with 288,000 and well head of 16th-place Cumberland County with 156,000. Notably, Atlantic County saw the third-fastest growth of any of New Jersey’s 21 counties when it increased by 22,000 residents between 2000 and 2010 – a rate of 8.7 percent.
A Brief History of Atlantic County
The first European settlers of this region were Dutch, Swedish, and English practitioners of the Quaker religion who fled their homelands to seek freedom from persecution. In 1695, John Somers purchased 300 acres on Great Egg Harbor Bay from Philadelphia merchant John Budd, becoming the first resident of what would become Atlantic County. Somers operated a ferry service across the bay to Beesley’s Point, a community in what’s now Cape May County. In the early 1720s, John’s son Richard built Somers Mansion overlooking the bay and harbor; it still stands today as Atlantic County’s oldest existing home. A century and a half later, Somers Point would be named for John Somers. Atlantic County was created in 1837 when it was carved out of neighboring Gloucester County.
The first boardwalk in the United States was constructed in Atlantic City in 1870, solidifying the seaside resort’s still-in-use-today nickname of “America’s Playground.” The four-mile boardwalk runs the entire length of Atlantic City, linking to a nearly two-mile long boardwalk in Ventnor and a quarter-mile stretch in Brigantine. The Brigantine boardwalk was much longer when originally built, but a storm in 1944 destroyed two-thirds of it.
The Pinelands, or Pine Barrens, is a 1.1-million acre nationally and internationally protected swath of environmentally sensitive land that cuts across seven New Jersey counties — including the 10 Atlantic County municipalities of Buena, Buena Vista, Egg Harbor City, Egg Harbor Township, Estelle Manor, Folsom, Galloway, Hammonton, Mullica, and Weymouth. Due to its unique ecosystem, the Pinelands was designated by Congress in 1978 as the nation’s first Natural Reserve and in 1988 as an International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations.
The region also is believed to be the home of the legendary Jersey Devil. According to local folklore, Pine Barrens’ resident Jane Leeds, already the mother of 12, cursed her unborn 13th child and cried it would be the devil. When born, the child emerged with hooves, a goat’s head, bat wings, and a forked tail. The creature is said to have killed the midwife and flown up the chimney, destined to haunt the Pinelands to this day. The three-time Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils National Hockey League team takes its name from the legend.
Want to Set Up Shop in Atlantic County? Contact WCRE Today.
Let the experienced and local team at WCRE handle all of your Atlantic County commercial real estate needs. We’re a full-service, CORFAC International brokerage and advisory firm, and we have a solid understanding of the local real estate market, ongoing trends, and the ideal locations for your business, whatever its type. Let us be your guide on your Atlantic County real estate adventure – reach out to us today!
Featured Atlantic County County New Jersey Towns Include: Atlantic City, Egg Harbor Township, Somers Point, Linwood, Hammonton, Galloway Township, Brigantine, Hamilton Township, Northfield,
