Introduction
The population of Atlantic City is continuing to decline at a rapid rate. Atlantic City officials announced in March that the population had fallen for the sixth straight year, to just over 56,000 people in 2018. The city had been the only one in the country to see its population increase for nearly two decades, and it had hoped that would continue. But the numbers tell a different story. In 2017, the city’s population fell by more than 1,100.
The number of Atlantic City residents dropped to below 50,000 for the first time since the 1950s, and the population is expected to decline by a further 1,000 this year.
The problem is, the population decline is only expected to continue until 2020. Atlantic City’s population will continue to decrease at an alarming rate throughout the next several years. “There’s no question that the city’s population is falling. It’s already down by nearly 50,000 residents since 2010 and is still dropping… Atlantic City’s population has declined at a faster rate than anywhere else in the country since 2011.” This is due, in part, to the fact that younger residents are moving away from the city in favour of cities with lower housing costs.
The History of Atlantic City
Atlantic City’s history dates back to 1630 when it was called New Amstel. This port town was a prominent stop along the Dutch East India Trading Company’s path from Amsterdam to Asia. The city became the capital of the Dutch colony of New Netherlands and eventually the southern portion of the state of New Jersey. After the American Revolution, the city became known as Atlantic City and was later incorporated into New Jersey. Atlantic City was a booming resort destination during the 1920s, but when the Great Depression hit in 1929, many of its inhabitants left for other cities.
Today’s Atlantic City has evolved quite a bit since the early 1900s. From its humble beginnings as a small beach resort town, it has transformed into a casino mecca, a city, and a tourist destination.
Atlantic City Current Population
Atlantic City has seen its fair share of decline and revitalization over the years, and in 2017, it was declared by Forbes magazine to be among the best places in America to retire. The city offers retirees a low cost of living and a vibrant social scene, according to Forbes. It ranked higher than some of the country’s top retirement destinations including Florida and Colorado.
Currently, only 38,466 people are living in Atlantic City.
Why did Atlantic City’s population decline?
During the 19th century, many Atlantic City residents had jobs in nearby industries such as the meat packing industry. But once the city became a resort destination, the quality of life there deteriorated. The decline began in the late 1800s and continued through the first half of the 20th century. Many of the residents moved north to Newark and New York City during the Great Depression.
What are the possible causes of this decline?
There are multiple causes of this decline. The first is a lack of innovation in the industry. One of the reasons the industry is in the current state it is in is that it’s been stuck in a rut for a long time, and hasn’t developed much over the years.
Second, the market has been saturated for a while now, and it’s unlikely that there’s a lot of room for growth.
Third, people are becoming more aware of the problems in the industry. The industry’s response to this is to try to make its products more user-friendly, but the fact remains that consumers are not satisfied.
Effect on Casino Industry
With the decline of the city’s casino industry, the town began to lose its appeal to tourists and resort travellers. A new casino complex on the boardwalk would help restore the town’s status as a top tourist destination. The Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority (ACVA) commissioned a study of potential locations for the new resort. They settled on an area just north of the Boardwalk, and the site became the future home of Revel Atlantic City.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Atlantic City’s population decline continued during the first quarter of 2019. With a population loss of 3.7 per cent over the last year, Atlantic City’s population remains significantly lower than neighbouring counties. New Jersey’s second-largest city is losing people at a rate that is well above the national average. According to the United States Census Bureau, the U.S. population grew by 3.1 million people between 2014 and 2015. That’s an increase of 1.5 per cent. New Jersey, however, grew at a much slower pace of 0.4 per cent. New Jersey’s population grew by 1.9 million people between 2015 and 2016. A smaller gain of 0.8 per cent was recorded in 2017 and 2018. The population decline in Atlantic City has been ongoing for several years. New Jersey’s overall population growth slowed to less than one per cent in 2018, according to Census data.
