Atlantic City

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Atlantic City occupies a barrier island on the coast of New Jersey, with a long wooden boardwalk separating hotels, casinos and shops from the beach. Developed as a nineteenth-century seaside resort, it later became one of the main gambling centres in the eastern United States. Large casino complexes dominate the central waterfront, while residential neighbourhoods extend beyond the tourist strip.

The beach remains publicly accessible and gives the city a different character during daylight hours, especially in summer. At night, casinos, restaurants and entertainment venues become the focus. Economic decline is visible in empty lots and ageing buildings between major developments, creating a more uneven urban experience than the polished interiors of the resorts suggest.