Ocean City, Maryland
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| Ocean City, Maryland | |||
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| Nickname: The White Marlin Capital of the World | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Maryland | ||
| County | Worcester | ||
| Founded | 1875 | ||
| Incorporated | 1880 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Rick Meehan | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 36.4 sq mi (94.2 km²) | ||
| - Land | 4.6 sq mi (11.8 km²) | ||
| - Water | 31.8 sq mi (82.4 km²) 87.47% | ||
| Elevation | 7 ft (2 m) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - Total | 7,173 | ||
| - Density | 1,574.7/sq mi (607.3/km²) | ||
| 320,000-345,000 estimated summer weekend population[1] | |||
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | ||
| ZIP codes | 21842-21843 | ||
| Area code(s) | 410 | ||
| FIPS code | 24-58225 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0586284 | ||
| Website: www.town.ocean-city.md.us | |||
Ocean City, sometimes known as OC, is an Atlantic Ocean resort town located in Worcester County, Maryland. Ocean City is widely known in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is a frequent destination for vacationers.
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[edit] History
The land the city was built on, as well as much of the surrounding area, was once owned by Englishman Thomas Fenwick. Today, the land is sometimes still referred to as Fenwick Island, which runs from the Ocean city inlet north to Indian River Inlet in Delaware.
In 1869, businessman Isaac Coffin built the first beach-front cottage to receive paying guests. During those days, people arrived by stage coach and ferry. They came to fish off the shore, to enjoy the natural beauty of the Atlantic Ocean pounding against the long strip of sandy beach, to collect seashells, or just to sit back and watch the rolling surf.
Soon after, other simple boarding houses were built on the strip of sand, with the activity attracting prominent businessmen from the Maryland Eastern Shore, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Wilmington. They came not so much to visit as to survey the spit. A decision was made to develop it and 250 lots were cut into it, and a corporation was formed to help with the development of the land. The corporation stock of 4,000 shares sold for $25 each.
Prior to 1870, what is now Ocean City was known as "The Ladies' Resort to the Ocean."
The Atlantic Hotel, the first major hotel in the town, opened July 4, 1875. Besides the beach and ocean, it offered dancing and billiard rooms to the visitors of its more than 400 rooms, and for years it was the northern-most attraction in Ocean City. By 1878 tourists could come by railroad from Berlin to the shores of Sinepuxent Bay across from the town. By 1881 a line was completed across Sinepuxent Bay to the shore, bringing rail passengers directly into the town.
The Ocean City Inlet was formed during a major hurricane in 1933, which also destroyed the train tracks across the Sinepuxent Bay. The inlet separated what is now Ocean City from Assateague Island. The Army Corps of Engineers took advantage of nature's intervention and made the inlet at the south end of Ocean City permanent. The inlet eventually helped to establish Ocean City as an important Mid-Atlantic fishing ports as it offered easy access to the fishing grounds of the Atlantic Ocean.
Rapid expansion of Ocean City took place during the post-war boom. In 1952, with the completion of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Ocean City became easily accessible to people in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. In 1964, with the completion of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, a whole new pathway to the south was opened. Ocean City became one of the largest vacation areas of the East Coast.
By the 1970s, big business flourished and gave birth to the construction of more than 10,000 condominium units, creating a spectacular sight of high-rise condominiums that assured every investor of a glimpse of the ocean and pounding surf. However, throughout the 1980s and into the early 90's, the width of the beach began to shrink, prompting the first of a series of beach replenishment projects.
In 2002, Ocean City undertook the most recent of many, multi-million dollar, beach restoration programs, in an attempt to slow the westward migration of its beaches. The program pumped tons of sand from offshore and deposited it onto the beach. A dune line was also re-established in front of Ocean City's building line. Another similar project began after the 2006 tourist season closed.
[edit] Ocean City today
Today, the Ocean City area continues to sprawl westward across the bay and toward Berlin and Ocean Pines. It is part of the Ocean Pines Micropolitan Statistical Area. No longer a quaint resort, it still affords hundreds of thousands of vacationers an escape from their everyday lives.
Ocean City now extends just over 9 miles (~15 km) from the southern inlet to the Delaware line. The strip now supports hotels, motels, apartment houses, shopping centers, residential communities, and condominiums. The southern tip houses the famous Ocean City Boardwalk. The boardwalk is the main shopping district and entertainment area of the town. The boardwalk has many tantalizing treats to choose from. Visitors will wait in long lines for Fisher's famous Caramel Popcorn & Thrashers French Fries. Other notable boardwalk businesses are Dollies Salt Water Taffy & Candy Kitchen. The Boardwalk has two amusement parks, Trimpers Rides and The Pier, which was recently renamed Jolly Roger's, after its sister uptown local amusement park. The downtown neighborhood is marked by Victorian style houses and other older buildings, many of which have been razed in recent years to construct more parking lots, hotels and condos.
Ocean City has a long history of fishing, both commercial and recreational. The town bills itself as the "White Marlin Capital of the World." During the summer numerous charter and private boats fish for billfish, tuna, wahoo, and other game fish. In early August, one of the largest fishing tournaments in the world, the White Marlin Open, is held. Prize money for the largest White Marlin, Blue Marlin, and Tuna can range over 1 million dollars.
The town supports a year-round population of about 8,000, with the town itself being a major employer. Summer employment in Ocean City rises many multiples above that level, supported by a large number of college-age and young adults - many native to Eastern Europe and the United Kingdom - are attracted by plentiful job opportunities. In the summer, the town bursts at the seams, with businesses and government agencies augmented with about 100 seasonal police officers, plus extra firefighters and other workers.
Tourism in the winter has picked up pace. Where once even many traffic lights were shut down or bagged up, increased traffic from golfers and conventions has convinced many seasonal restaurants and hotels to remain open. Many bars and restaurants that close during the winter will re-open for St. Patrick's Day.
The city has erected a memorial to the firefighters who lost their lives on September 11. This memorial is located on the boardwalk, about six blocks from the inlet. The memorial consists of a firefighter statue, engraved brick and stone, and a piece of one of the twin towers that collapsed in New York City.
[edit] Senior Week
Ocean City is known as the location of "Senior Week" or "Beach Week." In this yearly event, recently graduated high school seniors from throughout Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, Delaware, Ohio and Pennsylvania travel to Ocean City to spend a week with their friends and away from parental supervision. Senior Week is traditionally celebrated the first week after graduation, and has become a staple of East Coast tradition. The town is filled with graduating seniors from mid-May to mid-June, and for that reason many older locals refer to the visiting teens as "Junebugs."
[edit] Geography
Ocean City is located at 38°23'29" North, 75°4'11" West (38.391526, -75.069712)[2]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.4 square miles (94.2 km²), of which, 4.6 square miles (11.8 km²) of it is land and 31.8 square miles (82.4 km²) of it is water. The total area is 87.47% water.
Ocean City is on the barrier spit, which encompasses Ocean City, South Bethany, Delaware, and Fenwick Island, Delaware.
[edit] Climate
Ocean City's location in the middle of the East Coast affords it a mild Humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and mild, wet winters. Summer highs often reach into the 80s, but ocean breezes keep the immediate coast cooler than inland locations. Due to the prominence of the Outer Banks of North Carolina, which lie to the south and east, tropical storms and hurricanes are very rare.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 7,173 people, 3,750 households, and 1,829 families residing in the town. The population density is 1,574.7 people per square mile (607.3/km²). There are 26,317 housing units at an average density of 5,777.5/sq mi (2,228.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town is 95.34% White, 2.50% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 1.24% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 3,750 households, out of which 11.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% are married couples living together, 6.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 51.2% are non-families. 39.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 1.91 and the average family size is 2.47.
In the town the population is spread out with 11.3% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 25.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 47 years. For every 100 females there are 105.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 103.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $35,772, and the median income for a family is $44,614. Males have a median income of $28,613 versus $27,457 for females. The per capita income for the town is $26,078. 8.4% of the population and 6.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 23.0% are under the age of 18 and 3.9% are 65 or older.
The City Comprehensive Plan estimates the city's total number of weekend visitors, during summer months, typically reaches 320,000-345,000.
[edit] Mayors of Ocean City
Ocean City's elections are non-partisan.
| Name | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| William S. Wilson | 1894 | 1896 |
| George M. Upshur | 1896 | 1898 |
| James Z. Powell | 1898 | 1900 |
| Clayton J. Purnell | 1900 | 1902 |
| John F. Waggaman | 1902 | 1903 |
| Christopher Ludlam | 1903 | 1908 |
| W. Lee Carey | 1908 | 1912 |
| William B.S. Powell | 1912 | 1916 |
| John B. Jones | 1916 | 1918 |
| Edward M. Scott | 1918 | 1920 |
| Elbridge E. Collins | 1920 | 1922 |
| William W. McCabe | 1922 | 1934 |
| William Thomas Elliott | 1934 | 1938 |
| Edmond H. Johnson | 1938 | 1940 |
| Clifford P. Cropper | 1940 | 1944 |
| Daniel Trimper, Jr. | 1944 | 1959 |
| Hugh T. Cropper | 1959 | 1970 |
| Harry W. Kelley | 1970 | 1985 |
| Granville Trimper | 1985 | 1985 |
| Roland E. Powell | 1986 | 1996 |
| James N. Mathias, Jr. | 1996 | 2006 |
| Rick Meehan | 2006 | - |
[edit] Transportation
Nearby Wicomico Regional Airport provides air service for Ocean City. Ocean City Municipal Airport, located just 3 miles west of downtown Ocean City also serves as an alternate option for those with private planes.
Ocean City also has a public transportation system. Off seasons a bus runs along Coastal Highway from Inlet Ocean City to the Delaware line. Called the Inlet To Delaware Line. It runs every 15 minutes from 6am to 10pm and every half hour from 10pm to 6am. The summer season the bus along Coastal highway runs every 5-7 minutes from 6am to 10pm and every 15 minutes from 10pm to 6am. As well as the West Ocean City park and ride shuttle which runs from 6am to 2:30am. During the summer season Ocean Citys transit borrows articulated buses from the Maryland Transit Administration of Baltimore, Maryland. As well as hiring additional operators for the summer season. Either retirees from other transit authorities as well as school bus drivers across the state of Maryland who are off during the summer season while schools are not in session.
The Ocean City Transits fleet consists mainly of Thomas built buses. The CL960 model and the TL960 model both in 40 foot lengths. They do run Eldorado National XHF buses in a 35 foot length. Off season they run the Inlet to Delaware line and the summer season the West Ocean City Park and ride shuttle.
[edit] Notable residents
- Jim Mathias, Maryland State Delegate, and Past Mayor
- Charles Calhoun, first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
[edit] Sister Cities
Ocean City has two sister cities.
[edit] Ocean City in popular culture
The 1986 film, Violets Are Blue, starring Sissy Spacek and Kevin Kline, was filmed in Ocean City. In an episode of The Wonder Years titled Summer Song, the Arnold family vacations in Ocean City.[3]
In a Travel Channel poll, Ocean City's Boardwalk was rated third best in the United States.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.town.ocean-city.md.us/Planning%20and%20Zoning/DraftComprehensivePlan/Chapter1.htm Planning and Zoning
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ The Wonder Years - FAQ's
- ^ "Best American Boardwalks" on Travel Channel Retrieved April 8, 2008
[edit] External links
- Town of Ocean City, MD Official Site
- Ocean City, MD Information
- Town of Ocean City, Guides
- Ocean City, MD Chamber of Commerce
- Ocean City, MD Department of Tourism
- OceanCityWiki.com
- Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company
- Art League of Ocean City
- Ocean City Today Newspaper
- Ocean City Surf webcam at 48th street
- Inlet Cam
- Ocean City, Maryland is at coordinates Coordinates:
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