Ocean City, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Ocean City, sometimes known as OC, or OCMD, is an Atlantic Ocean
resort town
in Worcester County
, Maryland
, United States
. Ocean City is widely known in the Mid-Atlantic region
of the United States and is a frequent destination for vacationers in that area. The population was 7,173 at the 2000 census, although during summer weekends the city hosts between 320,000 and 345,000 vacationers.
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 port 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.
The original pier was destroyed by a fire in 1994. There was a small water park and giant walk-through haunted house with live actors near the end of the pier and a New Orleans-style Hollywood in Wax Museum on the boardwalk side. In the late nineties the Wax Museum was turned into a Photon laser tag
arena. The building now houses the Ripley's Believe it or Not! museum.
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.
and Ocean Pines
. It is part of the Ocean Pines Micropolitan Statistical Area. The resort area accommodates approximately 8 million visitors per year.
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 Ocean City Boardwalk. The boardwalk is the main shopping district and entertainment area of the town. The boardwalk has many prominent businesses including Fisher's Caramel Popcorn & Thrashers French Fries. Other notable boardwalk businesses are Dolle's Salt Water Taffy
, the Atlantic Stand & Dumser's Dairyland. The Boardwalk has two amusement park
s, Trimpers Rides
and The Pier, which was recently renamed Jolly Roger at The Pier, 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 - attracted by numerous job opportunities. In the summer, businesses and government agencies are 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 Ocean City Convention Center
conventions has convinced many seasonal restaurants and hotels to remain open. Many bars and restaurants that close during the winter 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
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 36.4 square miles (94.3 km²), of which, 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²) of it is land and 31.8 square miles (82.4 km²) of it (87.47%) is water.
Ocean City is on the barrier spit
, which encompasses Ocean City, South Bethany, Delaware
, and Fenwick Island, Delaware
. Ocean City's southern point is an inlet
formed by the 1933 Chesapeake–Potomac hurricane. Rainfall and tides swelled the rivers and bays surrounding Ocean City until the overflowing water cut a 50 foot crevasse
from the bay to the ocean. Ocean City businessmen had long sought funding to create an inlet to support a harbor, so residents seized upon the opportunity and built jetties to ensure the city's land remained divided from what is now Assateague Island
.
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.
of 2000, there were 7,173 people, 3,750 households, and 1,829 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,574.7 people per square mile (607.3/km²). There were 26,317 housing units at an average density of 5,777.5 per square mile (2,228.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24% of the population.
There were 3,750 households out of which 11.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.2% were non-families. 39.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.91 and the average family size was 2.47.
In the town the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 105.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,772, and the median income for a family was $44,614. Males had a median income of $28,613 versus $27,457 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,078. About 6.0% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under the age of 18 and 3.9% ages 65 or older.
and charter aircraft.
Ocean City has only a single major north–south thoroughfare, Maryland Route 528
, known as the Coastal Highway for most of its length, and as Philadelphia Avenue at its southern end. MD 528 continues north into Delaware as Delaware Route 1. East-west streets are numbered, starting at Division Street in the south, and continue until 146th street at the Delaware/Maryland border. Locations in the city are usually given as Oceanside (east of Coastal Highway) or Bayside (west of Coastal Highway).
Three bridges connect the spit to the mainland. U.S. Route 50
crosses the Harry W. Kelly Memorial Bridge
and connects to MD 528 at Division Street. Maryland Route 90
, a two-lane freeway, crosses the Assawoman Bay Bridge
and connects to MD 528 at 62nd Street. Delaware Route 54 can also be used to reach Ocean City, as it meets Coastal Highway just north of the border.
Ocean City is the eastern terminus of U.S. Route 50
. Near Sacramento, California
along U.S. 50 is a mileage sign whimsically stating the distance to Ocean City, MD (3073 miles.)
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 City borrows articulated buses from the Maryland Transit Administration
of Baltimore, Maryland, as well as hiring additional operators for the summer season. These seasonal bus drivers are frequently 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 feet (12.2 m) lengths. They do run Eldorado National XHF buses in a 35 feet (10.7 m) length. Off season they run the Inlet to Delaware line and the summer season the West Ocean City Park and ride shuttle. The West Ocean City Park and Ride stop connects Ocean City's bus system to that of Shore Transit
on the mainland peninsula. Ocean City did purchase a new order of at least 8 Blue Bird Xcel 102s in a 40 feet (12.2 m) length this year. They were purchased to replace the oldest set of Thomas built buses on the Ocean City fleet. Which were also numbered as 270s. Ocean City Transit is scheduled to receive somewhere from 10-17 Articulated bus
es from the Maryland Transit Administration
which were built by North American Bus Industries
in 1997 as Maryland Transit Administration
is receiving 30 new hybrid
articulated bus
es built by New Flyer.
Ocean City also maintains a fleet of open-air shuttles which run along the Boardwalk. The shuttles run the entire length of the boardwalk from the Inlet to 27th Street. South of 5th Street, the shuttle has a separate paved road it runs on parallel to the boardwalk. North of this, a painted lane down the middle of the boardwalk warns pedestrians of the shuttle. Passengers board and alight at any point along the route by notifying the driver.
, Liguria
, Italy
Pärnu
, Pärnu County
, Estonia
seniors
from Maryland
and surrounding states travel to Ocean City to spend a week with friends and away from parental supervision. Senior Week traditionally begins the first week after graduation. The Town of Ocean City has a "Play it Safe" campaign with scheduled events to keep the graduates safe.
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
resort town
Resort town
A resort town, sometimes called a resort city or resort destination, is a town or area where tourism or vacationing is a primary component of the local culture and economy...
in Worcester County
Worcester County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*82.0% White*13.6% Black*0.3% Native American*1.1% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*1.3% Other races*3.2% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Ocean City is widely known in the Mid-Atlantic region
Mid-Atlantic States
The Mid-Atlantic states, also called middle Atlantic states or simply the mid Atlantic, form a region of the United States generally located between New England and the South...
of the United States and is a frequent destination for vacationers in that area. The population was 7,173 at the 2000 census, although during summer weekends the city hosts between 320,000 and 345,000 vacationers.
History
The land the city was built on, as well as much of the surrounding area, was once owned by Englishman Thomas Fenwick. 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
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, and Wilmington
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
. They came not so much to visit as to survey the spit
Spit (landform)
A spit or sandspit is a deposition landform found off coasts. At one end, spits connect to land, and extend into the sea. A spit is a type of bar or beach that develops where a re-entrant occurs, such as at cove's headlands, by the process of longshore drift...
. 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
Berlin, Maryland
Berlin is a town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census.-History:The town of Berlin had its start around the 1790s, part of the Burley Plantation, a land grant dating back to 1677...
to the shores of Sinepuxent Bay across from the town. By 1881, a line was completed across Sinepuxent Bay
Sinepuxent Bay
Sinepuxent Bay is an inland waterway which connects Chincoteague Bay to the Ocean City Inlet. It separates Sinepuxent Neck, in Worcester County, Maryland, from Assateague Island, and is crossed by the Verrazano Bridge on Maryland State Highway 611 Sinepuxent Bay is an inland waterway which connects...
to the shore, bringing rail passengers directly into the town.
The Ocean City Inlet was formed during a major hurricane
1933 Chesapeake Potomac Hurricane
The 1933 Chesapeake-Potomac Hurricane was the eighth storm and third hurricane of the very active 1933 Atlantic hurricane season. The August storm formed in the central Atlantic, where it moved west-northwest...
in 1933, which also destroyed the train tracks across the Sinepuxent Bay. The inlet separated what is now Ocean City from Assateague Island
Assateague Island
Assateague Island is a long barrier island located off the eastern coast of Maryland and Virginia. It is best known for its herds of feral horses, pristine beaches, and the Assateague Lighthouse. The island also contains numerous marshes, bays and coves, including Toms Cove...
. 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 port 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
Chesapeake Bay Bridge
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is a major dual-span bridge in the U.S. state of Maryland. Spanning the Chesapeake Bay, it connects the state's rural Eastern Shore region with the more urban Western Shore. The original span opened in 1952 and, at the time, with a length of , it was the world's longest...
, Ocean City became easily accessible to people in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. In 1964, with the completion of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is a long fixed link crossing the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and connecting the Delmarva Peninsula's Eastern Shore of Virginia with Virginia Beach and the metropolitan area of Hampton Roads, Virginia...
, 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.
The original pier was destroyed by a fire in 1994. There was a small water park and giant walk-through haunted house with live actors near the end of the pier and a New Orleans-style Hollywood in Wax Museum on the boardwalk side. In the late nineties the Wax Museum was turned into a Photon laser tag
Laser tag
Laser tag is a team or individual sport or recreational activity where players attempt to score points by tagging targets, typically with a hand-held infrared-emitting targeting device. Infrared-sensitive targets are commonly worn by each player and are sometimes integrated within the arena in...
arena. The building now houses the Ripley's Believe it or Not! museum.
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.
Today
Today, the Ocean City area continues to sprawl westward across the bay and toward BerlinBerlin, Maryland
Berlin is a town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census.-History:The town of Berlin had its start around the 1790s, part of the Burley Plantation, a land grant dating back to 1677...
and Ocean Pines
Ocean Pines, Maryland
Ocean Pines is a census-designated place in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,710 at the 2010 census. It is the principal of and is included in the Ocean Pines, Maryland Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Salisbury-Ocean Pines, Maryland Combined...
. It is part of the Ocean Pines Micropolitan Statistical Area. The resort area accommodates approximately 8 million visitors per year.
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 Ocean City Boardwalk. The boardwalk is the main shopping district and entertainment area of the town. The boardwalk has many prominent businesses including Fisher's Caramel Popcorn & Thrashers French Fries. Other notable boardwalk businesses are Dolle's Salt Water Taffy
Salt water taffy
Salt water taffy is a variety of soft taffy originally produced and marketed in the Atlantic City, New Jersey, area beginning in the late 19th century.-Etymology:...
, the Atlantic Stand & Dumser's Dairyland. The Boardwalk has two amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
s, Trimpers Rides
Trimpers Rides
Trimper's Rides is a historic amusement park located near the inlet at South First Street and the boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland,in The United States. It was founded in 1893 as The Windsor Resort, and is over 100 years old...
and The Pier, which was recently renamed Jolly Roger at The Pier, 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
Billfish
The term billfish is applied to a number of different large, predatory fish characterised by their large size and their long, sword-like bill. Billfish include the sailfish and marlin, which make up the family Istiophoridae, and the swordfish, sole member of the family Xiphiidae...
, tuna
Tuna
Tuna is a salt water fish from the family Scombridae, mostly in the genus Thunnus. Tuna are fast swimmers, and some species are capable of speeds of . Unlike most fish, which have white flesh, the muscle tissue of tuna ranges from pink to dark red. The red coloration derives from myoglobin, an...
, wahoo
Wahoo
The wahoo is a scombrid fish found worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas. It is best known to sports fishermen, as its speed and high-quality flesh make it a prize game fish...
, 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
White marlin
White Marlin are large, elongated fish with a large upper jaw that forms a spear which is round in cross-section. They are dark blue to chocolate-brown in color...
, Blue Marlin
Atlantic blue marlin
The Atlantic blue marlin is a species of marlin endemic to the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic blue marlin feeds on a wide variety of organisms near the surface. By using its bill, it can stun, injure, or kill while knifing through a school of prey and then return later at its leisure to eat...
, and Tuna
Tuna
Tuna is a salt water fish from the family Scombridae, mostly in the genus Thunnus. Tuna are fast swimmers, and some species are capable of speeds of . Unlike most fish, which have white flesh, the muscle tissue of tuna ranges from pink to dark red. The red coloration derives from myoglobin, an...
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 - attracted by numerous job opportunities. In the summer, businesses and government agencies are 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 Ocean City Convention Center
Ocean City Convention Center
The Roland E. Powell Convention Center, also known as the Ocean City Convention Center, is a multi-purpose convention center in Ocean City, Maryland, USA. It contains of floor space. It can also be converted into a 5,000 seat indoor arena that can host sporting events, like wrestling, as well as...
conventions has convinced many seasonal restaurants and hotels to remain open. Many bars and restaurants that close during the winter 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
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
that collapsed in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Geography
Ocean City is located at 38.391526°N 75.069712°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 36.4 square miles (94.3 km²), of which, 4.6 square miles (11.9 km²) of it is land and 31.8 square miles (82.4 km²) of it (87.47%) is water.
Ocean City is on the barrier spit
Spit (landform)
A spit or sandspit is a deposition landform found off coasts. At one end, spits connect to land, and extend into the sea. A spit is a type of bar or beach that develops where a re-entrant occurs, such as at cove's headlands, by the process of longshore drift...
, which encompasses Ocean City, South Bethany, Delaware
South Bethany, Delaware
As of the census of 2000, there were 492 people, 253 households, and 170 families residing in the town. The population density was 948.6 people per square mile . There were 1,137 housing units at an average density of 2,192.1 per square mile...
, and Fenwick Island, Delaware
Fenwick Island, Delaware
As of the census of 2000, there were 342 people, 178 households, and 126 families residing in the town. The population density was 994.5 people per square mile . There were 666 housing units at an average density of 1,936.7 per square mile . The racial makeup of the town was 99.42% White, and 0.58%...
. Ocean City's southern point is an inlet
Inlet
An inlet is a narrow body of water between islands or leading inland from a larger body of water, often leading to an enclosed body of water, such as a sound, bay, lagoon or marsh. In sea coasts an inlet usually refers to the actual connection between a bay and the ocean and is often called an...
formed by the 1933 Chesapeake–Potomac hurricane. Rainfall and tides swelled the rivers and bays surrounding Ocean City until the overflowing water cut a 50 foot crevasse
Crevasse
A crevasse is a deep crack in an ice sheet rhys glacier . Crevasses form as a result of the movement and resulting stress associated with the sheer stress generated when two semi-rigid pieces above a plastic substrate have different rates of movement...
from the bay to the ocean. Ocean City businessmen had long sought funding to create an inlet to support a harbor, so residents seized upon the opportunity and built jetties to ensure the city's land remained divided from what is now Assateague Island
Assateague Island
Assateague Island is a long barrier island located off the eastern coast of Maryland and Virginia. It is best known for its herds of feral horses, pristine beaches, and the Assateague Lighthouse. The island also contains numerous marshes, bays and coves, including Toms Cove...
.
Climate
Ocean City's location in the middle of the East CoastEast Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
affords it a mild Humid subtropical climate
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
, 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
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is a 200-mile long string of narrow barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, beginning in the southeastern corner of Virginia Beach on the east coast of the United States....
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, which lie to the south and east, tropical storms and hurricanes are very rare.
| Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures | ||||||||||||
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec High °F (°C) | 74 (23) | 78 (26) | 89 (32) | 90 (32) | 99 (37) | 102 (39) | 102 (39) | 101 (38) | 96 (36) | 94 (34) | 81 (27) | 76 (24) |
| Norm High °F (°C) | 44 (7) | 46 (8) | 53 (12) | 61 (18) | 70 (21) | 79 (26) | 84 (29) | 83 (28) | 78 (26) | 68 (20) | 58 (14) | 49 (9) |
| Norm Low °F (°C) | 28 (-2) | 30 (-1) | 35 (2) | 44 (7) | 53 (12) | 62 (17) | 67 (19) | 67 (19) | 62 (17) | 51 (11) | 41 (5) | 32 (0) |
| Rec Low °F (°C) | -2 (-19) | 3 (-16) | 10 (-12) | 20 (-7) | 36 (2) | 41 (5) | 49 (9) | 48 (9) | 41 (5) | 26 (-3) | 15 (-9) | 2 (-17) |
| Precip in (mm) | 4.34 (110.2) | 3.59 (91.2) | 4.26 (108.2) | 3.25 (82.6) | 3.60 (91.4) | 2.85 (72.4) | 3.82 (91.9) | 4.20 (106.31) | 3.70 (94) | 3.3 (83.8) | 3.16 (80.3) | 3.47 (81.5) |
| Source: Weather.com http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USMD0295?from=36hr_bottomnav_vacation | ||||||||||||
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,173 people, 3,750 households, and 1,829 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,574.7 people per square mile (607.3/km²). There were 26,317 housing units at an average density of 5,777.5 per square mile (2,228.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.34% White, 2.50% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24% of the population.
There were 3,750 households out of which 11.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 51.2% were non-families. 39.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.91 and the average family size was 2.47.
In the town the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 105.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,772, and the median income for a family was $44,614. Males had a median income of $28,613 versus $27,457 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,078. About 6.0% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under the age of 18 and 3.9% ages 65 or older.
Mayors
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. James N. Mathias, Jr Jim Mathias is an American politician from Ocean City, Maryland who serves in the Maryland State Senate. He was formerly a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 2006 to 2010.-Background:... |
1996 | 2006 |
| Rick Meehan | 2006 | |
Transportation
Nearby Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport provides commercial air service for Ocean City. Ocean City Municipal Airport, located 3 miles (4.8 km) west of downtown Ocean City serves general aviationGeneral aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
and charter aircraft.
Ocean City has only a single major north–south thoroughfare, Maryland Route 528
Maryland Route 528
Maryland Route 528 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Coastal Highway, the state highway runs from the southern terminus of its companion route, unsigned Maryland Route 378, in downtown Ocean City north to the Delaware state line at the northern...
, known as the Coastal Highway for most of its length, and as Philadelphia Avenue at its southern end. MD 528 continues north into Delaware as Delaware Route 1. East-west streets are numbered, starting at Division Street in the south, and continue until 146th street at the Delaware/Maryland border. Locations in the city are usually given as Oceanside (east of Coastal Highway) or Bayside (west of Coastal Highway).
Three bridges connect the spit to the mainland. U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 in Maryland
U.S. Route 50 is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over from Ocean City, Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean to West Sacramento, California. In the U.S. state of Maryland, US 50 exists in two sections. The longer of these serves as a major route connecting...
crosses the Harry W. Kelly Memorial Bridge
Harry W. Kelly Memorial Bridge
The Harry W. Kelley Memorial Bridge is a bridge in the U.S. state of Maryland. It carries 4 lanes of U.S. Route 50, plus two sidewalks, across Sinepuxent Bay, connecting the downtown area of Ocean City, Maryland to the mainland of Worcester County, Maryland within West Ocean City, and is mere feet...
and connects to MD 528 at Division Street. Maryland Route 90
Maryland Route 90
Maryland Route 90 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as the Ocean City Expressway, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 50 near Whaleyville to MD 528 in Ocean City. MD 90 is a two-lane expressway that provides one of the main access routes to Ocean City, especially the...
, a two-lane freeway, crosses the Assawoman Bay Bridge
Assawoman Bay Bridge
The Assawoman Bay Bridge crosses the Assawoman Bay in Ocean City, Maryland. The bridge carries Maryland Route 90, a freeway into northern Ocean City. The bridge consists of two lanes and is undivided, but is heavily travelled; as such, in the summertime, it is usually congested with traffic...
and connects to MD 528 at 62nd Street. Delaware Route 54 can also be used to reach Ocean City, as it meets Coastal Highway just north of the border.
Ocean City is the eastern terminus of U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over from Ocean City, Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean to West Sacramento, California. Until 1972, when it was replaced by Interstate Highways west of the Sacramento area, it extended to San Francisco, near...
. Near Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
along U.S. 50 is a mileage sign whimsically stating the distance to Ocean City, MD (3073 miles.)
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 City borrows articulated buses from the Maryland Transit Administration
Maryland Transit Administration
The Maryland Transit Administration is a state-operated mass transit administration in Maryland, and is part of the Maryland Department of Transportation. It is better known as MTA Maryland to avoid confusion with other cities' transit agencies who share the initials MTA. The MTA operates a...
of Baltimore, Maryland, as well as hiring additional operators for the summer season. These seasonal bus drivers are frequently 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 feet (12.2 m) lengths. They do run Eldorado National XHF buses in a 35 feet (10.7 m) length. Off season they run the Inlet to Delaware line and the summer season the West Ocean City Park and ride shuttle. The West Ocean City Park and Ride stop connects Ocean City's bus system to that of Shore Transit
Shore Transit
Shore Transit is a commuter bus service on the Lower Eastern Shore of the state of Maryland in the United States, servicing Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester counties. The company comes from the consolidation of Somerset Commuter, Worcester County Ride, and Wicomico Transit...
on the mainland peninsula. Ocean City did purchase a new order of at least 8 Blue Bird Xcel 102s in a 40 feet (12.2 m) length this year. They were purchased to replace the oldest set of Thomas built buses on the Ocean City fleet. Which were also numbered as 270s. Ocean City Transit is scheduled to receive somewhere from 10-17 Articulated bus
Articulated bus
An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...
es from the Maryland Transit Administration
Maryland Transit Administration
The Maryland Transit Administration is a state-operated mass transit administration in Maryland, and is part of the Maryland Department of Transportation. It is better known as MTA Maryland to avoid confusion with other cities' transit agencies who share the initials MTA. The MTA operates a...
which were built by North American Bus Industries
North American Bus Industries
North American Bus Industries, commonly known as NABI, is a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Anniston, Alabama. NABI was founded in 1992 when the Hungarian firm Ikarus Bus, a key bus supplier to Central, Eastern Europe, spun off a majority share of their American operations to...
in 1997 as Maryland Transit Administration
Maryland Transit Administration
The Maryland Transit Administration is a state-operated mass transit administration in Maryland, and is part of the Maryland Department of Transportation. It is better known as MTA Maryland to avoid confusion with other cities' transit agencies who share the initials MTA. The MTA operates a...
is receiving 30 new hybrid
Hybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles , which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.-Power:...
articulated bus
Articulated bus
An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...
es built by New Flyer.
Ocean City also maintains a fleet of open-air shuttles which run along the Boardwalk. The shuttles run the entire length of the boardwalk from the Inlet to 27th Street. South of 5th Street, the shuttle has a separate paved road it runs on parallel to the boardwalk. North of this, a painted lane down the middle of the boardwalk warns pedestrians of the shuttle. Passengers board and alight at any point along the route by notifying the driver.
Notable residents
- James N. Mathias, JrJames N. Mathias, JrJim Mathias is an American politician from Ocean City, Maryland who serves in the Maryland State Senate. He was formerly a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 2006 to 2010.-Background:...
, Maryland State Delegate, and past Mayor - Charles CalhounCharles CalhounCharles Luther Calhoun was an American military enlisted man who served briefly in the United States Navy during World War II and then in the United States Coast Guard where he would rise to become the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard.-Biography:Charles Calhoun was born April...
, first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast GuardMaster Chief Petty Officer of the Coast GuardThe Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard is a unique non-commissioned rank in the United States Coast Guard.The holder of this rank and post is the senior enlisted member of the U.S... - Jennifer Hope WillsJennifer Hope WillsJennifer Hope Wills is an American actress and soprano singer. She was the first child of William and Sue Wills. She made her stage debut at the age of 1 in a production of Rumplestiltskin performed by the Baltimore Actor's Theatre.The family moved to Ocean City, Maryland where her parents...
, an actress who played Christine DaaeChristine DaaéChristine Daaé is the main female character in Gaston Leroux's novel The Phantom of the Opera , the young singer with whom the main character Erik, the Phantom of the Opera falls in love.- Character history :...
in The Phantom of the OperaThe Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, and most lyrics were written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Alan Jay Lerner was an early collaborator,...
on Broadway - Michael Sorce, former radio talk show host, better known as Don Geronimo.
Sister cities
Ocean City has two sister cities. Finale LigureFinale Ligure
Finale Ligure is a comune on the Gulf of Genoa in the Province of Savona in Liguria, Italy. It is considered part of the Italian Riviera.-Geography:...
, Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Pärnu
Pärnu
Pärnu is a city in southwestern Estonia on the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. It is a popular summer vacation resort with many hotels, restaurants, and large beaches. The Pärnu River flows through the city and drains into the Gulf of Riga...
, Pärnu County
Pärnu County
Pärnu County , or Pärnumaa , is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is situated in south-western part of the country, on the coast of Gulf of Riga, and borders Lääne and Rapla counties to the north, Järva and Viljandi counties to the east, and Latvia to the south...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
Senior Week
Ocean City is known for its "Senior Week" activities. Recently graduated high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
seniors
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
from Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and surrounding states travel to Ocean City to spend a week with friends and away from parental supervision. Senior Week traditionally begins the first week after graduation. The Town of Ocean City has a "Play it Safe" campaign with scheduled events to keep the graduates safe.