What exactly happened to Atlantic City, NJ? It seems so run down compared to its past glory 100 year ago.

Question

I grew up in the Philly/Delaware area in the 80s. And my parents took me to Atlantic City twice during that time for a day. It seemed so dark, dilapidated and poor for such a place known as a beach resort. Now I know places like Cape May, Avalon, and Wildwood did well in the 80s because I vacationed there in the summer months with my grandparents, so it cannot be a regional thing or economics for that area. Was there a lot of corruption in Atlantic City along with a few bad decisions made by the local governments? I just went onto Google Maps and looked at satellite views of the city and it even worse. There's barren streets/lots/homes, it seems, next to the boardwalk and high-end casinos.

Answer 1

I don't know what exactly happened....but it is really depressing. I live in New Jersey and I hate going there.  You have really run-door neighborhoods only a couple of blocks from the casinos.  I can only handle being there for like 1 night because besides the casinos...there really isn't that much to do...it's boring!

Answer 2

I live in NJ and I think Atlantic City is a dump.

Answer 3

you are right. the neighboring towns, Margate and Ventnor are beautiful with million dollar homes. only the casinos are still nice and well kept

Answer 4

There's too many bums in Atlantic City, they seem to have a problem keeping them out of sight. In Las Vegas you don't see any bums on the strip or downtown, they all are located elsewhere. Make the bums in Atlantic city move somewhere else and maybe I'll go there.

Answer 5

I know most people in that part of the country come to Las Vegas instead of that city because it is so awful.  People would rather take a four hour flight to Vegas than a half hour ride to Atlantic City.