Census Data for Atlantic City
Population ...
The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave Atlantic City a population of 37,739 people.
The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave Atlantic City a population of 39,558 people.
The city of Atlantic City is located in Atlantic County. The 2010 Census gave Atlantic County; a population of 274,549 people. This means that Atlantic City had 14.41% of the county's total population, making it Atlantic's most populous community.
At the same time, New Jersey had a population of 8,791,894 people, meaning that Atlantic City had 0.45% of the total population of New Jersey - making it the state's 21st most populous community.
Area ...
The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for Atlantic City has a total area of 17.04 square miles [44.1 km²]. Of this total, 10.75 square miles [27.8 km²] is land, with the balance (36.92%) being water (6.29 square miles [16.3 km²]).
Atlantic County has a land area of 555 square miles [1,439.3 km²]. At 10.75 square miles [27.8 km²], Atlantic City has 1.93% of the county's total land area.
- Continue Reading ...
- When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like Atlantic City, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
- Things like population, area and housing for Atlantic City reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of Atlantic City might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
- Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
- Lat: 39° 22' 38" (or 39.38°)
- Lon: -74° 27' 3" (or -74.45°)
- More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Housing Units ...
At the time of the 2010 Census, Atlantic City had 20,013 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 39,558 people, this averages 1.98 people per Housing Unit.
- Continue Reading ...
- The 2010 Census shows Atlantic City had a land area of 10.75 square miles [27.8 km²]. This translates to 1,174 Housing Units per square mile [453.5 housing units/km²].
- From the Census of 2000: Atlantic City had 20,219 Housing Units, a population of 40,517 people and a land area of 11.35 square miles [29.4 km²]. This gives a density of 2 people per Housing Unit and 1,165 Housing Units per square mile [449.9 housing units/km²].
- Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 Census and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for Atlantic City and you need to be careful when comparing results between the censuses. More information about these differences can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).
Atlantic County ...
The city of Atlantic City is located in Atlantic County<4>.
The county had a population of 274,549 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 39,558 people, Atlantic City represented 14.41% of the county's total.
In addition, where the city of Atlantic City has a population density of 2,321 people per square mile [896 people/km²], Atlantic County averages 494.1 people per square mile [190.8 people/km²].
For more information, please visit our Census Page for Atlantic County.
Census-to-Census Observations ...
Introduction ...
When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for Atlantic City, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of Atlantic City. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.
- Continue Reading ...
- Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for Atlantic City or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
- If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.
Location ...
While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of Atlantic City, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for Atlantic City.
- Continue Reading ...
- For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
- Lat: 39.377297° (or 39°22'38" N)
- Lon: -74.451082° (or -74°27'3" W)
- For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
- Lat: 39.364966° (or 39°21'53" N)
- Lon: -74.439034° (or -74°26'20" W)
- The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 5,633 feet to the northwest<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
- The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#885142) to Atlantic City. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of Atlantic City. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
- Lat: 39.377617° (or 39°22'39" N)
- Lon: -74.450983° (or -74°27'3" W)
- The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 120 feet to the south<6> of the point given by the GNIS for Atlantic City. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for Atlantic City.
Miscellaneous Information for Atlantic City ...
The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Atlantic County or the city of Atlantic City:
- The GNIS Codes ...
- The FIPS Codes ...
- An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
- State Code: 34 (New Jersey)
- County Code: 001 (Atlantic County)
- Place Code: 02080 (Atlantic City)
- State & County Code: 34/001 (New Jersey / Atlantic County)
- State & Place Code: 34/02080 (New Jersey / Atlantic City)
- Misc. Census Codes ...
- Atlantic City is located in Census Region #1 (the Northeast Region) and Division #2 (the Middle Atlantic Division).
For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for Atlantic City.
Off-the-Road Links ...
The official website for Atlantic City: www.cityofatlanticcity.org/
The official website for Atlantic County: www.aclink.org/
The official website for State of New Jersey: https://www.state.nj.us/
The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau
The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)
The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Footnotes ...
| <1> | Every year, the US Census Bureau creates a population estimate for the preceeding year. Keep in mind that this value is an estimate and not an actual count. The most recent Census estimate is for the year 2019. |
| <2> | Every 10 years (eg- 1990, 2000, 2010), the US Census Bureau conducts a Constitutionally-mandated count (or enumeration) of people living within the United States. This count is called a Decennial Census. The last Decennial Census was the 2010 Census, with the next one planned for 2020. |
| <3> | A Housing Unit is a broad term for those places where people live (whether occupied or temporarily vacant), such as a house, an apartment, a mobile home, or an area that is considered as a separate living quarter. Separate living quarters (consisting of one or more rooms) are considered to be those places where people live, sleep and eat separately from others and that have access to the outside (either directly or by a shared hallway). |
| <4> | If you're interested in how the shape of New Jersey's counties, including Atlantic, have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. |
| <5> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the 2010 Census location is 37 degrees and a distance of 5,633 feet. |
| <6> | The calculated bearing (or angle) to the GNIS point is 166 degrees and a distance of 120 feet. |