A Guide to Atlantic County’s Towns: All 23 Municipalities

Atlantic County was formed in 1837 and today is home to 23 municipalities and about 274,500 residents, according to the 2020 census. From barrier island beach towns to Pine Barrens farm country, here is a quick guide to the towns that make up Atlantic County, with the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Township serving as the county seat.

Atlantic County Fast Facts

• Formed in 1837 from parts of Galloway, Hamilton, Weymouth and Egg Harbor townships
• Named for the Atlantic Ocean along its eastern edge
• About 672 square miles in total, including about 116 square miles of water
• 23 municipalities: cities, boroughs, townships and the Town of Hammonton
• County seat: Mays Landing, in Hamilton Township

Atlantic City

The county’s best known city is home to the first boardwalk in the country, opened in 1870, along with the Absecon Lighthouse, Boardwalk Hall and the Atlantic City Aquarium at Gardner’s Basin. Neighborhoods like Ducktown are known for longtime Italian restaurants and bakeries.

City of Atlantic City

Ventnor, Margate and Longport

South of Atlantic City on Absecon Island, these three towns are often called the Downbeach communities. The boardwalk continues about 1.5 miles into Ventnor, and Margate is home to Lucy the Elephant, the elephant shaped landmark that James V. Lafferty Jr. built in 1881. Longport, at the southern tip of the island, is one of the smallest towns in the county.

Lucy the Elephant

Brigantine

Across the bridge north of Atlantic City, Brigantine is a residential island city with wide beaches. It is home to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, which has rescued seals, dolphins and sea turtles along the Jersey Shore since 1978.

Marine Mammal Stranding Center

The Mainland Shore Towns

Absecon, Pleasantville, Northfield, Linwood and Somers Point line the mainland along the bay. Somers Point is home to Somers Mansion, built around 1725 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and to a historic Bay Front district of restaurants and marinas. Northfield’s Birch Grove Park, with its ponds and trails, is a favorite for an easy walk.

Somers Mansion

Egg Harbor Township

With 47,842 residents in 2020, Egg Harbor Township is the county’s most populous municipality. It is home to Storybook Land, the Atlantic County Bikeway and the Egg Harbor Township Nature Reserve.

Storybook Land

Galloway Township

Galloway is the county’s largest municipality by total area, at about 115 square miles. It includes Historic Smithville, Stockton University and the headquarters of the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Oceanville.

Historic Smithville

Hamilton Township and Mays Landing

Hamilton Township has the most land area in the county, and its Mays Landing section is the county seat. Lake Lenape Park and Estell Manor Park, just to the south, anchor the county’s park system.

Lake Lenape Park

Hammonton

Known as the Blueberry Capital of the World, Hammonton was incorporated as a town in 1866 and has deep Italian American roots. Its Our Lady of Mount Carmel festival dates to 1875 and is considered the oldest continuously run Italian festival of its kind in the country, and the downtown along Bellevue Avenue is full of restaurants, bakeries and cafes.

Downtown Hammonton

Egg Harbor City and the Pinelands Towns

Egg Harbor City is home to Renault Winery, and nearby Mullica Township, Buena, Buena Vista Township, Folsom, Weymouth Township, Estell Manor, Corbin City and Port Republic make up the county’s quieter, rural side, with farms, rivers and Pine Barrens forest.

Renault Winery

Explore Them All

Each town has its own character, and most are less than a half hour apart. Spend a morning on the Ventnor boardwalk, an afternoon in Smithville and an evening in downtown Hammonton, and you will see why so many people are proud to call Atlantic County home.

More in Atlantic County: parks and trails, Historic Smithville, and things to do in Atlantic City in winter.