Ocean City, Maryland

Ocean City, Maryland
—  Town  —
Aerial view of Ocean City, Maryland
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): The White Marlin Capital of the World
Location in Maryland
Coordinates: 38°23′29″N 75°4′11″W
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Worcester
Founded	1875
Incorporated	1880
Government
• Type	Council/Manager
• Mayor	Rick Meehan
• City Council	Member List Lloyd Martin - President Mary Knight - Secretary Brent Ashley Doug Cymek Dennis Dare Joe Mitrecic Margaret Pillas
• City Manager	David Recor
Area
• Total	36.37 sq mi (94.20 km2)
• Land	4.41 sq mi (11.42 km2)
• Water	31.96 sq mi (82.78 km2)  87.87%
Elevation	7 ft (2 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	7,102
• Estimate (2011)	7,110
• Density	1,610.4/sq mi (621.8/km2)
	320,000-345,000 estimated summer weekend population
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	21842-21843
Area code(s)	410, 443, 667
FIPS code	24-58225
GNIS feature ID	0586284
Website	www.oceancitymd.gov

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 7,102 at the 2010 census, although during summer weekends the city hosts between 320,000 and 345,000 vacationers, and up to 8 million visitors annually. During the summer, Ocean City becomes Maryland's second most populated town.

History

The land upon which the city was built, as well as much of the surrounding area, was obtained by Englishman Thomas Fenwick from the Native Americans. 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.

Ocean City's inlet during the off season

The Ocean City Inlet was formed during a significant 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 1990s, 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 eighties 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.

Recent history

A view of the Ocean City boardwalk looking south.

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. The resort area accommodates approximately 8 million visitors per year.

Ocean City now extends just more than 9 mi (14 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 parks, Trimpers Rides and The Pier, which was recently renamed Jolly Roger at The Pier, after its sister uptown local amusement park. The downtown neighborhood, Old Town, 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.

The firefighter memorial located on the boardwalk.

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 Ireland - 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.

A view of the Ocean City boardwalk at twilight looking north.

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. Ocean City is home to the annual Maryland State Firefighters Convention. This is a week-long event in June, that honors the states firefighters with events and contests at the Convention Center, and ends with a parade.

Northern Ocean City houses many high-rise beachfront condominiums and hotels such as Century I, The Seawatch, Golden Sands Club, and The Carousel. This area is easily recognizable because of its city-like skyline.

Geography

Ocean City is located at 38°23′29″N 75°04′11″W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.37 square miles (94.20 km²), of which, 4.41 square miles (11.42 km²) is land and 31.96 square miles (82.78 km²) 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.

Climate

Ocean City has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), with hot, humid summers, mild winters, and precipitation fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. Due to its location on the Atlantic coast, daytime temperatures in spring and summer are moderated, with an average of only 10 days annually reaching 90 °F (32 °C). Conversely, in winter there is an average of 5.8 days where the temperature fails to rise above freezing. The prominence of the Outer Banks of North Carolina to the south means direct hits from tropical storms and hurricanes are rare, although they sometimes brush the area.

Climate data for Ocean City, Maryland (1981–2010 normals)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °F (°C)	44.6 (7)	46.1 (7.8)	53.1 (11.7)	61.1 (16.2)	69.9 (21.1)	79.5 (26.4)	83.7 (28.7)	82.4 (28)	77.3 (25.2)	67.8 (19.9)	57.5 (14.2)	49.0 (9.4)	64.4 (18)
Average low °F (°C)	27.6 (−2.4)	29.3 (−1.5)	35.0 (1.7)	44.1 (6.7)	53.0 (11.7)	63.1 (17.3)	68.3 (20.2)	67.1 (19.5)	60.1 (15.6)	50.5 (10.3)	39.2 (4)	31.7 (−0.2)	47.5 (8.6)
Precipitation inches (mm)	3.43 (87.1)	3.06 (77.7)	3.99 (101.3)	3.36 (85.3)	3.63 (92.2)	3.31 (84.1)	3.37 (85.6)	4.66 (118.4)	3.48 (88.4)	3.30 (83.8)	3.14 (79.8)	3.64 (92.5)	42.37 (1,076.2)
Source: NOAA

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 7,102 people, 3,852 households, and 1,784 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,610.4 inhabitants per square mile (621.8 /km²). There were 30,119 housing units at an average density of 6,829.7 per square mile (2,637.0 /km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.2% White, 2.7% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 2.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.9% of the population.

There were 3,852 households out of which 11.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.8% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 53.7% were non-families. 42.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.84 and the average family size was 2.41.

The median age in the town was 54.2 years. 9.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.8% were from 25 to 44; 33.8% were from 45 to 64; and 29.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.4% male and 48.6% female.

2000 census

As of the census 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.

Ocean City's many high-rises offer a view of both the ocean and the bay.

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.

Transportation

Ocean City Municipal Airport, located 3 miles (4.8 km) west of downtown Ocean City serves general aviation and charter aircraft. Full service FBO available at this airport, as well as FAA and Cessna Pilot Center approved flight school. Nearby Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport provides commercial air service for Ocean City.

Westbound view on U.S. 50, Ocean Gateway, leaving Ocean City. Sign over Eastbound lane displays distance to Sacramento, California, 3,073 miles.

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. Most east-west streets are numbered, starting at N. 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. 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 (3,073 miles.) 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.

North End Transit Center at 144th Street, Near Delaware Line.

Ocean City also has a public transportation system referred to as the "Beach Bus". The bus runs along pretty much the entire length of the city 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year round. It travels on Coastal Highway between 15th Street and the 144th Street transit center. South of 15th Street, the bus runs on Philadelphia Ave. heading south to the S. Division Street transit center and on Baltimore Ave. heading north through the Downtown area. There is also a park-and-ride service known as the West Ocean City Park and Ride. Patrons can park their cars at the Park and Ride's lot in West Ocean City off U.S. Route 50 and take a separate bus into the city to connect with the Coastal Highway Beach Bus. This service also serves the Tanger Outlets in West Ocean City. During the summer season, the city hires additional operators for the highest periods of ridership. 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.

Ocean City's transit service connects with Shore Transit where patrons can travel to or from destinations on the Eastern Shore such as Salisbury and Pocomoke. This connection point is the West Ocean City Park and Ride in the summer and the S. Division Street transit center in the off season. Between Mid-May and Mid-September, DART Resort Transit also connects Ocean City transit at the 144th Street transit center with the resort towns of Delaware which connects with regular DART service or shuttle service from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry to Cape May, New Jersey.

The Ocean City Transits fleet consists mainly of Thomas built buses. The CL960 model and the TL960 model both in 40-foot (12 m) lengths. They do run Eldorado National XHF buses in a 35-foot (11 m) length which run on Coastal Highway in the off season and the West Ocean City Park and Ride in the summer season. Ocean City did purchase a new order of at least 8 Blue Bird Xcel 102s in a 40-foot (12 m) length recently. They were purchased to replace the oldest set of Thomas built buses on the Ocean City fleet, which were also numbered as 270s. In past years, Ocean City received somewhere about 10-17 Articulated buses that are being retired by MTA Maryland which were built by North American Bus Industries in 1995-96. The buses were frequently borrowed every summer to maintain the increase in ridership and crowding of their current 40-foot vehicles.

Ocean City also maintains a fleet of open-air shuttles which run along the Boardwalk called the Boardwalk Tram. The trams run the entire length of the boardwalk from S. Division Street to 27th Street between Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends, and also during special event weekends such as Springfest or Sunfest. South of 5th Street, the tram has a separate concrete path it runs on parallel to the boardwalk. North of this, a marked 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 people

• James N. Mathias, Jr, Maryland State Senator, and past Mayor
• Charles Calhoun, first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
• Jennifer Hope Wills, an actress who played Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway
• Michael Sorce, former radio talk show host, better known as Don Geronimo.

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.	1996	2006
Rick Meehan	2006	-

Sister cities

Ocean City has three sister cities.

• Finale Ligure, Liguria, Italy
• Pärnu, Pärnu County, Estonia
• Virginia Beach, Virginia

Senior Week

Ocean City is known for its "Senior Week" activities. Recently graduated high school 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.

External links

• Town of Ocean City, MD Official Site
• Town of Ocean City, MD Special Events