{{short description|Island on the Jersey Shore of the Atlantic Ocean}} {{Infobox islands | name = Absecon Island | island_type = [[Barrier island]] | image_name = USACE Margate City, New Jersey Shore.jpg | image_size = 300px | image_caption = [[Atlantic Ocean]] [[shoreline]] at [[Margate City, New Jersey|Margate City]], on Absecon Island | image_alt = | map = | map_alt = | map_width = | map_caption = | map_relief = | label = | label_position = | etymology = [[Unami language|Lenape]] ''Absegami'' ("little water") | location = [[Atlantic Ocean]] | coordinates = {{Coord|39|20|26|N|74|28|39|W|display=inline,title}} | archipelago = | waterbody = [[Absecon Inlet]] | area_sqmi = <!-- or |area_sqft= or |area_acre= --> | area_footnotes = | rank = | length_mi = <!-- or |length_ft= --> | length_footnotes = | width_mi = <!-- or |width_ft= --> | width_footnotes = | coastline_mi = <!-- or |coastline_ft= --> | coastline_footnotes = | elevation_ft = | elevation_footnotes = | highest_mount = | country = [[United States]] | country_admin_divisions_title_1 = State | country_admin_divisions_1 = [[New Jersey]] | country_admin_divisions_title_2 = County | country_admin_divisions_2 = [[Atlantic County, New Jersey|Atlantic]] | country_largest_city = | country_largest_city_population = | demonym = | population = 53,917 | population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]] | population_footnotes = <ref name=Census2020/> | population_rank = | population_rank_max = | density_sqmi = | density_rank = | density_footnotes = | ethnic_groups = | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | website = | additional_info = }} '''Absecon Island''' is a [[barrier island]] located on the [[South Jersey|South]] [[Jersey Shore]] of the [[Atlantic Ocean]] in [[Atlantic County, New Jersey|Atlantic County]], [[New Jersey]], United States. On the island from north to south are the resort communities of [[Atlantic City, New Jersey|Atlantic City]], [[Ventnor City, New Jersey|Ventnor City]], [[Margate City, New Jersey|Margate City]], and [[Longport, New Jersey|Longport]], with a total population among the four communities of 53,917 as of the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name=Census2020>{{cite web|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=P1_001N,NAME&for=place:*&in=state:34&key=5ccd0821c15d9f4520e2dcc0f8d92b2ec9336108|title=Census Population API|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 28, 2023}}</ref> The island ends at [[Absecon Inlet]] to the north and [[Great Egg Harbor Inlet]] to the south.
==Geography== A barrier island, Absecon Island extends between Absecon Inlet on the northeast and Great Egg Harbor Inlet to the southwest.
Absecon Island was described in 1834 as, {{quote|'''Absecum Beach,''' on the [[Atlantic Ocean]]; extends, eastwardly, from Great Egg Harbour Inlet, about 9 miles to Absecum Inlet; broken, however by a narrow inlet, near midway between its extremities.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8VoVAAAAYAAJ |title=A Gazetteer of the State of New Jersey - Thomas F. Gordon - Google Books |accessdate=October 14, 2018|last1=Gordon |first1=Thomas Francis |year=1834 }}</ref>}}
An 1878 description of Absecon Island is, ''viz'',{{quote|''Absecon Beach'' lies between Absecon Inlet and Great Egg Harbor. It is about ten miles long, and partially wooded on its northeastern end. On this beach the famed "''City by the Sea''", Atlantic City, has been erected since 1853. At that time it was a wild jungle, with only two or three families residing there. Quite extensive salt works were at one time located near Absecon Inlet.<ref>''Historical and Biographical Atlas of the New Jersey Coast'', Woolman and Rose, Philadelphia, 1878; p. 20</ref>}}
== History == Absecon's earliest European settlers were English who earned their living [[clamming]] and [[oyster]]ing. Land there was bought not for farming but for control of the waterways. The name Absecon came from the word "Absegami" or little water, named by the [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] living along Absecon Creek.<ref>[http://www.aclink.org/HISTORY/mainpages/ABSECON.asp Absecon & Absecon Island], [[Atlantic County, New Jersey]]. Accessed August 12, 2008.</ref><ref>[https://www.nationaldogdayz.com/ Absecon & Absecon Island] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719073805/https://www.nationaldogdayz.com/ |date=2019-07-19 }}, [[Atlantic County, New Jersey]]. Accessed</ref>
In 1695, Thomas Budd purchased 10,000 acres (40 km<sup>2</sup>) of land in what later became Atlantic County. He paid 4 cents an acre ($9.88/km<sup>2</sup>) for land on which Atlantic City now stands. It was called Further Island (further from Absecon) and later called Absecon Beach and finally became Atlantic City.
Jeremiah Leeds was the first permanent settler on Absecon Island in 1785. He came from Leeds Point to Absecon Island when it was a complete wilderness. He built a cabin of cedar logs and cleared a field where the [[Atlantic City Expressway]] now ends in Atlantic City. The block called Columbus Plaza was part of the Leeds farm. Most of the homes in Atlantic City until 1854 were built by descendants of Jeremiah Leeds. Jeremiah's son Chalkey S. Leeds became the first mayor of Atlantic City in 1854 and his youngest son, Robert, became the first postmaster of Atlantic City.
In 1819, Dr. [[Jonathan Pitney]] went to Absecon to set up his medical practice. His visits to Absecon Island convinced him that the island had the climate ideal for a health resort. He was instrumental in convincing the municipal authorities that a railroad to the beach would be beneficial. He has been called the "Father of Atlantic City".<ref>{{cite book|author=Cunningham, John T. |url=https://archive.org/details/thisisnewjersey0000cunn |url-access=registration |quote=Father of Atlantic City pitney. |title=This Is New Jersey|publisher=New Jersey: Rutgers University Press|year=1994|page=[https://archive.org/details/thisisnewjersey0000cunn/page/241 241]|isbn =0-8135-2141-6|accessdate=August 12, 2008}}</ref>
The first beachwalk or "[[boardwalk (entertainment district)|boardwalk]]" in Atlantic City was completed in 1870 by Simon Luchs Wescoat. Because of its success as a resort, a second railroad was built in 1877. Fifty-four miles of track was laid in a record time of 98 days.
== Beach reclamation == As a barrier island, the beaches of Absecon Island are continuously impacted by erosion, particularly [[nor'easter]]s, [[hurricane]]s, and other coastal storms. The [[United States Army Corps of Engineers|U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]] is undertaking a project to construct an approximate $63 million beach and dune system along the 8.1-mile oceanfront of Absecon Island.
==See also== * [[Brigantine Island]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[http://www.aclink.org/HISTORY/mainpages/ABSECON.asp Atlantic County History of Absecon Island] *[http://www.westfieldnj.com/whs/history/Counties/AtlanticCounty/absecon.htm Absecon history]
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[[Category:Atlantic City, New Jersey]] [[Category:Barrier islands of New Jersey]] [[Category:Landforms of Atlantic County, New Jersey]] [[Category:Longport, New Jersey]] [[Category:Margate City, New Jersey]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Atlantic County, New Jersey]] [[Category:Ventnor City, New Jersey]]