Ocean City, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ocean City, Maryland
City
Town of Ocean City
Ocean City in July 2018
Flag Seal Logo
Nicknames:  "The White Marlin Capital of the World", "OC", "OCMD"
Location in Worcester County and Maryland
Ocean City, Maryland Location in Maryland Show map of Maryland Ocean City, Maryland Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Worcester
Founded	1875
Incorporated	1880
Government
• Type	Council-manager
Area
• Total	9.65 sq mi (24.99 km2)
• Land	4.53 sq mi (11.73 km2)
• Water	5.12 sq mi (13.25 km2)  53.05%
Elevation	7 ft (2 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,844
• Density	1,510.48/sq mi (583.22/km2)
	320,000–345,000 estimated summer weekend population
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes	21842–21843
Area codes	410, 443, and 667
FIPS code	24-58225
GNIS feature ID	0586284
Website	www.oceancitymd.gov

Ocean City, also known as the Town of Ocean City, is a fun resort town located on the Atlantic Ocean in Worcester County, Maryland, USA. While about 6,844 people live here all year, during summer weekends, Ocean City welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors! Up to eight million people visit each year, making it one of Maryland's busiest places in the summer. In summer, it becomes the second most populated place in Maryland, after Baltimore. It's part of the larger Salisbury metropolitan area.

During busy times, many extra police officers, firefighters, and other workers come to help keep everyone safe and happy. Ocean City hosts many exciting events throughout the year, like Sunfest, Springfest, Bike Week, and Winterfest of Lights. These often happen on the famous Boardwalk or at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. It also hosts the yearly Maryland State Firefighters Convention, celebrating firefighters from across the state.

Exploring Ocean City's Past

Ocean City's inlet during the offseason

How Ocean City Began: The 1800s

Long ago, before Europeans arrived, Native American tribes like the Assateague and Nanticoke lived along this coast for thousands of years. Later, an Englishman named Thomas Fenwick acquired the land where Ocean City now stands.

In 1869, a businessman named Isaac Coffin built the first cottage for visitors. Back then, people traveled by stagecoach and ferry to reach the beach. Soon, more guesthouses appeared. Businessmen saw the potential of this sandy strip of land. They decided to develop it, creating 250 building lots. A company was formed to help build up the area.

Before 1870, this area was even called "The Ladies' Resort to the Ocean".

The Atlantic Hotel, the town's first big hotel, opened on July 4, 1875. The hotel offered fun activities like dancing and billiards. It is still owned and run by the Purnell family today. By 1878, trains started bringing tourists from Berlin to the bay. By 1881, the train line reached the town itself. This made it easier for people to visit and for local fish to be sent to bigger cities.

Ocean City in the 1900s

Ocean City, 1935

In 1930, the Ocean City Beach Patrol was created to keep swimmers safe. Mayor William W. McCabe and Coast Guard Captain William Purnell worked together to make this happen.

In August 1933, a powerful hurricane created the Ocean City Inlet. This storm also destroyed the train tracks and separated Ocean City from Assateague Island. Another hurricane soon after made the inlet even wider. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers then made the inlet permanent. This new inlet helped Ocean City become an important fishing port, giving boats easy access to the Atlantic Ocean.

Later in the 1930s, the Army Corps of Engineers dug a new channel in the bay. This allowed bigger boats to use Sinepuxent Bay. The sand from this digging was used to create new land on the western shore, where Chicago Avenue and St. Louis Avenue are now.

After World War II, Ocean City grew very quickly. In 1952, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge opened, making it much easier for people from the Baltimore and Washington D.C. areas to visit. In 1964, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel opened, creating another route from the south. These new connections helped Ocean City become a major vacation spot on the East Coast.

By the 1970s, many condominium buildings were constructed. But as the years passed, the beach started to get smaller. This led to projects to add more sand back to the beaches.

In 1994, a fire during the annual Sunfest destroyed five businesses on the Boardwalk. The building that once held a wax museum and then a laser tag arena now houses the Ripley's Believe it or Not! museum.

Ocean City Today: The 2000s

Ocean City beach at 25th Street

In 2002, Ocean City started a big project to restore its beaches. They pumped tons of sand from the ocean floor onto the beach. They also rebuilt sand dunes to protect the buildings. Another similar project happened after the 2006 summer season.

In 2006, the Ocean City Firefighter's Memorial was built. It honors local firefighters and those who lost their lives in the September 11 attacks. The monument includes a statue and a piece of steel beam from the World Trade Center.

About 8 million people visited Ocean City in 2011.

In 2022, Ocean City announced the Oceans Calling Festival, a big music event. Famous artists like the Dave Matthews Band and Cyndi Lauper were set to perform. However, Hurricane Ian caused the festival to be moved to fall 2023.

Ocean City has continued to grow westward across the bay, towards Berlin and Ocean Pines.

Beach in Ocean City

Ocean City's Geography and Climate

Ocean City pier and beach

Where is Ocean City Located?

Ocean City covers about 36 square miles (94 square kilometers). Most of this area is water, with about 4.4 square miles (11.4 square kilometers) of land.

Ocean City is on Fenwick Island, a long, narrow strip of land. This strip also includes South Bethany and Fenwick Island, Delaware. The southern tip of Ocean City has an inlet, which was created by a hurricane in 1933. This storm caused so much water that it cut a 50-foot (15-meter) opening from the bay to the ocean. People in Ocean City wanted an inlet for a harbor, so they built jetties to make it permanent. This separated Ocean City from Assateague Island.

Ocean City's Weather Patterns

Ocean City has a climate with warm, humid summers and cool winters. It gets about 2300 hours of sunshine each year. Because it's right on the Atlantic coast, temperatures are usually mild. In summer, a cool sea breeze often keeps things comfortable. Only about 10 days a year reach 90°F (32°C) or higher. However, in 2010, the temperature reached a record 103°F (39°C)! Sometimes, it can feel even hotter due to humidity.

Ocean City is located in a spot where big Atlantic storms, like hurricanes, usually turn away from the coast. So, direct hits are rare, but storms can sometimes come close. Hurricane season runs from June to November, with most storms happening in late August and September.

Winters in Ocean City are cool, with average highs around 45°F (7.5°C). However, it often has milder days in the 50s or 60s°F (10-15°C). Very cold and windy days can happen, making it feel much colder. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -6°F (-21°C). Snowfall is usually light, averaging only 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) per winter. Sometimes, there's no snow at all for several years!

People of Ocean City

Population and Diversity

In 2020, about 6,844 people lived in Ocean City all year round. The town has many homes, but most are vacation homes that are empty for part of the year. The people living here come from many different backgrounds, making Ocean City a diverse community.

Ocean City's Economy and Fun Activities

Ocean City boardwalk looking north at Worcester Street

Shopping and Entertainment

Ocean City stretches for over 9 miles (14 km) from the southern inlet to the Delaware border. This long strip is filled with hotels, motels, shops, and homes. The southern end is home to the famous Ocean City Boardwalk. The Boardwalk is a main area for shopping and entertainment. It has two amusement parks: Trimpers Rides and Jolly Roger at The Pier. The older part of downtown, called Old Town, features charming Victorian-style houses.

Fishing Capital of the World

Ocean City has a long history of fishing, both for fun and for business. The town calls itself the "White Marlin Capital of the World." In the summer, many boats go out to catch fish like billfish, tuna, and wahoo. Every August, the White Marlin Open, one of the biggest fishing tournaments in the world, takes place here. Prizes for the largest fish can be over $1 million!

Arts and Culture in Ocean City

The Famous Ocean City Boardwalk

Ocean City Boardwalk looking south

The Ocean City Boardwalk runs from South 2nd Street at the Ocean City Inlet up to 27th Street. It's a lively place with food, shops, arcades, and fun rides.

The first boardwalk was built in 1902. After a storm damaged it in 1962, it was rebuilt to its current length of 2.25 miles (3.6 km). In 1985, Hurricane Gloria caused more damage, but the boardwalk was fixed, and a concrete sea wall was built to protect it.

In 2012, Hurricane Sandy also damaged parts of the boardwalk, but it was rebuilt to its original length. Today, it continues to attract many tourists.

In South Ocean City, you'll find Trimper's Rides, a historic amusement park that started in 1893. It has one of the oldest working carousel rides in the United States, built in 1912!

Dining and Nightlife

The Midtown area of Ocean City, from 28th Street to 90th Street, is known for its restaurants and evening entertainment. Here you'll find the Jolly Roger Amusement Park and the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. Midtown is also home to Seacrets, a popular entertainment spot on 49th Street, famous for its tropical plants in the summer.

High-rise hotels and condominiums in North Ocean City

Historical Places to Visit

Ocean City Life Saving Station Museum

Ocean City has several interesting historical sites:

• The Sandy Point Site and St. Paul's by-the-sea Protestant Episcopal Church are both important historical landmarks.
• You can see an anchor from the Star Light, a commercial clam boat that sank in 1870.
• The Atlantic Hotel, rebuilt in 1926 after a fire, is one of Ocean City's oldest hotels.
• The Ocean City Life Saving Station Museum was built in 1891 and became a museum in 1978. It was part of a system to help people in trouble at sea.

Senior Week Fun

Ocean City is famous for its Senior Week activities. This is when high school graduates from Maryland and nearby states come to celebrate. Senior Week usually starts the first week after graduation.

Other Events

The city also hosts the Brine Beach Lacrosse Festival in June. The Ocean City Film Festival takes place every year in early March.

Parks and Recreation

Ocean Bowl Skatepark

Ocean Bowl Skatepark in South Ocean City first opened in June 1976. It was the first skate park on the East Coast of the United States. It is also the longest-running city skatepark in the country! The original park was rebuilt in 1998 to meet the needs of modern skaters. The park has hosted the National Dew Tour several times.

How Ocean City is Governed

City Hall of Ocean City, located in the former Ocean City High School

Ocean City has a council-manager system of government. This means there is a mayor and a seven-member city council. The mayor is elected for two-year terms. The city council members are elected for four-year terms. The city council chooses a president to lead their meetings. The mayor represents the town to other government groups. Both the mayor and city council hire a city manager. This person is in charge of the town's daily operations and finances. As of 2017, Rick Meehan was the mayor of Ocean City.

Media in Ocean City

Radio Stations

Ocean City has an emergency radio system that broadcasts on two FM frequencies.

WOCM broadcasts from studios located at the popular restaurant and entertainment spot, Seacrets. Its call letters stand for "We are Ocean City Maryland".

Music Mentions

Ocean City is mentioned in the Car Seat Headrest song “Beach Life-In-Death”.

Getting Around Ocean City

U.S. Route 50, also known as Ocean Gateway, leaving Ocean City; the sign over the eastbound lane displays the distance to the western terminus of route in Sacramento, California as 3,073 miles.

Coastal Highway Beach Bus

Ocean City Fire Department station

Roads and Bridges

Ocean City has one main road that runs north and south, Maryland Route 528, also called the Coastal Highway. Two bridges connect the mainland to Ocean City:

• US 50, known as Ocean Gateway, crosses the Harry W. Kelley Memorial Bridge. Ocean City is the very eastern end of US 50.
• MD 90 (Ocean City Expressway), crosses the Assawoman Bay Bridge.

Public Transportation

Ocean City also has its own public transportation system called Ocean City Transportation. This includes the Coastal Highway Beach Bus, the West Ocean City Park-N-Ride Beach Bus, and special Express Beach Buses for events. There is also a fun trackless train shuttle called the Boardwalk Tram. The Boardwalk Tram operated during the summer months along the entire length of the Ocean City Boardwalk, but was closed due to an accident in 2024.

Ocean City's transit service connects with Shore Transit, which can take you to other places.

From May to September, the DART First State Beach Bus connects with the Coastal Highway Beach Bus.

The Ocean City Municipal Airport is located 3 miles (5 km) west of downtown. It serves small planes and charter flights.

Utilities and Services

Delmarva Power provides electricity to Ocean City. Sandpiper Energy provides natural gas. The Town of Ocean City Municipal Water Department supplies water from 25 wells. The Public Works department handles wastewater and trash collection. Trash is sent to a waste-to-energy plant in Virginia.

Police and Fire Departments

The Ocean City Police Department keeps the town safe with full-time and seasonal officers. Fire protection is provided by the Ocean City Fire Department, which has both volunteer and career members.

Famous People from Ocean City

• Spiro Agnew, a former U.S. vice president
• Carmen M. Amedori, a Maryland State Delegate, actor, and author
• Charles L. Calhoun, the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
• Devin Dodson, a racing driver
• James N. Mathias Jr., a Maryland state senator and former mayor
• Erica Messer, a television writer
• Michael Sorce, a former radio talk show host known as Don Geronimo

Sister Cities

Ocean City has three sister cities:

• Finale Ligure, Italy
• Pärnu, Estonia
• Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, U.S.

See also

In Spanish: Ocean City (Maryland) para niños