Ocean City, Maryland

Image:Oceancitymd inlet.JPG

Before the European colonization of what is now Maryland in the 17th century, the shoreline of the Delmarva Peninsula had been populated for thousands of years by Indigenous peoples including the Algonquian-speaking Assateague and Nanticoke peoples.{{cite web|url=https://www.oceancity.com/brief-history-of-ocean-city-maryland/ |title=A Brief History of Ocean City Maryland |publisher=OceanCity.com |accessdate=August 31, 2023}} The land on which the city was built and much of the surrounding area was obtained by Thomas Fenwick, an Englishman, from the Indigenous peoples of the region. In 1869, businessman Isaac Coffin built the first beach-front cottage to receive paying guests. During those days, guests arrived by stagecoach and ferry.

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, Delaware. 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. A corporation was formed to help with the development of the land. The corporation’s stock of 4,000 shares sold for $25 each.

Before 1870, what is now Ocean City was known as "The Ladies' Resort to the Ocean".{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Christopher |date=July 21, 2021 |title=Despite a Century of Changes, Ocean City is Still All About Family and Fun |url=https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/historypolitics/ocean-city-maryland-beach-history-despite-century-of-changes-family-fun-remains/ |access-date=April 16, 2023 |website=Baltimore Magazine |language=en-US}}

The Atlantic Hotel, the first major hotel in the town, opened July 4, 1875. The Atlantic Hotel originally was owned by the Atlantic Hotel Company, but eventually Charles W. Purnell bought it in 1923. {{As of|2014}}, it is still owned and operated by the Purnell family.{{cite web|url = http://www.atlantichotelocmd.com/about|title = About|date = 2014|access-date = November 21, 2014|website =Atlantic Hotel }} 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 northernmost attraction in Ocean City. By 1878, tourists could come by the Wicomico & Pocomoke Railroad from Berlin to the shores of Sinepuxent Bay across from the town. By 1881, a line was completed from across Sinepuxent Bay to the shore, bringing rail passengers on the Baltimore, Chesapeake and Atlantic Railroad directly into the town to a train station and returning to larger city markets with locally caught fish from Ocean City.

File:Ocean City Hurricane, 1933.ogv

File:Maryland - Ocean City - NARA - 23941153 (cropped).jpg

In 1930, Ocean City Beach Patrol was formed in order to better protect the bathers that frequented the shoreline. It was done in collaboration with Mayor William W. McCabe and Coast Guard Captain William Purnell.{{Cite web|title=About Us|url=https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/emergency-services/beach-patrol/about-us/|access-date=February 23, 2021|website=Town of Ocean City, Maryland|language=en-US}}

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 permanent at the south end of Ocean City. The inlet eventually helped establish Ocean City as an important Mid-Atlantic fishing port, as it offered easy access to the Atlantic Ocean fishing grounds.

In the late 1930s, the Army Corps of Engineers dredged a new channel on the bayside of Ocean City to allow larger boats to have access to Sinepuxent Bay. The dredge was pumped back onto the western shore of Ocean City allowing the creation of Chicago Avenue and St. Louis Avenue, leading to new development where previously only marshland had been.[http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20130822/NEWS/308220064/How-1933-hurricane-carved-lifeline-Ocean-City-Md-] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202192133/http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20130822/NEWS/308220064/How-1933-hurricane-carved-lifeline-Ocean-City-Md-|date=February 2, 2015}}

Ocean City has undergone a fairly rapid expansion that took place during the post-World War II 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, another pathway to the south was opened. This tunnel connects Northampton County on the Delmarva Peninsula to Southeast Virginia. These two events helped Ocean City become one of the largest vacation areas on the East Coast.

By the 1970s, big business flourished and gave birth to the construction of more than 15,000 condominium units.{{Cite web |last=Mann |first=Bunk |date=April 14, 2022 |title=04/14/2022 {{!}} Vanishing Ocean City With Bunk Mann – April 15, 2022 |url=https://mdcoastdispatch.com/2022/04/14/vanishing-ocean-city-with-bunk-mann-april-15-2022/ |access-date=April 18, 2023 |website=News Ocean City Maryland Coast Dispatch Newspaper |language=en-US}} However, throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, the width of the beach began to shrink, prompting the first of a series of beach replenishment projects.

A fire during the annual Sunfest destroyed five boardwalk businesses in 1994.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-09-23-1994266079-story.html/|title=Fire destroys businesses, apartment in Ocean City|first=Baltimore|last=Sun|website=Baltimore Sun|date=August 20, 2023 }} 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 mid 1990s, the wax museum closed{{Cite web|url=https://www.oceancity.com/ocean-city-oddities-boardwalk-memories-in-wax/|title=Ocean City Oddities: Boardwalk Memories in Wax|first=Brandon|last=Seidl|website=oceancity.com|date=January 5, 2018}} and was turned into a Photon laser tag arena{{Citation needed|reason=No source for laser tag|date=August 2024}}. The building now houses the Ripley's Believe it or Not! museum.

File:Ocean City MD beach looking north at 25th Street.jpeg

In 2002, Ocean City undertook a multi-million dollar beach restoration program 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.

In 2006, the city erected the Ocean City Firefighter's Memorial to honor local firefighters as well as firefighters who died in the September 11 attacks. In addition to a statue of a firefighter, the monument incorporates a piece of steel beam from one of the towers destroyed at the World Trade Center.{{cite web|title=Ocean City Firefighter's Memorial|publisher=Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company|url=http://www.ocvfc.com/memorial.cfm|access-date=February 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114072811/http://ocvfc.com/memorial.cfm|archive-date=November 14, 2016|url-status=dead}}

The resort area was visited by approximately 8 million visitors in 2011.{{cite web |url=http://ococean.com/media |title=Ocean City Maryland - Media |publisher=Ocean City Maryland Convention and Visitors Bureau and Department of Tourism |access-date=September 6, 2011}}

In 2022, the Town of Ocean City announced the Oceans Calling Festival, a four-day music event drawing major artists such as the Dave Matthews Band, Cyndi Lauper, The Lumineers, and Alanis Morissette. However, Hurricane Ian forced the event to be rescheduled for fall 2023.{{Cite web |title=Oceans Calling 2022 festival in Ocean City canceled due to Tropical Storm Ian |url=https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2022/09/29/oceans-calling-2022-in-ocean-city-md-canceled-due-to-weather-threat-music-festival/69527780007/ |access-date=April 20, 2023 |website=The Daily Times |language=en-US}}

Ocean City continues to sprawl westward across the bay, toward Berlin and Ocean Pines.{{When|date=April 2024}} It was part of the Ocean Pines micropolitan statistical area until that was subsumed by the Salisbury metropolitan area.{{When|date=April 2024}}

{{wide image|Ocean City, Maryland panorama.jpg|1200 px|Beach in Ocean City|alt=A beach with people scattered about and backlit by late afternoon sun}}

File:Ocean City MD pier from south.jpeg

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|36.37|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|4.41|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|31.96|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 25, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=July 2, 2012}}

Ocean City is located on Fenwick Island, a barrier spit which encompasses Ocean City, as well as South Bethany 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 the opportunity and built jetties to ensure the city's land remained divided from what is now Assateague Island.{{cite news|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/eastern-shore/bal-hurricane2003,0,7880742.story|title=Reborn in a Hurricane|work=www.baltimoresun.com|publisher=The Baltimore Sun|access-date=August 31, 2009|archive-date=August 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140802153350/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/eastern-shore/bal-hurricane2003,0,7880742.story|url-status=dead}}

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Ocean City, Maryland has a humid subtropical (Köppen: Cfa) or oceanic with long, warm to hot and humid summers, cool winters and year-round precipitation. Ocean City receives 2300 hours of sunshine annually (higher than the US average). Temperatures are moderate in Ocean City due to its location on the Atlantic coast. During the summer months, a cooling afternoon sea breeze is present on most days with an average of only 10 days annually reaching {{convert|90|°F|0}}. However, in 2010 the temperature rose to {{convert|103|°F|0}} which was the hottest air temperature on record, and episodes of extreme heat combined with tropical humidity can occur with heat index values ≥ {{convert|100|°F|1}}. 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. The Atlantic hurricane season extends from June 1 through November 30, sharply peaking from late August through September.

During the winter months, Ocean City has cool weather with an average high of 45 F (7.5 C), however periods of mild temperatures in the 50 to 60 F range are common. The air temperature fails to rise above freezing 5.8 days on average and the plant hardiness zone is 7b with an average annual extreme minimum air temperature of {{convert|9.1|°F}}.{{cite web|url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=August 7, 2019|title=USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map|archive-date=July 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704214427/https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/phzmweb/interactivemap.aspx|url-status=dead}} On rare occasion, episodes of extreme cold and wind can occur with wind chill values under {{convert|5|°F}}. The coldest temperature on record was {{convert|-6|°F|0}}. The average seasonal (Dec-Mar) snowfall total is small, with {{convert|6|to|12|in|cm|abbr=on}}, and the average snowiest month is February which corresponds with the annual peak in nor'easter activity.

{{Weather box

| width = auto

| single line = Y

| location = Ocean City Beach, MD (1981-2010 Averages)

| Jan record high F = 77

| Feb record high F = 78

| Mar record high F = 88

| Apr record high F = 94

| May record high F = 98

| Jun record high F = 102

| Jul record high F = 103

| Aug record high F = 100

| Sep record high F = 99

| Oct record high F = 94

| Nov record high F = 84

| Dec record high F = 78

| year record high F = 103

| Jan high F = 44.6

| Feb high F = 46.1

| Mar high F = 53.1

| Apr high F = 61.1

| May high F = 69.9

| Jun high F = 79.5

| Jul high F = 83.7

| Aug high F = 82.4

| Sep high F = 77.3

| Oct high F = 67.8

| Nov high F = 57.5

| Dec high F = 49.0

| year high F = 64.3

| Jan mean F = 36.1

| Feb mean F = 37.7

| Mar mean F = 44.0

| Apr mean F = 52.6

| May mean F = 61.4

| Jun mean F = 71.3

| Jul mean F = 76.0

| Aug mean F = 74.7

| Sep mean F = 68.7

| Oct mean F = 59.1

| Nov mean F = 48.3

| Dec mean F = 40.4

| year mean F = 55.9

| Jan low F = 27.6

| Feb low F = 29.3

| Mar low F = 35.0

| Apr low F = 44.1

| May low F = 53.0

| Jun low F = 63.1

| Jul low F = 68.3

| Aug low F = 67.1

| Sep low F = 60.1

| Oct low F = 50.5

| Nov low F = 39.2

| Dec low F = 31.7

| year low F = 47.4

| Jan record low F = −6

| Feb record low F = −2

| Mar record low F = 8

| Apr record low F = 22

| May record low F = 30

| Jun record low F = 40

| Jul record low F = 45

| Aug record low F = 41

| Sep record low F = 31

| Oct record low F = 22

| Nov record low F = 15

| Dec record low F = −2

| year record low F = −6

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 3.43

| Feb precipitation inch = 3.06

| Mar precipitation inch = 3.99

| Apr precipitation inch = 3.36

| May precipitation inch = 3.63

| Jun precipitation inch = 3.31

| Jul precipitation inch = 3.37

| Aug precipitation inch = 4.66

| Sep precipitation inch = 3.48

| Oct precipitation inch = 3.30

| Nov precipitation inch = 3.14

| Dec precipitation inch = 3.64

| year precipitation inch = 42.37

| humidity colour = green

| Jan humidity = 68.8

| Feb humidity = 68.4

| Mar humidity = 63.9

| Apr humidity = 66.0

| May humidity = 71.4

| Jun humidity = 74.4

| Jul humidity = 74.8

| Aug humidity = 76.3

| Sep humidity = 74.7

| Oct humidity = 72.9

| Nov humidity = 71.1

| Dec humidity = 69.5

| year humidity = 71.0

| Jan dew point F = 27.4

| Feb dew point F = 29.0

| Mar dew point F = 33.5

| Apr dew point F = 42.7

| May dew point F = 53.3

| Jun dew point F = 63.4

| Jul dew point F = 68.4

| Aug dew point F = 67.7

| Sep dew point F = 61.5

| Oct dew point F = 50.8

| Nov dew point F = 41.2

| Dec dew point F = 31.9

| year dew point F = 47.7

| source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

|url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=akq

|title = 1981-2010 Normals for Ocean City, Maryland

|access-date = April 18, 2021}}

| date = January 2018

|source 2 = PRISM{{cite web|url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/|title=PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University|access-date=August 7, 2019}}}}

{{clear}}

{{US Census population

|1880= 49

|1890= 85

|1900= 365

|1910= 476

|1920= 711

|1930= 946

|1940= 1052

|1950= 1234

|1960= 983

|1970= 1493

|1980= 4946

|1990= 5146

|2000= 7173

|2010= 7102

|2020= 6844

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the 2020 census, 6,844 (estimated at 6,900 as of 2022) people resided full time in the Ocean City, with 3,723 households. The population density was 1,510.5 inhabitants per square mile. There were 30,028 total housing units, with 3,820 occupied year-round and 26,208 vacant. The resident racial makeup of Ocean City was 90.0% White, 5.8% Hispanic, 0.8% African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaskan Native, 0.8% Asian, and 2.2% two or more races.{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Ocean_City_town,_Maryland?g=160XX00US2458225 |access-date=April 21, 2023 |website=data.census.gov}}

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 25, 2013}} of 2010, there were 7,102 people, 3,852 households, and 1,784 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1610.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 30,119 housing units at an average density of {{convert|6829.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. 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, 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.

File:Ocean City MD boardwalk at Worcester Street looking north.jpeg

Ocean City extends just more than {{convert|9|mi|abbr=on}} from the southern inlet to the Delaware line. The strip 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 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.

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, the White Marlin Open, one of the larger fishing tournaments in the world, is held. Prize money for the largest white marlin, blue marlin, and tuna can range over $1 million.

File:Ocean City MD Boardwalk August 2009 1.jpg

The Ocean City Boardwalk currently runs from South 2nd Street at the Ocean City Inlet in South Ocean City (by the Ocean City Life Saving Station Museum) up to 27th Street in South Ocean City. The boardwalk is home to food, shops, arcades, and amusements.{{cite web|title=Ocean City Maps|publisher=Ocean City, Maryland - Tourism|url=http://ococean.com/maps/|access-date=June 13, 2017}}

Originally called the "Atlantic Avenue", the first Ocean City boardwalk was constructed in 1902. After being damaged by a storm in 1962, the boardwalk was rebuilt to stretch a total of 2.25 miles, which is its current length. In 1985, the boardwalk suffered extensive storm damage during Hurricane Gloria, which pummeled Ocean City with 89 MPH winds; however, the boardwalk was refurbished and a concrete sea wall was soon constructed to prevent further damage. The aftermath of Hurricane Gloria led to the first phase of extensive beach replenishment projects in Ocean City.

In 2012, the Ocean City Boardwalk was damaged again as a result of Hurricane Sandy, which flooded and destroyed half the boardwalk.{{cite web|url = http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/19946925/ocean-city-boardwalk-pier-suffer-damage-during-hurricane-sandy|title = Ocean City Boardwalk, Pier Damaged During Hurricane Sandy|date = October 29, 2012|access-date = November 22, 2014|website = DC News FOX 5 DC WTTG|publisher = Fox Television Stations, Inc. and Worldnow|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141129035809/http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/19946925/ocean-city-boardwalk-pier-suffer-damage-during-hurricane-sandy|archive-date = November 29, 2014}} The boardwalk has since been rebuilt to its original length and attracts many tourists.

Also located in South Ocean City is Trimper's Rides, a historic amusement park founded in 1893 as The Windsor Resort.{{Cite web |last=Soper |first=Shawn |date=April 23, 2020 |title=04/23/2020 {{!}} Trimper's To Add 'Fresh New Look, New Rides' This Summer |url=https://mdcoastdispatch.com/2020/04/23/trimpers-to-add-fresh-new-look-new-rides-this-summe/ |access-date=April 22, 2023 |website=News Ocean City Maryland Coast Dispatch Newspaper |language=en-US}} Trimper's Rides is home to one of the United States' oldest operational carousel rides. Colloquially known as "The Pride of the Boardwalk," the 1912 Herschell-Spillman carousel received the National Carousel Association's Historic Carousel Award in 1996.{{Cite web |title=1912 Herschell-Spillman Carousel |url=http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/1912-herschell-spillman-carousel |access-date=April 22, 2023 |website=Atlas Obscura |language=en}}{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2025}}

The Midtown section of Ocean City stretches from 28th Street to 90th Street and is home to dining along the bay and nightlife. Located in Midtown are the Jolly Roger Amusement Park and the Roland E. Powell Convention Center. This area also features the Seacrets entertainment complex on 49th Street, one of the highest-grossing bars in the country, known for bringing in hundreds of coconut palms and other tropical plants in the summer.{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/seacrets-success-ocean-city-megabar-pulls-in-crowds-big-bucks/2012/08/30/26e66754-f20c-11e1-adc6-87dfa8eff430_story.html|title=Seacrets success: Ocean City megabar pulls in crowds, big bucks|first=Jenna|last=Johnson|date=August 31, 2012|access-date=December 29, 2017|via=www.WashingtonPost.com}}

File:Hotel and condos Ocean City MD1.jpg

File:Ocean City Life-Saving Station museum.jpeg

Historical sites include:

• The Sandy Point Site and St. Paul's by-the-sea Protestant Episcopal Church, which are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• An anchor recovered from the sailboat wreck in 1870 of the commercial clam vessel Star Light.{{cite web|url = http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM268R_Sailboat_Wreck_Anchor_Ocean_City_MD_Boardwalk|title = Sailboat Wreck Anchor|date = September 11, 2007|access-date = November 22, 2014|website = Sailboat Wreck Anchor|publisher = Groundspeak, Inc.}}
• The Atlantic Hotel. After a fire destroyed the original and first hotel in Ocean City, the Atlantic Hotel was rebuilt in 1926 and is one of the oldest hotels in Ocean City.{{cite web|url = http://www.atlantichotelocmd.com/about|title = About|date = 2014|access-date = November 22, 2014|website = Atlantic Hotel}}
• The Ocean City Life Saving Station Museum.{{NRISref|version=2010a}} The station was part of the coastal system. It was built in 1891 and dedicated as a museum in 1978.{{cite web|url = http://www.ocmuseum.org/index.php/site/home_section/museum_history|title = Museum History|date = 2014|access-date = November 22, 2014|website = Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum|publisher = Ocean City Museum Society, Inc.|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150909081200/http://www.ocmuseum.org/index.php/site/home_section/museum_history|archive-date = September 9, 2015|url-status = dead}}

Ocean City is known for its Senior Week activities when recently graduated high school seniors from Maryland and surrounding states travel to Ocean City. Senior Week historically begins the first week after graduation, and the graduates often are referred to as "June Bugs".{{cite web |url=http://www.playitsafeoc.com/ |title=Play it Safe |publisher=Ocean City Department of Tourism |access-date=September 6, 2011 |archive-date=September 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913073046/http://www.playitsafeoc.com/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Ocean City "June Bugs" Encouraged to Play it Safe |url=https://www.wboc.com/news/regional/maryland/ocean-city-june-bugs-encouraged-to-play-it-safe/article_43c13a2c-a95a-5e69-8e55-36e6d6d46ddb.html |access-date=April 21, 2023 |website=WBOC TV |date=June 10, 2019 |language=en}}

The city is home to the Brine Beach Lacrosse Festival on the second week of June. The [https://ocmdfilmfestival.com/ Ocean City Film Festival] takes place every year in early March.

First opened in June 1976, Ocean Bowl Skatepark in South Ocean City was the first skate park to open on the East Coast in the United States, and it is the longest-running municipal skatepark in the United States today. Due to time, wear and the current needs of skaters, the original bowl and steel halfpipe ramp were torn down in the Fall of 1997 and the newly constructed skatepark opened in July 1998 on the same site. The park has held the National Dew Tour for several years.{{cite web |url=http://www.allisports.com/alli/skate/feature/skaters-of-all-walks-of-life-converge-at-commotion-down-the-ocean |title=Skaters of All Walks of Life Converge at Commotion Down the Ocean |publisher=Alli Sports |access-date=February 3, 2016 |archive-date=April 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423131140/http://www.allisports.com/alli/skate/feature/skaters-of-all-walks-of-life-converge-at-commotion-down-the-ocean |url-status=dead }}

File:Ocean City, city hall (21618371002).jpg]]

Ocean City has a council-manager system of government with a mayor and seven-member city council. The mayor is elected at-large to two-year terms while the city council is elected at-large to staggered four-year terms. The city council elects a council president who presides over and sets the agenda for city council meetings. The mayor represents the town to state and local agencies. Both the mayor and city council hire a city manager who is in charge of all daily operations of the town and serves as its chief financial officer.{{cite web|title=Form Of Government|publisher=Town of Ocean City, Maryland|url=https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/city-hall/form-of-government/|access-date=May 21, 2017}} As of 2017, the mayor of Ocean City is Rick Meehan, and the members of city council are council president Matt James, council secretary Tony Deluca, Frank Knight, Carol Proctor, William Savage, John Gehrig Jr., and Peter Baus{{cite web|title=Meet Our Mayor and City Council|publisher=Town of Ocean City, Maryland|url=https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/city-hall/mayor-and-city-council/}}

Ocean City has an emergency advisory radio system broadcast on two FM frequencies.{{cite web|title=Advisory Radio Stations|publisher=Town of Ocean City, Maryland|url=http://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/emergency-services/electronic-services/advisory-radio-stations/|access-date=August 5, 2015}}

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

{{Salisbury-Ocean City Radio}}Music

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

File:US 50 WB past MD 528.jpeg, 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.]]

File:OC Beach Bus 2011 ElDorado National Axess 2121.jpg

File:Ocean City, MD Vol. Fire Co. Station (8317333460).jpg

Ocean City has a single major north−south thoroughfare, Maryland Route 528, known as the Coastal Highway for most of its length. Two bridges connect the mainland to Ocean City:

• U.S. Route 50, also known as Ocean Gateway, crosses the Harry W. Kelley Memorial Bridge. Ocean City is the eastern terminus of US 50.{{cite web|last=Dildine|first=Dave|title=How did that Sacramento road sign end up in Ocean City?|publisher=WTOP-FM|location=Washington, DC|date=November 27, 2017|url=https://wtop.com/dc-transit/2017/11/ocean-city-not-long-road-ahead/|access-date=January 10, 2018}}
• Maryland Route 90 (Ocean City Expressway), crosses the Assawoman Bay Bridge.

Ocean City also has a public transportation system called Ocean City Transportation. This agency operates the Coastal Highway Beach Bus, the West Ocean City Park-N-Ride Beach Bus, the Express Beach Bus for special events, and a trackless train shuttle called the Boardwalk Tram.{{cite web|title=Transportation|publisher=Town of Ocean City, Maryland|url=https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/public-works/transportation/|access-date=March 11, 2017}} Ocean City Transportation also offers paratransit service.{{cite web|title=Ocean City ADA Para Transit|publisher=Town of Ocean City, Maryland|url=https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/public-works/ocean-city-ada-para-transit/|access-date=May 8, 2018}} The Boardwalk Tram operates during the summer months along the entire length of the Ocean City Boardwalk.{{cite web|title=Ocean City Boardwalk Tram|publisher=Town of Ocean City, Maryland|url=https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/public-works/ocean-city-boardwalk-tram/|access-date=May 9, 2018}}

Ocean City's transit service connects with Shore Transit, which connects with other destinations.{{cite web|title=432 Salisbury/Ocean City/Pocomoke|publisher=Shore Transit|url=http://www.shoretransit.org/custom/pdf/432eff4212018.pdf|access-date=May 9, 2018}}{{cite web|title=452 Salisbury/Pocomoke/Ocean City|publisher=Shore Transit|url=http://www.shoretransit.org/custom/pdf/452eff4212018.pdf|access-date=May 9, 2018}}

From May to September, the DART First State Beach Bus connects with the Coastal Highway Beach Bus.{{cite web|url=http://www.dartfirststate.com/information/programs/beachbus/ |title=Beach Bus |publisher=DART First State |access-date=April 29, 2013}}

Ocean City Municipal Airport, located {{convert|3|mi|km}} west of downtown Ocean City serves general aviation and charter aircraft.{{cite web|url=http://www.flyoceanaviation.com/ |title=Ocean Aviation International Flight School | Ocean City MD |website=Flyoceanaviation.com |access-date=February 3, 2016}}

Delmarva Power, a subsidiary of Exelon, provides electricity to Ocean City.{{Cite web|url=https://www.delmarva.com/AboutUs/Pages/CompanyInformation.aspx|title=Company Information|website=www.delmarva.com|language=en-US|access-date=January 23, 2018}} Sandpiper Energy, a subsidiary of Chesapeake Utilities, provides natural gas to the town.{{cite web|title=Our Service Area|publisher=Sandpiper Energy|url=http://www.sandpiper-energy.com/our-service-area/|access-date=August 14, 2017|archive-date=August 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818172352/http://www.sandpiper-energy.com/our-service-area/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Delmarva Service Territory|publisher=Chesapeake Utilities|url=http://www.chpk.com/delmarva-service-territory/|access-date=August 14, 2017|archive-date=August 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815063806/http://www.chpk.com/delmarva-service-territory/|url-status=dead}} The Town of Ocean City Municipal Water Department provides water to the town, operating 25 wells, 3 treatment plants, 6 above-ground storage tanks, and an underground storage tank.{{cite web|title=Water|publisher=Town of Ocean City, Maryland|url=https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/public-works/water/|access-date=August 21, 2017}} The Public Works department provides wastewater service to Ocean City, operating the Ocean City Wastewater Treatment Plant.{{cite web|title=Wastewater|publisher=Town of Ocean City, Maryland|url=https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/public-works/wastewater/|access-date=August 21, 2017}} Trash and recycling collection in Ocean City is handled by the Public Works department, with the town's trash transported by Reworld to the Energy Resource Recovery Facility in Fairfax, Virginia, a waste-to-energy plant.{{cite web|title=Solid Waste|publisher=Town of Ocean City, Maryland|url=https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/public-works/solid-waste/|access-date=August 21, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Recycling|publisher=Town of Ocean City, Maryland|url=https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/public-works/recycling/|access-date=August 21, 2017}}

Police services in Ocean City are provided by the Ocean City Police Department, which consists of 105 full-time officers and from 100 to 110 seasonal officers.{{cite web|title=Ocean City Police Department - FAQs|publisher=Town of Ocean City, Maryland|url=https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/police/faqs/|access-date=May 21, 2017}} Fire protection in Ocean City is provided by the Ocean City Fire Department, which consists of over 200 volunteer members and over 100 career members.{{cite web|title=Ocean City Fire Department - About Us|publisher=Town of Ocean City, Maryland|url=https://oceancitymd.gov/oc/departments/fire/about-us/|access-date=May 21, 2017}}

• Spiro Agnew, former U.S. vice president
• Carmen M. Amedori, Maryland State Delegate, actor, author, former journalist
• Charles L. Calhoun, first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
• Devin Dodson, racing driver
• James N. Mathias Jr., Maryland state senator, and past mayor
• Erica Messer, television writer
• Michael Sorce, former radio talk show host known by his on-air name Don Geronimo
• Jennifer Hope Wills, actress, Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway

Ocean City has three sister cities:

• {{flagdeco|Italy}} Finale Ligure, Italy{{cite web|url=http://milan.usconsulate.gov/ni.html|title=Sister Cities in the Milan consular district|publisher=U.S. Department of State|access-date=September 6, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925084044/http://milan.usconsulate.gov/ni.html|archive-date=September 25, 2011}}
• {{flagdeco|Estonia}} Pärnu, Estonia
• {{flagdeco|US}} Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, U.S.

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{{commons category|Ocean City, Maryland}}

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{{Portal|Maryland}}

• {{official website|http://www.oceancitymd.gov}}

{{S-start}}

{{Succession box

| title = Beaches of Delmarva

| years =

| with =

| before = Fenwick Island, Delaware

| after = Assateague Island

}}

{{S-end}}

{{Geographic Location

| Center = Ocean City

| North = Fenwick Island, Bethany Beach, DE
25px MD 528 North

| Northeast =

| East = Atlantic Ocean

| Southeast =

| Southwest = Snow Hill
25px US 113 South

| South = Assateague Island
25px MD 611 South

| West = Berlin, Salisbury
20px US 50 West

| Northwest = Ocean Pines
20px MD 90 West

}}

{{Worcester County, Maryland}}

{{Salisbury metropolitan area}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Populated places established in 1875

Category:Towns in Maryland

Category:Towns in Worcester County, Maryland

Category:Seaside resorts in the United States

Category:Beaches of Maryland

Category:1875 establishments in Maryland

Category:Salisbury metropolitan area

Category:Populated coastal places in Maryland