Ocean City

Ocean City is a municipality in Worcester County, Maryland, located on a barrier island between the Atlantic and Isle of Wight Bay. A four-kilometer wooden boardwalk runs along the shore and connects shops, restaurants, and public beach entrances.

The town developed into a vacation spot starting in 1869, when Isaac Coffin built the first beachfront house for paying guests. A hurricane in 1933 created the Ocean City Inlet and permanently separated the town from Assateague Island.

The Life-Saving Station Museum displays items and photographs from the maritime rescue tradition along Maryland's shore. Visitors see exhibits about the work of rescue services that have helped shipwrecked sailors since the 19th century.

Visitors reach the town from the west via Maryland Route 50 or from the north on Delaware Route 54, which becomes Coastal Highway. Most people come during summer when the weather is warm and beaches are open.

The inlet that separates the mainland from Assateague Island formed during a hurricane and now serves as a harbor for fishing boats. Before the storm, the island was connected by a continuous strip of land.

Location: Worcester County

Inception: 1875

Elevation above the sea: 2 m

Part of: Eastern Shore of Maryland

Website: http://oceancitymd.gov

GPS coordinates: 38.39139,-75.06944

Latest update: December 15, 2025 05:10