2025 Winning Essay by Lucas Magathan

All Aboard! When Train Service Arrived in Ocean City, Maryland

The arrival of train service in Ocean City, Maryland, in the late 19th century was a turning point in the town’s growth from a small fishing village to a bustling tourist destination. This new transportation link not only made Ocean City more accessible but also laid the groundwork for its future development. The arrival of the railroad is an important chapter in the town’s history and one that deserves recognition.

Before the railroad, Ocean City was a remote place with limited transportation options. The town’s economy depended mostly on fishing, and visitors typically had to travel by boat, making it difficult to reach. However, by the late 1800s, railroads were transforming travel across the United States, connecting major cities and offering faster, more reliable transportation.

In 1878, the Baltimore, Chesapeake, and Atlantic Railroad (BCA) began offering service to Ocean City, linking it to cities like Baltimore and Washington, D.C. This new connection brought more visitors from nearby urban areas, making it easier for tourists to enjoy Ocean City’s beaches and other natural attractions. This was the beginning of Ocean City’s rise as a popular summer destination.

The economic impact of the railroad was immediate. It led to the development of new hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues, boosting Ocean City’s tourism industry. The local economy thrived as both seasonal and year-round businesses expanded. The railroad also made it easier for people from nearby towns to visit, strengthening Ocean City’s reputation as a popular vacation spot.

Socially, the railroad brought a more diverse range of people to the town. As tourism increased, the need for workers in hospitality, service, and construction grew, helping to shape the town’s cultural and demographic makeup.

Although passenger rail service ended in the 1950s with the rise of automobile travel, the railroad’s legacy remains an important part of Ocean City’s identity. It played a key role in transforming the town into the popular tourist destination it is today. The railroad’s influence in shaping Ocean City as a resort community is an important part of the town’s history that should not be forgotten.

Ocean City’s development into a top tourist destination owes a great deal to its railroad connection, which shows how transportation can dramatically change the growth of a city. Remembering this part of the town’s past honors the people who helped turn Ocean City into the thriving resort town it is now