The Real City Behind Monopoly's Street Names: Atlantic City, NJ

The properties on the standard Monopoly board are based on real locations in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The Connection

Charles Darrow (credited inventor) summered in Atlantic City.
He modeled the board after the city's actual street layout and landmarks.
Jesse Raiford, a local realtor, gave Darrow the street names and values reflecting 1930s property desirability.

Real vs. Board Names

Board Name	Real Atlantic City Location	Notes
Mediterranean Ave	Mediterranean Ave	Exists; low-value area
Baltic Ave	Baltic Ave	Parallel to Mediterranean
Oriental Ave	Oriental Ave	Renamed "Oriental" → "Ocean" in some modern maps
Vermont Ave	Vermont Ave
Connecticut Ave	Connecticut Ave
St. Charles Place	St. Charles Place	Now a parking lot / Showboat Casino area
States Ave	States Ave
Virginia Ave	Virginia Ave
St. James Place	St. James Place
Tennessee Ave	Tennessee Ave
New York Ave	New York Ave	Major thoroughfare
Kentucky Ave	Kentucky Ave
Indiana Ave	Indiana Ave
Illinois Ave	Illinois Ave	Renamed "Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd" (1980s)
Atlantic Ave	Atlantic Ave	Beachfront; high value
Ventnor Ave	Ventnor Ave	Neighboring town (Ventnor City)
Marvin Gardens	Marven Gardens	Misspelling on board! Real: "Marven Gardens" (Margate City)
Pacific Ave	Pacific Ave	Beachfront
North Carolina Ave	North Carolina Ave
Pennsylvania Ave	Pennsylvania Ave
Park Place	Park Place	Small street near Boardwalk
Boardwalk	Boardwalk	Iconic beachfront promenade

Railroads & Utilities

Reading Railroad: Real line (Reading Company) served AC.
Pennsylvania Railroad: Major NE corridor line.
B&O Railroad: Baltimore & Ohio; reached AC via connecting lines.
Short Line: Likely refers to Shore Fast Line (local trolley) or Atlantic City Railroad.
Electric Company / Water Works: Generic; Atlantic City Electric & Water Dept existed.

Fun Fact

Marvin Gardens is the only property outside Atlantic City proper (it's in Margate City) and the only misspelling on the board (Marven → Marvin). It persists in every edition.

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