McKee City: A Historic Plan and Its Later Traces

McKee City: The 1884 Plan

McKee City was developed by Colonel John McKee. The 1884 plan was intended for an agricultural community for people freed from slavery. Thus, both the development of the place and the plan’s social and economic objectives are part of McKee City’s history. The year anchors the design in time; its agricultural focus explains why farms were among the planned components.

The plan included a sawmill, a schoolhouse, a general store, a community house, and several farms. Together, these planned components combined agricultural activity with skilled work, education, trade, and community life. The farms and sawmill represent the agricultural and production aspects of the design; the schoolhouse, store, and community house complement them with learning, supplies, and gathering places. The combination shows a design that brought together several aspects of life alongside agriculture.

The Racetrack as a Later Chapter

Part of McKee’s land holdings later became the former Atlantic City Race Course. The racetrack opened on July 22, 1946, and closed in 2015. From August 1 to 3, 1969, it hosted the Atlantic City Pop Festival; an estimated 100,000 people attended. The three-day period and approximate attendance put the event in context in terms of timing and scale. The opening, festival, and closure mark different points in the racetrack’s history.

Other Traces of the Land Holdings

The later connections to McKee’s land holdings do not all lead to the racetrack. Another part now houses the Hamilton Mall. In addition, the last remaining farmhouse in McKee City belongs to Bill Boerner; his family acquired it nearly a century ago. The farmhouse is a tangible trace of the area’s agricultural history. These connections reflect different developments: a former racetrack, part of the land holdings now used for a mall, and the surviving farmhouse.

Getting Your Bearings for Your Stay

For geographic orientation, it is useful to consider the wider area around McKee City separately. It includes more than 2.5 million square feet of retail space, is connected to the Atlantic City Expressway, and lies where US Routes 40 and 322 converge. These details describe the wider area and its commercial and road connections. The Atlantic County Bikeway is also designated as a cycling route in the broader regional area. Commercial and transportation information thus complements the historical overview of the place.

The 1884 plan and the farmhouse draw attention to the area’s agricultural history; the racetrack and festival lead to a later chapter. Retail and road connections, by contrast, concern the wider area around McKee City, while the Atlantic County Bikeway is designated as a cycling route in the broader regional area. These distinctions help you identify the focus of your trip and consider McKee City in light of your interests. Then check the specific hotel options against your travel plans.

For the overall travel overview: Atlantic.