Italian immigrants heavily settled Ducktown in the early 20th century and named it for the duck houses they built along the bayfront, where they raised poultry and waterfowl. As with many American ethnic neighborhoods, after World War II, residents began leaving the neighborhood for automobile suburbs, sending Ducktown into a decline. Pitney Village, a housing project built in the neighborhood, was widely seen as contributing to the decline. St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church has been cited as a focal point of the neighborhood before and after the decline. By the 1990s some families, mostly Hispanic and Asian, were returning to the neighborhood, and the Pitney Village housing project was demolished, leading to a renewal of the community.
Population
Ducktown is home to a large Italian American community, and Italian flags can be seen adorning buildings. Mobsters Nicodemo Scarfo and Salvatore Merlino once called Ducktown home.
Attractions
The district is home to a number of Atlantic City attractions including:
Entertainment venues
Boardwalk Hall on Mississippi Avenue and the Boardwalk
Dante Hall Theater on Mississippi Avenue
The Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University on the corner of Mississippi Avenue and Fairmount Avenue
Angelo's Fairmount Tavern on Fairmount Avenue - Family owned and operated since 1935, the restaurant is known for its Italian cuisine as well as steaks and seafood.
Angeloni's II on Arctic and Georgia Avenues - Family owned and operated since 1981, the restaurant is known for its Italiane cuisine and expansive wine list.
The Ducktown Tavern on Georgia Avenue - A newly renovated bar and restaurant.
Russo's Liquor Store - Located on the corner of Florida and Pacific Avenues, has been there since 1973 and is the original Ducktown liquor store.
Italian bakeries
Ducktown has long been the home of several bakeries; there are two still in operation:
- Established in 1919 by Francesco Formica, Formica Brothers Bakery moved to its current location in 1928. Frank D. Formica, third generation owner/operator recently transformed the retail bakery shop located at 2310 Arctic Avenue into a state of the art Cafe serving Seattle's Best coffee. The bakery produces over 30,000 loaves of bread a day for over 300 corporate accounts, including local casinos and restaurants. Product offerings: Italian sub loaves, Artisan Breads, Cannolis, Cookies, Biscotti, Tomato Pie.
A. Rando Bakery - Opened in 1909, this bakery focuses almost exclusively on producing subs, dinner rolls, and table bread for area stores and restaurants.
