To the North, Atlantic Beach is bordered by Reynolds Channel and East Rockaway Inlet.

[14] The first real interest in modern-day Atlantic Beach came in 1922 when Robert Moses – the famous highway builder and public works czar, and Chairman of the State Council of Parks – included Atlantic Beach as part of his "State Park Plan for New York".

The blueprints, which are on file at the archives in Albany, showed a parkway from central Queens to a bridge crossing Reynolds Channel with architecturally refined facilities for thousands of beach goers; however, cost overruns on many of Robert Moses' other projects at the time and other factors dampened his plans, which were ultimately abandoned.

[15] In 1923, the village's first developer, Atlantic Beach Associates led by Stephen P. Pettit, a former Nassau County Sheriff and banker from Freeport, had dreams of creating a place that would rival the City of Long Beach, which was created by a Politician and amusement park operator named William H. Reynolds.

[17] William Austin was married to Actress Josephine Sanders, better known as Irene Delroy;[18] the wedding was officiated by Mayor James J. Walker on July 15, 1931.

homes were all designed with seven rooms, two baths, private detached garages on 48' x 88' lots and were built in a wide array of styles.

Mr. Austin finished Petitt's plan to build a bridge between Far Rockaway and Atlantic beach, which was opened and dedicated on June 29, 1927.

The Castles Beach Club opened in May 1928, which contained one of the largest pools on the South Shore of Long Island.

The United States Olympic Diving team practiced at the Atlantic Beach Hotel.

The community attracted the wealthy due to its resort atmosphere produced by the beach clubs.

[31] During Prohibition, local swimmers would guide dories (Small boats) full of alcohol to shore from Canadian ships anchored nearby.

By the end of World War II, Atlantic Beach had become a summer mecca with thousands of city dweller clogging what were then only local streets through both the Rockaways and the Five Towns.

[32][33] Beach clubs helped to support the war effort by abiding by dim-out requirements, offering bus service, installing bike racks, and some even allowed their guest to stay overnight (which now is strictly forbidden).

[44][45][46][47] The Atlantic Beach Village Office, at 60 Park Street, officially opened on November 18, 1962.

[51][52][53] In 1984, Atlantic Beach's Ocean Club was sued for allegedly discriminating against Jewish guests and applicants.

[62][63][64] Many young buyers, including people from Manhattan's Upper East Side, have snapped up Atlantic Beach houses as they grew tired of commuting three or more hours to the Hamptons or the Jersey Shore.

[65][66] In 2014, George Pappas assumed the Mayorship from Stephen Mahler, who had served as Mayor for the previous 18 years.

[71] A development called Pebble Cove was built along the Ocean between Putnam Blvd and Vernon Avenue.

In 1989, one resident told the New York Times that they thought the eruv would encourage the "ghettoization" of the community.

Although the toll is somewhat controversial due to allegations of patronage, Atlantic Beach residents support it since it helps to control traffic in the village.

[95] The Village of Atlantic Beach is governed by a five-person board consisting of the mayor and four trustees, each of whom is elected to a two-year term.

Atlantic Beach is represented by Councilman Melissa "Missy" Miller in the Town of Hempstead (R).

[98] The Village is represented by Eric Ari Brown (R-Cedarhurst) in the New York State Assembly.

In the United States Senate, Atlantic Beach is represented by Charles Schumer (D) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D).

[99] Atlantic beach residents have access to a 10-court tennis center, that is leased out to a private company.