Nelson Johnson Biography

Fast Facts

• The Hammonton Art District chose him as their annual Artist of the Year in 2014
• He and others were nominated for an Online Film & Television Association Award in 2014 for Best Writing in a Drama Series for "Boardwalk Empire․"
• His family lived in Atlantic County before the founding of Atlantic City
• Practiced law for 30 years, during which time he was active in Atlantic City and Atlantic County politics
• Worked as an attorney for the Atlantic City Planning Board at the time of the approvals for many of the city's casinos, which inspired him to try to make sense of the city and its political history
• Quote: "Power is not having to be violent, power is getting your way simply by saying this is what you want․ When you have to get violent then maybe you weren't as powerful as you think you were․"
• Quote: "First, I knew Atlantic City's history was very corrupt, but I didn't have a real appreciation for the organic nature of the corruption, meaning a totally natural product of the community․"
• Wrote a follow-up to "Boardwalk Empire" called "The Northside: African Americans and the Creation of Atlantic City․"
• Did interviews, research and writing for his book "Boardwalk Empire: The Birth, High Times, and Corruption of Atlantic City" for almost 20 years
• Spoke at the Winter Poetry and Prose Getaway in Galloway Township in 2012