In the early 1930s, Atlantic Beach was formed as a vacation getaway for black families nicknamed “the Black Pearl”, it became a popular vacation destination as black-owned businesses thrived in this small community. Many residents are descendants of the Gullah Geechee people, former slaves from the West Coast of Africa who lived and worked in the coastal areas from around Jacksonville, Florida, to Wilmington, N.C. Today, residents of Atlantic Beach are working to preserve their rich heritage and traditions.