The population swelled to some 330,688 on Saturday and Sunday, according to Ocean City estimates. That compares with 318,368 in 2010 - an increase of nearly 5 percent.
The numbers were the highest since 2003, when the town recorded 342,952 for the first weekend in July, and ranks in the Top 5 Fourth of July weekends since 1992.
Officials said estimates for July 4, the holiday itself, put the population at 354,106 - the highest single day estimate on record for that date.
So if your square of sand seemed smaller than usual, it probably was.
Source; http://www.baltimoresun.com/travel/oc-blog/bal-ocean-city-md-july-4-crowds-20110705,0,6908.story