<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001140361-08-002230
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080129
<FILING-DATE>20080130
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080130
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ATLAS AMERICA INC
<CIK>0001279228
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4922
<IRS-NUMBER>510404430
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>WESTPOINTE CORPORATE CENTER ONE
<STREET2>1550 CORAOPOLIS HEIGHTS RD. 2ND. FLOOR
<CITY>MOONTOWNSHIP
<STATE>PA
<ZIP>15108
<PHONE>412-262-2830
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>WESTPOINTE CORPORATE CENTER ONE
<STREET2>1550 CORAOPOLIS HEIGHTS RD. 2ND. FLOOR
<CITY>MOONTOWNSHIP
<STATE>PA
<ZIP>15108
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>COHEN JONATHAN Z
<CIK>0001168756
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-32169
<FILM-NUMBER>08560258
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O RAIT INVESTMENT TRUST
<STREET2>1818 MARKET STREET 28TH FLOOR
<CITY>PHILADELPHIA
<STATE>PA
<ZIP>19103
<PHONE>2158617900
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-01-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001279228</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ATLAS AMERICA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATLS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001168756</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COHEN JONATHAN Z</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1845 WALNUT STREET, 10TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19103</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice Chairman</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>48.79</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>160000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-01-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>160000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>160000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The undersigned is a participant in the Atlas America, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;).   The undersigned received 160,000 stock options under the Plan on January 29, 2008.  The options vest 25% per year on the anniversary of the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lisa Washington, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
