<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001140361-08-007191
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080303
<FILING-DATE>20080319
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080319
<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>Washington Lisa
<CIK>0001363480
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-32169
<FILM-NUMBER>08698031
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>412-262-2830
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>311 ROUSER ROAD
<CITY>MOON TOWNSHIP
<STATE>PA
<ZIP>15108
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-03</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001363480</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Washington Lisa</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Legal Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lisa Washington</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
