<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001140361-08-014830
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080609
<FILING-DATE>20080611
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080611
<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>SIMMONS JEFFREY C
<CIK>0001286211
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-32169
<FILM-NUMBER>08892784
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O ATLAS RESOURCES INC
<STREET2>311 ROUSER RD
<CITY>MOON TOWNSHIP
<STATE>PA
<ZIP>15108
<PHONE>4122623830
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O ATLAS RESOURCES
<STREET2>311 ROUSER RD
<CITY>MOON TOWNSHIP
<STATE>PA
<ZIP>15108
</MAIL-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>2008-06-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001286211</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SIMMONS JEFFREY C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>WESTPOINTE CORPORATE CENTER ONE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1550 CORAOPOLIS HEIGHTS ROAD, 2ND. FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MOON TOWNSHIP</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15108</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10017</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13750</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>81249</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By ESOP</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On June 9, 2008, the reporting person sold, in multiple transactions, a total of 10,017 shares of Atlas America, Inc. common stock at prices ranging from $47.00 to $47.22. Includes 845 restricted shares of Atlas America, Inc. common stock which vests on January 25, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects a 3-for-2 stock split effected on May 30, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lisa Washington, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
