Carroll County, Maryland

Carroll County, Maryland
Seal
Location in the state of Maryland
Maryland's location in the U.S.
Founded	1837
Seat	Westminster
Largest CDP	Eldersburg
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	452.40 sq mi (1,172 km²) 449.13 sq mi (1,163 km²) 3.27 sq mi (8 km²), 0.72%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	167,134 372/sq mi (143.7/km²)
Website	www.carr.org

Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 167,134. It was named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737–1832), signer of the American Declaration of Independence. Its county seat is Westminster.

This county is a part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. While predominantly rural, the county has become increasingly suburban in recent years.

History

Carroll County was created in 1837 from parts of Baltimore and Frederick Counties, see Hundred (division).

During the American Civil War, the population of Carroll County was sharply divided between supporters of the Union and the Confederacy. In 1863, there were significant troop movements through the county as part of the Gettysburg campaign. On June 29, 1863, the cavalry skirmish known as Corbit's Charge was fought in the streets of Westminster, when two companies of Delaware cavalry attacked a much larger Confederate force under General J.E.B. Stuart.

Notable citizens of Carroll County include:

• Francis Scott Key, author of the Star Spangled Banner, was born at his family plantation of Terra Rubra, in what is now northwestern Carroll County.
• Whittaker Chambers, former communist spy and Federal witness against Alger Hiss

The county has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places.

Law and government

Carroll County is governed by five county commissioners, a "commission" being the traditional form of county government in Maryland.

Several times in the past, Carroll County voters have rejected charter amendments that would call for a government consisting of a County Executive and a County Council.

Republicans hold every county-wide elected office.

Commissioners

In 2004 Carroll County voters approved legislation that will expand the number of County Commissioners from three to five. The five Commissioners will be elected from five Commissioner districts, as opposed to three Commissioners elected at-large. The change occurred with the 2010 elections, since the Maryland General Assembly did not agree on the districts in time for the 2006 elections.

Commissioners elected in 2010—all Republican--were:

• Robin Frazier, Commissioner, District 1, (also served 1998-2002)
• Haven Shoemaker, Commissioner, District 2
• Dave Roush, Commissioner, District 3
• Richard Rothschild, Commissioner, District 4
• Doug Howard, Commissioner, District 5

Cabinet

Supporting the commissioners is a cabinet, composed of the following departments:

• Administrative Services
• Citizen Services (Jolene G. Sullivan, Director)
• Comptroller (Rob Burk, Comptroller)
• County Attorney (Timothy C. Burke, County Attorney)
• Economic Development (Lawrence F. Twele, Director)
• Land Use, Planning, and Development (Thomas S. Devilbiss, Acting Director)
• Management and Budget (Ted Zaleski, Director)
• Public Works (Thomas J. Rio, Director)

Sheriff

The current elected Sheriff is Kenneth L. Tregoning.

Geography

Topographically, Carroll County is located within the Piedmont Plateau region, with characteristic upland terrain of rolling hills and deciduous forest. The most prominent relief is Parr's Ridge, which bisects the county from southwest to northeast. The highest point is in the northeastern part of the county on Dug Hill along Deep Run Road.

Carroll County is bordered on the north by the Mason-Dixon Line with Pennsylvania, and on the south by Howard County across the South Branch of the Patapsco River. About half of the eastern border, with Baltimore County, is formed by the North Branch of the Patapsco River and by Liberty Reservoir, though the northern half near Manchester and Hampstead is a land border. Carroll County is bordered on the west by Frederick County, across the Monocacy River and Sam's Creek. Other major streams in the county include Big Pipe Creek, Little Pipe Creek, and Double Pipe Creek, Bear Branch, and the headwaters of the Gunpowder Falls. The Piney Run Reservoir is in the southern part of the county.

Three railroad lines cross Carroll County. The old Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Old Main Line crosses the southern part of the county from east to west, with former stations in Sykesville and Mount Airy. The original Western Maryland Railway (WM) main line track runs southeast to northwest through Carrollton, Westminster, New Windsor, and Union Bridge. The old Baltimore and Hanover Railroad (later acquired by WM) runs further to the east through Hampstead, Millers, and Lineboro. Two of these railroad lines are now operated by CSX Transportation; the former WM main line is now operated by Maryland Midland Railway.

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 452.40 square miles (1,171.7 km²), of which 449.13 square miles (1,163.2 km²) (or 99.28%) is land and 3.27 square miles (8.5 km²) (or 0.72%) is water.

Major Highways

• State Route 26
• State Route 27
• State Route 32
• State Route 91
• State Route 97
• State Route 140
• State Route 194

Adjacent counties

• York County, Pennsylvania (northeast)
• Baltimore County (east)
• Howard County (south)
• Frederick County (west)
• Adams County, Pennsylvania (northwest)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1840	17,241		—
1850	20,616		19.6%
1860	24,533		19.0%
1870	28,619		16.7%
1880	30,992		8.3%
1890	32,376		4.5%
1900	33,860		4.6%
1910	33,934		0.2%
1920	34,245		0.9%
1930	35,978		5.1%
1940	39,054		8.5%
1950	44,907		15.0%
1960	52,785		17.5%
1970	69,006		30.7%
1980	96,356		39.6%
1990	123,372		28.0%
2000	150,897		22.3%
2010	167,134		10.8%

Farm in Carroll County, Maryland

2010

Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:

• 92.9% White
• 3.2% Black
• 0.2% Native American
• 1.4% Asian
• 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
• 1.5% Two or more races
• 0.8% Other races
• 2.6% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 150,897 people, 52,503 households, and 41,109 families residing in the county. The population density was 336 people per square mile (130/km²). There were 54,260 housing units at an average density of 121 per square mile (47/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.69% White, 2.28% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 30.5% were of German, 14.0% Irish, 11.1% United States or American, 10.7% English and 7.3% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 52,503 households out of which 39.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.50% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.70% were non-families. 17.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.70% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $60,021, and the median income for a family was $66,430 (these figures had risen to $78,912 and $90,376 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $44,191 versus $30,599 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,829. About 2.70% of families and 3.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.00% of those under age 18 and 4.90% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2007, Carroll County was the tenth wealthiest county in the country in its population range of 65,000 to 250,000

As of the 2010 census the population was 167,134. The racial makeup was 91.20% Non-Hispanic whites, 3.19% blacks, 0.20% Native Americans, 1.45% Asians, 0.03% Pacific Islanders, 0.09% Non-Hispanics of some other race, 1.33% Non-Hispanics reporting two or more races and 2.61% Hispanics.

Cities and towns

This county contains the following incorporated municipalities:

• 2 Cities:
  1. Westminster (incorporated 1818)
  2. Taneytown (incorporated 1836)

• 6 Towns:
  1. Manchester (incorporated 1834)
  2. New Windsor (incorporated 1843)
  3. Union Bridge (incorporated 1872)
  4. Hampstead (incorporated 1888)
  5. Mount Airy (incorporated 1894) (This town is partly in Carroll County, partly in Frederick County, Montgomery County and Howard County.)
  6. Sykesville (incorporated 1904)

Unincorporated areas are also considered as towns by many people and listed in many collections of towns, but they lack local government. Various organizations, such as the United States Census Bureau, the United States Postal Service, and local chambers of commerce, define the communities they wish to recognize differently, and since they are not incorporated, their boundaries have no official status outside the organizations in question. The Census Bureau recognizes the following census-designated places in the county:

1. Eldersburg

Other unincorporated communities include:

1. Alesia
2. Carrollton
3. Carrolltowne
4. Detour
5. Finksburg
6. Frizzelburg
7. Gamber
8. Gaither
9. Greenmount
10. Harney
11. Henryton
12. Jasontown
13. Keymar
14. Lineboro
15. Linwood
16. Louisville
17. Marriottsville (a portion is also in Howard County and Baltimore County)
18. Middleburg
19. Millers
20. Patapsco
21. Pleasant Valley
22. Silver Run
23. Union Mills
24. Uniontown
25. Woodbine (a portion is also in Howard County.)
26. Woodstock (a portion is also in Howard County.)

Public schools

The Carroll County Public Schools School system is the ninth largest school district in the state of Maryland.

Economy

JoS. A. Bank Clothiers has its headquarters in an unincorporated area in the county, near Hampstead.

Law Enforcement

Law enforcement services for the county are provided by the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, Maryland State Police, as well as several municipalities having their own police forces. In addition to providing police services, the Sheriff's Office also acts as an agent of the courts: serving warrants, enforcing child support laws, ensuring courthouse security, transporting prisoners, etc. On October 4, 2007, the County Commissioners voted to create a police department for the county. The police department would handle primary law enforcement duties while the Sheriff's office would continue to act under the arm of the courts. This move would give the Commissioners power to appoint or fire the chief of police instead of having a popularly elected Sheriff being in charge of all law enforcement. This move falls in line with Maryland's more populated counties who have such a dual system of law enforcement (Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Howard and Baltimore Counties), as Carroll County has begun to have a population increase. Municipal departments, such as Westminster Police, would be unaffected by the change. [1]

Family Support Services

General counseling, trauma-based therapy, support for victims of domestic violence, in-home aide for the adult disabled, and other assistance to Carroll County families and individuals are offered by Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland (FCS), a private nonprofit organization with offices in Westminster, Maryland. FCS also operates an adult day care center in Westminster. Some services are offered without charge; others are offered on a sliding-fee scale based on income.

Miscellaneous

• The newspaper of record is the Carroll County Times.
• The county was used for scenes in the Tim Allen movie For Richer or Poorer and the Richard Gere and Julia Roberts movie Runaway Bride.
• Chris Rock stood in front of North Carroll Middle School during his speech in the movie Head of State.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Carroll County, Maryland

External links

• Carroll County, Maryland Genealogy and History
• Carroll County Government
• Carroll County Public Schools
• Carroll County Times
• Carroll County Today - Carroll County, MD News, Weather, More
• Carroll County Public Library
• Corbit's Charge
• Carroll County Business Directory