Clinton, Maryland

Clinton is a census-designated place located in Prince George's County, Maryland. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 26,064.

The ZIP code for Clinton is 20735.

Geography

Location of Clinton, Maryland

Clinton is located at 38°45'49" North, 76°53'44" West (38.763711, -76.895458)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 30.6 km² (11.8 mi²). 30.6 km² (11.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.08% is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 26,064 people, 8,605 households, and 6,772 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 852.8/km² (2,208.6/mi²). There were 8,962 housing units at an average density of 293.2/km² (759.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 20.56% White, 73.69% African American, 0.47% Native American, 2.47% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 2.08% from two or more races. 1.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,605 households out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.32.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $71,139, and the median income for a family was $75,036. Males had a median income of $41,736 versus $39,545 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,949. 3.4% of the population and 2.4% of families were below the poverty line. 2.5% of those under the age of 18 and 10.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

History

Clinton was originally founded by the Surratt family in the 1770s. The town, then named Surratt's Villa, was actually a simple crossroads with a few buildings. In the 1800's, it became known as Surrattsville. The main building served as the Post Office, an inn and tavern, and a polling place. This main residence was one of two properties owned by the widowed Mary Surratt, the second one was in Washington, D.C.

On the night of April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth, who had two hours earlier, assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, stopped by the Surrattsville tavern, to pick up weapons and supplies. The U.S. Government alleged that Mrs. Surratt had gone there earlier with these supplies, and was in collusion with the conspirators, one of whom was her son, John Surratt. Because of her complicity in the Lincoln assassination, Mary Surratt was hanged at the Capitol Prison in Washington D.C., on July 7, 1865. The U.S. Post Office renamed the town Robeysville, due to the notoriety of the Surratt name. In 1879, Robeysville was renamed Clinton. The local high school, however, retains the name of Surrattsville, and local historians have continually urged Clinton to regain its unique name.

President Bill Clinton briefly visited Clinton in a campaign stop in 1992.

Clinton is also the home town of Maryland State Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr..

Academy Award winning actress Marcia Gay Harden attended the local high school Surrattsville and graduated in 1976. She won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Pollock (film) in 2001 and was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Mystic River (film) in 2003.

Clinton is where American soap opera actress Laura Wright grew up.