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Charles County, Maryland

Coordinates: 38°29′N 77°01′W / 38.48°N 77.01°W / 38.48; -77.01
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Charles County
County
Official seal of Charles County
Seal
Map of Maryland highlighting Charles County
Location within the U.S. state of Maryland
Map of the United States highlighting Maryland
Maryland's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°29′N 77°01′W / 38.48°N 77.01°W / 38.48; -77.01
Country United States
State Maryland
Founded1658
SeatLa Plata
Area
 • Total643 sq mi (1,670 km2)
 • Land461 sq mi (1,190 km2)
 • Water182 sq mi (470 km2)  28.33%
Population
 (2000)
 • Total120,546
 • Density260/sq mi (101/km2)
Websitewww.charlescounty.org

Charles County is a county in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Maryland.

As of 2000, the population was 120,546. Its county seat is La Plata. The county was named for Charles Calvert (1637-1715), third Baron Baltimore.

This county is a part of the Washington Metropolitan Area.

History

Charles County was created in 1658 by an Order in Council. There was an earlier Charles County from 1650 to 1653, sometimes referred to in historic documents as Old Charles County.[1][2][3]

On April 28, 2002, a tornado cut through the County and destroyed much of downtown La Plata.

Law/Government

Charles County is governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland. There are five commissioners. As of 2007, they are:

  • Edith Jerry Patterson
  • Wayne Cooper
  • Gary V. Hodge
  • Samuel N. Graves, Jr
  • Reuben B. Collins, II

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 643 square miles (1,666 km²), of which, 461 square miles (1,194 km²) of it is land and 182 square miles (472 km²) of it (28.33%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

Transportation

One United States Numbered Highway runs through the county U.S. Route 301, some other notable highways are:

Hunters Brooke Arson

Main article: Hunters Brooke Arson

On December 4 2004 an arson took place in the development of Hunters Brooke. This is located a few miles southeast of Indian Head. It is the worst residential fire in the state.[1][citation needed]

Demographics

The county is experiencing a dramatic growth in African American population between 1990 and 2004. Although census figures here are shown from 2000:

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 120,546 people, 41,668 households, and 32,292 families residing in the county. The population density was 262 people per square mile (101/km²). There were 43,903 housing units at an average density of 95 per square mile (37/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.51% White, 26.06% Black or African American, 0.75% Native American, 1.82% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 2.08% from two or more races. 2.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 11.6% were of German, 10.8% Irish, 10.2% English, 9.3% American and 5.3% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 41,668 households out of which 41.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 14.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.50% were non-families. 17.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.70% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 33.20% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 7.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $62,199, and the median income for a family was $67,602. Males had a median income of $43,371 versus $34,231 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,285. About 3.70% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.70% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

This county contains the following incorporated municipalities:

  1. Indian Head (incorporated 1920)
  2. La Plata (incorporated 1888)
  3. Port Tobacco Village (incorporated 1888) (Note that, despite its name, Port Tobacco Village is a town, not a village.)

All three are classified as towns under Maryland law. About half the County population lives around the large unincorporated community of Waldorf, Maryland.[citation needed]

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. Bennsville
  2. Bryans Road
  3. Hughesville
  4. Potomac Heights
  5. Saint Charles
  6. Waldorf

Other unincorporated places not listed as Census-Designated Places but known in the area include:

  1. Bel Alton
  2. Benedict
  3. Bryantown
  4. Cobb Island
  5. Dentsville
  6. Faulkner
  7. Ironsides
  8. Issue
  9. Malcolm
  10. Marbury
  11. Morgantown
  12. Mount Victoria
  13. Nanjemoy
  14. Newburg
  15. Pisgah
  16. Pomfret
  17. Popes Creek
  18. Pomonkey
  19. Ripley
  20. Rison
  21. Rock Point
  22. Swan Point
  23. Welcome
  24. White Plains

Education

Colleges and universities

Public school system

Main article: Charles County Public Schools

Notable residents

References

  1. ^ The Counties of Maryland, vol. 630, The Archives of Maryland Online, pp. 122–124, retrieved 2007-11-16
  2. ^ Maryland Geological Survey (1911), Prince Georges County, The Johns Hopkins Press, pp. 21–22, retrieved 2007-11-16
  3. ^ Maryland Geological Survey (1906), Maryland Geological Survey: General Reports, The Johns Hopkins Press, pp. 474–477, retrieved 2008-04-05
  4. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.


38°29′N 77°01′W / 38.48°N 77.01°W / 38.48; -77.01

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