Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Coordinates: 39°00′N 76°36′W / 39.0°N 76.6°W / 39.0; -76.6
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Anne Arundel County
County
Official seal of Anne Arundel County
Seal
Map of Maryland highlighting Anne Arundel County
Location within the U.S. state of Maryland
Map of the United States highlighting Maryland
Maryland's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°00′N 76°36′W / 39°N 76.6°W / 39; -76.6
Country United States
State Maryland
Founded1650
SeatAnnapolis
Largest cityGlen Burnie
Area
 • Total587.90 sq mi (1,522.7 km2)
 • Land415.94 sq mi (1,077.3 km2)
 • Water171.96 sq mi (445.4 km2)  29.25%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total537,656
 • Density1,293/sq mi (499.2/km2)
Websitewww.aacounty.org

Anne Arundel County (/[invalid input: 'icon']ˌænəˈrʌndəl/) is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell (1615–49), a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is Annapolis, which is also the capital of the state. In 2010, its population was 537,656,[1] a population increase of just under 10% since 2000.[1]

Anne Arundel County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. The center of population of Maryland is located on the county line between Anne Arundel County and Howard County, in the unincorporated town of Jessup.[2]

History

The County was named for Anne Arundell, the daughter of Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour, members of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England. She married Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore in 1627 or 1628.

Anne Arundel County was originally part of St. Mary's County in the Province of Maryland. In 1650, the year after Anne Arundell's death, the county separated and became the 3rd of 23 Maryland counties. Between 1654 and 1658, the county was known as "Providence County" by many of its early Puritan settlers.

On March 25, 1655, during the English Civil War, the Battle of the Severn was fought in Anne Arundel County between Puritan forces supporting the Commonwealth of England and forces loyal to Cæcilius Calvert. The Commonwealth forces under William Fuller were victorious.

Between 1694 and 1695, the capital of Maryland was moved from St. Mary's City in St. Mary's County to Annapolis in Anne Arundel County. Prior to the move, Annapolis was known as "Providence".

During the American Revolutionary War, citizens of Anne Arundel County supported the Continental Army by providing troops for three regiments. The 3rd Maryland Regiment, the 4th Maryland Regiment, and the 6th Maryland Regiment recruited in the county.

During the War of 1812, the USS Constitution sailed from Annapolis prior to its victorious engagement with the HMS Guerriere.

On May 22, 1830, the inaugural horse-drawn train of the B & O Railroad travelled the 13 miles (21 km) of the newly-completed track from Mount Clare Station in Baltimore City to Ellicott Mills in Anne Arundel County. This was the first regular railroad passenger service in the United States. In 1831, Land West of the railroad was considered the Howard District of Anne Arundel County. In 1851, The Howard district was broken off to form Howard County, the 21st county in Maryland.[3]

The county has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places.[4]

Geography

Physical Geography and Geology

Anne Arundel County is located to the south of the city of Baltimore. According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 587.90 square miles (1,522.7 km2), of which 415.94 square miles (1,077.3 km2) (or 70.75%) is land and 171.96 square miles (445.4 km2) (or 29.25%) is water.[5]

Most of the county's borders are defined by water. To the east lies Chesapeake Bay, and numerous tidal tributaries of the bay indent the shoreline, forming prominent peninsulas. The largest of these tributaries include (from north to south) the Magothy River, Severn River, South River, and West River. The Patuxent River forms the border with Prince George's County to the west. Deep Run forms part of the northwestern border with Howard County, and Lyons Creek forms part of the southern border with Calvert County. The Patapsco River to the north is the border with Baltimore County, but the Brooklyn and Curtis Bay neighborhoods lying south of the Patapsco were annexed from Anne Arundel County to Baltimore City in 1918.[6]

Anne Arundel County originally included all of the land between the Patuxent River and the Patapsco River (mainstem and South Branch) upstream to their headwaters on Parr's Ridge. The northwestern section of this long tract later became Howard County, with the border between the two running very close to the Atlantic Seaboard fall line. As a result Anne Arundel County lies almost entirely within the Atlantic Coastal Plain while Howard County is almost entirely within the Piedmont province.

Elevations in Anne Arundel County range from sea level at the Chesapeake and tidal tributaries to approximately 300 feet (91 m) in western areas near the fall line.[7] The terrain is mostly flat or gently rolling, but more dramatic banks and bluffs can be found where waterways cut through areas of higher elevation.

With the exception of the very limited extent of Piedmont underlain by Precambrian to early Paleozoic metamorphic rock, all of the county is underlain by thick deposits of gravel, sand, silt, and clay dating from the early Cretaceous to Holocene times.[8] Most of these sediments are unconsolidated but include local formations of sandstone, especially in the Pasadena area.[9]

Adjacent counties

See also: List of counties bordering eight counties

National protected area

Climate

Crofton Parkway in Crofton in early March

Anne Arundel County has a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and cool winters. Annual precipitation averages around 40 inches (100 cm) per year throughout the county, with a fairly even distribution throughout the year. Annual snowfall totals around 21.8 inches (55 cm) on average at BWI Airport, which has an elevation of 148 feet (45 m) above sea level. Slightly colder winter temperatures and higher snowfall are experienced at the higher elevations, with slightly lower snowfall closer to sea level.[10]

Government

Presidential election results
Year Republican Democrat
2008 49.9% 129,682 48.2% 125,015
2004 55.6% 133,231 43.1% 103,324
2000 51.9% 104,209 44.7% 89,624
1996 48.9% 83,574 42.2% 72,147
1992 43.9% 81,467 37.0% 68,629
1988 61.1% 200,641 38.3 125,711
1984 62.9% 183,181 36.8 107,295
1980 57.4% 137,620 30.8% 73,734
1976 53.6% 110,424 44.7% 92,037
1972 66.3% 112,135 32.4% 54,844
1968 49.0% 57,462 38.2% 44,796
1964 38.7% 30,755 61.2% 48,680
1960 51.7% 26,064 48.1% 28,006
Anne Arundel County Courthouse, July 2009

Anne Arundel County has had a charter government since 1965. The government consists of a County Executive and a seven-member County Council. The County Executive and Council members are elected in the same years Maryland conducts its gubernatorial and legislative elections, and may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.

Anne Arundel county is one of the more reliably Republican counties among the heavily-populated suburban and urban counties in the state's Baltimore-Washington corridor. Although Republicans usually have the edge in elections there are slightly more registered Democrats.

  • (September 2010)
  • 328,933 Registered Voters
  • Democrat (44.10%)
  • Republican (36.49%)
  • Unaffiliated (16.99%)
  • Minor/Other (0.65%)

County Executives

The County Executive oversees the executive branch of the County government, which consists of a number of offices and departments. The executive branch is charged with implementing County law and overseeing the operation of the County government. The current executive, Republican John R. Leopold, was elected in 2006 and won reelection in 2010. The next election will be in 2014.

2006 Anne Arundel County Executive Election

Name Affiliation Term
Template:American politics/party colors/Republican|  Joseph W. Alton Republican 1965–1974
Template:American politics/party colors/Republican|  Robert A. Pascal Republican 1974–1982
  O. James Lighthizer Democrat 1982–1990
Template:American politics/party colors/Republican|  Robert R. Neall Republican 1990–1994
Template:American politics/party colors/Republican|  John G. Gary Republican 1994–1998
  Janet S. Owens Democrat 1998–2006
Template:American politics/party colors/Republican|  John R. Leopold Republican 2006 -

County Council

The County Council, as the legislative branch, adopts ordinances and resolutions, and has all of the County's legislative powers.

The most recent county board election occurred November 2, 2010. The partisan makeup remained unchanged, with Republicans holding a 4-3 majority. In January 2012 the County Council declared the 1st District seat vacant after former County Council member Daryl Jones was convicted of tax evasion and began his sentence in January 2012. On March 19, 2012, the County Council voted 4-2 to appoint Peter Smith to the 1st District seat.

Current County Board
Position Name Affiliation District Region
Template:American politics/party colors/Republican|  Chairman Dick Ladd Republican 5 Severna Park
Template:American politics/party colors/Republican|  Vice Chairman Derek Fink Republican 3 Pasadena
  Member Peter Smith Democratic 1 Severn
Template:American politics/party colors/Republican|  Member John Grasso Republican 2 Glen Burnie
  Member James Benoit Democratic 4 Crownsville
  Member Chris Trumbauer Democratic 6 Annapolis
Template:American politics/party colors/Republican|  Member Jerry Walker Republican 7 Gambrillis/Crofton


Anne Arundel County Courthouse, June 2005

Law enforcement

There are several major law enforcement agencies servicing the citizens of Anne Arundel County:

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179022,598—
180022,6230.1%
181026,66817.9%
182027,1651.9%
183028,2954.2%
184029,5324.4%
185032,3939.7%
186023,900−26.2%
187024,4572.3%
188028,52616.6%
189034,09419.5%
190039,62016.2%
191039,553−0.2%
192043,4089.7%
193055,16727.1%
194068,37523.9%
1950117,39271.7%
1960206,63476.0%
1970297,53944.0%
1980370,77524.6%
1990427,23915.2%
2000489,65614.6%
2010537,6569.8%
[14][15][16]

2010

The ethnic makeup of the country, according to the to the 2010 U.S. Census, was the following:

2000

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 489,656 people, 178,670 households, and 129,178 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,177 people per square mile (455/km²). There were 186,937 housing units at an average density of 449 per square mile (174/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.24% White, 13.57% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.29% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. 2.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.7% were of German, 13.1% Irish, 10.5% English, 8.1% United States or American and 7.0% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 178,670 households out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.10 males.

As of Census 2010 the population was 537,658. The ethnic and racial make-up of the county population was 72.42% Non-Hispanic white, 15.52% black, 0.31% Native American, 3.41% Asian, 0.16% Non-Hispanic of some other race, 2.37% non-Hispanics of two or more races and 6.12% Hispanic.

Population history

This population history of Anne Arundel County[17] from the U.S. Census Bureau compares the population of Anne Arundel County to those of the other 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City.

  • 1900.......39,620......6th (after Allegany, Balt. Cty and City, Frederick, Washington)
  • 1910.......39,553......6th
  • 1920.......43,408......6th
  • 1930.......55,167......6th (Frederick fewer, Prince George's more)
  • 1940.......68,375......7th (Montgomery more)
  • 1950......117,392......5th (Allegany and Washington fewer, now only Balt. Cty and City, Montgomery and Prince George's more)
  • 1960......206,634......5th
  • 1970......297,539......5th
  • 1980......370,775......5th
  • 1990......427,239......5th
  • 2000......489,656......5th
  • 2010......537,656......5th

Cities and towns

Anne Arundel County contains only two incorporated municipalities: the city of Annapolis, incorporated in 1708, and the town of Highland Beach, incorporated 1922.

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:

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

Economy

Personal income

The median income for a household in the county was $61,768, and the median income for a family was $69,019 (these figures had risen to $79,294 and $91,071 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[18]). Males had a median income of $43,747 versus $32,348 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,578. About 3.60% of families and 5.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.30% of those under age 18 and 5.80% of those age 65 or over.

State government

Several state agencies are headquartered in unincorporated areas in Anne Arundel County. Executive departments include the Department of Agriculture,[19] the Aviation Administration,[20] the Department of Housing and Community Development,[21] and the Department of Transportation.[22] The Rural Maryland Council, an independent agency, is also headquartered in an unincorporated area in the county.[23]

State correctional facilities

The Maryland House of Correction, operated by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, was located in Anne Arundel County. The prison was closed in 2007.[24]

The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services operates several additional correctional facilities in the unicorporated town of Jessup in Anne Arundel County, including:

  • Brockbridge Correctional Facility
  • Jessup Correctional Institution
  • Jessup Pre-Release Unit
  • Maryland Correctional Institution - Jessup
  • Maryland Correctional Institution for Women

District of Columbia facilities

The District of Columbia Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) operates the New Beginnings Youth Development Center, a secure youth prison, in the county. Oak Hill Youth Center, the previous DYRS secure facility, was also in the county.[24]

U.S. Department of Defense Facilities

Fort George G. Meade is a large U.S. Army post located in the northwest of the county. It is the home of the National Security Agency.

The Naval Academy makes up a large section of Annapolis. Besides being an educational facility it is also a naval base.

Health Care

There are two full-service hospitals in Anne Arundel County: Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis and Baltimore Washington Medical Center (formerly North Arundel Hospital) in Glen Burnie, part of the University of Maryland Medical System.

Media


Education

Transportation

Anne Arundel county is the home of Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, commonly referred to as BWI. BWI serves as the main airport for greater Baltimore. It is also an increasingly popular alternative airport to residents of the Washington, D.C., area. BWI is an East Coast hub for Southwest Airlines, meaning that direct flights are available between BWI and much of the country.

The southern portion of the Maryland Transit Administration's Light Rail system, connecting downtown Baltimore with BWI, runs through part of Anne Arundel County.

The county also has multiple stops on the MARC commuter rail service, including a stop at BWI Rail station, located near BWI Airport. Amtrak trains also stop at BWI's train station.

Additionally, the Laurel-based Connect-a-ride system operates two routes in the western portion of the county; including Severn, Arundel Mills, Maryland City, Glen Burnie, Hanover, and Odenton. Howard County's Howard Transit Silver route serves Arundel Mills shopping mall and BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.

The county is served by one main-line interstate, Interstate 97, which is the country's only main-line interstate highway contained completely within a single county. Interstate 695, the McKeldin Beltway (commonly known as the Baltimore Beltway), runs through the northern part of the county. Interstate 895, the Harbor Tunnel Thruway, runs through the county towards the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. Interstate 195, a spur off of Interstate 95, serves BWI Airport.

Interstate 595 also runs through central Anne Arundel County. This highway, however, is not signed. It is referred to by its more common names, US 50 and U.S. Route 301.

The remaining limited-access freeways are all Maryland State highways that serve the more densely populated northern part of the county. The Baltimore Washington Parkway, also signed MD-295, runs through the northwest of the county, roughly parallel to the border with Howard County. Maryland Route 100 runs east-west from Pasadena through Hanover and into Howard County, while Maryland Route 32 connects I-97 near Millersville with Columbia in Howard County by way of Odenton and Fort Meade. Maryland Route 10, the Arundel Expressway, is a north-south bypass around Glen Burnie, connecting the Baltimore Beltway with Ritchie Highway north of Severna Park.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge crosses the Chesapeake Bay from the county; it connects the Western Shore with the Eastern Shore in Queen Anne's County.

Recreation

Maryland Park Service

Sandy Point State Park is located at the end of the Broadneck peninsula near the west end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. It features a beach and marina and hosts many festivals and special events throughout the year.[26] Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden is located at the Department of Natural Resources headquarters in Annapolis. The 5 acre garden features representations of the state's various geographic areas.[27] The county also contains some of the easternmost portions of Patapsco Valley State Park, consisting of mostly undeveloped areas of forest and wetlands along the lower Patapsco River.

Anne Arundel Recreation and Parks

The Department of Recreation and Parks maintains a "a comprehensive system of recreational programs for county residents and the preservation of valuable land," including indoor and outdoor sports facilities, community parks, green ways, archaeological, environmental, and historical preserves, and large regional facilities.[28] Some of the major facilities include the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail, Downs Park, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Kinder Farm Park, and Quiet Waters Park.

Other major attractions include the Maryland Renaissance Festival near Annapolis, the Maryland State House and the Colonial Annapolis Historic District.

Anne Arundel County is home to the two largest shopping malls in the State of Maryland: Westfield Annapolis Mall and Arundel Mills in Hanover. Adjacent to Arundel Mills is the Maryland Live! casino.

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Odenton Patch Odenton's Population Jumps 17K According to Census. by Tim Lemke, "The western portion of Anne Arundel County saw significant growth, paced by a more than 80 percent jump in residents in Odenton", February 16, 2011, accessed February 17, 2012.
  2. ^ "Population and Population Centers by State: 2000". United States Census Bureau.
  3. ^ Joshua Dorsey Warfield. The founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland. p. 36.
  4. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  5. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  6. ^ "A History of Brooklyn-Curtis Bay".
  7. ^ "Anne Arundel County High Point, Maryland".
  8. ^ "Geological Units in Anne Arundel County, Maryland". U.S. Geological Survey.
  9. ^ "Magothy Quartzite Quarry". Maryland Historic Trust.
  10. ^ "Climatology for Balt-Washington AP MD". National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  11. ^ "AACOPD Home Page". Anne Arundel County Police Department. Retrieved 08-01-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  12. ^ "Homepage". Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Department. Retrieved 08-01-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  13. ^ Anne Arundel County Department of Detention Facilities
  14. ^ http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/cencounts/files/md190090.txt
  15. ^ American FactFinder
  16. ^ University of Virginia Library
  17. ^ "Maryland Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. 95-03-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ American FactFinder
  19. ^ Home page. Maryland Department of Agriculture. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  20. ^ "Maryland Aviation Administration Contacts." Maryland Aviation Administration. Retrieved on March 2, 2010.
  21. ^ Home page. Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  22. ^ "MDOT Departments". Maryland Department of Transportation. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  23. ^ "Contact Us". Rural Maryland Council. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  24. ^ a b "GR2009052900126.gif." The Washington Post. Retrieved on October 7, 2010.
  25. ^ "Maryland Gazette Collection". Maryland State Archives.
  26. ^ "Sandy Point State Park". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  27. ^ "Tawes Garden". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  28. ^ "About Us". Anne Arundel County. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  29. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.

External links

39°00′N 76°36′W / 39.0°N 76.6°W / 39.0; -76.6

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