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Perryville, Maryland

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Perryville, Maryland
Town
U.S. Post Office, Perryville MD, April 2010
U.S. Post Office, Perryville MD, April 2010
Official seal of Perryville, Maryland
Seal
Location of Perryville, Maryland
Location of Perryville, Maryland
CountryUnited States
StateMaryland
CountyCecil
Area
 • Total2.5 sq mi (6.4 km2)
 • Land2.5 sq mi (6.4 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation
72 ft (22 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total3,672
 • Density1,479.0/sq mi (571.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
21903
Area code410
FIPS code24-61150
GNIS feature ID0590999

Perryville is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 3,672 for the census of 2000. The town is located near an access for Interstate 95, on the north side of the outlet of the Susquehanna River.

History

Perryville was first settled during 1622 when Edward Palmer was granted a patent for a settlement on what is now Garrett Island. During the 17th century, Lord Baltimore granted George Talbot 31,000 acres (130 km2) of land which included the Perryville area. Before incorporation (1882), the settlement was known as Lower Ferry (circa 1695), Susquehanna (circa 18th century), and was finally named Perryville after Mary Perry, the wife of John Bateman.

During the Revolutionary War, Perryville served as a staging area for the Continental Army. Colonel John Rodgers (1728–1791), who operated the ferry and tavern in Perryville, raised the 5th Company of the Maryland Militia. This company became part of the famous Flying Corps and was instrumental during the early stages of the Revolutionary War. George Washington stopped frequently at Rodgers Tavern on his travels from Virginia to New York. Rodgers Tavern was listed on the National Register of Historic Places during 1972.[1]

Colonel Rodgers' son, John Rodgers, was instrumental in suppressing the Tripolitan pirates in the Mediterranean Sea and was subsequently promoted to Commodore of the Mediterranean Squadron. Commodore Rodgers served with distinction during the War of 1812 and is known as the "Father of the American Navy."

During the 19th century, Perryville was the midway station for the Wilmington to Baltimore Rail Line. During the American Civil War, the railway line between Perryville and Baltimore was destroyed. To transport troops and munitions to Annapolis, the Union Army again began the operation of the ferry across the Susquehanna. The Principio Furnace is located nearby and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places during 1972.[1]

During the 20th century, Perryville continued to serve as a railroad town. The interstate highway system, with access near Perryville, brought business from highway travelers.

Perryville is currently home to the Perry Point Veteran's Medical Center, located on a picturesque campus at the outlet of the Susquehanna River into Chesapeake Bay. This same location is also the Northeast Campus of AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps, a residential national service program which recruits young Americans between the ages of 18 to 24 to perform community service in various locations in the country.

Perryville is the northern terminus of the MARC Penn Line commuter rail service, which runs south to Washington, D.C. via Baltimore. The 1905-built station also serves as a railroad museum and an Amtrak maintenance facility. Perryville is also the site of an outlet mall shopping center.[2]

Perryville is home to the largest linwood tree in Maryland, located at 50 Millcreek Road on an estate known formerly as the Anchorage. Perryville is also home to numerous historical sites including the Principio Furnace.

During 2010 Perryville opened the first casino in Maryland (Hollywood Casino Perryville). The casino is near the southbound exit of I-95. It is the first legal casino in Maryland. The casino has slot machines and video gaming. The casino has a Hollywood theme, with huge movie posters hanging in the casino. During its opening weekend it made 3 million dollars. The funds from the casino are divided with the Town of Perryville and Cecil County government as well as the state.

Geography

Perryville is located at 39°34′11″N 76°4′7″W / 39.56972°N 76.06861°W / 39.56972; -76.06861 (39.569662, -76.068725)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2), of which, 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) of it is land and 0.40% is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 3,672 people, 1,443 households, and 988 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,479.0 people per square mile (571.7/km²). There were 1,507 housing units at an average density of 607.0 per square mile (234.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.93% Caucasian, 5.86% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.54% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.31% of the population.

There were 1,443 households out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town the population was spread out agewise with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $43,984, and the median income for a family was $52,981. Males had a median income of $39,112 versus $28,526 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,040. About 6.0% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 21.8% of those age 65 or over.

Library

A new state-of-the-art Perryville Branch of the Cecil County Public Library was opened during 2008. The library was designed with many “green” features including geothermal energy and low e-glass. The Perryville Branch also boasts self-checkout machines, a café (i.e., three vending machines), a drive-through checkout window, and free wifi.

Schools

There are four schools within Perryville's limits. Perryville Elementary, Middle and High Schools are public. The school sports mascot of Perryville High School is the panther. There is also one private school, a Catholic K-8 school named Good Shepherd. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church of the same name.

Churches

The following are the six churches in Perryville: Blythedale Seventh-day Adventist Church, First Baptist Church of Perryville, Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Perryville Presbyterian Church, Perryville United Methodist Church, and St. Mark's Episcopal Church.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. ^ "Perryville Outlet Center".
  3. ^ "Perryville Churches".
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