Poolesville, Maryland
Poolesville is a town in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States with a population of approximately 5000 people. It takes its name from the Poole family.
Government
Poolesville is governed by five commissioners elected in staggered 4-year terms. Commissioners are not paid. The commissioners elect among themselves a president and vice president. A Town Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the town. Six Boards and Commissions assist the commissioners: the Planning Commission, Parks Board, Board of Elections, Sign Review Board, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Ethics Commission.
History
In 1760, brothers John Poole, Sr. and Joseph Poole, Sr. purchased 160 acres (65 km²) in the area that is now Poolesville. Thirty-three years later, John Poole, Jr. used a 15 acre (60 m²) tract that he inherited from his father to build a log store and subdivided the tract, selling portions to a number of other merchants. This was the start of Poolesville. The town was incorporated in 1867.
During the Civil War Union military leaders realized that the shallow fords of the Potomac River posed a threat to the capital city. At certain times of the year the Potomac River is shallow enough to cross and thus thousands of troops were moved to both Darnestown and Poolesville. The Corps of Observation was established just outside of Poolesville and soldiers were stationed near the river to watch for Confederate incursions into Maryland. During the winter of 1861-1862 it is estimated that 20,000 Union troops were stationed in or around the town. There were no battles fought in Poolesville; however, the infamous Battle of Ball's Bluff was fought nearby on October 21, 1861. Hundreds of Union soldiers who were stationed in Poolesville were killed in this battle that was badly managed by inexperienced Union generals.
There were several Confederate raids into the town during the war and the Confederate Army invaded Maryland by crossing the Potomac near Poolesville in both 1862 and 1864. The old Poolesville Methodist Church cemetery contains the remains of approximately twenty soldiers who either were killed in action at Bulls Bluff or who died of illness while in camp.
Geography
Poolesville is located at 39°8′26″N 77°24′30″W / 39.14056°N 77.40833°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (39.140540, -77.408461)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 10.0 km² (3.9 mi²), all land.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 5,151 people, 1,601 households, and 1,402 families residing in the town. The population density was 515.2/km² (1,333.8/mi²). There were 1,630 housing units at an average density of 163.0/km² (422.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.57% White, 2.85% African American, 0.49% Native American, 1.09% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.70% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.68% of the population.
There were 1,601 households out of which 56.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.6% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.4% were non-families. 9.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.22 and the average family size was 3.44.
In the town the population was spread out with 35.0% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 3.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $85,091, and the median income for a family was $88,916. Males had a median income of $60,596 versus $42,051 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,211. About 2.5% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Poolesville is served by Montgomery County Public Schools. Three schools are located in Poolesville: Poolesville High School [1], John Poole Middle School [2], and Poolesville Elementary School [3]. Monacacy Elementary School in Dickerson also feeds into John Poole MS.
Notable people of Poolesville
- Thomas Plater, U.S. Congressman for Maryland's 3rd District, 1801-1805, buried in Poolesville.[citation needed]
- Daniel J. Kator, Colonel, Poolesville Militia
- Nick Burgdorf, ice cream historian and noted bong master.