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{{Main|Hunters Brooke Arson}} {{Main|Hunters Brooke Arson}}
On December 4, 2004 an arson took place in the development of Hunters Brooke which is located a few miles southeast of ]. On December 4, 2004 an arson took place in the development of Hunters Brooke which is located a few miles southeast of ].
It was the largest arson started residential fire in the state. <ref name="Courson">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/12/21/maryland.fires/index.html|title=Two more arrested in Maryland fires|last=Courson|first=Paul|coauthors=Joanthan Wild|publisher=CNN|page=1|language=ENGLISH|accessdate=2 August 2010|location=Washington, Dc}}</ref> It was the largest{{cn}}{{dubious|largest arson claim}} arson started residential fire in the state. <ref name="Courson">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/12/21/maryland.fires/index.html|title=Two more arrested in Maryland fires|last=Courson|first=Paul|coauthors=Joanthan Wild|publisher=CNN|page=1|language=ENGLISH|accessdate=2 August 2010|location=Washington, Dc}}</ref>


==Demographics== ==Demographics==

Revision as of 10:15, 2 August 2010

County in Maryland
Charles County
County
Official seal of Charles CountySeal
Map of Maryland highlighting Charles CountyLocation within the U.S. state of Maryland
Map of the United States highlighting MarylandMaryland'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 km)
 • Land461 sq mi (1,190 km)
 • Water182 sq mi (470 km)  28.33%
Population
 • Estimate 140,444
 • Density300/sq mi (117/km)
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. This county was named for Charles Calvert (1637–1715), third Baron Baltimore.

Charles 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.

In April 1865, John Wilkes Booth made his escape through Charles County after shooting President Abraham Lincoln. He was on his way to Virginia.

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

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

Law and Government

Charles County is reliably Democratic, although not as overwhelmingly so as other parts of Maryland's Washington, D.C. suburbs.

Board of Commissioners

Charles County is governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland. There are five commissioners. As of 2008, they are:

Position Name Affiliation District
Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic|  President Wayne Cooper Democratic At-Large
Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic|  Commissioner Sam Graves Democratic District 1
Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic|  Commissioner Edith J. Patterson Democratic District 2
Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic|  Commissioner Reuben B. Collins, II Democratic District 3
Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic|  Commissioner Gary V. Hodge Democratic District 4

Charles County is entirely located within the 5th Congressional District. The current representative is Democratic House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer.

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) is land and 182 square miles (472 km²) (28.33%) is water.

In its western wing, along the southernmost bend in Maryland Route 224, Charles County contains a rare instance where the traveler is due north, east, south, and west of the same state—Virginia.

Adjacent counties

See also: List of counties bordering eight counties

National protected area

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 which is located a few miles southeast of Indian Head. It was the largest arson started residential fire in the state.

Demographics

The county is experiencing a dramatic growth in African-American population, which began in 1990. Census figures below are 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 (these figures had risen to $80,573 and $89,358 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). 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.

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. Grayton
  8. Ironsides
  9. Issue
  10. Malcolm
  11. Marbury
  12. Morgantown
  13. Mount Victoria
  14. Nanjemoy
  15. Newburg
  16. Pisgah
  17. Pomfret
  18. Popes Creek
  19. Pomonkey
  20. Ripley
  21. Rison
  22. Rock Point
  23. Swan Point
  24. Welcome
  25. White Plains

Education

Colleges and universities

Public school system

Main article: Charles County Public Schools

Notable residents

Sports

Club League Venue Established Championships
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs ALPB, Baseball Regency Furniture Stadium 2008 0

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. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15.
  5. This oddity of political geography happens in other places in Maryland, the sole state with points where travel as the crow flies due north, east, south, and west goes into the same state (Virginia).
  6. Courson, Paul. "Two more arrested in Maryland fires". Washington, Dc: CNN. p. 1. Retrieved 2 August 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=05000US24017&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US24%7C05000US24013&_street=&_county=charles&_cityTown=charles&_state=04000US24&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=
  8. Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896, Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1963

External links

Places adjacent to Charles County, Maryland
Fairfax County, Virginia Prince George's County
Stafford County, Virginia and Prince William County, Virginia Charles County, Maryland Calvert County
King George County, Virginia St. Mary's County and Westmoreland County, Virginia
Municipalities and communities of Charles County, Maryland, United States
County seat: La Plata
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38°29′N 77°01′W / 38.48°N 77.01°W / 38.48; -77.01

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