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Charles County, Maryland
Habre de Venture Front Sept 09
Thomas Stone House
Flag of Charles County, Maryland
Flag
Seal of Charles County, Maryland
Seal
Map of Maryland highlighting Charles County
Location in the state of Maryland
Map of the U.S
Maryland's location in the U.S.
Founded April 13, 1658
Named for Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore
Seat La Plata
Largest community Waldorf
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

643 sq mi (1,665 km²)
458 sq mi (1,186 km²)
185 sq mi (479 km²), 29
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

166,617
Congressional district 5th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.charlescountymd.gov

Charles County is a county in Southern Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population was 166,617.[1] The county seat is La Plata.[2] The county was named for Charles Calvert (1637–1715), third Baron Baltimore.

Charles County is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Southern Maryland region.[3]

History[]

Charles County was created in 1658 by an Order in Council. There was also an earlier Charles County from 1650 to 1653, sometimes referred to in historic documents as Old Charles County.[4][5][6]

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

In 1926, a tornado ripped through the county leaving 17 dead (including 13 schoolchildren). On April 28, 2002, another tornado destroyed much of downtown La Plata.[7]

The county has several properties on the National Register of Historic Places.[8] Among them are Green Park and Pleasant Hill, home of the Green and Spalding Families.

On December 4, 2004, an arson took place in the development of Hunters Brooke, a few miles southeast of Indian Head. The Hunters Brooke Arson was the largest residential arson[9] in Maryland history.[10][11][12]

Politics and government[]

Owing to the considerable voting power of its large number of freedmen following the Civil War,[13] and later its growth as a suburban area, Charles County was for a long time solidly Republican. The only Democrat to carry Charles County until 1956 was Franklin Roosevelt in 1932, although Alf Landon and Wendell Willkie defeated Roosevelt in the next two elections by a combined margin of just 50 votes. Since the turn of the millennium, Charles County has become reliably Democratic, although not as overwhelmingly so as other parts of Maryland's Washington, D.C. suburbs.[14] Charles County is one of only two counties in the nation to have voted for Al Gore in 2000 after voting for Bob Dole in 1996, along with Orange County, Florida.[15]

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment of Charles County[16]
Party Total Percentage
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px | Democratic 71,916 61.40%
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | Republican 24,399 20.83%
style="background-color:#FFCC00;" width=10px | Independents, unaffiliated, and other 20,819 17.77%
Total 117,134 100.00%
United States presidential election results for Charles County, Maryland[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 25,579 28.58% 62,171 69.47% 1,748 1.95%
2016 25,614 32.71% 49,341 63.01% 3,348 4.28%
2012 25,178 33.47% 48,774 64.84% 1,270 1.69%
2008 25,732 36.69% 43,635 62.22% 760 1.08%
2004 28,442 48.84% 29,354 50.40% 445 0.76%
2000 21,768 48.82% 21,873 49.05% 951 2.13%
1996 17,432 48.66% 15,890 44.36% 2,501 6.98%
1992 17,293 44.97% 14,498 37.70% 6,663 17.33%
1988 20,828 63.57% 11,823 36.09% 113 0.34%
1984 16,132 60.97% 10,264 38.79% 64 0.24%
1980 11,807 53.62% 8,887 40.36% 1,326 6.02%
1976 7,792 45.00% 9,525 55.00% 0 0.00%
1972 9,665 67.34% 4,502 31.37% 186 1.30%
1968 4,645 38.50% 4,247 35.20% 3,173 26.30%
1964 3,455 34.55% 6,546 65.45% 0 0.00%
1960 4,560 45.41% 5,482 54.59% 0 0.00%
1956 5,088 56.41% 3,931 43.59% 0 0.00%
1952 4,334 56.13% 3,338 43.23% 49 0.63%
1948 2,703 58.49% 1,878 40.64% 40 0.87%
1944 2,755 59.50% 1,875 40.50% 0 0.00%
1940 2,716 49.71% 2,692 49.27% 56 1.02%
1936 2,623 49.64% 2,597 49.15% 64 1.21%
1932 1,851 42.35% 2,473 56.58% 47 1.08%
1928 2,522 57.44% 1,860 42.36% 9 0.20%
1924 2,215 56.59% 1,491 38.09% 208 5.31%
1920 2,585 60.54% 1,642 38.45% 43 1.01%
1916 1,374 48.06% 1,363 47.67% 122 4.27%
1912 1,573 59.45% 918 34.69% 155 5.86%
1908 1,643 57.23% 1,167 40.65% 61 2.12%
1904 1,659 57.80% 1,180 41.11% 31 1.08%
1900 2,268 61.93% 1,368 37.36% 26 0.71%
1896 2,117 59.99% 1,372 38.88% 40 1.13%
1892 1,279 53.49% 1,051 43.96% 61 2.55%



Board of Commissioners[]

Charles County is governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland. There are five commissioners. As of 2018, they are:

Position Name Affiliation District
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px | " |  President Reuben Collins Democratic At-Large
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px | " |  Commissioner Gilbert Bowling Democratic District 1
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px | " |  Commissioner Amanda M. Stewart Democratic District 2
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px | " |  Commissioner Thomasina Coates Democratic District 3
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px | " |  Commissioner Bobby Rucci Democratic District 4

Charles County is entirely within the 5th Congressional District, which also includes Calvert, St. Mary's, and parts of Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties. The current representative is Democratic House Majority Leader and (former House Minority Whip) Steny H. Hoyer.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 643 square miles (1,670 km2), of which 458 square miles (1,190 km2) is land and 185 square miles (480 km2) (29%) water.[18]

In its western wing, along the southernmost bend in Maryland Route 224, Charles County contains a place due north, east, south, and west of the same state—Virginia.[19]

Adjacent counties[]

National protected area[]

  • Thomas Stone National Historic Site
  • Mallows Bay

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1790 20,613
1800 19,172 −7.0%
1810 20,245 5.6%
1820 16,500 −18.5%
1830 17,769 7.7%
1840 16,023 −9.8%
1850 16,162 0.9%
1860 16,517 2.2%
1870 15,738 −4.7%
1880 18,548 17.9%
1890 15,191 −18.1%
1900 17,662 16.3%
1910 16,386 −7.2%
1920 17,705 8.0%
1930 16,166 −8.7%
1940 17,612 8.9%
1950 23,415 32.9%
1960 32,572 39.1%
1970 47,678 46.4%
1980 72,751 52.6%
1990 101,154 39.0%
2000 120,546 19.2%
2010 146,551 21.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]
1790-1960[21] 1900-1990[22]
1990-2000[23] 2010–2020[1]

2000 census[]

As of the census[24] 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.

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.

As of 2010, the county population's racial makeup was 48.38% Non-Hispanic whites, 40.96% blacks, 0.65% Native Americans, 2.98% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islanders, 0.17% Non-Hispanics of some other race, 3.20% Non-Hispanics reporting more than one race and 4.27% Hispanic.

2010 census[]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 146,551 people, 51,214 households, and 38,614 families residing in the county.[25] The population density was 320.2 inhabitants per square mile (123.6 /km2). There were 54,963 housing units at an average density of 120.1 per square mile (46.4 /km2).[26] The racial makeup of the county was 50.3% white, 41.0% black or African American, 3.0% Asian, 0.7% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.3% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.3% of the population.[25] In terms of ancestry, 12.6% were German, 10.8% were Irish, 8.7% were English, 6.3% were American, and 5.1% were Italian.[27]

Of the 51,214 households, 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.6% were non-families, and 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.24. The median age was 37.4 years.[25]

The median income for a household in the county was $88,825 and the median income for a family was $98,560. Males had a median income of $62,210 versus $52,477 for females. The per capita income for the county was $35,780. About 3.7% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.[28]

Economy[]

Top employers[]

According to Charles County's 2013 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[29] its top employers are:

# Employer # of Employees Percentage of Total County Employment
1 Charles County Board of Education 3,430 4.35%
2 Indian Head Naval Surface Warfare Center 3,404 4.49%
3 Charles County Government 1,638 2.16%
4 Civista Medical Center 850 1.12%
5 College of Southern Maryland 819 1.08%
6 Wal-Mart/Sam's Club 592 0.78%
7 The Facchina Group of Companies 550 0.73%
8 Safeway 475 0.63%
9 Target 400 0.53%
10 McDonald's 396 0.52%
11 Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative 386 0.51%
12 Genesis Health Care 312 0.41%
13 Bloomin' Brands (formerly OSI Restaurant Partners) 300 0.40%
14 Charles County Nursing Home 255 0.34%
15 Darden Restaurants 253 0.33%
16 Macy's 250 0.33%

Education[]

Public schools[]

Colleges and universities[]

  • College of Southern Maryland, in La Plata.

Transportation[]

Charles County is served by numerous state highways and one U.S. Highway:

Communities[]

Towns[]

Census-designated places[]

The Census Bureau recognizes the following census-designated places in the county:

  • Bensville
  • Bryans Road
  • Bryantown
  • Cobb Island
  • Hughesville
  • Pomfret
  • Potomac Heights
  • Rock Point
  • Saint Charles
  • Waldorf

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Bel Alton
  • Benedict
  • Dentsville
  • Faulkner
  • Glymont
  • Grayton[30]
  • Ironsides
  • Issue
  • Malcolm
  • Marbury
  • Morgantown
  • Mount Victoria
  • Nanjemoy
  • Newburg
  • Pisgah
  • Popes Creek
  • Port Tobacco
  • Pomonkey
  • Ripley
  • Rison
  • Swan Point
  • Welcome
  • White Plains

Notable people[]

  • Chuck Brown (1936–2012), the godfather of go-go, lived in Brandywine, MD
  • Gustavus Richard Brown, physician to George Washington
  • George Cary (1811–1850), born near Allens Fresh in Charles County, United States Congressman from Georgia[31]
  • Barnes Compton, US Congressman
  • James Craik, Physician General during the American Revolution, physician to George Washington
  • Danny Gatton (1945–1994), legendary guitarist, lived in Newburg
  • John Hanson, American Revolutionary War statesman
  • Josiah Henson (1789–1883), former slave and author
  • Matthew Henson, co-discoverer of the North Pole; born near Nanjemoy
  • Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, American Revolutionary War statesman
  • Larry Johnson, former NFL running back; from Pomfret
  • Jane Herbert Wilkinson Long (1798–1880), considered to be the "Mother of Texas"
  • Shawn Lemon, professional football player; grew up in Waldorf
  • Joel and Benji Madden from the band Good Charlotte; grew up in Waldorf
  • Christina Milian, musician, lived in Waldorf
  • Samuel Alexander Mudd (1833–1883), born in Charles County, the doctor implicated and imprisoned for aiding John Wilkes Booth in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln
  • James Neale (1615–1684), born London, England, immigrated 1634, founded Wollaston Manor plantation and Cobb Island
  • Captain Raphael Semmes of the Confederate ship Alabama, born near Nanjemoy
  • General William Smallwood, American Revolutionary War statesman
  • Randy Starks, former NFL defensive tackle; from Waldorf
  • Robert Stethem, noted terror hijacking victim, grew up in Pinefield, Waldorf
  • Benjamin Stoddert (1751–1813), first United States Secretary of the Navy
  • Thomas Stone, American Revolutionary War statesman
  • Angela Renée White "Blac Chyna", Television Personality; Attended Henry E. Lackey[32]

Sports[]

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

See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Charles County, Maryland

References[]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24/24017.html. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ Maryland. com Staff. "Southern Maryland" (in en-US). https://www.maryland.com/regions/southern-maryland/. 
  4. ^ "The Counties of Maryland" 630: 122–124. 
  5. ^ Maryland Geological Survey (1911). "Prince George's County": 21–22. 
  6. ^ Maryland Geological Survey (1906). "Maryland Geological Survey: General Reports": 474–477. 
  7. ^ "An account of deadly 1926 La Plata tornado". November 19, 2009. https://www.baltimoresun.com/bs-mtblog-2009-11-an_account_of_deadly_1926_la_p-story.html. 
  8. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
  9. ^ United States Attorney for the District of Maryland (March 1, 2006). "Violent Crime Program 2005 Annual Report". United States Department of Justice. https://www.justice.gov/usao/md/Exile/files/Annual%20Report%202005%20Violent%20Crime%20Program.pdf. 
  10. ^ Courson, Paul; Joanthan Wild (December 21, 2004). "Two more arrested in Maryland fires". Washington, Dc: CNN. p. 1. http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/12/21/maryland.fires/index.html. 
  11. ^ Witte, Brian (January 3, 2005). "Maryland Hunts for Motives Behind State's Largest Residential Arson". Insurance Journal. http://www.insurancejournal.com/magazines/east/2005/01/03/features/50855.htm. 
  12. ^ Hancock, David (December 18, 2004). "3 More Charged In Maryland Arson". CBS NEWS (LA PLATA, Md): p. 1. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/12/06/national/main659400.shtml. 
  13. ^ Levine, Mark V.; ‘Standing Political Decisions and Critical Realignment: The Pattern of Maryland Politics, 1872-1948’; The Journal of Politics, volume 38, no. 2 (May, 1976), pp. 292-325
  14. ^ "JOSH KURTZ: FORGET PRINCE GEORGE'S – CHECK OUT KING CHARLES FOR POLITICAL INTRIGUE". Center Maryland. 2 June 2014. http://www.centermaryland.org/index.php?option=com_easyblog&view=entry&id=944. 
  15. ^ "The 2016 Streak Breakers". Sabato Crystal Ball. http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/the-2016-streak-breakers/. 
  16. ^ "Summary of Voter Activity Report". Maryland State Board of Elections. August 2020. https://elections.maryland.gov/pdf/vrar/2020_08.pdf. 
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  18. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_24.txt. 
  19. ^ This oddity of political geography happens in other places in Maryland.
  20. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  21. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  22. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/md190090.txt. 
  23. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  24. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  25. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US24017. 
  26. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US24017. 
  27. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US24017. 
  28. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US24017. 
  29. ^ "Charles County, Maryland Comprehensive Annual Financial Report For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2013". Charles County Government. http://www.charlescountymd.gov/sites/default/files/fas/accounting/CAFR%202013.pdf. 
  30. ^ [1]
  31. ^ (1963) "Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896". 
  32. ^ "Blac Chyna - Before She Was Famous - Michael McCrudden" (in en-US). Michael McCrudden. 2016-05-11. http://michaelmccrudden.com/before-they-were-famous/blac-chyna-before-she-was-famous/. 

External links[]

Commons-logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
  • Official website
  • Hamilton Family papers, at the University of Maryland libraries. A prominent Charles County family with records from 1803 to 1923.
  • Paul Dennis Brown Family papers, at the University of Maryland libraries. A prominent Charles County family with records from 1879 to 1973. Documents civil engagement, agriculture, and history of life in Charles County.

Coordinates: 38°29′N 77°01′W / 38.48, -77.01


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Charles County, Maryland. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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