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Dorchester County, Maryland
Dorchester County Courthouse
Dorchester County Courthouse
Flag of Dorchester County, Maryland
Flag
Seal of Dorchester County, Maryland
Seal
Map of Maryland highlighting Dorchester County
Location in the state of Maryland
Map of the U.S
Maryland's location in the U.S.
Founded 1669
Named for Earl of Dorset
Seat Cambridge
Largest city Cambridge
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

983 sq mi (2,546 km²)
541 sq mi (1,401 km²)
442 sq mi (1,145 km²), 45%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

32,531
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.dorchestercountymd.com

Dorchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. At the 2020 census, the population was 32,531.[1] Its county seat is Cambridge.[2][3] The county was formed in 1669 and named for the Earl of Dorset, a family friend of the Calverts (the founding family of the Maryland colony).[4]

Dorchester County comprises the Cambridge, MD Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Salisbury-Cambridge, MD-DE Combined Statistical Area. It is located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

Dorchester County is the largest county by total area on the Eastern Shore. It is bordered by the Choptank River to the north, Talbot County to the northwest, Caroline County to the northeast, Wicomico County to the southeast, Sussex County, Delaware, to the east, and the Chesapeake Bay to the west. Dorchester County uses the slogan, "The Heart of Chesapeake Country", due to its geographical location and the heart-like shape of the county on a map.

History[]

Many residents of Dorchester County have historically been watermen and farmers. The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries provide harvests of crabs, oysters and many fish species to both commercial and recreational fishermen. Dorchester County was the birthplace of Harriet Tubman, who escaped from slavery and afterward worked to guide other refugee slaves to freedom in the North.[5]

Dorchester County has been hit by two deadly tornadoes. The first occurred on June 23, 1944, in Cambridge, where two people were killed and 33 were injured. The other was on May 8, 1984, in Hurlock, where one death and six injuries were reported.[6] Both storms caused between 500,000 and 5 million dollars of damage.[7][8]

Politics, government and law[]

Dorchester County operates under the Charter Home Rule form of government, and the affairs of the County are managed by five County Council Members. Each is elected from a single-member district defined within the county. Meetings of the County Council are held weekly. The agenda and the minutes of each week's proceedings are public record.[9]

The white population of Dorchester has historically voted very conservatively. Along with rock-ribbed Unionist Garrett County, located in Appalachia, its white majority was one of only two Maryland counties to vote for Barry Goldwater in 1964. During the following election, Dorchester was the only county in the state where the segregationist George Wallace outpolled either Nixon or Humphrey. In the late 20th century, white conservatives in the South shifted from the Democratic to the Republican Party. Since then the only Democratic presidential nominee to carry Dorchester County was southern native son Bill Clinton in 1996.

The county has trended less conservative in recent years, with Democrat Barack Obama coming within five percentage points of beating Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election; Obama won nationally. In earlier times, unlike highly secessionist Wicomico, Worcester, Queen Anne's and Cecil counties,[10] Dorchester was a swing county in the late 19th century due to the voting power of its freedman population, who strongly supported the Republican Party. The conservative whites voted Democratic for William Jennings Bryan in 1908, after Maryland had passed laws raising barriers to voter registration among blacks, resulting in a dramatic drop in their voting until after passage of civil rights legislation in the 1960s.[11]

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment of Dorchester County[12]
Party Total Percentage
style="background-color:#3333FF;" width=10px | Democratic 9,740 44.46%
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | Republican 8,609 32.30%
style="background-color:#FFCC00;" width=10px | Independents, unaffiliated, and other 3,558 16.24%
Total 21,907 100.00%
United States presidential election results for Dorchester County, Maryland[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 8,764 54.85% 6,857 42.92% 356 2.23%
2016 8,413 55.26% 6,245 41.02% 567 3.72%
2012 7,976 51.64% 7,257 46.99% 211 1.37%
2008 8,168 53.48% 6,912 45.25% 194 1.27%
2004 7,801 58.48% 5,411 40.57% 127 0.95%
2000 5,847 51.33% 5,232 45.93% 313 2.75%
1996 4,337 43.14% 4,613 45.88% 1,104 10.98%
1992 4,934 45.03% 3,933 35.89% 2,090 19.07%
1988 6,343 62.55% 3,709 36.58% 88 0.87%
1984 6,699 67.12% 3,160 31.66% 122 1.22%
1980 5,160 48.91% 4,908 46.52% 482 4.57%
1976 4,768 51.29% 4,528 48.71% 0 0.00%
1972 6,859 74.97% 2,136 23.35% 154 1.68%
1968 4,183 41.36% 2,714 26.83% 3,217 31.81%
1964 5,327 53.86% 4,564 46.14% 0 0.00%
1960 4,626 48.24% 4,964 51.76% 0 0.00%
1956 5,809 60.88% 3,733 39.12% 0 0.00%
1952 5,524 52.61% 4,823 45.94% 152 1.45%
1948 3,751 44.92% 4,507 53.97% 93 1.11%
1944 4,241 47.10% 4,764 52.90% 0 0.00%
1940 3,953 39.03% 6,088 60.11% 87 0.86%
1936 3,735 41.32% 5,293 58.56% 11 0.12%
1932 3,466 43.05% 4,547 56.47% 39 0.48%
1928 6,333 74.20% 2,180 25.54% 22 0.26%
1924 3,356 50.76% 3,047 46.08% 209 3.16%
1920 4,218 51.38% 3,950 48.11% 42 0.51%
1916 2,468 46.39% 2,750 51.69% 102 1.92%
1912 2,387 44.79% 2,509 47.08% 433 8.13%
1908 2,627 47.89% 2,769 50.48% 89 1.62%
1904 2,680 55.04% 2,087 42.86% 102 2.09%
1900 3,366 53.93% 2,733 43.78% 143 2.29%
1896 3,048 52.24% 2,638 45.21% 149 2.55%
1892 2,365 51.45% 2,015 43.83% 217 4.72%



Law enforcement[]

The county is policed by the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office (DSO), the Maryland State Police, and the DNR Police. The DSO is a full service agency, headed by Sheriff James W. Phillips Jr. since December 2002.[14][15]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 983 square miles (2,550 km2), of which 541 square miles (1,400 km2) is land and 442 square miles (1,140 km2) (45%) is water.[16] It is the largest county in Maryland by area.

Climate[]

Dorchester has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) according to the Köppen climate classification. The Trewartha climate classification.has only the area near the bay as Cf and the remainder of the county as oceanic (Do.) Average monthly temperatures in Cambridge range from 36.1 °F in January to 78.4 °F in July. [1]

Adjacent counties[]

National protected area[]

  • Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1790 15,875
1800 16,346 3.0%
1810 18,108 10.8%
1820 17,759 −1.9%
1830 18,686 5.2%
1840 18,843 0.8%
1850 18,877 0.2%
1860 20,461 8.4%
1870 19,458 −4.9%
1880 23,110 18.8%
1890 24,843 7.5%
1900 27,962 12.6%
1910 28,669 2.5%
1920 27,895 −2.7%
1930 26,813 −3.9%
1940 28,006 4.4%
1950 27,815 −0.7%
1960 29,666 6.7%
1970 29,405 −0.9%
1980 30,623 4.1%
1990 30,236 −1.3%
2000 30,674 1.4%
2010 32,618 6.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]
1790-1960[18] 1900-1990[19]
1990-2000[20] 2010–2020[1]

Dorchester County is sparsely populated and is the least densely populated county in Maryland. The largest town is Cambridge with a population of 12,326 as of the 2010 census. Much of this county is made up of marshlands, forest, and farmland.

2000 census[]

At the 2000 census,[21] there were 30,674 people, 12,706 households and 8,500 families residing in the county. The population density was 55 per square mile (21/km2). There were 14,681 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 69.45% White, 28.39% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 1.26% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.1% were of American, 12.7% English, 9.8% German and 8.2% Irish ancestry.

There were 12,706 households, of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.50% were married couples living together, 15.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.10% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.86.

23.30% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 89.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.40 males.

The median household income was $34,077 and the median family income was $41,917. Males had a median income of $29,014 and females $22,284. The per capita income was $18,929. 13.80% of the population and 10.10% of families were below the poverty line. 18.10% of those under the age of 18 and 14.20% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.[22]

2010 census[]

At the 2010 United States Census, there were 32,618 people, 13,522 households and 8,894 families residing in the county.[23] The population density was 60.3 inhabitants per square mile (23.3 /km2). There were 16,554 housing units at an average density of 30.6 per square mile (11.8 /km2).[24] The racial makeup of the county was 67.6% white, 27.7% black or African American, 0.9% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.4% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population.[23] In terms of ancestry, 17.0% were American, 13.9% were English, 11.4% were German, and 11.1% were Irish.[25]

Of the 13,522 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.2% were non-families, and 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 43.3 years.[23]

The median household income was $45,151 and the median family income was $56,662. Males had a median income of $40,814 and females $30,184. The per capita income was $25,139. About 9.5% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.[26] In 2010, the racial makeup of the county was 66.16% Non-Hispanic whites, 27.70% blacks, 0.34% Native Americans, 0.92% Asians, 0.03% Pacific Islanders, 0.09% Non-Hispanics from some other race, 1.64% Non-Hispanics reporting two or more races and 3.64% Hispanic or Latino.

Education[]

Public schools[]

  • Dorchester County School of Technology
  • Choptank Elementary School
  • Hurlock Elementary School
  • Maple Elementary School
  • Sandy Hill Elementary School
  • South Dorchester K-8
  • Vienna Elementary School
  • Warwick Elementary School
  • Mace's Lane Middle School
  • North Dorchester Middle School
  • Cambridge South Dorchester High School
  • North Dorchester High School

Media[]

The local newspapers are The Dorchester Banner and The Dorchester Star (a free, weekly publication). A regional newspaper, The Star Democrat, serves several counties including Dorchester. Stories found in the Dorchester Star are typically drawn from The Star Democrat.

Dorchester County is included in the coverage area of local television stations WBOC, WMDT and WRDE-LD. It also receives coverage from television stations based in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. It is also by a local LPFM radio station, WHCP-LP (101.5FM), operated by the locally based non-profit Cambridge Community Radio, Inc.

Communities[]

City[]

  • Cambridge (county seat)

Towns[]

  • Brookview
  • Church Creek
  • East New Market
  • Eldorado
  • Galestown
  • Hurlock
  • Secretary
  • Vienna

Census-designated places[]

  • Algonquin
  • Elliott
  • Fishing Creek
  • Madison
  • Taylors Island

Non-census designated places[]

  • Salem

Notable people[]

  • Harriet Tubman - abolitionist hero
  • John Barth - author

See also[]

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

References[]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24/24019.html. 
  2. ^ Dorchester County, Maryland - Government. Msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off.. p. 108. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ. 
  5. ^ Footner, Hulbert, Maryland Man and the Eastern Shore
  6. ^ "The United State's Worst Tornadoes". http://www.tornadoproject.com/alltorns/worstts.htm. 
  7. ^ Library, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  8. ^ May 8, 1984, Tornado History Project
  9. ^ "Overview". https://www.dorchestercountymd.com/overview/. 
  10. ^ 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
  11. ^ Menendez, Albert J., The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, pp. 220-221 ISBN 0786422173
  12. ^ "Summary of Voter Activity Report". Maryland State Board of Elections. August 2020. https://elections.maryland.gov/pdf/vrar/2020_08.pdf. 
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  14. ^ "Sheriff James W. Phillips, Jr.". https://docosheriff.com/sheriff/. 
  15. ^ "James W. Phillips, Jr., Sheriff, Dorchester County, Maryland". Maryland State Archives. September 29, 2015. https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/do/jud/sheriffs/html/msa14125.html. 
  16. ^ "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. 
  17. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  18. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  19. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/md190090.txt. 
  20. ^ "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. 
  21. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  22. ^ Dorchester County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau Archived July 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ 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/DPDP1/0500000US24019. 
  24. ^ "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.CY07/0500000US24019. 
  25. ^ "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/DP02/0500000US24019. 
  26. ^ "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/DP03/0500000US24019. 

External links[]

Template:Salisbury metropolitan area Template:Law enforcement agencies in Maryland

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Dorchester 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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