Charles County, Maryland

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Charles County is a county in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Maryland.

As of 2000, the population is 120,546. Its county seat is La Plata. The county was named for Charles Calvert (1637-1715), third Baron Baltimore.

This county is a part of the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Area.


Charles County, Maryland
Seal of Charles County, Maryland
Seal (Detail)
Map of Maryland highlighting Charles County
Location in the state of Maryland
Formed 1658
Seat La Plata
Area
 - Total
 - Water

1,666 km² (643 mi²)
472 km² (182 mi²) 28.33% 
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density

120,546
101/km² 
Official Website
www.charlescounty.org

Contents

History

Charles County was created in 1658 by an Order in Council. It should be noted that from 1650 to 1653 there was an earlier Charles County, sometimes referred to in historic documents as Old Charles County.

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

Twenty-six upscale homes under construction in the Indian Head community in the northern part of the County were burned on December 6, 2004; 10 of the 26 were totally destroyed. The fires were found to be arson. One early theory was that the fires were set as a hate crime motivated by the fact that many of those who had purchased homes in the subdivision under construction (called Hunters Brooke) were African American. Another theory is that the fires were set by a radical environmental group such as the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), since the homes were being built near a wetland. However, it is now believed that the suspects -- five young white men -- simply had grievances with the developer of Hunters Brooke. All of the damaged and destroyed homes will be rebuilt.

Law/Government

Charles County is governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,666 km² (643 mi²). 1,194 km² (461 mi²) of it is land and 472 km² (182 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 28.33% water.

Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, there are 120,546 people, 41,668 households, and 32,292 families residing in the county. The population density is 101/km² (262/mi²). There are 43,903 housing units at an average density of 37/km² (95/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 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 are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 41,668 households out of which 41.10% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% are married couples living together, 14.50% have a female householder with no husband present, and 22.50% are non-families. 17.20% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.20% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.86 and the average family size is 3.21.

In the county the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $62,199, and the median income for a family is $67,602. Males have a median income of $43,371 versus $34,231 for females. The per capita income for the county is $24,285. 5.50% of the population and 3.70% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.70% of those under the age of 18 and 8.60% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

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.

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

External link

Charles County government


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