Calvert County, Maryland

Calvert County
County
Official seal of Calvert County Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Maryland
Maryland's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°32′N 76°32′W
Country	United States
State	Maryland
Founded	1654
Seat	Prince Frederick
Population  (2004)
• Total	86,474
Website	www.co.cal.md.us

Calvert County is a small, affluent county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bedroom community of Washington, DC. It is a peninsula bordered on the east by the Chesapeake Bay and on the west by the Patuxent River.

As of 2004, the population is 86,474. Its county seat is Prince Frederick. The name is derived from the family name of the Barons Baltimore, the proprietors of the colony of Maryland.

The county is one of the several Maryland counties that make up the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also a part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.

History

Patuxent County was established in 1654 by an Order in Council. In 1658 the county was renamed Calvert County. Once made up primarily of farms and tobacco fields, the county is slowly claiming its place as a fast-growing exurb of Washington. Home prices have nearly quadrupled in the past decade, with many four-bedroom homes in the northern half of the county averaging over $800,000. The popular weekend resort towns Solomons, Maryland and Chesapeake Beach are notable.

Law and government

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

The current elected sheriff is Mike Evans (R), first elected in 2002 and reelected in 2006.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 894 km² (345 mi²). 557 km² (215 mi²) of it is land and 336 km² (130 mi²) of it (37.65%) is water.

Famous Residents

Famous residents include Tom Clancy, Judy Woodruff, Al Hunt, and Channel 7 weatherman, Doug Hill. Residing across the river from Solomons Island in St. Mary's county are other notables, including Ted Koppel and former Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee and his wife, writer Sally Quinn.

The county is quickly living up to its reputation, along with St. Mary's County, as the Hamptons of the Washington area, with beautiful water views and open land within an hour drive of Washington's Beltway.

Adjacent Counties

• Anne Arundel County (north)
• Charles County (west)
• Dorchester County (east)
• Prince George's County (northwest)
• St. Mary's County (south)
• Talbot County (east)

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 74,563 people, 25,447 households, and 20,154 families residing in the county. The population density was 134/km² (346/mi²). There were 27,576 housing units at an average density of 49/km² (128/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.93% White, 13.11% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. 1.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 25,447 households out of which 41.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.80% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.80% were non-families. 16.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the county the population was spread out with 29.60% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 8.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $65,945, and the median income for a family was $71,545. Males had a median income of $48,664 versus $32,265 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,410. About 3.10% of families and 4.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.10% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Calvert County includes two municipalities, both classified as towns under Maryland law:

1. Chesapeake Beach (incorporated 1886)
2. North Beach (incorporated 1910)

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. Calvert Beach-Long Beach (a combination of the communities of Calvert Beach and Long Beach recognized as a unit by many people)
2. Chesapeake Ranch Estates-Drum Point (a combination of the communities of Chesapeake Ranch Estates and Drum Point recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
3. Dunkirk
4. Huntingtown
5. Lusby
6. Owings
7. Prince Frederick
8. St. Leonard
9. Solomons

Other unincorporated places not listed as Census-Designated Places but known in the area include:

1. Barstow
2. Broomes Island
3. Dowell
4. Lower Marlboro
5. Port Republic
6. Sunderland

External links

• Calvert County government
• Calvert County Guide
• Broomes Island, Maryland
• Port Republic School No. 7 - Port Republic, Maryland
• Christ Church - Port Republic, Maryland
• Calvert County