Waldorf, Maryland

Waldorf is an unincorporated community in Charles County, Maryland. The population was 22,311 at the 2000 census (but more realistically 70,000 - 75,000 - see note below). Waldorf began before 1900 as a rural crossroads with a train station and was called "Beantown" after a local family. Waldorf is now largely subsumed by the large planned community of St. Charles.

Waldorf has ZIP codes 20601, 20602, 20603, and 20604. A few farms on the Prince Georges County side also have Waldorf addresses.

Waldorf is either named after the town of Walldorf, Germany, or has a similar derivation: that is, either a German word meaning "forest village," or named after the Waldenses, a 12th Century religious sect. Once a tobacco market village, it came to prominence in the 1950s as a gambling destination after slot machines were legalized in Charles County in 1949. The boom lasted until 1968 when gambling was once again outlawed. Its subsequent substantial growth as a residential community began with a 1970 loan package from the Department of Housing and Urban Development which fueled the giant planned community of St. Charles, south of Waldorf's town center. Many sections of St. Charles are still being developed, including a 60 and above retirement home and many themed restaurants along the highly populated U.S. Route 301. Hampshire, Lancaster, Dorchester, and Westlake Village are around the oldest and most populated neighborhoods in this area.

Waldorf is predominantly a bedroom community for many residents who commute to work at other points in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, especially personnel at Andrews Air Force Base. Waldorf's work force is primarily the service and sales industry only. St. Charles Towne Centre, a major shopping mall, opened in the spring of 1990 and will be remodeled in 2007. St. Charles Towne Centre draws shoppers and diners from Maryland, parts of Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia, causing Waldorf to be called the "shopping capital of Southern Maryland." Route 301 also boasts the "Waldorf Motor Mile," with car dealerships located primarily along the northbound side. In 2005, Waldorf opened its third public high school ("North Point"), which has advanced science/technology programs; the Capital Clubhouse 24-hour indoor sports complex and ice rink also opened that year. (See list of other schools below). In 2006, plans were announced to build two more shopping centers, including one with high-end stores and an attractive "lifestyle" town center design layout. Ground was also broken to build an office park with mid-rise office buildings near Western Parkway and Route 228 (Berry Road). Waldorf's volunteer fire department is the largest in Maryland.

Geography

Location of Waldorf, Maryland

Waldorf is located at 38°38′46″N 76°53′54″W (38.646173, -76.898217)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 33.1 km² (12.8 mi²), all land.

Most of Waldorf is flat, mostly in the eastern part of the city. There are small hills to the west, and much of the southern and eastern parts of the city are wetlands, featuring very diverse wildlife in ponds and streams. Waldorf is also very forested, mostly with oak and pine trees.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 22,312 people, 7,603 households, and 5,991 families residing in the CDP. In the CDP, the population density was 674.1/km² (1,746.0/mi²). There were 7,827 housing units at an average density of 236.5/km² (612.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 61.11% White, 31.98% African American, 0.54% Native American, 2.59% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 2.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.91% of the population.

There were 7,603 households out of which 45.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 36.4% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $68,869, and the median income for a family was $71,439. Males had a median income of $45,293 versus $35,386 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,728. About 2.7% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

Due to urban sprawl, it was found in 2005 that if Waldorf were incorporated (with the areas of St.Charles and White Plains incorporated within city limits),its population would be around 70-75,000 people,making it the third largest city in Maryland.

Farming

Even though Waldorf is a rapidly developing urban city, it is surrounded by farms. There are 3 major farms in Waldorf, which are:

• Shlagel Farms,which is a major strawberry farm, also offers vegetables and flowers. They also provide Angus beef.
• Cedar Hill farms
• Middleton Manor Farms

Transportation

This is a list of the major routes in Waldorf,MD

a.U.S Route 301,running north to south from Brandywine, MD to the north and White Plains, MD to the south. It is lined continuously for several miles with shopping centers, restaurants, car dealers, and other businesses. Although connecting to Virginia only by the outdated, narrow 2-lane Harry Nice Bridge, it is nevertheless used by some long-distance East Coast through motorists as an alternative to Interstate 95/495 which often has major traffic backups (see Woodrow Wilson Bridge).

b.Maryland State Route 5 (Leonardtown Road), which joins 301 in Brandywine to the north and splits at the city line to bypass Waldorf on Mattawoman-Beantown Road. It runs from Washington, D.C. and Brandywine in the north to Hughesville, MD and the southern tip of Maryland. A minor league professional baseball stadium is planned near this road in a few years.

c.Maryland State Route 228 (Berry Road),which goes through Western Waldorf and ends at the intersection of U.S 301 and Maryland Business Route 5. It runs from Accokeek, MD in the west to central Waldorf at the eastern terminus.

d.Maryland State Route 925, which is Old Washington Road. It runs north to south through Waldorf, closely parallel to Route 301. This road is gradually being extended, bit by bit, south to the County seat, LaPlata, MD, eventually making an alternative to Route 301 between the two towns.

e.St. Charles Parkway, which lies in the eastern side of the city, is another scenic, landscaped major thoroughfare within the city, ending at White Plains State Park.

Public Transportation is Van-Go, a bus system developed for most areas through Waldorf and some rural areas in Charles and St.Mary's Counties. Busses operated by the Keller Bus Company and Maryland Department of Transportation also take commuters to downtown Washington, D.C., and ridership is rapidly growing. A large commuter parking lot is on Mattawoman-Beantown Road, with another one near Sears at Smallwood Parkway and Route 301.

Traffic

Traffic in Waldorf is extremely congested at the moment, and the state is still evaluating options for a U.S. Route 301 bypass around western Waldorf. Due to Waldorf's bedroom community nature and lack of any significant local industry, its highways can become very congested in the morning commutes north to Washington D.C., and also on Friday through Sunday in every direction due to shoppers, many of them visiting from other counties.

Education

There are 10 public elementary schools in Waldorf. They are:

1. C.Paul Barnhardt Elementary School

2. Berry Elementary School

3. Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School

4. William A. Diggs Elementary School

5. Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary School

6. Arthur Middleton Elementary School

7. Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School

8. J.P. Ryon Elementary School

9. Eva Turner Elementary School

10. William B. Wade Elementary School

There are 4 junior high schools in Waldorf, and two in nearby areas that service Waldorf. They are:

1.Theodore G. Davis Middle School

2.John Hanson Middle School

3.Matthew Henson Middle School (In Indian Head, but has students from Waldorf.)

4.Mattawoman Middle School

5.Benjamin Stoddert Middle School

6.Milton M. Somers Middle School (in La Plata,but has students from Waldorf.)

There are 3 high schools in Waldorf, and one in nearby Pomfret, MD that services Waldorf. They are:

1.North Point High School - has special magnet science and technology program

2.Thomas Stone High School

3.Westlake High School

4.Maurice J. McDonough High School (In Pomfret)

There are also a number of Private schools in Waldorf, which are:

1.The Beddow School (Grades K-4)

2.First Baptist Church of St.Charles (Pre-K through K)

3.Good Shepherd Education center (Pre-K through K)

4.Grace Brethren Christian School (K through 12)

5.St.Peters Elementary School (K through 8)

6.The Goddard School (Pre-K through K)

7.Kindercare Learning Centers (Pre-K through K)

8.Waldorf Christian Academy (Pre-K through 7)

People

Waldorf was the home of the following people:

1. Chuck Brown
2. Benji Madden (Good Charlotte)
3. Joel Madden (Good Charlotte)
4. Christina Milian
5. Samuel Mudd
6. Randy Starks (Tennessee Titans defensive tackle)
7. Robert Stethem
8. Edmund Spangler
9. AJ Wallace (Penn State Nittany Lions kick returner/receiver)
10. CouzinEd Philly DJ

Waldorf is home to the rock bands THE SECOND SUNRISE :), Derby Lane, Downtown Singapore, Cutlery, Count Your Blessings, Death Among Heroes, Catching Thieves, Good Charlotte, and the Godfather of go-go, Chuck Brown.

Sports

Team	Sport	League	Championships	Venue
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs	Baseball	Atlantic League of Professional Baseball; South Division	0	Regency Furniture Stadium

External links

• Map of Waldorf
• Construction of Waldorf Technology Park and Road Extension on Hamilton Rd.
• Dr. Michael R. Deery House and Museum