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St. Mary's County, Maryland

Coordinates: 38°15′8″N 76°33′49″W / 38.25222°N 76.56361°W / 38.25222; -76.56361
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Saint Mary's County
County
Official seal of Saint Mary's County
Seal
Map of Maryland highlighting Saint Mary's County
Location within the U.S. state of Maryland
Map of the United States highlighting Maryland
Maryland's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°15′08″N 76°33′49″W / 38.252222222222°N 76.563611111111°W / 38.252222222222; -76.563611111111
Country United States
State Maryland
Founded1637
SeatLeonardtown
Area
 • Total
764 sq mi (1,980 km2)
 • Land361 sq mi (930 km2)
 • Water403 sq mi (1,040 km2)  52.8%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total
105,151
 • Density291/sq mi (112.4/km2)
Websitewww.co.saint-marys.md.us

Saint Mary's County (often abbreviated as St. Mary's County) is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. Its county seat is Leonardtown. As of the 2010 census, the population was 105,151.[1] The name is in honor of Mary, the mother of Jesus.[2]

The county is part of the Southern Maryland region.

History

The settlement of Lord Baltimore's Maryland began with the arrival of passengers from England at St. Clement's Island in the Potomac River in what is now southwestern St. Mary's County on March 25, 1634 (the anniversary of this landing being annually celebrated as Maryland Day). The passengers arrived in two vessels, the Ark and the Dove, which had set sail from the Isle of Wight on November 22, 1633. The county is also home to the first Catholic Mass celebrated in one of the original thirteen colonies -after they'd become English colonies (masses were said in 1526-7 at San Miguel de Gualdape).[3]

St. Mary's County was the first county established in Maryland, in 1637, probably by an order of the Governor.

The county seat and state capital was St. Mary's City.

In 1649, Lord Baltimore, with the Maryland General Assembly, passed the Maryland Toleration Act, which provided religious freedom for any (Christian) sect, and which was the first law of its kind in the New World.[4] There is a statue in St. Mary's City commemorating this event.

St. Mary's County is where Francis Scott Key, the author of a poem which became The Star Spangled Banner, and professional wrestler Scott Hall grew up. St. Mary's County was the birthplace of Dashiell Hammett, and Orlando "Tubby" Smith, head basketball coach at the University of Minnesota. The largest employer is Patuxent River Naval Air Station and its related aerospace contract firms. There are both Amish and Mennonite communities who follow traditional ways. Tobacco, once dominant crop, has declined in recent years. The Maryland International Raceway (Budd's Creek) attracts many auto racing enthusiasts.

The county has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places.[5]

Notable residents

made a cameo in the lacrosse movie "Crooked Arrows" starring Brandon Routh (Superman)

Law and government

St. Mary's County Courthouse, July 2009

St. Mary's County is governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland.

Board of Commissioners

Position Name Affiliation District
Template:American politics/party colors/Democratic|  President Jack Russell Democratic At-Large
Template:American politics/party colors/Republican|  Commissioner Cynthia L. Jones Republican District 1
Template:American politics/party colors/Republican|  Commissioner Daniel L. Morris Republican District 2
Template:American politics/party colors/Republican|  Commissioner Larry Jarboe Republican District 3
Template:American politics/party colors/Republican|  Commissioner Todd B. Morgan Republican District 4

County executive

The county commissioners exercise such executive powers as exist in the government of the county.

Circuit Court judges

  • Hon. David Densford,
  • Hon. Karen H. Abrams, Administrative judge
  • Hon. Michael J. Stamm

Law enforcement

St. Mary's County has the oldest documented sheriff's office in Maryland and one of the oldest in the United States.[6] In 1637 James Baldridge was appointed sheriff. Since 1776, sheriffs in St. Mary's County have been determined by election. Tim Cameron is the current sheriff.[7]

Geography

The county has a total area of 764.5 square miles (1,980 km2), of which 361 square miles (930 km2) is land and 403 square miles (1,040 km2) (52.78%) is water.

Located on the St. Mary's Peninsula, St. Mary's County is largely bordered by water: the Patuxent River (northeast), the Chesapeake Bay (east), the Potomac River (southwest), and the Wicomico River (west).

Adjacent counties

Climate

St. Mary's county lies within the Humid subtropical climate zone, surrounded on three sides by bodies of water, including the Potomac river and Chesapeake Bay.[citation needed] Summers are hot and humid, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Winters are mild to cool, with ample rainfall as well.[citation needed]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179015,544—
180013,699−11.9%
181012,794−6.6%
182012,9741.4%
183013,4593.7%
184013,224−1.7%
185013,6983.6%
186015,21311.1%
187014,944−1.8%
188016,93413.3%
189015,819−6.6%
190017,1828.6%
191017,030−0.9%
192016,112−5.4%
193015,189−5.7%
194014,626−3.7%
195029,11199.0%
196038,91533.7%
197048,38824.3%
198059,89523.8%
199075,97426.8%
200086,21113.5%
2010105,15122.0%
2012 (est.)108,9873.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
2012 Estimate[9]

2010

Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:

2000

As of 2000, there were 86,211 people, 30,642 households, and 5,443[10] families residing in the county. The population density was 238 people per square mile (92/km²). There were 34,081 housing units at an average density of 36 persons/km² (94 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 81.57% White, 13.92% African American, 0.34% Native American, 1.80% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.61% from other races, and 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.00% of the population. 14.8%[10] were of American, 13.9%[10] German, 13.3%[10] English and 12.1%[10] Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 30,642 households out of which 25.90%[10] had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.10%[10] were married couples living together, 15.10%[10] have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 34.90%[10] were non-families. 29.40%[10] of all households were made up of individuals and 12.90%[10] had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.90% under the age of 18, 15.70%[10] from 18 to 24, 29.50%[10] from 25 to 44, 22.20%[10] from 45 to 64, and 9.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.10[10] males.

The median income for a household in the county was $54,706, and the median income for a family was $61,397. Males had a median income of $27,496[10] versus $23,035[10] for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,662. 7.20% of the population and 5.20% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 28.40%[10] are under the age of 18 and 19.10%[10] are 65 or older.

Cities and towns

Saint Mary's County includes one municipality, classified as a town under Maryland law: Leonardtown, the county seat (incorporated 1858).

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. California
  2. Charlotte Hall
  3. Golden Beach
  4. Lexington Park

Other unincorporated areas include:

  1. Abell
  2. Avenue
  3. Beachville-St. Inigoes
  4. Beauvue
  5. Bushwood
  6. Callaway
  7. Chaptico
  8. Clements
  9. Coltons Point
  10. Compton
  11. Dameron
  12. Drayden
  13. Great Mills
  14. Helen
  15. Hollywood
  16. Loveville
  17. Maddox
  18. Mechanicsville
  19. Morganza
  20. Park Hall Estates
  21. Piney Point
  22. Redgate
  23. Ridge
  24. St. Inigoes
  25. St. Mary's City
  26. Scotland
  27. Tall Timbers
  28. Valley Lee

Colleges and universities

Military bases

The county houses the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, which includes Naval Air Systems Command, which plays a significant role in the local economy. The Naval Air Station also has an annex at Webster Field in Saint Inigoes, MD.

Transportation

St. Mary's County is served by Captain Walter Duke Regional Airport.

Limited local buses are provided through St. Mary's Transit [1], and commuter bus service to Washington, D.C. is provided by MTA [2].

Notable sites

See also

References

  1. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  2. ^ St. Mary's County in Maryland State Archives
  3. ^ http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10534b.htm
  4. ^ Perry G. E. Miller, "Colonial Religious History," Church History, Vol. 4 No. 1 (March 1935), 45-48.
  5. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  6. ^ St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office - Homepage
  7. ^ "Saint Mary's County – Maryland, Government, Executive Branch". Maryland State Archives. November 20, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-11.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Census.gov. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s This is incorrect. It is the data for Somerset County.
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38°15′8″N 76°33′49″W / 38.25222°N 76.56361°W / 38.25222; -76.56361

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