Calvert County, Maryland
U.S. County|
county = Calvert County|
state = Maryland |
seal = Calvert county md seal.gif |
map = Map of Maryland highlighting Calvert County.svg |
map size = 225|
founded =
1654| seat =
Prince Frederick | area = 894
km² (345
mi²) |
area land = 557 km² (215 mi²) |
area water = 336 km² (130 mi²) |
area percentage = 37.65% |
census yr = 2000|
pop = 86,474|
density = 134|
web = 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
Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also a part of the
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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 exburb 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.
Calvert County is governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland.
The 2004 elected sheriff is Mike Evans.
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 include
Tom Clancy,
Judy Woodruff, and
Al Hunt. Across the river from Solomons Island include 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 Washington, 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)
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.
Calvert County includes two municipalities, both classified as
towns under Maryland law:#
Chesapeake Beach (incorporated
1886)#
North Beach (incorporated
1910)
#
Calvert Beach-Long Beach (a combination of the communities of
Calvert Beach and
Long Beach recognized as a unit by many people)#
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)#
Dunkirk#
Huntingtown#
Lusby#
Owings#
Prince Frederick#
St. Leonard#
SolomonsOther unincorporated places not listed as Census-Designated Places but known in the area include:
#
Barstow#
Broomes Island#
Dowell#
Lower Marlboro#
Port Republic#
Sunderland*
Calvert County government*
Calvert County Guide
