Charles County, Maryland


Charles County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 166,617. The county seat is La Plata. The county was named for Charles Calvert, third Baron Baltimore. The county is part of the Southern Maryland region of the state. With a median household income of $103,678, Charles County is the 39th-wealthiest county in the United States as of 2020, and the highest-income county in the United States with a Black-majority population.

History

Charles County was created in 1658 by an Order in Council. There was also an earlier Charles County from 1650 to 1654, sometimes referred to in historic documents as Old Charles County, which consisted largely of lands within today's borders but "included parts of St. Mary's, Calvert, present-day Charles, and Prince George's County". John Tayloe I purchased land around Nanjemoy Creek after 1710 from which to mine iron and ship to his furnaces at Bristol Iron Works, Neabsco Iron Works and later Occoquan Ironworks.
In April 1865, John Wilkes Booth made his escape through Charles County after shooting President Abraham Lincoln. He was on his way to Virginia. He stopped briefly in Waldorf and had his broken leg set by local Doctor Samuel Mudd, who was later sent to prison for helping him. Booth then proceeded to hide in the Zekiah Swamp in Charles County, avoiding search parties for over a week until he and his accomplice were able to successfully cross the Potomac River.
The 1911 Digges Amendment, which attempted to disenfranchise African Americans in Maryland, was drafted by Democratic state delegate Walter Digges and co-sponsored by state senator William J. Frere, both from Charles County, Maryland. In Maryland's unrestricted general election of 1911, the Digges Amendment was defeated with 46,220 votes for and 83,920 votes against the proposal. Nationally Maryland citizens achieved the most notable rejection of a black-disfranchising amendment.
In 1926, a tornado ripped through the county leaving 17 dead. On April 28, 2002, another tornado destroyed much of downtown La Plata killing 3 and injuring over 100 people.
The county has numerous properties on the National Register of Historic Places. Among them are Green Park and Pleasant Hill, home of the Green and Spalding Families.
On December 4, 2004, an arson took place in the development of Hunters Brooke, a few miles southeast of Indian Head. The Hunters Brooke Arson was the largest residential arson in Maryland history.

Politics and government

Owing to the considerable voting power of its large number of freedmen following the Civil War, and later its growth as a suburban area, Charles County was for a long time solidly Republican. The only Democrat to carry Charles County until 1960 was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, although Alf Landon and Wendell Willkie defeated Roosevelt in the next two elections by a combined margin of just 50 votes. Since the turn of the millennium, Charles County has become reliably Democratic, although not as overwhelmingly so as other parts of Maryland's Washington, D.C. suburbs. Charles County is one of only two counties in the nation to have voted for Al Gore in 2000 after voting for Bob Dole in 1996, along with Orange County, Florida.

Voter registration

Board of Commissioners

Charles County is governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland. There are five commissioners., they are:
Charles County is entirely within the 5th Congressional District, which also includes Calvert, St. Mary's, and parts of Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties. The current representative is former Democratic House Majority Leader and former House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of, of which is land and water.
In its western wing, along the southernmost bend in Maryland Route 224, Charles County contains a place due north, east, south, and west of the same state—Virginia.

Adjacent counties

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 166,617. The median age was 38.8 years. 24.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.8 males age 18 and over. 71.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 28.4% lived in rural areas.
The racial makeup of the county was 35.2% White, 49.2% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.3% from some other race, and 8.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.0% of the population.
There were 59,107 households in the county, of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 30.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 62,123 housing units, of which 4.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.5% were owner-occupied and 22.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.0%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 146,551 people, 51,214 households, and 38,614 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 54,963 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 50.3% white, 41.0% black or African American, 3.0% Asian, 0.7% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.3% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 12.6% were German, 10.8% were Irish, 8.7% were English, 6.3% were American, and 5.1% were Italian.
Of the 51,214 households, 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.6% were non-families, and 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.24. The median age was 37.4 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $88,825 and the median income for a family was $98,560. Males had a median income of $62,210 versus $52,477 for females. The per capita income for the county was $35,780. About 3.7% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2010, the county population's racial makeup was 48.38% Non-Hispanic whites, 40.96% blacks, 0.65% Native Americans, 2.98% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islanders, 0.17% Non-Hispanics of some other race, 3.20% Non-Hispanics reporting more than one race and 4.27% Hispanic.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 120,546 people, 41,668 households, and 32,292 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 43,903 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 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 were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 11.6% were of German, 10.8% Irish, 10.2% English, 9.3% American and 5.3% Italian ancestry.
There were 41,668 households, out of which 41.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 14.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.50% were non-families. 17.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the county, the population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $62,199, and the median income for a family was $67,602. Males had a median income of $43,371 versus $34,231 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,285. About 3.70% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.70% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Top employers

According to the 2022 publication "Meet Charles County" of the County Department of Economic Development, its top employers are:
#Employer# of Employees
1Naval Surface Warfare Center / Naval Support Facility Indian Head3,834
2Charles County Public Schools / Board of Education3,701
3Charles County Government1,814
4University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center775
5Walmart / Sam's Club637
6College of Southern Maryland602
7Waldorf Chevy/Cadillac, Ford, Toyota/Scion, Dodge583
8Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative 471
9Safeway465
10Target465
11The Wills Group344
12Lowe's332
13Chick-fil-A294
14ADJ Sheet Metal280
15Restore Health Rehabilitation, La Plata Center260
16Sagepoint Senior Living Services250