Clinton, Maryland


Clinton is an unincorporated census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Clinton was formerly known as Surrattsville until after the time of the Civil War, and Robeystown from 1865 to 1878. The population of Clinton was 38,760 at the 2020 census. Clinton is historically known for its role in the American Civil War concerning the Abraham Lincoln assassination. Clinton is adjacent to Camp Springs, Rosaryville, Melwood, and Andrews Air Force Base.

History

Clinton was founded in the 1770s. The town, then named Surratt's Villa, was actually a simple crossroads with a few buildings. In the 1800s, it became known as Surrattsville. The main building served as the post office, an inn and tavern, and a polling place. This main residence was one of two properties owned by the widowed Mary Surratt; the second property was in Washington, D.C.
On 14 and 15 April 1865, John Wilkes Booth, who had two hours earlier assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, stopped by the Surrattsville tavern to pick up weapons and supplies. The U.S. government alleged that Mary Surratt had gone there earlier with these supplies, and was in collusion with the conspirators, one of whom was her son, John Surratt. Because she was found guilty of complicity in the Lincoln assassination, Mary Surratt was hanged at the Capitol Prison in Washington D.C., on 7 July 1865. The U.S. Post Office renamed the town Robeystown, due to the notoriety of the Surratt name, and in keeping with naming towns after the postmaster. In 1879, Robeystown was renamed Clinton. The local high school, however, retains the name of Surrattsville.
The Wyoming house, a historic frame house built in three phases between the 18th and early 19th centuries, is also a part of Clinton's history. The house consists of a main block with gambrel roof, kitchen, and connecting block. The Wyoming house is listed in the Maryland Inventory of Historical Properties and the Historic American Buildings Survey.
In 1913, Blossie Keubeth Miller founded a general store at the town's main intersection. The current commercial property, built in the 1950s, houses a liquor store and is still owned by the Miller family.
Yuri Nosenko, a KGB defector, was confined and interrogated at a safehouse in Clinton from April 4, 1964, to August 13, 1965.
Clinton is also associated with the 2002 Beltway sniper attacks. A survivor of the attacks was shot in Clinton, while Mildred Muhammad, ex-wife of sniper John Allen Muhammad, was a Clinton resident.

Geography

Clinton is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of, of which is land and, or 0.31%, is water.

Demographics

2000 Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,064 people, 8,605 households, and 6,772 families residing in the CDP. The population density was. There were 8,962 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the CDP was 20.56% white, 73.69% black, 0.47% Native American, 2.47% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 2.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.90% of the population.
There were 8,605 households, out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $71,139, and the median income for a family was $75,036. Males had a median income of $41,736 versus $39,545 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,949. About 2.4% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

District 5 Station in Clinton CDP serves the community.
The U.S. Postal Service operates the Clinton Post Office.

Education

In the 2016 budget, Clinton schools spent approximately $14,000 per student.
By average, there are 18 pupils per teacher, 789 students per librarian, and 431 children per counselor in Clinton, MD schools.

Primary and secondary schools

operates public schools serving Clinton. The community is served by the following schools:
Elementary:
Middle:
High:
Other:
  • Tanglewood Regional

Private schools

  • Clinton Christian School
  • Grace Brethren Christian Church and School
  • Henson Valley Academy
  • Independent Baptist Academy
  • Jabez Christian Academy
  • Outreach Christian Center Academy
  • St. John the Evangelist School
  • St. Mary's of Piscataway Catholic School and Church

Public libraries

The Prince George's County Memorial Library System operates the Surratts-Clinton Branch in Clinton.

Notable people