Prince George's County, Maryland

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Not to be confused with Prince George County, Virginia.
Prince George's County, Maryland
Seal of Prince George's County, Maryland
Map
Map of Maryland highlighting Prince George's County
Location in the state of Maryland
Map of the U.S. highlighting Maryland
Maryland's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded 1696
Seat Upper Marlboro
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
498 sq mi (1,290 km²)
485 sq mi (1,256 km²)
13 sq mi (34 km²), 2.61%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density
801,515
1,652/sq mi (638/km²)
Website: www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/

Prince George's County is located in the U.S. state of Maryland located immediately north, east, and south of Washington, D.C. As of 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, it has a population of 828,770[1] and is the wealthiest county in the nation with an African-American majority.[2][3]

The county was named for Prince George of Denmark (1653-1708), the brother of King Christian V of Denmark and Norway, and husband of Queen Anne of Great Britain. It is frequently referred to as 'P.G. County,' however this abbreviation is viewed as pejorative by some residents.[4]

The county is a part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Upper Marlboro.

On June 3, 2008 Prince George's County received Standard & Poor's AAA rating which, according to Prince George's officials, makes it one of 48 counties in the United States to receive such a rating.[5]

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Pre-colonial history

[edit] Colonial history

Prince George's County was created by the Council of Maryland in 1696 [6] from portions of Charles and Calvert Counties and a portion was detached in 1748 to form Frederick County. Since Frederick County was subsequently divided to form the present Allegany, Garrett, Montgomery, and Washington counties, all of these counties in addition were derived from what had up to 1748 been Prince George's County.

[edit] The Revolution through the Civil War

In 1791, portions of Prince George's County were ceded to form the new District of Columbia, along with portions of Montgomery County, Maryland, as well as the parts of northern Virginia - that were later returned to Virginia.

[edit] The Civil War through World War I

In April 1865, John Wilkes Booth made his escape through Prince George's County after shooting President Abraham Lincoln. He was on his way to Virginia.

[edit] World War I through present

On July 1, 1997, the Prince George's County section of the city of Takoma Park, Maryland, which straddled the boundary between Prince George's and Montgomery counties, was transferred to Montgomery County. This was done after city residents voted to be under the sole jurisdiction of Montgomery County, and subsequent approval by both counties and the Maryland General Assembly. This was the first change in Prince George's County's boundaries since 1791, and the first alteration of the boundaries of any county in Maryland since the early 1900s.[citation needed]

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 498 sq mi (1,291 km²). 485 sq mi (1,257 km²) of it is land and 13 sq mi (34 km²) of it (2.61%) is water.

The Patuxent River forms the county's eastern border with Howard, Anne Arundel, and Calvert Counties.

[edit] Adjacent jurisdictions

[edit] National protected areas

[edit] Government

Presidential elections results
Year Republican Democrat
2004 17.4% 55,532 81.8% 260,532
2000 18.4% 49,987 79.5% 216,119
1996 21.9% 52,697 73.5% 176,612
1992 24.5% 62,955 65.7% 168,691
1988 38.8% 86,545 60.0% 133,816
1984 41.0% 136,063 58.6% 95,121
1980 40.7% 78,977 50.9% 98,757
1976 42.0% 81,027 58.0% 111,743
1972 58.5% 116,166 40.3% 79,914
1968 41.2% 73,269 40.3% 71,524
1964 36.2% 46,413 63.8% 81,806
1960 42.0% 44,817 58.0% 62,013

Since 1792, the county seat has been Upper Marlboro. Prior to 1792, the county seat was located at Mount Calvert, a 76 acre (308,000 m²) estate along the Patuxent River on the edge of what is now in the unincorporated community of Croom.

Prince George's County has become a stronghold for Democrats running in the state.[citation needed]

Prince George's County was granted a charter form of government in 1970.

[edit] County executive

Name Party Term
William W. Gullett Democrat 1970-1974
Win Kelly Democrat 1974-1978
Lawrence Hogan Republican 1978-1982
Parris N. Glendening Democrat 1982-1994
Wayne K. Curry Democrat 1994-2002
Jack B. Johnson Democrat 2002-

[edit] Other officials

[edit] State and national representation

The county is represented in the United States House of Representatives by Steny Hoyer (5th District) who was elected House Majority Leader in 2007, Donna Edwards (4th District), and Chris Van Hollen (8th District).

At the state level, the county is represented in the Maryland Senate and the Maryland House of Delegates by Districts 21, 22, 23 (A and B), 24, 25, 26, 27A, and 47 (23 delegates and 8 senators total).

[edit] Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop.  %±
1900 29,898
—
1910 36,147 20.9%
1920 43,347 19.9%
1930 60,095 38.6%
1940 89,490 48.9%
1950 194,182 117%
1960 357,395 84.1%
1970 660,567 84.8%
1980 665,071 0.7%
1990 729,268 9.7%
2000 801,515 9.9%
Est. 2007 828,770 3.4%


As of the estimated census[7] of 2005, there were 846,123 people, 286,610 households, and 198,047 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,651/sq mi (638/km²). There were 308,929 housing units at an average density of 1,651.1/sq mi (241/km²).

The racial makeup of the county was:

  • 62.70% African American
  • 27.04% White
  • 7.12% Hispanic or Latino
  • 3.87% Asian
  • 3.38% Other races
  • 2.61% Two or More of any race
  • 0.35% Native American
  • 0.06% Pacific Islander

There were 286,610 households out of which 35.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.00% were married couples living together, 19.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 persons and the average family size was 3.25 persons.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.80% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 33.00% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 7.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 91.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $55,256, and the median income for a family was $62,467. Males had a median income of $38,904 versus $35,718 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,360. About 5.30% of families and 7.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.20% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over. Prince George's County is the most affluent county with an African-American majority in the United States.

[edit] Religion

The county is home to over 800 churches, as well as a number of mosques, synagogues, and Hindu temples. Property belonging to religious entities makes up 3,450 acres (14 km²) of land in the county. [8]

[edit] Crime and law enforcement

Prince George's County is serviced by multiple law enforcement agencies. The Prince George's County Police Department is the primary police service for county residents. In addition, the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office acts as the enforcement arm of the county court, and also shares some responsibility with the county police. County parks are serviced by the Maryland-National Capital Park Police. Besides the county-level services, many local municipalities maintain police departments that share jurisdiction with the county police services. Furthermore, the Maryland State Police enforces the law on state highways which pass through the county.

As of 2006, the county reportedly contains the highest crime rate for the Washington Metro area, comparable to Baltimore.[9][10]

[edit] Emergency medical and fire services

Prince George's County hospitals include "Bowie Health Center", "Doctors Community Hospital" in Lanham, "Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital & Nursing Center" in Cheverly, "Hospice of the Chesapeake" in Landover, "Laurel Regional Hospital", "Prince George's Hospital Medical Center" in Cheverly, "Southern Maryland Hospital Center" in Clinton, and "Washington Adventist Hospital" in Takoma Park.[11] "Fort Washington Medical Center" also provides a small medical facility for its community.[12]

The Prince George's County Volunteer Firemen's Association was formed in 1922 with several of the first companies organized in the county. The first members of the association were Hyattsville, Cottage City, Mount Rainier, and Brentwood.

In March 1966, the Prince George's County Government employed the firefighters who had been hired by individual volunteer stations and an organized career department was begun. The career firefighters and paramedics are represented by IAFF 1619.

Prince George's County became the first jurisdiction in Maryland to implement the 9-1-1 Emergency Reporting System in 1973. Advanced life support services began for citizens of the county in 1977. Firefighters were certified as Cardiac Rescue Technicians and deployed in what was called at the time Mobile Intensive Care Units to fire stations in Brentwood, Silver Hill, and Laurel.

As of 2007 the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department operates a combination system staffed by over 800 career firefighters and paramedics, and nearly 1,100 active volunteers.

In August 2008 the County police department came under heavy scrutiny for needlessly killing Labrador Retrievers during a drug raid.[citation needed]

[edit] Education

[edit] Colleges and universities

[edit] Public schools

The county's schools are managed by the Prince George's County Public Schools system.

[edit] Transportation

The County contains a large portion of the Capital Beltway. After a decades-long debate, construction began in late 2007 on an east-west toll freeway, the Intercounty Connector ("ICC"), which will extend Interstate 370 in Montgomery County in order to connect I-270 with Interstate 95 and U.S. 1 in Laurel. The ICC is expected to be complete in 2012.

Four terminus stations of the Washington Metro subway system are located in Prince George's County: Greenbelt, New Carrollton, Largo, and Branch Avenue. There has been much debate on the construction of the Purple Line, which would link highly-developed areas of both Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. Also worth noting is the potential expansion of the Green Line northward to Laurel and beyond.

The MARC Train (Maryland Area Rail Commuter) train service has two lines that traverse Prince George's County. The Camden Line runs between Baltimore Camden Station and Washington Union Station and has six stops in the county in Riverdale Park, College Park, Greenbelt, Muirkirk, Laurel and Laurel Racetrack. The Penn Line runs on the AMTRAK route between Baltimore Penn Station and Washington Union Station. It has three stops in the county: Bowie, Seabrook, and New Carrollton.

The College Park Airport (est. 1909) is the world's oldest continuously operated airport, and has adjacent historical museum and an early aviation-themed restaurant.

Residents may use Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington County, Virginia, Baltimore-Washington Airport in Baltimore, and Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia.

[edit] Major highways

  • Interstate 95 enters the county at Laurel. It joins with Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway) in College Park, Maryland where it continues and leaves at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge over the Potomac River.
  • Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway) enters the county near Adelphi, and joins Interstate 95 at the College Park Interchange here it continues and leaves at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge over the Potomac River.
  • U.S. 1 is a major north-south roadway running through the county, entering the county at Laurel and leaving at the state border with Washington, D.C. at Mount Rainier.
  • US 50 is a major limited-access highway that spans the county from east to west, entering at Cheverly and exiting at Bowie. This highway is also Interstate 595 but there are no signs. However, the reconstruction of this highway was funded as an Interstate highway: 90% Federal funds and 10% Maryland funds.
  • US 301 also called Crain Highway, is a major divided roadway, entering with MD 5 near Brandywine, and continuing north where it intesects with US 50 and turns into Route 3.
  • also called Pennsylvania Avenue, runs from the Maryland-DC border eastward into Anne Arundel County and south in Calvert County.
  • also called Branch Avenue, runs from Maryland-DC border southeast through Charles County into St. Mary's County.
  • also called Central Avenue, runs from Capitol Heights eastward through the center of the county, through Bowie, and into Anne Arundel County.
  • also called Landover Road, runs northward from the town of Upper Marlboro to Hyattsville.
  • also called Kenilworth Avenue, runs north from the Maryland-DC border in Cheverly. After the intersection with Cherrywood Lane in Greenbelt, the name changes to Edmonston Road, which continues north until it ends in Laurel.
  • also known as East-West Highway, stretches from the Prince George's County-Montgomery County border near Takoma Park to its end in Landover. In the town of Riverdale Park, it is called Riverdale Road.
  • also called Annapolis Road, runs laterally from Hyattsville to Route 3 in Bowie.
 This section contains information about a planned or expected future road.
It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change as the road's construction or completion approaches and more information becomes available.

[edit] Enterprises and recreation

Prince George's County is home to the United States Department of Agriculture's Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, the United States Census Bureau, Andrews Air Force Base, the National Archives and Records Administration's College Park facility, the University of Maryland's flagship College Park campus, Six Flags America and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, FedEx Field (home of the Washington Redskins), and the soon-to-be-completed National Harbor, which its developers, Peterson Companies and Gaylord Entertainment Company, bills the largest single mixed-use project and combined convention center–hotel complex on the East Coast.

[edit] Media

  • WPGC & WPGC-FM, Morningside, MD, take their P-G-C call letters from the name Prince George's County.

[edit] Recreation

Although Prince George's County isn't often credited for the Washington Redskins, the Redskins stadium lives in Landover. Besides the Redskins there are no other professional sports team, but Bowie is home to the Bowie Baysox, a semi-pro baseball team. PG County is also known for it's very successful youth in basketball. Many great prospects such as Ty Lawson,Kevin Durant,and Michael Beasley. AAU Basketball is the source of these great recruits. The county has many successful teams such as: the PG Jaguars, DC Assault, PG Elite Basketball and DC Blue Devils. Besides AAU, basketball has skyrocketed from local high schools such as DeMatha Catholic High School and Bishop McNamara High School. Both have found some great success locally and nationally.

[edit] Cities and towns

This county contains the following incorporated municipalities:

10 Cities 17 Towns
  1. Bowie (incorporated 1882)
  2. College Park (incorporated 1945)
  3. District Heights (incorporated 1936)
  4. Glenarden (incorporated 1939)
  5. Greenbelt (incorporated 1937)
  6. Hyattsville (incorporated 1886)
  7. Laurel (incorporated 1870)
  8. Mount Rainier (incorporated 1910)
  9. New Carrollton (incorporated 1953)
  10. Seat Pleasant (incorporated 1931)
  1. Berwyn Heights (incorporated 1896)
  2. Bladensburg (incorporated 1854)
  3. Brentwood (incorporated 1922)
  4. Capitol Heights (incorporated 1910)
  5. Cheverly (incorporated 1931)
  6. Colmar Manor (incorporated 1927)
  7. Cottage City (incorporated 1924)
  8. Eagle Harbor (incorporated 1929)
  9. Edmonston (incorporated 1924)
  10. Fairmount Heights (incorporated 1935)
  11. Forest Heights (incorporated 1945)
  12. Landover Hills (incorporated 1945)
  13. Morningside (incorporated 1949)
  14. North Brentwood (incorporated 1924)
  15. Riverdale Park (incorporated 1920)
  16. University Park (incorporated 1936)
  17. Upper Marlboro (incorporated 1870)

The city of Takoma Park was formerly partly in Prince George's County, but since 1997 has been entirely in Montgomery County. The part of Takoma Park that changed counties is in a single residential neighborhood, Carole Highlands; part of this neighborhood is still in Prince George's County.

[edit] Unincorporated places

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:

Other unincorporated places not listed as Census-Designated Places but known in the area include:

And two localities: Muirkirk (near Montpelier) and Chapel Oaks (near Fairmount Heights)

[edit] Sister cities

Prince George's County has three sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Prince George's County, Maryland." U.S. Census Bureau, 2007.
  2. ^ Howell, Tom Jr. (2006-04-18). "Census 2000 Special Report. Maryland Newsline, Census: Md. Economy Supports Black-Owned Businesses". University of Maryland. Philip Merrill College of Journalism.
  3. ^ Chappell, Kevin (November 2006). "America's Wealthiest Black County]". Ebony. Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
  4. ^ ""'P.G.': Insult or Abbreviation?"". Washington Post (May 7, 2006). Retrieved on 2008-05-01.
  5. ^ ""Prince George's scores AAA bond rating from Standard & Poor's"". Washington Business Journal (June 3, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-07-10.
  6. ^ "Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7:1698, Volume 23, Page 23". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved on 05/04/2007.
  7. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  8. ^ Harris, Sudarsan & Harris, Hamil R. (March 14, 2005), Tax Exempt and Growing, Churches Worry Pr. George's, The Washington Post, <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32382-2005Mar13.html>. Retrieved on 26 March 2008 ]
  9. ^ ""Baltimore, Prince George's Reign as State's Murder Capitals"". Southern Maryland Online (April 24, 2007).
  10. ^ "Maryland Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data: 1985 - 2006". Governor's Office of Crime Prevention & Control. Retrieved on 2008-06-12.
  11. ^ Hospitals in Prince George's County. Prince George's County official website. URL retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  12. ^ Fort Washington Medical Center. Official website. URL retrieved on February 11, 2007.
  13. ^ Melissa J. Brachfeld (2007-12-19). "Preliminary work on ICC gets under way". The Gazette. Retrieved on 2008-08-29.
  14. ^ (1963) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 38°50′N 76°51′W / 38.83, -76.85

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Prince George's County, Maryland
County seat: Upper Marlboro
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