Charles County is a county in Southern Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population was 166,617. The county seat is La Plata. The county was named for Charles Calvert (1637–1715), third Baron Baltimore.
Charles County is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Southern Maryland region.
History
Charles County was created in 1658 by an Order in Council. There was also an earlier Charles County from 1650 to 1653, sometimes referred to in historic documents as Old Charles County.
In April 1865, John Wilkes Booth made his escape through Charles County after shooting President Abraham Lincoln. He was on his way to Virginia.
In 1926, a tornado ripped through the county leaving 17 dead (including 13 schoolchildren). On April 28, 2002, another tornado (rated an F-4) destroyed much of downtown La Plata killing 3 and injuring over 100 people.
The county has several 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 1956 was Franklin 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.
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 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 (29%) 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
Prince George's County (north)
Fairfax County, Virginia (northwest)
Calvert County (east)
Stafford County, Virginia (west)
Prince William County, Virginia (west)
St. Mary's County (southeast)
Westmoreland County, Virginia (southeast)
King George County, Virginia (south)
National protected area
Thomas Stone National Historic Site
Mallows Bay
Demographics
2020 census
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
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.
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 262 people per square mile (101/km2). There were 43,903 housing units at an average density of 95 per square mile (37/km2). 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 (these figures had risen to $80,573 and $89,358 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). 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.
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.
Economy
Top employers
According to Charles County's 2013 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, its top employers are:
Education
Public schools
Colleges and universities
College of Southern Maryland, in La Plata.
Transportation
Charles County is served by numerous state highways and one U.S. Highway:
Major highways
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Communities
Towns
Indian Head
La Plata (county seat)
Port Tobacco Village
Census-designated places
The Census Bureau recognizes the following census-designated places in the county:
Bensville
Bryans Road
Bryantown
Cobb Island
Hughesville
Pomfret
Potomac Heights
Rock Point
Saint Charles
Waldorf
Unincorporated communities
Bel Alton
Benedict
Dentsville
Faulkner
Glymont
Grayton
Ironsides
Issue
Malcolm
Marbury
Morgantown
Mount Victoria
Nanjemoy
Newburg
Pisgah
Popes Creek
Port Tobacco
Pomonkey
Ripley
Rison
Swan Point
Welcome
White Plains
Notable people
Chuck Brown (1936–2012), the godfather of go-go, lived in Brandywine, MD
Christina Milian, movie and television actress and US Top 40 singer and songwriter (top 4 in the UK), grew up in Waldorf to age 13 (& for part of high school later).
Gustavus Richard Brown, physician to George Washington
George Cary (1811–1850), born near Allens Fresh in Charles County, United States Congressman for Georgia
Turkey Tayac (1895-1978), Chief of one of the branches of the Piscataway Indian Nation. Medicine man and Native American rights activist. Born in Charles County.
Barnes Compton, US Congressman
James Craik, Physician General during the American Revolution, physician to George Washington
Danny Gatton (1945–1994), legendary guitarist, lived in Newburg
John Hanson, American Revolutionary War statesman
Josiah Henson (1789–1883), former slave and author
Matthew Henson, co-discoverer of the North Pole; born near Nanjemoy
Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, American Revolutionary War statesman
Larry Johnson, former NFL running back; from Pomfret
Jane Herbert Wilkinson Long (1798–1880), considered to be the "Mother of Texas"
Shawn Lemon, professional football player; grew up in Waldorf
Joel and Benji Madden from the band Good Charlotte; grew up in Waldorf
Samuel Alexander Mudd (1833–1883), born in Charles County, the doctor implicated and imprisoned for aiding John Wilkes Booth in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln
James Neale (1615–1684), born London, England, immigrated 1634, founded Wollaston Manor plantation and Cobb Island
Captain Raphael Semmes of the Confederate ship Alabama, born near Nanjemoy
General William Smallwood, American Revolutionary War statesman
Randy Starks, former NFL defensive tackle; from Waldorf
Robert Stethem, noted terror hijacking victim, grew up in Pinefield, Waldorf
Benjamin Stoddert (1751–1813), first United States Secretary of the Navy
Thomas Stone, American Revolutionary War statesman, was probably born at Poynton Manor near Port Tobacco
Angela Renée White "Blac Chyna", Television Personality; Attended Henry E. Lackey
Sports
