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Patuxent River

Patuxent River

The Patuxent River, Middle Patuxent River and Little Patuxent River form a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. The furtherst source, 113 miles from the Chesapeake, is in the hills of the Maryland Piedmont near the intersection of four counties - Howard, Frederick, Montgomery and Carroll. Flowing in a generally southeastward direction, the Patuxent crosses the heavily urbanized corridor between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. and opens up into a navigable tidal estuary near the colonial town of Queen Annes in Prince George's County, Maryland, just southeast of Bowie, Maryland, finding the Chesapeake Bay 50 miles later. The Patuxent River is the longest river to be located entirely within the state of Maryland. The river marks the boundary between Montgomery, Prince George's, Charles and St. Mary's Counties on the west and Howard, Anne Arundel, and Calvert Counties on the east. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: The Potomac River to the west passing through Washington D.C., the Patapsco River to the east passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River in the middle part of the state. The Middle Patuxent River and the Little Patuxent River, each respectively further to the east of the main river, and each respectively smaller in water flow, coverge just upstream from the historic Savage Mill in Savage, Maryland. The Little Patuxent then joins the main branch just northeast of Bowie, Maryland. The Middle Patuxent flows through the middle of Howard County, while the Little Patuxent flows through northeast Howard County. The Patuxent River was first named ("Pawtuxunt") on the detailed map resulting from the 1608 voyage upriver probably as far as the Lyons Creek vicinity, 38 miles from the Chesapeake on what is now the Anne Arundel - Calvert County boundary by Jamestown, Virginia settler John Smith. This was most likely the second visit by Europeans to the Patuxent, as in June 1588 a small Spanish expedition under Vincente Gonzales most likely anchored for the night in the Patuxent mouth. By the mid 1600's, colonists spread upriver to Mt. Calvert and Billingsley Point, two colonial mansions 41 miles from the Chesapeake that are today part of Patuxent River Park. By the early 1700's, the Snowden iron ore furnace just southeast of Laurel, Maryland was shipping "pig iron" downriver from the current vicinity of the 1783 Snowden Montpelier Mansion, also part of Patuxent River Park. The Patuxent was plied by regular steamship service, mostly from the Weems Line, from the 1820's to the 1920's, replacing the schooners and sailing packets that had for the previous centuries served the river's many landings and docks along the 50 mile navigable reach. Tobacco farming dominated the Patuxent's ecomomy for the two centuries following settlement, with about sixty per cent of Maryland's tobacco coming from the Patuxent valley by the late 1700's. In 1814, Commodore Joshua Barney and his Maryland flotilla were trapped in the Patuxent by the British fleet. Barney's men ignited the magazines of his fleet in the stretch from Pig Point (42 miles upriver from the Chesapeake, named after Snowden's "pig iron") to Queen Annes. The British launched their attack on Washington, D.C. from their boats along the Patuxent at Benedict, 20 miles from the Chesapeake, Nottingham, 36 miles upriver, and the Pig Point-Upper Marlboro, Maryland vicinity in August, 1814. Destruction of the plantations by the British and of the soil by centuries of tobacco farming brought the mid and lower Patuxent valley into a period of decline that would last until the 1930's, when there were fewer residents in the Patuxent's Calvert County than there were in the 1840's, and only some hundreds more than in the first Calvert County census in 1790. The 20th century saw the construction of two major dams on the Patuxent River and thus two reservoirs. These reservoirs provide drinking water for millions in central Maryland and are owned and operated by the WSSC. The upper dam is called Brighton Dam and the lower dam is called Rocky Gorge, both along the Howard and Montgomery county border, where a relatively deep and narrow valley exists in the otherwise Piedmont surrounding terrain The Middle and Little Patuxent watersheds include nearly all of Columbia, Maryland (a large planned community in Howard County that opened in 1967 and contains a downtown road called Little Patuxent Parkway), forming the source of its downtown urban Lake Kittamaqundi and Wilde Lake. It was the largely unchecked erosion from this late 1960's and 1970's building spree that contributed the bulk of the Patuxent River's highest and most damaging sediment and siltation and pollution levels to date downstream. The river's best known environmentalist, Bernie Fowler, as an early 1970's Calvert County Commissioner, led the way in a lawsuit filed by downriver Charles, Calvert and St. Mary's counties against upriver counties, which forced the state, those counties, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to enact pollution control measures. Over the past fifty years, nationally-recognized land preservation efforts in this part of Maryland have saved tens of thousands of acres from the Baltimore-Washington bedroom community sprawl. The southern half of the U.S. Army's Ft. Meade was added to the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center which at 12,300 acres is the second largest contiguous public park-refuge within 30 miles of either Washington or Baltimore. It is located precisely midway between these two huge metropolitan area. The 8300 contiguous public acres centered on Jug Bay, 40 miles upriver from the Chesapeake, form the fifth largest such Baltimore-DC preserve, and the 6600 acre Patuxent River State Park in the uppermost part of the basin is the seventh largest. Including boating on the main river and the reservoirs, the impact that recreation in natural settings now has on the river's economy is obvious. The Patuxent Naval Air Station at the mouth of the river has continued to grow over past decades, providing along with tourism the main economic engine of the lower river valley, including the popular boating center of Solomons, Maryland. Category:Chesapeake Bay Watershed Category:Rivers of Maryland

Tributary

---- A tributary (also known as an affluent or confluent) is a contributory stream, i.e. a river that does not reach the sea, but joins another major river (a parent river). A tributary joins another river at a confluence. When a river's tributaries are listed in orographic sequence, they are in order from the highest (nearest the source of the river) to the lowest (nearest the mouth). The descriptive terms right tributary and left tributary always apply from the perspective of looking downstream (in the direction the current is going), similarly to the river banks. The opposite of a tributary is a distributary; a river branch that flows away from the main stream. A river and all its tributaries drain the watershed of the river. Network analysis examines the arrangement of tributaries in a hierarchy of 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc. orders. Category:Rivers simple:Tributary

Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Virginia and Maryland. The Chesapeake Bay's watershed covers 64,299 mi² (166,534 km²) in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. More than 150 rivers and streams drain into the Bay. The main stem of the Bay itself is about 189 miles (304 km) long, from the Susquehanna River in the north to the Atlantic Ocean in the south. At its narrowest point (near Annapolis, Maryland, the Bay is 4 miles (6.4 km) wide; at its widest point, near the mouth of the Potomac River, it is 30 miles (48.3 km) wide. Total shoreline for the Bay is 11,684 miles (18,804 km), and the surface area of the Bay and its major tributaries is 4,479 mi² (11,600 km²). The narrowest point of the Bay is spanned by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel spans a 23 mile (37 km) section of the Bay at near its mouth.

Geology

The Bay is the drowned valley of the Susquehanna, meaning that was where the river flowed when sea level was lower, but the Bay's geology and its present form and its very location have also been affected by a bolide impact event at the end of the Eocene (about 35.5 million years ago), forming the Chesapeake Bay impact crater. Parts of the Bay, especially the coast line of Calvert County, are lined by cliffs as the result of receding waters millions of years ago. These cliffs, generally known as Calvert Cliffs, are famous for their fossils, especially fossilized shark teeth. Fossilized shark teeth are commonly found washed up on the beaches next to the cliffs. Scientist's Cliffs is a beach community in Calvert County, named so because of the cliffs' propensity for geological finds and numerous fossils. Much of the bay is quite shallow. A person 6'7" (2 m) tall could not only walk across the mouth of the Susquehanna at the upper bay, but could also traverse some 700,000 acres (2,800 km²) of the bay without being entirely submerged. On average, the depth of the Bay is less than 5 fathoms (30 feet or 9 meters).

History

meters The Chesapeake Bay was the site of the Battle of the Chesapeake in 1781, during which the French fleet defeated the Royal Navy in the decisive naval battle of the American Revolutionary War. Today, the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant uses water from the Bay to cool its reactor. The bay is also known for the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, a dog breed developed in this area.

Watershed

The largest rivers flowing into the Bay are:
- Susquehanna River
- Potomac River
- James River
- Appomattox River
- Rappahannock River
- Patuxent River
- Choptank River
- York River formed by:
  - Mattaponi River
  - Pamunkey River

Fishing Industry

The word Chesepiooc is an Algonquian word meaning "Great Shellfish Bay." The Bay was once known for its great seafood production, especially blue crabs, clams and oysters. The plentiful oyster harvests led to the development of the Skipjack, the State Boat of Maryland, which is the only remaining working boat type in the United States still under sail power. Today, the body of water is less productive than it used to be, because of runoff from development throughout the watershed, urbanization, particularly on its western shore, overharvesting, and invasion of foreign species. The bay though, still yields more fish and shellfish (about 45,000 short tons or 40,000 metric tons yearly) than any other estuary in the United States. The Bay is famous for its Rockfish, otherwise known as Striped bass. Once on the verge of extinction, Rockfish have made a significant comeback and are now able to be fished in strictly controlled and limited quantities. The Bay serves as the predominate source of eel in the United States. In 2005, local governments began debate on the introduction to certain parts of the Bay of a species of asian oyster, to revive the lagging shellfish industry.

Deteriorating environment conditions

In the 1970s, the Chesapeake Bay contained one of the planet's first identified marine dead zones, where hypoxic waters were so depleted in oxygen they were unable to support life, identified when massive fish kills resulted. Chesapeake Bay's oyster industry has also suffered from two diseases: MSX and dermo. Harmful algae blooms such as Pfiesteria piscicida, which can affect both fish and humans, is also a problem. The depletion of oysters due to overharvesting has had a particularly harmful effect on the quality of the Bay. The reduction of oysters, which serve as natural water filters for the Bay, has led to reduced water quality of the Bay: water that was formerly clear for fathoms is now so turbid that a wader may lose sight of his feet before his knees are wet.

External links


- [http://www.chesapeakebay.net/ Chesapeake Bay Program]
- [http://www.bayjournal.com/ Chesapeake Bay Journal]
- [http://www.baygateways.net/ Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network]
- [http://www.cbf.org/ Chesapeake Bay Foundation]
- [http://www.acb-online.org/ Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay]
- [http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Chesapeake_Bay_Bridge.html Chesapeake Bay Bridge (near Annapolis, MD)]
- [http://www.cbbt.com/ Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel]
- [http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/CB/index.html Maryland Sea Grant]
- [http://www.scientistscliffs.org Scientist's Cliffs]
- [http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0506/feature2 National Geographic- Saving The Chesapeake]
- [http://www.nationalgeographic.com/chesapeake National Geographic- Exploring The Chesapeake Then and Now] Category:Chesapeake Bay Watershed Category:Estuaries Category:Geography of Virginia Category:Regions of Maryland ja:チェサピーク湾

Piedmont (United States)

Piedmont is the region of the eastern United States which lies between the coastal plain, from which it is divided by the fall line, and the eastern mountain ranges, the Appalachian Mountains. The width of the Piedmont varies, being quite narrow or vanishing above the Delaware River, but nearly 300 miles (475 km) wide in the state of North Carolina. The surface relief of the Piedmont is characterized by relatively low, rolling hills with heights above sea level between 200 feet (50 m) and 800 feet to 1000 feet (250 m to 300 m). Its geology is complex, with numerous rock formations of different materials and ages intermingled with one another. Basically the Piedmont is the roots of an ancient coastal mountain chain that is now worn down to low relief. Category:Geography of the United States Category:Regions of the United States

Frederick County, Maryland

Frederick County is a county located in the western part of the state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia. It is a part of the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Area, and is often recognized as part of Western Maryland. The county is home to Catoctin Mountain Park and the presidential retreat Camp David. The county seat is Frederick, which was home to several celebrated historical figures like Francis Scott Key. The county was named for Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore.

History

Frederick County was created in 1748 from parts of Prince George's County and Baltimore County. In 1776, Frederick County was divided into three parts. The westernmost portion became Washington County, named after George Washington, the easternmost portion became Montgomery County, named after another Revolutionary War general, Richard Montgomery. The central portion remained Frederick County. In 1837 a part of Frederick County was combined with a part of Baltimore County to form Carroll County.

Law/Government

Frederick County is governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland.

Geography

county commissioner According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,728 km² (667 mi²). 1,717 km² (663 mi²) of it is land and 12 km² (4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.67% water. Attractions in Frederick include the Clustered Spires, a monument to Francis Scott Key, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, Monocacy battlefield and South Mountain battlefields, and the Schifferstadt Architectural Museum.

Adjacent counties


- Adams County, Pennsylvania (north)
- Carroll County (east)
- Howard County (southeast)
- Montgomery County (south)
- Washington County (west)
- Loudoun County, Virginia (southwest)

Demographics

Loudoun County, Virginia As of the census2 of 2000, there are 195,277 people, 70,060 households, and 51,914 families residing in the county. The population density is 114/km² (295/mi²). There are 73,017 housing units at an average density of 43/km² (110/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 89.33% White, 6.36% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.67% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.92% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 2.39% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 70,060 households out of which 38.60% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.10% are married couples living together, 9.40% have a female householder with no husband present, and 25.90% are non-families. 20.10% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.70% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.72 and the average family size is 3.16. In the county the population is spread out with 27.60% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 32.70% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 9.60% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.90 males.

Economy

The median income for a household in Frederick county is $60,276, and the median income for a family is $67,879. Males have a median income of $42,378 versus $30,564 for females. The per capita income for the county is $25,404. 4.50% of the population and 2.90% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.90% of those under the age of 18 and 6.00% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. The largest employers in Frederick County aside from government (especially Fort Detrick) are Wells Fargo, Frederick Memorial Hospital, MidAtlantic Medical Services and Bechtel . Frederick County has a strong agricultural component of its economy, and it is the largest producer of milk in Maryland .

Cities and towns

milk
- 2 Cities:
- #Brunswick (incorporated 1890)
- #Frederick (incorporated 1816)
- 9 Towns:
- #Burkittsville (incorporated 1894)
- #Emmitsburg (incorporated 1824)
- #Middletown (incorporated 1833)
- #Mount Airy (This town is partly in Frederick County and partly in Carroll County.) (incorporated 1894)
- #Myersville (incorporated 1904)
- #New Market (incorporated 1878)
- #Thurmont (incorporated 1831)
- #Walkersville (incorporated 1892)
- #Woodsboro (incorporated 1836)
- 1 Village:
- #Rosemont (incorporated 1953) #Ballenger Creek #Braddock Heights #Clover Hill #Discovery-Spring Garden (a combination of the communities of Discovery and Spring Garden recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau) #Green Valley #Linganore-Bartonsville (a combination of the communities of Linganore and Bartonsville recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau) Other unincorporated areas include #Adamstown

Miscellaneous

The newspaper of record is The Frederick News Post. The County Attorney for Frederick County is John Stephen Mathias, Sr.

References


-

Notes


- Frederick County Office of Economic Development
- Frederick County Office of Economic Development (Fast Facts#Brief Economic Facts)

External link


- [http://www.co.frederick.md.us Frederick County government] Category:Maryland counties Category:Potomac River counties

Carroll County, Maryland

Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of 2000, the population is 150,897. It was named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737-1832), signer of the American Declaration of Independence. Its county seat is Westminster. This county is a part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.

History

Carroll County was created in 1837 from parts of Baltimore and Frederick Counties, see Hundred (division). The first settlers included 3,700 Germans and their impact may still be seen today in the attitudes of its residents.

Law and government

Carroll County is governed by three county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland. Several times in the past, Carroll County voters have rejected charter amendments that would call for a government consisting of a County Exexutive and a County Council. In 2004 Carroll County voters approved legislation that will expand the number of County Commissioners from three to five. The five Commissioners will be elected from five Commissioner districts, as opposed to three Commissioners elected at-large. This change will occur beginning with the 2006 elections. The current commissioners are:
- Julia Walsh Gouge, President of the Commission, former mayor of Hampstead
- Dean L. Minnich, from Westminster
- Perry L. Jones, Jr., former mayor of Union Bridge

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,172 km² (452 mi²). 1,163 km² (449 mi²) of it is land and 8 km² (3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.72% water.

Demographics

mi² As of the census2 of 2000, there are 150,897 people, 52,503 households, and 41,109 families residing in the county. The population density is 130/km² (336/mi²). There are 54,260 housing units at an average density of 47/km² (121/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 95.69% White, 2.28% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 52,503 households out of which 39.70% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.50% are married couples living together, 8.30% have a female householder with no husband present, and 21.70% are non-families. 17.50% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.40% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.81 and the average family size is 3.18. In the county the population is spread out with 27.70% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.80% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.00 males. The median income for a household in the county is $60,021, and the median income for a family is $66,430. Males have a median income of $44,191 versus $30,599 for females. The per capita income for the county is $23,829. 3.80% of the population and 2.70% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.00% of those under the age of 18 and 4.90% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Cities and towns


- 2 Cities:
- #Taneytown (incorporated 1836)
- #Westminster (incorporated 1818)
- 7 Towns:
- #Hampstead (incorporated 1888)
- #Manchester (incorporated 1833)
- #Mount Airy (incorporated 1894) (This town is partly in Carroll County and partly in Frederick County and Montgomery County.)
- #New Windsor (incorporated 1843)
- #Sykesville (incorporated 1904)
- #Union Bridge (incorporated 1872)
- #Eldersburg
- #Uniontown
- #Jasontown
- Louisville and Gamber are communities not recognized by the Census bureau.

Public schools

The Carroll County Public School system is the ninth largest in the state of Maryland. More than 28,000 students are enrolled in the county's public schools. The school system includes 22 elementary schools (Winfield, Parrs Ridge, Carrolltowne, Cranberry Station, Charles Carroll, Eldersburg, Elmer A. Wolfe, Freedom, Friendship Valley, Hampstead, Linton Springs, Manchester, Mechanicsville, Mt.Airy, Piney Ridge, Robert Moton, Runnymede, Sandymount, Spring Garden, Taneytown, Westminster, and William Winchester), nine middle schools (Mt.Airy, Sykesville, Shiloh, East Middle, West Middle, New Windsor, North Carroll, Oklahoma Road, and Northwest) , seven high schools (South Carroll, Century, Liberty, Westminster, Winters Mill, Francis Scott Key, and North Carroll), two career and technology centers (Westminster, and South Carroll) and an alternative school (Carroll Springs). In testing, the schools typically score slightly above the state and national averages. For example, in the 2003-04 school year, Carroll County students scored 522 on the SAT verbal section and 515 in math, compared to 515 verbal and 511 math statewide and 518 verbal and 508 math nationwide.[http://ccpl.carr.org/ccps/instruction/researchaccount/powerpoints/sat.mht!sat_files/frame.htm] The schools are administered by a superintendent of schools, Dr. Charles "Chuck" Ecker. Ecker started a four-year term in the position on July 1, 2002 and will serve as Superintendent through June 30, 2006. He is assisted by a five-member elected Board of Education; as of 2005, the members are Gary W. Bauer, Laura K. Rhodes (Resigned 2005), Cynthia L. Foley, Thomas G. Hiltz and C. Scott Stone.

Miscellaneous

The newspaper of record is The Carroll County Times.

External links


- [http://ccgov.carr.org Carroll County Government]
- [http://www.carrollk12.org Carroll County Public Schools]
- [http://www.carrollcounty.com Carroll County Times] Category:Maryland counties

Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C. is the capital city of the United States of America. "D.C." stands for the "District of Columbia", the federal district containing the city of Washington. The city is named for George Washington, military leader of the American Revolution and the first President of the United States. The District of Columbia and the city of Washington are coextensive and are governed by a single municipal government, so for most practical purposes they are considered to be the same entity. It is known locally as the District or simply D.C. Historically, it was called the Federal City. The District of Columbia, founded on July 16, 1790, is a federal district as specified by the United States Constitution with limited—and sometimes contentious—local rule. The District is ruled "in all cases whatsoever" by the U.S. Congress, though its residents have no voting representative in that body. The land forming the original District came from the states of Virginia and Maryland. However, the area south of the Potomac River (39 mi² or about 100 km²) was returned, or "retroceded", to Virginia in 1847 and now is incorporated into Arlington County and the City of Alexandria. The term "District of Columbia" is derived from an old poetic name for the United States, Columbia, which has fallen out of common use since the early 20th century. The centers of all three branches of the U.S. federal government are in Washington, D.C., as well as the headquarters of most federal agencies. Washington also serves as the headquarters for the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the Organization of American States, among other international (and national) institutions. All of this has made Washington the frequent focal point of massive political demonstrations and protests, particularly on the National Mall. Washington is also the site of numerous national landmarks, museums, and sports teams, and is a popular destination for tourists. The population of the District of Columbia, as of 2003 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, is 563,384. The Greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area includes the District of Columbia and parts of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, with a population surpassing 4.7 million. If Washington, D.C. were considered a state, it would rank last in area behind Rhode Island, 50th in population ahead of Wyoming, and 36th in Gross State Product, ahead of 15 states. __TOC__

History

Wyoming map of Washington, D.C.]] A Southern site for the new country's capital was agreed upon at a dinner between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton. The initial plan for the "Federal City" was a diamond, ten miles wide on each side, totaling 100 square miles (260 square kilometers). The actual site on the Potomac River was chosen by President Washington. Washington may have chosen the site for its natural scenery, believing the Potomac would become a great navigable waterway. The city was officially named "Washington" on September 9, 1791. Out of modesty, George Washington never referred to it as such, preferring to call it "the Federal City". Despite choosing the site and living nearby at Mount Vernon, he rarely visited. On August 24, 1814, British forces burned the capital during the most notable and destructive raid of the War of 1812. President James Madison and U.S. forces fled before the British forces, who burned public buildings including the Capitol, the Navy Yard, and the Treasury building. The Presidential Mansion was also gutted. James Madison Washington remained a small city of a few thousand permanent residents until the outbreak of the U.S. Civil War in 1861. The significant expansion of the federal government to administer the war and its legacies—such as veterans' pensions—led to notable growth in the city's population. In July 1864, Confederate forces under Jubal Anderson Early made a brief raid into Washington, culminating in the Battle of Fort Stevens. The Confederates were repulsed and Early eventually returned to the Shenandoah Valley. The site, now called [http://www.nps.gov/batt/ Battleground National Cemetery] is located near present day Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Northwest Washington. The battle was the only battle where a U.S. President, Lincoln, was present and under enemy fire while in office [http://www.nps.gov/rocr/ftcircle/stevens.htm 1]. In the early 1870s, Washington was given a territorial government, but Governor Alexander Shepherd's reputation for extravagance resulted in Congress abolishing his office in favor of direct rule. Congressional governance of the District would continue for a century. The Washington Monument opened in 1888. Plans were laid to further develop the monumental aspects of the city, with work contributed by such noted figures as Frederick Law Olmsted and Daniel Burnham. However, development of the Lincoln Memorial and other structures on the National Mall did not begin until the early 20th century. Lincoln Memorial The District's population peaked in 1950, when the census for that year recorded a record population of 802,178 people. At the time, the city was the ninth-largest in the country, ahead of Boston and behind Saint Louis. The population declined in the following decades, mirroring the suburban out-migration of many of the nation's older urban centers following World War II. The Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on March 29, 1961, allowing residents of Washington, D.C. to vote for president and have their votes count in the Electoral College. The first 4.6 miles (7.4 kilometers) of the Washington Metro subway system opened on March 27, 1976. Walter Washington became the first elected mayor of the District in 1974. Marion Barry became mayor in 1978, but he was arrested for drug use in an FBI sting on January 18, 1990 and would serve a six-month jail term. His successor, Sharon Pratt Kelly, became the first black woman to lead a city of that size and importance in the U.S. But Barry defeated her in the 1994 primary and was once again elected mayor for his fourth term, during which time the city nearly became insolvent and was forced to give up some home rule to a congressionally-appointed financial control board. On September 29, 2004, Major League Baseball officially relocated the Montreal Expos to Washington for the 2005 season, now named the Washington Nationals, despite opposition from Orioles owner Peter Angelos. A very public back-and-forth between the city council and MLB threatened to scuttle the agreement until December 21, when a plan for a new stadium in Southeast D.C. was finalized. The Nationals will play at R.F.K. Stadium until the new stadium is ready in 2008.

Geography and climate

Geography

2008, 2002. The axes bounding its quadrants radiate from the U.S. Capitol building.]] Washington, D.C. is located at (the coordinates of the Zero Milestone, on The Ellipse). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 177.0 km² (68.3 mi²). 159.0 km² (61.4 mi²) of it is land and 18.0 km² (6.9 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 10.16% water. Washington is surrounded by the states of Virginia (on its southwest side) and Maryland (on its southeast, northeast, and northwest sides); it interrupts those states' common border, which is the Potomac River's southern shore both upstream and downstream from the District. The Potomac River as it passes Washington is virtually entirely within the District of Columbia border. The physical geography of the District of Columbia is very similar to the physical geography of much of Maryland. The District has three major natural flowing bodies of water: the Potomac River, the Anacostia River, and Rock Creek. The Anacostia River and Rock Creek are tributaries of the Potomac River. There are also three man-made reservoirs: Dalecarlia Reservoir, which crosses over the northwest border of the District from Maryland; McMillan Reservoir near Howard University; and Georgetown Reservoir upstream of Georgetown. The highest point in the District of Columbia is 410 feet (125 m) above sea level at Tenleytown. The lowest point is sea level, which occurs along all of the Anacostia shore and all of the Potomac shore except the uppermost mile (the Little Falls - Chain Bridge area). The sea level Tidal Basin rose eleven feet during Hurricane Isabel on September 18, 2003. Geographical features of Washington, D.C. include Theodore Roosevelt Island, Columbia Island, the Three Sisters, and Hains Point.

Climate

Washington's weather is seasonal subtropical with some variations between summer and winter, although it is moderated by its proximity to the coast, making its climate more moderate than cities at a similar latitude further inland. Summer tends to be very hot and humid with daily high temperatures in July and August averaging in the high 80s° to low 90s°F (about 30°C). Spring and fall are mild with high temperatures in April and October averaging in the high 60s°F (about 20°C). Winter can bring cold temperatures and, on some occassions, significant snowfall. While hurricanes (or the remnants of them) occasionally track through the area, they have often weakened by the time they reach Washington. The average annual snowfall is 17 inches (430 mm) and the average high temperature in January is 43°F (6°C); the average low for January is 24°F (−4°C). The highest recorded temperature was 106°F (41°C) on July 20, 1930 and August 6, 1918 and the lowest recorded temperature was −15°F (−26°C) on February 11, 1899. 1899

People and culture

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there are 572,059 people (2004 estimate: 553,523), 248,338 households, and 114,235 families residing in the city. The population density is 3,597.3/km² (9,316.4/mi²). There are 274,845 housing units at an average density of 1,728.3/km² (4,476.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 60.01% Black or African American, 32.78% White, 2.66% Asian, 0.30% Native American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.84% from other races, and 2.35% from two or more races. 7.86% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race, with Salvadorans being the largest Hispanic group. A plurality of whites are of British ancestry. There are 248,338 households out of which 19.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 22.8% are married couples living together, 18.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 54.0% are non-families. 43.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.16 and the average family size is 3.07. In the city the population is spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.1 males. The median income for a household in the city is $40,127, and the median income for a family is $46,283. Males have a median income of $40,513 versus $36,361 for females. The per capita income for the city is $28,659. 20.2% of the population and 16.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 31.1% of those under the age of 18 and 16.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. As of 2000, 83.2% of Washington, D.C. residents age 5 and older speak English at home and 9.2% speak Spanish. French is the third most spoken language at 1.8%, followed by African languages at 1.0% and Chinese at 0.5%. According to the 2001 [http://www.gc.cuny.edu/faculty/research_studies/aris.pdf American Religious Identification Survey], nearly three out of four District residents self-identified as Christians. This breaks down to 72% Christian (27% Catholic, 19% Baptist, and 26% as some other form of Protestant), 13% stating no religion, and minor religions including 4% Buddhist, 2% Muslim, and 1% Jewish.

Housing

Due in part to the renewed expansion of the federal government, Washington has experienced a huge housing boom that has seen thousands of units constructed, along with thousands of people moving to the District. While the Census Bureau estimated in 2005 that the District's population will drop to 433,000 by 2030, city officials alleged systemic undercounting and released their own estimate that the District's population will rise to 712,000 by 2030.

Crime

During the violent crime wave of the early 1990s, Washington, D.C. was known as the murder capital of the United States. The number of homicides peaked in 1991 at 482, with violence declining drastically since then. Once plagued with violent crime, many D.C. neighborhoods, such as Columbia Heights, are becoming safe and vibrant areas as a result of gentrification. While not as intensely violent, crime hot spots have since displaced farther into the eastern sections of Washington, D.C. and across the border into Maryland. Although the eastern side of the city has developed a reputation for being unsafe, these crime hot spots are generally concentrated in very specific areas that are associated with drugs and gangs. Other areas east of the U.S. Capitol, as well as the city's wealthier Northwest neighborhoods, experience low levels of crime. Despite the declining trends, Washington D.C. crime rates (2004) remain among the highest of U.S. cities, behind only Camden, New Jersey, Detroit, Michigan, St. Louis, Missouri, and Gary, Indiana. [http://www.morganquitno.com/cit05pop.htm#25]

Landmarks and museums

Gary, Indiana Washington is home to numerous national landmarks and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. The National Mall is a large, open area in the center of the city featuring many monuments to American leaders, as well as connecting the White House and the United States Capitol buildings. Located prominently in the center of the Mall is the Washington Monument. Other notable points of interest near the Mall include the Jefferson Memorial (see right), Lincoln Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, National World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Albert Einstein Memorial. The world famous Smithsonian Institution, is also located in the District. The Smithsonian today is a collection of museums that includes the Anacostia Museum, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Hirshhorn Museum, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of American History, National Museum of the American Indian, National Museum of Natural History, National Portrait Gallery, National Postal Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the National Zoo. There are also many art museums in D.C., in addition to those that are part of the Smithsonian, including the National Gallery of Art, National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Corcoran Museum of Art, and the Phillips Collection. The Library of Congress and the National Archives house thousands of documents covering every period in American history. Some of the more notable documents in the National Archives include the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Other points of interest in the District include Arena Stage, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Blair House, Folger Shakespeare Library, Ford's Theatre, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, International Spy Museum, National Building Museum, Old Post Office Building, Theodore Roosevelt Island, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Washington National Cathedral.

Media

Newspaper

The Washington Post is the oldest and most-read daily newspaper in Washington, and has developed into one of the most reputable daily newspapers in the U.S., perhaps most notable for exposing the Watergate Scandal, among other achievements. The daily Washington Times and the free weekly Washington City Paper also have substantial readership in the District. On February 1, 2005 the free daily tabloid Washington Examiner debuted, having been formed from a chain of suburban newspapers known as the Journal Newspapers. The weekly Washington Blade focuses on gay issues, and the Washington Informer on African-American issues. Many neighborhoods in the District have their own small-circulation newspaper, usually published by the neighborhood association on a weekly basis. Some of these papers included the Dupont Current (Dupont Circle), Georgetown Current (Georgetown), In-Towner (Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, & Adams Morgan), Northwest Current (Upper Northwest), the Voice of the Hill, the Hill Rag (Capitol Hill), and East of the River (Anacostia).

Television

The metro area is well served by several local broadcast television stations, and is the eighth largest designated market area in the U.S., with 2,252,550 homes (2.04% of the U.S. population). Major television network affiliates include WUSA 9 (CBS), WJLA 7 (ABC), WRC 4, (NBC), WTTG 5 (Fox), WBDC 50 (WB), WDCA 20 (UPN), as well as WETA 26 and WHUT 32 (PBS) stations. Channels 4, 5, 20, and 50 are owned by the networks themselves. Public Access on Cable Television is also provided by the Public Access Corporation of the District of Columbia on two channels simulcast to both local cable TV Systems. One channel is devoted to religious programming and the other channel provides a diversity of offerings. Several cable television networks have their headquarters in the Washington area including C-SPAN on Capitol Hill, Black Entertainment Television (BET) in Northeast Washington, and Discovery Communications in Silver Spring, Maryland. Major national broadcasters and cable outlets including NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, and CNN also maintain a significant presence in Washington, as do those from around the world including the BBC, CBC, and Al Jazeera.

Radio

Al Jazeera There are also several major radio stations serving the metro area, with a wide variety of musical interests. Rock stations include WARW 94.7 FM (classic rock), WIHT 99.5 FM (top 40), WWDC, 101.1 FM (alternative rock), and WWZZ 104.1 FM (alternative rock). Urban stations include WPGC 95.5 FM (Rhythmic CHR/Mainstream Urban), WHUR 96.3 FM (student-run Howard University Urban AC station), WMMJ 102.3FM (Urban AC), WKYS 93.9 FM (Mainstream Urban), and Radio CPR 97.5 FM (a popular pirate radio station broadcasting the area around Mount Pleasant, Adams Morgan, and Columbia Heights). Stations that concentrate on talk and sports include WJFK 106.7 FM, WMAL 630 AM (conservative), WPGC 1580 AM (Urban Gospel), WTEM 980 AM (sports talk), and WTOP 1500 AM (all news). There are also two NPR affiliates: WAMU 88.5 FM (usual NPR programs, community programming, and BBC news) and WETA 90.9 FM (round-the-clock news/analysis, broadcasting shows originating mainly from NPR, PRI, and BBC). Other stations include WASH 97.1 FM (adult contemporary), WMZQ 98.7 FM (country music), WLZL 99.1 FM (Latin/Hispanic), WGMS 103.5 FM (classical music), WPFW 89.3 FM (jazz and progressive talk), WJZW 105.9 FM (smooth jazz), and WRQX 107.3 FM (adult contemporary). XM Satellite Radio and National Public Radio are based in Washington. The Voice of America, the U.S. government's international broadcasting service, is also headquartered in Washington.

Performing arts

There are a number of venues for the performing arts in the city. Arena Stage, one of the first not-for-profit regional theaters in the nation, is rich with history and produces an eight-show season ranging from classics to world premieres, dedicated to the American canon of theater. The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts hosts the National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington National Opera, the Washington Ballet, and a variety of other musical and stage performances. Notable local music clubs include Madam's Organ Blues Bar in Adams Morgan; the Eighteenth Street Lounge in the Dupont Circle district; and the Black Cat, the 9:30 Club, and the Bohemian Caverns jazz club, all in the U Street NW area. D.C. has its own native music genre, called go-go, a post-funk, percussion-driven flavor of R&B that blends live sets with relentless dance rhythms (that "go and go and go.") The most accomplished practitioner of go-go was D.C. bandleader Chuck Brown, who brought go-go to the brink of national recognition with his 1979 LP Bustin' Loose. Go-Go band and Washington natives Experience Unlimited hit the American pop charts in 1988 with their memorable dance tune "Da Butt". Washington was also an important center in the genesis of punk rock in the United States. Punk bands of note from Washington include Fugazi, Bad Brains, and Minor Threat. Native Washingtonians continue to support punk bands, long after the punk movement's popularity peaked. The region also has a storied indie rock history and was home to TeenBeat and Simple Machines, among other indie record labels. There have also been a number of television series that have featured the District. Most of these have been related to government (The West Wing) or security organizations (The District, Get Smart). Other programs had the nation's capital as a secondary focus, telling stories on their own that were not always tied to the infrastructure of the government either in the district or for the country. For instance, Murphy Brown focused on the lives of the reporters of the (fictional) Washington-based television newsmagazine, FYI. The soap opera Capitol allowed for stories about political intrigue alongside the traditional class struggle sagas. The sitcom 227 portrayed the life of the African-American majority as seen through the eyes of residents in a Washington apartment building.

Sports

Washington Metro area is home to several professional sports teams: the MLS D.C. United, the NHL Washington Capitals, the NBA Washington Wizards, the WNBA Washington Mystics, the MLB Washington Nationals, and the NFL Washington Redskins (now based at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland). Other professional and semi-professional teams based in D.C. include the USAFL Baltimore Washington Eagles, the NWFA D.C. Divas, the Minor League Football D.C. Explosion, and the Washington Cricket League. It was also home to the WUSA Washington Freedom, and, during the 2000–2002 NLL seasons, the Washington Power was based in the city. There were two Major League Baseball teams named the Washington Senators in the early and mid-20th century, which left to become respectively the Minnesota Twins and the Texas Rangers. In the 19th century, the town was home to teams called the Washington Nationals, Washington Statesmen, and Washington Senators on and off from the 1870s to the turn of the century. Washington was also home to several Negro League teams, including the Homestead Grays, Washington Black Senators, Washington Elite Giants, Washington Pilots, and Washington Potomacs. The MCI Center in Chinatown, Washington, D.C., home to the Capitals, Mystics, Wizards, and the Georgetown Hoyas, is also a major venue for concerts, WWE professional wrestling, and other events. Washington also hosts the annual Legg Mason Tennis Classic tennis tournament that takes place at the Carter Barron Tennis Center on 16th Street.

Economy

Carter Barron Tennis Center Washington, D.C. is first and foremost a company town, with the primary company being, of course, the federal government. A significant portion of the metro area's population has some sort of connection to the federal government. Also, the presence of many major government agencies, including the Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, or the Food and Drug Administration, has led to a significant amount of business development both in the District itself as well as in the suburbs of northern Virginia and Maryland. These businesses include federal contractors (defense and civilian), numerous nonprofit organizations, law firms and lobbying firms, catering and administrative services companies, and several other industries that are sustained by the enormous economic presence of the federal government. This arrangement has the effect of making the Washington economy virtually recession-proof relative to the rest of the country, because the federal government will still operate no matter the state of the general economy, and often grows during recessions. The metro area includes thirteen major Fortune 500 companies, including:
- Freddie Mac (McLean, Fairfax County)
- Fannie Mae
- electric utility Pepco Holdings Incorporated
- manufacturing company Danaher
- communications giant Nextel (Reston, Fairfax County)
- the credit card company Capital One (McLean, Fairfax County)
- AES Corporation (Arlington County)
- Gannett (McLean, Fairfax County), the publisher of USA Today
- SLM Corporation (Reston, Fairfax County)
- NVR Incorporated (McLean, Fairfax County)
- hotel services company Marriott International (Bethesda, Montgomery County)
- Choice Hotels (Silver Spring, Montgomery County)
- Coventry Healthcare Incorporated (Bethesda, Montgomery County) Defense contractors General Dynamics (Falls Church) and Lockheed Martin (Bethesda) are also in the metro area. In addition to Nextel, several other major network and communications companies are located in the area, including America Online (Dulles) and MCI Communications (Ashburn). Other media companies located in the DC metro area include the new XM Satellite Radio and Al Hurra (Springfield), a new cable new channel marketed towards Arabic countries. The Public Broadcasting Service is also based in suburban Alexandria, while Discovery Communications, the parent company of such cable networks as the Discovery Channel, is based in Silver Spring. The largest private employer in DC is the [http://wwww.bna.com Bureau of National Affairs], a publishing company based in the west end of the city since the early 1950s. The aerospace and commercial air travel industries also have a major presence in the area, in addition to the aforementioned General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and US Airways. Independence Air, based in Dulles, started service in 2004, and operates as a low-cost air carrier to many major airports in the United States. The regional airline Colgan Air, based in Manassas, also operates out of the DC area. Defense contractor Orbital Sciences Corporation is also based in Dulles and specializes in satellite launch and manufacture. Due to the proximity to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, the American genomics industry has recently sprouted in the Maryland suburbs of Washington. Prominent players are Celera Genomics, The Institute for Genomic Research (also known as "TIGR"), and Human Genome Sciences (all of which are in the city of Rockville). The gross state product of the District in 2004 was $75.264 billion, ranking it #36 when compared with the fifty states.

Infrastructure

Government

Local government

$ The city is run by an elected mayor (currently Anthony A. Williams) and a city council. The city council is composed of 13 members — a representative elected from each of the eight wards and five members, including the chairman, elected at large. The council conducts its work through standing committees and special committees established as needed. District schools are administered by a school board that has both elected and appointed members. There are also 37 elected Advisory Neighborhood Commissions that provide the most direct access for residents to their local government. The ANCs serve as local councils, and their suggestions are required to be given "great weight" by the DC Council. However, the U.S. Congress has the ultimate plenary power over the district. It has the right to review and overrule laws created locally, and has often done so. The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution does not apply to the District of Columbia. D.C. residents do pay all federal taxes, such as income tax, as well as local taxes. The mayor and council adopt a budget of local money with Congress reserving the right to make any changes. Much of the valuable property in the District is federally owned and hence exempt from local property taxes; at the same time, the city is burdened with the extraordinary expenses related to its role as the capital, such as police overtime and street cleaning for D.C.'s frequent parades and festivals. These factors are often used to explain why the city's budget is frequently overstretched. However, the federal government also appropriates funds for the city. For instance, according to Public Law 108-7, the federal government provided, among other funds, an estimated 25% of the District's operating budget in 2003. Historically, the city's local government has earned somewhat of a reputation for mismanagement and waste, particularly during the mayoralty of Marion Barry. A front page story in the July 21, 1997 Washington Post reported that Washington had some of the highest cost, lowest quality services in the region. Prosperity in the late 1990s and early 2000s has lessened public pressure on Mayor Williams, who still faces daunting urban renewal, public health, and public education challenges.

Representation in federal government

2000s The U.S. Constitution gives Congress direct jurisdiction for Washington, D.C. While Congress has delegated various amounts of this authority to local government, from time to time, Congress still intervenes in local affairs relating to schools, gun control policy, and other issues. Citizens of the District also lack voting representation in Congress, though they do have three electoral votes in the Presidential elections. Citizens of Washington are represented in the House of Representatives by a non-voting delegate (currently Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC At-Large)) who sits on committees and participates in debate but cannot vote. D.C. does not have representation in the Senate. Citizens of Washington, D.C. are thus unique in the world, as citizens of the capital city of every other country have the same representation rights as other citizens. Attempts to change this situation, including the proposed District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment, have been unsuccessful. The history of D.C.'s relationship with the federal government, as well as the arguments for and against increased representation, are covered in the article District of Columbia voting rights.

Education

Public schools

The public school system in the city is operated by District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and consists of 167 schools and learning centers, which breakdown into 101 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, 9 junior high schools, 20 senior high schools, 6 education centers, and 20 special schools. :See also: District of Columbia Public Schools

Private schools

Other schools in the city include the British School of Washington, Emerson Preparatory School, the Georgetown Day School, the Gonzaga Prepartory School, the Edmund Burke School, the Field School, the German School, the Maret School, the National Cathedral School, Our Lady of Victory, Reformed Theological Seminary, Sheridan School, the Sidwell Friends School, St. Albans School, St. Anselm's Abbey School, St. John's College High School, and the Washington Theological Union.

Colleges and universities

The city also is home to several universities, colleges, and other institutes of higher education, both public and private. The University of the District of Columbia is the city's public university; UDC is the nation's only urban land-grant university and is counted among the historically black colleges. The Department of Agriculture's Graduate School offers continuing-education and graduate-level classes. The Department of Defense maintains the National Defense University at Fort McNair. Among private institutions, Georgetown University is older than the District itself, dating to the late 18th century. It is also the nation's oldest Roman Catholic body of higher education. The two other Roman Catholic universities in the District are The Catholic University of America and Trinity University. The George Washington University, founded by an act of Congress in 1821, is the largest institution of higher education in the nation's capital with its main campus in Foggy Bottom and its Mount Vernon campus in the Foxhall neighborhood of Northwest Washington. GWU is also the second-largest landholder and employer in the District, second only to the Federal government. American University, chartered by act of Congress in 1893, is situated on a 72 acre campus in upper Northwest Washington and is well known for the Washington College of Law, the Kogod School of Business, the School of International Service, and the School of Communication. Also known for international affairs, The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), is dedicated to the graduate study of international relations and international economics and is located near Dupont Circle. Other notable private colleges in the District include Gallaudet University, the first school for the advanced education of the deaf and hard-of-hearing; Howard University, a historically black university dating to the 19th century; and Southeastern University. The Corcoran College of Art and Design has an arts program attatched to the Corcoran Museum of Art, adjacent to the White House Complex. Strayer University, a for-profit career school, has a campus in Washington, D.C.

Transportation

Aviation

Washington, D.C. is served by three major airports, two of them located in suburban Virginia and one located in Maryland. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is the closest — located in Arlington, Virginia, just across the Prince George's County, Maryland. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 50,269, making it the largest incorporated municipality in Prince George's County.

History

The Town of Bowie owes its existence to the railway. In 1853, Col. William D. Bowie succeeded in obtaining a charter from the Maryland legislature to construct a rail line into Southern Maryland. In 1869 the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Company began the construction of a railroad from Baltimore to Southern Maryland. By 1972, it was completed together with a spur to Washington DC. The remainder of the railroad through Southern Maryland and Pope's Creek was completed in 1873. Earlier, the area was dotted with small farms and large tobacco plantations in an economy based on agriculture and slavery. However, in 1870 Mr. Ben M. Plumb, a land speculator and developer, sold building lots around the railroad junction and named the settlement "Huntington City" This has been declared as the Founding of Huntington City in 1870, Bowie has grown from a small railroad stop to the largest municipality in Prince George's County, and the fourth most populous city and third largest city by area in the State of Maryland. The town was first called Huntington City, though its train station was named in honor of local resident, who was President of the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad at the time, and later Governor Oden Bowie. The town was subsequently rechartered as Bowie in 1880. In the early days the land was subdivided by developers into more than 500 residential building lots, to create a large town site at a junction of the Baltimore and Potomac's main line to southern Maryland, and the branch line to Washington, DC. By 1902, the Baltimore & Potomac was purchased by the powerful Pennsylvania Railroad In 1916, Bowie incorporated as the Town of Bowie. In 1957, the firm of Levitt and Sons acquired the nearby Belair Estate, the original colonial plantation of Governor Samuel Ogle, where it developed the residential community of "Belair at Bowie." Two years later the Town of Bowie annexed the Levitt properties, and then it re-incorporated as a city in 1963. Bowie enjoys a rich and diverse historic and cultural heritage. The original Belair Estate contains the Belair Mansion (circa 1745), the beautiful five-part Georgian plantation house of Governor Samuel Ogle, and his son Governor Benjamin Ogle. It was purchased in 1898 by the wealthy banker James T. Woodward who, on his passing in 1910, left it to his nephew, William Woodward, Sr. who became a famous horseman. Restored to reflect its 250-year-old legacy, the Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Belair Stable, on the Estate, was part of the famous "Belair Stud", one of the premier racing stables in the 1930's, 40's, and 50's. Owned and operated by William Woodward, Sr. (1876-1953) it closed in 1957 following the untimely death of his son, Billy Woodward. Belair was the oldest continually operated thoroughbred horse farm in the country. It is said that the blood of Belair horses flows through the veins of every American race horse of distinction. In addition to its thoroughbred horse-breeding heritage, Bowie is also historically associated with railroading. The town grew up around the Bowie Station, and emerged as an important rail town. Honoring that tradition, the City has preserved this piece of its history in the Huntington Railroad Museum which includes historic materials displayed in the Station's restored railroad buildings. While the City is proud of its heritage, it is also focused on the future. It has grown from a small agricultural and railroad town to one of the largest and fastest growing cities in Maryland. Bowie is a city of 16 square miles and approximately 50,000 residents. It has nearly 2,000 acres (8 km²) set aside as parks or open space. It has 72 ball fields, three community centers, an ice arena, a theatrical playhouse, a golf course, and three museums. The City has recently added a state-of-the-art senior citizens center and a gymnasium for community programs. The City of Bowie is a dynamic, family-oriented community whose residents enjoy an exceptional quality of life. The City's motto of "Growth, Unity and Progress" provides a fitting description of this municipality at the start of a new century. :—History from the [http://www.cityofbowie.org City of Bowie official website] Bowie is home to the Bowie Baysox, a Class AA Eastern League professional baseball team affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles. For a time, actress Kathie Lee Gifford called Bowie home as well. On October 7, 2002, a 13-year old boy named Iran Brown was critically wounded by a sniper soon after he was dropped off at Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Bowie. His name was at first withheld, since he survived the incident, which was one in a string of murders and attempted murders that was called the Beltway sniper attacks. His name has since been revealed.

Geography

Beltway sniper attacks Bowie is located at 38°57'53" North, 76°44'40" West (38.964727, -76.744531). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 41.8 km² (16.1 mi²). 41.7 km² (16.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.12% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 50,269 people, 18,188 households, and 13,568 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,205.5/km² (3,121.9/mi²). There are 18,718 housing units at an average density of 448.9/km² (1,162.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 62.65% White, 30.83% African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.95% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 2.30% from two or more races. 2.92% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 18,188 households out of which 37.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% are married couples living together, 11.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% are non-families. 19.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.74 and the average family size is 3.16. In the city the population is spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 87.3 males. The median income for a household in the city is $76,778, and the median income for a family is $82,403. Males have a median income of $52,284 versus $40,471 for females. The per capita income for the city is $30,703. 1.6% of the population and 0.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.0% of those under the age of 18 and 1.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Government

The City of Bowie operates under a council-manager government as established by the town charter. This means that the mayor and council are responsible for making policy, passing ordinances, voting appropriations, and having overall supervisory authority in the city government. The council appoints an apolitical city manager responsible for supervising government operations and implementing the policies adopted by the council.
- Mayor: G. Frederick Robinson
- City Council:
  - Todd Turner
  - Dennis Brady
  - Kurt Kroemer
  - Jack D. Jenkins
  - Kevin Conroy
  - D. Michael Lyles
- City manager: David J. Deutsch
- Assistant city manager: John L. Fitzwater.
- Public Safety Coordinator: Alan L. Creveling

External links


- [http://www.cityofbowie.org City of Bowie official website] Category:Cities in Maryland Category:Washington, D.C. suburbs Category:Prince George's County, Maryland

Prince George's County, Maryland

:Not to be confused with Prince George County, Virginia Prince George's County (often called "PG County") is a suburban county located in the state of Maryland immediately north and east of Washington, D.C. It is home to the University of Maryland, the USDA Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Andrews Air Force Base, Six Flags America, and FedEx Field (home of the Washington Redskins). The county was named for Prince George of Denmark, the brother of King Christian V of Denmark and Norway, and husband of Queen Anne of Great Britain. Its county seat is Upper Marlboro. The county is a part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.

History

Prince George's County was created in 1696 from portions of Charles and Calvert Counties, and a portion was detached in 1748 to form Frederick County. (Actually, 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.) Another portion later became part of the District of Columbia when that entity was formed in 1791. In 1997, the Prince George's County section of the city of Takoma Park, Maryland was transferred to Montgomery County after city residents voted to be under the sole jurisdiction of Montgomery County. This occurred on the same day that the jurisdiction of the city of Hong Kong was also transferred from the British Empire back to the Chinese Government. A scandal erupted in 2004 when PG County Schools Chief, Andre Hornsby, purchased $1 million in educational software for the County's schools from Leapfrog Enterprises Inc saleswoman and live-in girlfriend Sienna Owens. Amid an FBI investigation into the scandal, Hornsby resigned on May 27, 2005.

Law and government

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 was granted a charter form of government in 1970.

County Executive

The current county executive is Jack B. Johnson. List of Prince George's County Executives 2006 Prince George's County Executive Election

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 498 mi2 (1,291 km2). 485 mi2 (1,257 km<