Elizabeth House is a nonprofit food pantry and soup kitchen in Laurel, Maryland . It was founded in 1988 and is managed by Fish of Laurel.
103-602: The Elizabeth House was founded in 1988 and is named after a volunteer veteran Elizabeth "Betty" Colnaghi. In the 1970s, Colnaghi began using her basement as a food pantry to serve low-income residents of the Laurel area. This later grew to include emergency financial aid and transportation. Since the 1990s, leadership at the Elizabeth House has disputed with City of Laurel Officials including City Administrator Ernest Saccanelli and Police Chief Roy Gilmore over how to best help
206-532: A CarMax dealership, Weis supermarket, and a strip mall . In March 1912, the city agreed to take out $ 35,000 in loans to build its first sewer system with twelve miles of line that terminated by dumping into the Patuxent River . In February 1913, Laurel was a stopping point in the Suffrage hike led by Rosalie Gardiner Jones . She was joined by a Laurel-based colored women's suffrage group and sent
309-468: A thoroughbred racetrack, opened in 1911 and remains in operation. In the book, Seabiscuit: An American Legend , Laurel is mentioned several times as an important horse racing venue. Laurel also hosted a horse trotter ( harness racing ) track named Freestate Raceway from 1948 to 1990; it was located in Howard County on the west side of US Route 1, south of Savage in an area that now includes
412-486: A 'AAA' bond rating to Prince George's County on August 25, 2011, re-affirming the county's stable financial outlook. Earlier in 2011, the county received 'AAA' status from Standard & Poor's and Moody's . 'AAA' bond ratings are the highest possible bond ratings a jurisdiction can receive. As part of the increasingly liberal D.C. suburbs and a nationwide suburban shift towards the Democrats, Prince George's County
515-696: A 14-year-old slave girl poisoned her owner, John H. Bayne , and his family in 1831. Water taxi service connects National Harbor to other destinations along the Potomac. Several historic sites, including Jones Point Lighthouse, can be viewed from the harbor front. Piscataway Park in Accokeek preserves many acres of woodland and wetlands along the Potomac River opposite Mount Vernon, Virginia. River Road in Fort Washington also yields great views of
618-458: A County-wide fixed-route bus system, and the Call-A-Bus service for passengers who do not have access to or have difficulty using fixed-route bus service. Call-A-Bus is a demand-response service which generally requires 14-days advance reservations. The county also offers a subsidized taxicab service for elderly and disabled residents called Call-A-Cab in which eligible customers who sign up for
721-525: A Maryland politician who became an abolitionist after watching a speech by Frederick Douglass , led a referendum campaign to end slavery in the state. In 1864, the citizens of Maryland voted to end slavery. However the state was so divided that the referendum won by only 1,000 votes. Lincoln then ordered the Union Army to enforce the ban in Maryland and all enslaved people in the state were freed. After
824-568: A bi-county planning and parks agency in the M-NCPPC and a public bi-county water and sewer utility in the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission 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 m ) estate along the Patuxent River on the edge of what is now in the unincorporated community of Croom . Since 1991,
927-486: A casket saved from the burning mortuary. The resulting losses inspired efforts to bring water and fire apparatus to the town. The town was struck again by the great Laurel fire of December 14, 1899, when a twelve-building fire destroyed the Laurel Presbyterian Church (known then as Presbyterian Church at Laurel). Proposed in 1897, Laurel's seven-term mayor Edward Phelps succeeded in constructing
1030-407: A combination system staffed by over 800 career firefighters and paramedics, and nearly 1,100 active volunteers. County law has, for years, required Animal Control to seize all pit bulls from their owners if they become aware of them. This is controversial and Animal Control itself objects to this law. It has routinely required them to act when they see such a dog behaving peacefully inside of
1133-401: A detailed survey was conducted to build a canal from Baltimore to Georgetown to connect to the proposed C&O canal . The route from Elkridge Landing to Bladensburg would have built a waterway roughly aligning with modern U.S. Route 1 and Kenilworth Avenue , with special consideration not to harm the water power for Savage Mill . The project did not go forward; the preference was to build
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#17327835788971236-526: A juvenile, affiliated with the KKK , attempted to burn St. Mark's United Methodist Church and then a private residence in the predominantly African-American neighborhood of the Grove, prompting protests and police blockades. Due to cross-burning incidents, a Ku Klux Klan march, and several arsons and suspected arsons, temporary police barricades were erected throughout late July to prevent white residents from entering
1339-461: A less important role in the community. Laurel evolved into an early suburban town. Many of its residents commuted by rail to jobs in Washington or Baltimore. The town was incorporated in 1870 and reincorporated in 1890 to coincide with a new electric power plant and paved streets and boarded sidewalks. By this time, the town had grown to a population of 2,080, and the city banned livestock from
1442-522: A major exit off the I-95 beltway, running east to west, is one of two main roads in this portion of the county. The other major roadway is Old Crain Highway , which runs north to south along the eastern portion of the county. The Newton White Mansion on the grounds is a popular site for weddings and political events. Joint Base Andrews , Bowie State University and Prince George's Community College are in
1545-419: A parcel with a flag and message ahead to President-elect Wilson . Board track racing came to Laurel in 1925 when a 1.125-mile (1.811 km) wood oval track was built by Jack Prince and featured 48-degree banked turns. The Washington-Baltimore automobile speedway was short-lived, with featured races of 16 drivers at a time. Despite crowds of up to 30,000, receipts did not cover the $ 400,000 cost of building
1648-551: A parking garage on the lower floor of the wood structure; it burned in 1917, and Academy Ford built on the same site in the late 20th century. In 1888 inventor David J. Weems tested an unmanned electric train on a two-mile banked circular track near Laurel Station. The three-ton vehicle reached speeds of up to 120 mph for twenty minutes. In 1890, Citizens National Bank opened its doors on Main Street, as Prince George's County's first nationally chartered bank. Charles H. Stanley
1751-536: A private home merely because Animal Control is checking something unrelated. The Prince George's County Delegation represents the county via 23 delegates in the Maryland House of Delegates . Eight senators represent the county in the Maryland State Senate . In the 118th Congress , most of Prince George's County is represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Glenn Ivey (D) of
1854-605: A railroad, the B&;O . Nicholas Snowden died in 1831, and the mill properties transferred to Louisa Snowden and her husband Horace Capon in 1834. In 1835, coinciding with the opening of the Capital Subdivision rail line from Baltimore to Washington, the Patuxent Manufacturing Company was chartered by Horace Capon, Edward Snowden, Theodore Jenkins, W.C. Shaw, A.E. Hall, and O.C. Tiffany and
1957-751: A referendum 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 Montgomery/Prince George's County line boundaries since 1968, when the City of Laurel was unified in Prince George's County; additional legislation was proposed in 1990 for a technical correction, though may not have achieved enactment. The county's population nearly reached one million residents in
2060-528: A state-of-the-art acute care teaching hospital, and Fort Washington Medical Center. Hospice of the Chesapeake has offices in Largo, with a staff that serves patients in their homes, including skilled nursing, senior living and assisted living facilities. 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
2163-465: A town center and riverside shopping and living development on the Potomac. The National Harbor, and its associated entertainment ( MGM National Harbor ) and shopping ( Tanger Outlets ) districts, have become a major tourist and convention attraction, with significant hotel accommodations, eateries and shopping. Together, these projects were built on land formerly occupied by the Salubria plantation, where
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#17327835788972266-428: A week and 40 bagged lunches a week. In total, its 240 bags of groceries and 1,120 hot meals and bagged lunches a month. The former Laurel Mall hosted food drives to benefit the Elizabeth House. 39°05′55″N 76°51′02″W / 39.09848°N 76.85061°W / 39.09848; -76.85061 Prince George%27s County, Maryland Prince George's County (often shortened to PG County or PG )
2369-460: A wooded reserve adjacent to the planned environmental community of Greenbelt, and University Park , a collection of historic homes adjacent to the University of Maryland. Riversdale Mansion , along with the historic homes of Berwyn Heights , Mt. Rainier and Hyattsville , along with Langley Park are also located in this area. Lake Artemesia and the surrounding park were constructed during
2472-502: Is a Democratic stronghold, having voted majority-Democratic in every presidential election but four since 1932: Dwight D. Eisenhower 's landslide elections in 1952 and 1956 , and Richard Nixon 's two candidacies in 1968 and 1972 . It has not given over 15% of the vote to the Republican nominee since 2004 , and was Joe Biden 's second strongest county in the country (and third-best county equivalent after Washington, D.C. ) in
2575-476: Is a blend of the greenery of the rural tier and the new development of central county. The communities of Clinton , Oxon Hill , Temple Hills including Hillcrest Heights , and Fort Washington are the largest areas of south county. It is the only portion of Prince George's County to enjoy the Potomac River waterfront, and that geographic distinction has yielded the rise of the National Harbor project:
2678-661: Is a prominent presence in the Laurel area today, with the Fort Meade Army base, the NSA and Johns Hopkins' Applied Physics Laboratory all located nearby. Laurel Park , a thoroughbred horse racetrack , is located just outside the city limits. Many dinosaur fossils from the Cretaceous Era are preserved in a 7.5-acre (3.0 ha) park in Laurel . The site, which among other finds has yielded fossilized teeth from Astrodon and Priconodon species, has been called
2781-531: Is available. Several taxicab and shuttle services also support the region. Suburban Airport was located on Brock Bridge Road, just over the Anne Arundel County border. For decades the airport provided general aviation access for medivac helicopters, flight training, business travelers, and served as a relief airport for light traffic into and out of the two major regional airports. This airport closed in 2017. The major airports currently serving
2884-672: Is currently under-construction and slated to open in 2026. The Purple Line will provide connections to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority 's Red Line via Northern Prince George's County and Montgomery County. The Orange Line and MARC Train 's Penn Line will have transfer points at New Carrollton station . The MARC Train (Maryland Area Rail Commuter) train service has two lines that traverse Prince George's County. The Camden Line , which runs between Baltimore Camden Station and Washington Union Station and has six stops in
2987-489: Is divided into nine councilmanic districts, whose number designations wind roughly from north to south. Two at-large council seats were added in 2018. Prince George's County is part of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of the state of Maryland and holds 23 of the 32 total circuit court judges in the circuit (which includes Calvert, Charles, Prince George's, and St. Mary's counties). Fitch Ratings assigned
3090-608: Is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km ) is water. As is typical of central Maryland, Laurel lies within the humid subtropical climate zone, featuring hot humid summers and cool to mild winters with high annual precipitation. Laurel lies within USDA plant hardiness zones 7 and 8. For statistical reporting, the Census Bureau identifies four adjacent unincorporated areas : As of the census of 2010, there were 25,115 people, 10,498 households, and 5,695 families residing in
3193-431: Is located at 39°5′45″N 76°51′35″W / 39.09583°N 76.85972°W / 39.09583; -76.85972 . The city is situated on the bank of the Patuxent River , which was the power source for the cotton mills that were the early industry of the town. The zip codes for the incorporated city of Laurel are 20707, 20708, 20709, 20723, 20724 and 20756. Although served by the Laurel post office, Montpelier
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3296-435: Is located in the U.S. state of Maryland bordering the eastern portion of Washington, D.C. As of the 2020 U.S. census , the population was 967,201, making it the second-most populous county in Maryland , behind neighboring Montgomery County . The 2020 census counted an increase of nearly 104,000 in the previous ten years. Its county seat is Upper Marlboro . It is the most populous African American-majority county in
3399-573: Is not within the city limits; the same is true of the unincorporated communities of Scaggsville and Whiskey Bottom in Howard County, and Maryland City and Russett in Anne Arundel County. A small section of ZIP Code 20707 is located in Montgomery County . According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 4.33 square miles (11.21 km ), of which 4.30 square miles (11.14 km )
3502-485: Is the subject of debate, some residents viewing it as a pejorative and others holding neutral feelings toward the term or even preferring the abbreviation over the full name. The Cretaceous Era brought dinosaurs to the area that left fossils now preserved in a 7.5-acre (3.0 ha) park in Laurel . The site, which among other finds has yielded fossilized teeth from Astrodon and Priconodon species, has been called
3605-483: The 2020 presidential election , only behind Kalawao County, Hawaii , awarding him 89.26% of the vote. 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 residing in unincorporated areas of the county. In addition, the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office acts as the enforcement arm of
3708-583: The 4th district and Steny Hoyer (D) of the 5th district . A small part of the northwestern portion of the county is represented by Jamie Raskin (D) of the 8th district . The County contains a 28-mile portion of the 65-mile-long Capital Beltway . After a decades-long debate, an east–west toll freeway, the Intercounty Connector ("ICC"), which extends Interstate 370 in Montgomery County to connect I-270 with Interstate 95 and U.S. 1 in Laurel , opened in 2012. An 11.5-mile portion of
3811-547: The Laurel Museum on May 1, 1996. The museum features exhibits that highlight the history of Laurel and its citizens. A gift shop is available, and museum admission is free. The museum's John Calder Brennan Library is open to researchers by appointment. On September 24, 2001, a tornado passed through Laurel and left F3 property damage, including significant roof damage to the Laurel High School and
3914-484: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 499 square miles (1,290 km ), of which 483 square miles (1,250 km ) is land and 16 square miles (41 km ) (3.2%) is water. Prince George's County lies in the Atlantic coastal plain , and its landscape is characterized by gently rolling hills and valleys. Along its western border with Montgomery County, Adelphi , Calverton and West Laurel rise into
4017-609: The United States , as well as the second most affluent behind neighboring Charles County . The county is part of the Capital region of the state, though portions of the county are considered to be in Southern Maryland . The county also hosts many federal governmental facilities, such as Joint Base Andrews and the United States Census Bureau headquarters. The official name of the county, as specified in
4120-685: The War of 1812 , the British marched through the county by way of Bladensburg to burn the White House. On their return, they kidnapped a prominent doctor, William Beanes . Lawyer Francis Scott Key was asked to negotiate for his release, which resulted in his writing " The Star-Spangled Banner ". Prince George's County had the highest population of slaves within the state of Maryland. These enslaved Africans engaged in forced labor on tobacco farms and plantations throughout Prince George's County. During
4223-579: The county court , and also shares some patrol responsibility with the county police. County parks are serviced by the Prince George's County Division of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police . Besides the county-level services, all but one of the 27 local municipalities maintain police departments that share jurisdiction with the county police services. Furthermore, the Maryland State Police enforces
Elizabeth House - Misplaced Pages Continue
4326-583: The piedmont , exceeding 300 feet (91 m) in elevation. The Patuxent River forms the county's eastern border with Howard , Anne Arundel , Charles and Calvert counties. Terrain, culture, and demographics differ significantly by location within the county. There are five key regions to Prince George's County: North County, Central County, the Rural Tier, the Inner Beltway, and South County. These regions are not formally defined, however, and
4429-412: The 12,250-acre New Birmingham plantation , which included the later Montpelier . The Washington Turnpike Road Company built Route 1 between 1796 and 1812, creating a major north–south land route. Milstead's Hotel halfway house was built in town to serve four stage lines a day in 1816. Nicholas Snowden built a grist mill on the site circa 1811 which grew to a small cotton mill by the 1820s. In 1828,
4532-656: The 2020 census. It was the largest and highest-income black-majority county in the United States until the 2020 census, when it was surpassed by Charles County. Hispanic residents grew in number to 21% of the total population. The county experienced a dramatic drop in crime, including record drops in violent crime, although in 2021 and 2022, violent crime increased by 30%. From 2020 to mid-2022 over 2,200 residents died of COVID-19, over 19,000 county residents were left with long-term post-COVID symptoms and over 193,000 COVID infections had been recorded. According to
4635-502: The 32.5-mile-long Baltimore–Washington Parkway runs from the county's border with Washington, D.C., to its border with Anne Arundel County near Laurel. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority operates Metrobus fixed-route bus service and Metrorail heavy-rail passenger service in and out of the county as well as the regional MetroAccess paratransit system for the handicapped. The Prince George's County Department of Public Works and Transportation also operates TheBus ,
4738-565: The Bladensburg waterfront, Kenilworth parks, and downtown D.C. Fairmont Heights is the second oldest African-American-majority municipality in Prince George's County. The Fairmount Heights Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. Bowie is best known as a planned Levittown . William Levitt in the 1960s built traditional homes, as well as California contemporaries along U.S. Route 50 ,
4841-554: The Central region, as well as County government offices. The inner beltway communities of Capitol Heights , District Heights , Fairmont Heights , Forestville , Suitland , Hillcrest Heights , Oxon Hill, and Seat Pleasant border neighboring District of Columbia's northeastern and southeastern quadrants. The area has easy access to Metro's blue line , commercial centers, Maryland Route 214, and Interstate 95/Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway). Protected bike trails connect residents to
4944-492: The City and Suburban and Washington, Berwyn, and Laurel railway started single line electric trolley service. The Laurel Sanitarium was built in 1905 on a 163-acre (0.66 km ) farm that comprised what is now Laurel Lakes. The facility's purpose was to care for people with nervous diseases, alcohol, and drug addiction. Five buildings that were joined to a central administration building included 8-, 14-, 30-, and 36-room facilities for men and women. Laurel Park Racecourse ,
5047-620: The Civil War, hundreds of enslaved black men in Prince George's County were given freedom in exchange for joining the Union Army and fighting in Colored units against Confederate Forces. When Abraham Lincoln ordered the end of slavery in America, he did not free the slaves in Maryland because he was concerned that slave owning Maryland would revolt and Washington D.C. would then be surrounded by Confederate forces. However John Pendleton Kennedy ,
5150-409: The Civil War, many African Americans attempted to become part of Maryland politics, but were met with violent repression after the fall of Reconstruction . In April 1865, John Wilkes Booth made his escape through Prince George's County while en route to Virginia after killing President Abraham Lincoln . The proportion of African Americans declined during the first half of the 20th century, but
5253-475: The Grove. In August 1967, it was announced that the city would re-purchase a privately owned swimming pool, which had been sold to a private club in 1949. The pool, which had only been available to white residents, was to be operated as an integrated public facility open to all. On May 15, 1972, Governor George Wallace of Alabama , running for the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party ,
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#17327835788975356-520: The Laurel area are Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in adjacent Anne Arundel County , and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Crystal City, Virginia near downtown Washington, D.C. The Laurel Police Department and the Prince George's County Police Department are the principal providers of the region's police officers. The Maryland State Police patrol US 1, MD 198, and Interstate 95 , which pass through
5459-556: The Mills (Roman Catholic) est. 1845, and St. Philip's (Episcopal) est. 1839 —established what are still vigorous congregations. During the Civil War , Laurel Factory, like much of Maryland, was a divided community, but with many Southern sympathizers. Union soldiers patrolled the railroad, and for a time there was also a Union hospital. During the latter half of the 19th century, while it still operated its factories, manufacturing played
5562-478: The Milstead Hotel, which served as a stop for the four stage lines operating between Baltimore and Washington. In 1898, a stable fire spread to the 100-year-old hotel and burned adjacent buildings along Main Street. With only bucket brigades, Mayor Phelps telegraphed Baltimore to send a special train with fireman, horses, and engine number 10. One fireman was crushed by the rolling fire engine, and returned in
5665-692: The Patuxent River to drain sewage, and filed urban grants for water and sewage infrastructure. 5,000 houses were planned in the adjacent 1,200-acre Maryland City development. City Planner Harry Susini anticipated the National Capitol Planning Commission would use clustered development to prevent tightly massed population in Laurel by the year 2000. In the late 1960s, the county was at the peak of racial tensions. The situation peaked in Laurel in July 1967 when four men and
5768-424: The Potomac. Fort Washington Park was a major battery and gives access to the public for tours of the fort, scenic access to the river and other picnic grounds. Oxon Hill Manor offers a working farm and plantation mansion for touring; His Lordship's Kindness is another major historic home. Also, Fort Foote is an old American Civil War fort and tourist destination. Prince George's and Montgomery Counties share
5871-532: The area just beyond the Beltway to the west and south of central county, though with direct access by Route 210, while bounded on the west by the communities Accokeek and Fort Washington , and the east by the Patuxent River . Prince George's origins are in this part of the county. Most of this area contains the unincorporated parishes, villages and lost towns of Prince George's County. Largely under postal designations of " Upper Marlboro " or " Brandywine ", in truth
5974-448: 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 Fire/Rescue Operations consists of 45 Fire/EMS stations. Prince George's County became
6077-530: The banks of the Patuxent River , in northern Prince George's County . Founded as a mill town in the early 19th century, Laurel expanded local industry and was later able to become an early commuter town for Washington and Baltimore workers following the arrival of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1835. Largely residential today, the city maintains a historic district centered on its Main Street , highlighting its industrial past. The Department of Defense
6180-761: The city limits along U.S. Route 1 and connects Laurel with Gaithersburg . Two MARC train stations on the Camden Line to Baltimore and Washington, D.C. are located in Laurel: Laurel Station and Laurel Racetrack Station , the latter with minimal service. Laurel Station is a particularly notable example of the stations designed by E. Francis Baldwin for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad . The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrobus service provides four routes (87, 89, 89M, and Z7 ) into Laurel, and local RTA bus service
6283-602: The city. Access from I-95 to Laurel is provided by Maryland Route 198 , which also intersects U.S. Route 1 in the center of the city, Maryland Route 197 just east of downtown, and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway just east of the city limits. Other major state roads in Laurel are MD 216 , which connects the city with southern Howard County, and MD 206 . The eastern terminus of MD 200 (the Intercounty Connector) lies just south of
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#17327835788976386-437: The city. The population density was 5,840.7 inhabitants per square mile (2,255.1/km ). There were 11,397 housing units at an average density of 2,650.5 per square mile (1,023.4/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 30.1% White , 48.9% African American , 0.4% Native American , 9.2% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 7.6% from other races , and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 15.5% of
6489-439: The city. The population density was 5,280.2 inhabitants per square mile (2,038.7/km ). There were 9,506 housing units at an average density of 2,514.7 per square mile (970.9/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 52.24% White , 34.50% African American , 0.38% Native American , 6.89% Asian , 0.21% Pacific Islander , 2.30% from other races , and 3.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 6.24% of
6592-753: The completion of the Washington Metro Green Line , and it incorporates a stocked fishing lake and serves as the trail-head for an extensive Anacostia Tributary Trails system that runs along the Anacostia River and its tributaries. The south and central tracts of the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center also lie in this part of the county; the north tract lies north of the Patuxent River in Anne Arundel County . Central County, located on
6695-599: The county at Riverdale , College Park , Greenbelt , Muirkirk , Laurel and Laurel Race Track . The Penn Line runs on the Amtrak route between Pennsylvania and Washington Union stations. It has three stops in the county: Bowie State , Seabrook and New Carrollton . Laurel, Maryland Ward 1: Carl DeWalt Ward 2: Kyla Clark Ward 2: Jeffrey Mills Laurel is a city in Maryland , United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore on
6798-432: The county has slowly moved government functions from rural Upper Marlboro to the Largo area, closer to the center of population, while proposals to move the actual county seat remain controversial. Prince George's County was granted a charter form of government in 1970 with the county executive elected as the head of the executive branch and the county council members as the leadership of the legislative branch. The county
6901-770: The county is anchored by the Capital Beltway and the Baltimore–Washington Parkway . Hyattsville developed early in the 20th century due to its proximity to rail transportation and U.S. Highway 1. Laurel is experiencing a population boom with the construction of the Inter-County Connector . The key employers in this region are the University of Maryland , Beltsville Agricultural Research Center , and NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center . Areas of geographic distinction include Greenbelt Park ,
7004-923: The county such as the US Park Police , US Postal Police , the 316th Security Forces Squadron (specifically covering Andrews AFB ), and other federal police located on various federal property within the county. In addition, nearly all of the incorporated cities and towns in the county have their own municipal police force. Notable exceptions include the city of College Park . Prince George's County hospitals include Bowie Health Center, Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham, Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital & Nursing Center in Cheverly, Laurel Regional Hospital in Laurel, Southern Maryland Hospital Center in Clinton, University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center,
7107-521: The county's charter, is "Prince George's County, Maryland". The county is named after Prince George of Denmark (1653–1708), the consort of Anne, Queen of Great Britain , and the brother of King Christian V of Denmark and Norway . The county's demonym is Prince Georgian, and its motto is Semper Eadem (English: "Ever the Same" ), a phrase used by Queen Anne . Prince George's County is frequently referred to as "PG" or "PG County", an abbreviation which
7210-401: The eastern outskirts of the Capital Beltway, consists of Mitchellville , Woodmore , Greater Upper Marlboro , Springdale , Largo , and Bowie . According to the 2010 census, it has generally been the fastest growing region of the county. Mitchellville is named for a wealthy African American family, the Mitchells, who owned a large portion of land in this area of the county. Central Avenue ,
7313-482: The end of the 1933 season in the peak of the depression. Prohibition in the United States was repealed in 1934. Wasting little time, the Prince Georges Brewing Company planned a $ 500,000 brewery on 100 acres next to Laurel Park, but did not follow through. In 1954, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory built its campus west of Laurel in Howard County, using a Laurel address. By 1960, Laurel anticipated massive growth from Fort Meade and NSA. The town still used
7416-567: The first high school in Prince George's County in 1899, despite several financial obstacles, by personally assuming the financial risks in doing so. The original building built for $ 5,000, now known as the Phelps Community Center , still stands at the northeast corner of Montgomery and Eighth Streets. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. In 1902, the City and Suburban Railway with
7519-489: 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
7622-600: The historic Harrison-Beard building. On August 29, 2005, Laurel adopted Laurel, Mississippi , as a sister city to help with Hurricane Katrina relief and recovery. In the two years following adoption, "the government, businesses and residents of Laurel, Md. ... raised more than $ 20,000 for Laurel, Miss." The following is a list of historic sites in Laurel and vicinity identified by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and / or National Register of Historic Places : Laurel
7725-518: The homeless population. Elizabeth House director, Robert Colnaghi stated that the two officials told him "we should not serve those people from Howard County that we're a magnet for homeless people from Anne Arundel, Howard and Montgomery counties." Saccanelli believes the services offered by social programs including the Elizabeth House attract more homeless to the city. The Elizabeth House serves people in Prince George's County , Howard County , and Anne Arundel County . The number of people supported by
7828-466: The key highway to the eastern shore and the state capital of Annapolis . Bowie has currently grown to be the largest city in Prince George's County, with more than 50,000 people. It also has a large Caucasian population, compared to much of the county (48% of the population). Housing styles vary from the most contemporary to century-old homes in Bowie's antique district (formerly known as Huntingtown), where
7931-631: The law on state highways which pass through the county with the exception of Maryland Route 200 where the Maryland Transportation Authority Police is the primary law enforcement agency and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police patrol the state parks and navigable waterways located within the county. Along with the state and local law enforcement agencies, the federal government also maintains several departments that service citizens of
8034-406: The median income for a family was $ 58,552. Males had a median income of $ 37,966 versus $ 35,614 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 26,717. About 4.3% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over. The most prominent highway serving Laurel is Interstate 95 , which skims the western edge of
8137-487: The mill expanded greatly with the addition of the Avondale Mill building in 1844. Mill president Horace Capron with his partners built housing for close to 300 workers, and a bigger cotton mill. Cotton duck from the mill was shipped down what would become Laurel's Main Street, then by rail to Baltimore. A substantial dam was built in 1850. As a mill town, Laurel was somewhat unusual in Prince George's County and
8240-516: The most prolific in the eastern United States. In the mid to late Holocene era, the area was occupied by Paleo-Native Americans and then, later, Native Americans. When the first European settlers arrived, what is now Prince George's County was inhabited by people of the Piscataway Indian Nation . Three branches of the tribe are still living today, two of which are headquartered in Prince George's County. Prince George's County
8343-612: The most prolific in the eastern United States. From the Late Glacial age in 10,700 B.C. to 8,500 B.C., Laurel's climate warmed and changed from a spruce forest to a hardwood forest. In the Late Archaic period from 4,000 to 1,000 B.C., Laurel would have been covered primarily with an oak and hickory forest. Laurel was formed from land on the fall line of the Patuxent River patented by the Snowden family in 1658 as part of
8446-479: The name Konterra , buoyed by access to major highways via the construction of Maryland Route 200 . The Elizabeth House , a nonprofit food pantry and soup kitchen, was founded in 1988 to serve low-income residents of the Laurel area. This later grew to include emergency financial aid and transportation. A former 1840s mill workers' home on the northeast corner of 9th and Main Streets was renovated and opened as
8549-476: The nearby T. Howard Duckett Dam at Rocky Gorge Reservoir was at capacity and posed a huge threat. In 1975, the city council passed ordinances to create a historic district around Main Street. In 1982, developer Kingdon Gould III bought 3,539 acres of Laurel property (539 in North Laurel ) in two deals for $ 15 million. The largest parcel lies between Laurel and Beltsville and is being developed under
8652-419: The organization has grown since its foundation. Boy Scouts of America collect donations that provide additional support in the holiday season. In August 1995, Elizabeth House served approximately 50 to 75 homeless people a night. According to Laurel officials, in 1995, the Elizabeth House served roughly 70 to 90 people annually. In November 2011, the Elizabeth House provides three bags of groceries to 20 families
8755-659: The park's Jug Bay Natural Area and the Patuxent Riverkeeper in Queen Anne both offer canoeing and kayaking rentals on the Patuxent. The county's largest collection of tobacco planter mansions and preserved homes are in the rural tier, some managed by the M-NCPPC. Many rural tier roads have scenic highway preservation status. Rosaryville State Park is in the county, not far from the county seat. South County
8858-442: The population. There were 10,498 households, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.4% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.8% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
8961-413: The population. There were 8,931 households, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18, 33.9% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.1% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size
9064-409: 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. In 1791, portions of Prince George's County were ceded to form the new District of Columbia (along with portions of Montgomery County, Maryland and parts of Northern Virginia that were later returned to Virginia ). During
9167-568: The service purchase coupons giving them a 50 percent discount with participating taxicab companies in Prince George's and Montgomery Counties. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has fifteen stations of the Washington Metro system located in Prince George's County, with four of them as terminus stations: Greenbelt , New Carrollton , Downtown Largo , and Branch Avenue . The Purple Line , which would link highly developed areas of both Montgomery and Prince George's Counties
9270-483: The streets. In 1870, the Patuxent Bank of Laurel was founded on the corner of Main Street and Washington Avenue. In 1874 a delegation was sent to Annapolis to introduce legislation to make Laurel its own county of 10,000 residents with land from Prince George's, Howard, and Anne Arundel counties. In 1879 Laurel Academy of Music was built along Route 1. The building was converted to a movie theatre in 1915, with
9373-413: The streets. The rural tier has been the focus of orchestrated efforts by residents and county government to preserve its rural character and environmental integrity. Under the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) , Patuxent River Park is the largest natural preserve and provides public access for birdwatching and viewing the rural tier's natural waterfront vistas. In season,
9476-422: The terms used to describe each area can vary greatly. In the broadest terms, the county is generally divided into North County and South County with U.S. Route 50 serving as the dividing line. Southern Prince George's County is also considered to be a part of the Southern Maryland region. Northern Prince George's County includes Laurel , Beltsville , Adelphi , College Park and Greenbelt . This area of
9579-531: The town of Bowie began as a haven for thoroughbred horse racing. Areas of geographic distinction include the Oden Bowie Mansion , Allen Pond, key segments of the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Trail , as well as planned parks, lakes and walking trails. Prince George's rural tier was designated "in the 2002 General Plan as an area where residential growth would be minimal"; it may be found in
9682-476: The town of Upper Marlboro is more central county in character, though it is the post office location for various rural settlements. (The names of these unincorporated areas are listed below in the towns section of this article). Since 1721 Upper Marlboro has been the county seat of government, with families that trace their lineage back to Prince George's initial land grants and earliest governing officials. Names like Clagett, Sasscer , King James and Queen Anne pepper
9785-475: The track on the 364-acre Avondale property which fell into receivership in 1926. Natural gas service was extended to the community in 1929. In 1931, "Angy Gerrin" built a 7,000-seat amphitheater next to the Duvall Farm between Laurel Park and Route One for an outdoor boxing venue. His company, Mid City Boxing Club Inc, held several events with low turnouts and receipts confiscated by local police. It
9888-438: Was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.19. The median age in the city was 33.7 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 37.2% were from 25 to 44; 23.8% were from 45 to 64; and 7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 19,960 people, 8,931 households , and 4,635 families residing in
9991-401: Was 2.97. In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 42.9% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males . For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 49,415, and
10094-405: Was campaigning at a rally in the parking lot of Laurel Shopping Center , near what is today a Bank of America branch, when he was shot and paralyzed by Arthur Bremer , a disturbed, out-of-work janitor (see An Assassin's Diary ). On June 22, 1972, Laurel was impacted severely by Hurricane Agnes , which caused the greatest flooding ever recorded in Maryland. Several bridges were destroyed and
10197-591: Was created by the English Council of Maryland in the Province of Maryland in April 1696 from portions of Charles and Calvert counties. The county was divided into six districts referred to as "Hundreds": Mattapany , Petuxant , Collington , Mount Calvert, Piscattoway and New Scotland. A portion was detached in 1748 to form Frederick County . Because Frederick County was subsequently divided to form
10300-429: Was renewed to over 50% in the early 1990s when the county again became majority African American. The first African American County Executive was Wayne K. Curry , elected in 1994. On July 1, 1997, the Prince George's County section of the city of Takoma Park , which straddled the boundary between Prince George's and Montgomery counties, was transferred to Montgomery County . This was done after city residents voted in
10403-627: Was sold the same year to C.E. Cornell, who called it "Twin Cities Arena" or "Mid City Arena". The arena was active through 1932 with the entire delegation of the National Boxing Association attending a fight with Governor Ritchie in attendance. After watching the match and calling a fight to be halted in five rounds, the delegation announced efforts to drop junior lightweight and junior welterweight classes to discourage matches between young opponents. Operations ceased by
10506-470: Was surrounded by agricultural endeavors. The community was originally known as "Laurel Factory", named for its laurel trees, when Edward Snowden became the first postmaster in 1837 and was a true company town, with a school and shops, and many of the mill workers' homes owned until the 1860s by the company. During the 1840s, three historic churches in the community—the Methodist est. 1842, St. Mary of
10609-428: Was the bank's first president, and it remained independently managed and with the same name until acquired by PNC Financial Services in 2007. Branch services are still provided from the original building. Along with those branch services being provided, there have been an additional 5 branches that were implemented. At the turn of the century, Louis Barret operated a hotel called the "Half Way House", later called
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