The Port Tobacco River is a tidal tributary of the Potomac River in Charles County , Maryland , in the United States . The river is about 4.2 miles (6.8 km) long. Port Tobacco , the county seat of Charles County from 1658 to 1895, was an active port until that portion of the river became silted and unnavigable. When the railroad bypassed the town, business declined, and the county seat was moved to La Plata, Maryland .
20-513: 38°27′28″N 77°2′6″W / 38.45778°N 77.03500°W / 38.45778; -77.03500 This article about a location in Charles County , Maryland is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article related to a river in Maryland is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Charles County, Maryland Charles County
40-555: A tornado ripped through the county leaving 17 dead (including 13 schoolchildren). On April 28, 2002 , another tornado (rated an F-4) destroyed much of downtown La Plata killing 3 and injuring over 100 people. The county has numerous properties on the National Register of Historic Places . Among them are Green Park and Pleasant Hill , home of the Green and Spalding Families. On December 4, 2004, an arson took place in
60-457: A household in the county was $ 62,199, and the median income for a family was $ 67,602 (these figures had risen to $ 80,573 and $ 89,358 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $ 43,371 versus $ 34,231 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 24,285. About 3.70% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line , including 6.70% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over. As of 2010,
80-552: Is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland . As of the 2020 census , the population was 166,617. The county seat is La Plata . The county was named for Charles Calvert (1637–1715), third Baron Baltimore . The county is part of the Southern Maryland region of the state. With a median household income of $ 103,678, Charles County is the 39th-wealthiest county in the United States as of 2020, and
100-445: Is governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland. There are five commissioners. As of 2022 , they are: Charles County is entirely within the 5th Congressional District , which also includes Calvert, St. Mary's, and parts of Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties. The current representative is former Democratic House Majority Leader and former House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer . According to
120-482: Is served by numerous state highways and one U.S. Highway : The Census Bureau recognizes the following census-designated places in the county: 38°29′N 77°01′W / 38.48°N 77.01°W / 38.48; -77.01 Hunters Brooke arson The Hunters Brooke arson was a series of fires that destroyed over two dozen houses in the under-construction Hunters Brooke Development on Maryland Route 225 , southeast of Indian Head, Maryland , in
140-554: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has an area of 643 square miles (1,670 km ), of which 458 square miles (1,190 km ) is land and 185 square miles (480 km ) (29%) water. In its western wing, along the southernmost bend in Maryland Route 224 , Charles County contains a place due north, east, south, and west of the same state—Virginia. As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 146,551 people, 51,214 households, and 38,614 families residing in
160-642: The United States , on December 6, 2004. It is considered to be the worst arson event in Maryland state history. Initially suspicion fell on environmental extremists, since the development was being constructed in an unusual and sensitive wetland area, a magnolia bog . However, it was ultimately determined that Patrick Walsh and Aaron Speed, a security guard for the Hunters Brooke Development, recruited three others to set fire to
180-493: The census of 2000, there were 120,546 people, 41,668 households, and 32,292 families residing in the county. The population density was 262 inhabitants per square mile (101/km ). There were 43,903 housing units at an average density of 95 per square mile (37/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 68.51% White , 26.06% Black or African American , 0.75% Native American , 1.82% Asian , 0.06% Pacific Islander , 0.72% from other races , and 2.08% from two or more races. 2.26% of
200-471: The county population's racial makeup was 48.38% Non-Hispanic whites, 40.96% blacks, 0.65% Native Americans, 2.98% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islanders, 0.17% Non-Hispanics of some other race, 3.20% Non-Hispanics reporting more than one race and 4.27% Hispanic. According to the 2022 publication "Meet Charles County" of the County Department of Economic Development, its top employers are: Charles County
220-424: The county. The population density was 320.2 inhabitants per square mile (123.6/km ). There were 54,963 housing units at an average density of 120.1 per square mile (46.4/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 50.3% white, 41.0% black or African American, 3.0% Asian, 0.7% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.3% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.3% of
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#1732801775030240-473: The development of Hunters Brooke, a few miles southeast of Indian Head . The Hunters Brooke Arson was the largest residential arson in Maryland history. Owing to the considerable voting power of its large number of freedmen following the Civil War , and later its growth as a suburban area, Charles County was for a long time solidly Republican . The only Democrat to carry Charles County until 1960
260-796: The highest-income county in the United States with a Black-majority population. Charles County was created in 1658 by an Order in Council . There was also an earlier Charles County from 1650 to 1654, sometimes referred to in historic documents as Old Charles County , which consisted largely of lands within today's borders but "included parts of St. Mary’s, Calvert, present-day Charles, and Prince George’s County". John Tayloe I purchased land around Nanjemoy Creek after 1710 from which to mine iron and ship to his furnaces at Bristol Iron Works , Neabsco Iron Works and later Occoquan Ironworks. In April 1865, John Wilkes Booth made his escape through Charles County after shooting President Abraham Lincoln . He
280-486: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 11.6% were of German , 10.8% Irish , 10.2% English , 9.3% American and 5.3% Italian ancestry. There were 41,668 households, out of which 41.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 14.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.50% were non-families. 17.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.20% had someone living alone who
300-447: The population. In terms of ancestry, 12.6% were German , 10.8% were Irish , 8.7% were English , 6.3% were American , and 5.1% were Italian . Of the 51,214 households, 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.6% were non-families, and 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size
320-522: Was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, although Alf Landon and Wendell Willkie defeated Roosevelt in the next two elections by a combined margin of just 50 votes. Since the turn of the millennium, Charles County has become reliably Democratic, although not as overwhelmingly so as other parts of Maryland's Washington, D.C. suburbs. Charles County is one of only two counties in the nation to have voted for Al Gore in 2000 after voting for Bob Dole in 1996, along with Orange County, Florida . Charles County
340-464: Was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.24. The median age was 37.4 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 88,825 and the median income for a family was $ 98,560. Males had a median income of $ 62,210 versus $ 52,477 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 35,780. About 3.7% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over. As of
360-457: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.21. In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.70% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 33.20% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 7.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males. The median income for
380-503: Was drafted by Democratic state delegate (lower house) Walter Digges and co-sponsored by state senator (upper house) William J. Frere , both from Charles County, Maryland. In Maryland's unrestricted general election of 1911, the Digges Amendment was defeated with 46,220 votes for and 83,920 votes against the proposal. Nationally Maryland citizens achieved the most notable rejection of a black-disfranchising amendment. In 1926,
400-717: Was on his way to Virginia . He stopped briefly in Waldorf (then called Beantown) and had his broken leg set by local Doctor Samuel Mudd , who was later sent to prison for helping him. Booth then proceeded to hide in the Zekiah Swamp in Charles County, avoiding search parties for over a week until he and his accomplice were able to successfully cross the Potomac River . The 1911 Digges Amendment , which attempted to disenfranchise African Americans in Maryland,
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