Anne Arundel County, Maryland

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Anne Arundel County, Maryland
County
Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County Courthouse Jul 09.JPG
The Anne Arundel County Courthouse in July 2009
Flag of Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Flag		 Seal of Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Seal
Nickname(s): "Anne Arundel"
Map of Maryland highlighting Anne Arundel County
Location in the U.S. state of Maryland
Map of the United States highlighting Maryland
Maryland's location in the U.S.
Founded April 9, 1650
Named for Anne Arundell
Seat Annapolis
Largest community Glen Burnie
Area
 • Total 588 sq mi (1,523 km2)
 • Land 415 sq mi (1,075 km2)
 • Water 173 sq mi (448 km2), 29%
Population (est.)
 • (2014) 560,133
 • Density 1,296/sq mi (500/km²)
Congressional districts 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.aacounty.org

Anne Arundel County /ˌænəˈrʌndəl/ is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2010 census, its population was 537,656,[1] a population increase of just under 10% since 2000.[2] Its county seat is Annapolis,[3] which is also the capital of the state. The county is named for Lady Anne Arundell (1615–49), a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, United Kingdom and the wife of Cecilius Calvert, second Baron and Lord Baltimore, (1605-1675), founder and first Lord Proprietor of the colony Province of Maryland.

Anne Arundel County is included in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA Combined Statistical Area.

History

The former flag of Anne Arundel County, used until 1997.

The County was named for Lady Ann Arundell, (1615/1616-1649), the daughter of Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour, members of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England. She married Cecilius Calvert, second Lord Baltimore, (1605-1675), and the first Lord Proprietor of the colony, Province of Maryland, in an arranged marriage contract in 1627 or 1628.

Anne Arundel County (modern spelling adds an 'e' to her first name of "Ann" and a second 'L' to the family name of "Arundell" - but the old traditional spelling of her name is still used in the title of the local historical society, the Ann Arundell County Historical Society) was originally part of St. Mary's County in the southern portion of the Province of Maryland which had first been settled by the arriving settlers in 1634. In 1650, the year after Lady Ann Arundell's death, the County separated from St. Mary's and "erected" into its own jurisdiction and became the 3rd of the 23 Maryland counties. Between 1654 and 1658, the County was known as "Providence County" by many of its early settlers.[citation needed]

On March 25, 1655, during the English Civil War, the Battle of the Severn, the first naval colonial battle ever fought in America was fought in Anne Arundel County on the Severn River between Puritan forces supporting the Commonwealth of England and forces loyal to the Lord Proprietor, Cecilius Calvert. The Commonwealth forces under William Fuller were victorious.

Between 1694 and 1695, the provincial capital of Maryland was moved from St. Mary's City along the northern shore of the Potomac River across from the southern colonial border with the Province of Virginia in St. Mary's County further north along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, midway in the colony to Annapolis in Anne Arundel County. Prior to the move, Annapolis was known as "Providence".[4]

During the American Revolutionary War, citizens of Anne Arundel County supported the Continental Army by providing troops for three regiments. The 3rd Maryland Regiment, the 4th Maryland Regiment, and the 6th Maryland Regiment were recruited in the county.[citation needed]

During the War of 1812, the one of the original six heavy frigates of the recently reestablished United States Navy, "U.S.S. Constitution" sailed from Annapolis prior to its victorious engagement with the "H.M.S. Guerriere" of the British Royal Navy.[citation needed]

On May 22, 1830, the inaugural horse-drawn train of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad travelled the 13 miles (21 km) of the newly completed track from Mount Clare Station in southwestern Baltimore City to Ellicott Mills, (now Ellicott City), then in the Western or Howard District (now Howard County) of Anne Arundel County. This was the first regular railroad passenger service in the United States.[citation needed] In 1831, land west of the railroad was considered the Howard District of Anne Arundel County. In 1851, The Howard District was broken off to form Howard County, now the 21st county in Maryland (of 23).[5]

The County has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 588 square miles (1,520 km2), of which 415 square miles (1,070 km2) is land and 173 square miles (450 km2) (29%) is water.[7] Anne Arundel County is located to the south of the city of Baltimore.

Most of the County's borders are defined by water. To the east lies the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, and numerous tidal tributaries of the Bay indent the shoreline, the various rivers, creeks, streams, inlets forming prominent peninsulas, also known as "necks" (as further south in Virginia). The largest of these tributaries include (from north to south), the Magothy River, Severn River, South River, and the West River. Further south, the upper Patuxent River forms the border of Anne Arundel with Prince George's County to the west. Deep Run forms part of the northwestern border with Howard County, and Lyons Creek forms part of the southern border with Calvert County. The Patapsco River to the north is the border with Baltimore County, but the communities and areas of Brooklyn and Curtis Bay neighborhoods (and adjacent Fairfield, Wagner's Point [also known as East Brooklyn], Arundel Cove [off of Curtis Creek], and Hawkins Point), lying south of the Patapsco River were annexed from Anne Arundel County to Baltimore City in the third major annexation of January 1919.[8]

Anne Arundel County originally included all of the land between the Patuxent River and the Patapsco River (mainstem and South Branch) upstream to their headwaters on Parr's Ridge. The northwestern section of this long tract later became Howard County, with the border between the two running very close to the Atlantic Seaboard fall line. As a result, Anne Arundel County lies almost entirely within the Atlantic Coastal Plain while Howard County is almost entirely within the Piedmont province.

Elevations in Anne Arundel County range from sea level at the Chesapeake and tidal tributaries to approximately 300 feet (91 m) in western areas near the fall line.[9] The terrain is mostly flat or gently rolling, but more dramatic banks and bluffs can be found where waterways cut through areas of higher elevation.

With the exception of the very limited extent of Piedmont underlain by Precambrian to early Paleozoic metamorphic rock, all of the county is underlain by thick deposits of gravel, sand, silt, and clay dating from the early Cretaceous to Holocene times.[10] Most of these sediments are unconsolidated but include local formations of sandstone, especially in the Pasadena area.[11]

Adjacent counties and independent city

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National protected area

Climate

Crofton Parkway in Crofton in early March

Anne Arundel County has a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and cool winters. Annual precipitation averages around 40 inches (100 cm) per year throughout the county, with a fairly even distribution throughout the year. Annual snowfall totals around 21.8 inches (55 cm) on average at BWI Airport, which has an elevation of 148 feet (45 m) above sea level. Slightly colder winter temperatures and higher snowfall are experienced at the higher elevations, with slightly lower snowfall closer to sea level.[12] According to the most recent USDA Hardiness zone maps, the lowland areas of the county fall into Zone 7b, with possible winter minimum temperatures of 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12 °C), while higher areas fall into Zone 7a, with possible winter minimums of 0 to 5 °F (−18 to −15 °C).[13]

Politics and government

Anne Arundel County vote
by party in presidential elections
Year GOP Dem Others
2012 48.75% 126,832 48.68% 126,635 2.57% 6,688
2008 49.95% 129,682 48.15% 125,015 1.90% 4,921
2004 55.59% 133,231 43.11% 103,324 1.30% 3,112
2000 51.93% 104,209 44.67% 89,624 3.40% 6,824
1996 48.61% 83,574 41.97% 72,147 9.42% 16,196
1992 43.83% 81,467 36.93% 68,629 19.24% 35,761
1988 63.53% 98,540 35.74% 55,440 0.72% 1,121
1984 66.04% 94,171 33.36% 47,565 0.60% 855
1980 52.76% 69,443 38.58% 50,780 8.67% 11,409
1976 53.03% 61,353 46.97% 54,351
1972 72.26% 71,707 26.28% 26,082 1.46% 1,450
1968 47.09% 36,557 32.70% 25,381 20.21% 15,687
1964 41.30% 26,725 58.70% 37,981
1960 54.00% 30,595 46.00% 26,063
1956 64.30% 28,622 35.70% 15,888
1952 60.77% 23,273 38.48% 14,739 0.75% 288
Anne Arundel County Courthouse, June 2005

Anne Arundel County has had a charter government since 1965. The government consists of a County Executive and a seven-member County Council. The County Executive and Council members are elected in the same years Maryland conducts its gubernatorial and legislative elections, and may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.

The Democrats are also the largest party by number of registered voters, but the large number of Republican-leaning independents means Republicans win more county-wide elections than in other mostly-suburban counties in Maryland. However Democrats are the dominant party in Annapolis city elections.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment of Anne Arundel County[14]
Party Total Percentage
  Democratic 152,406 42.67%
  Republican 127,426 35.67%
  Independents and unaffiliated 77,372 21.66%
Total 357,204 100.00%

County Executives

The County Executive oversees the executive branch of the County government, which consists of a number of offices and departments. The executive branch is charged with implementing County law and overseeing the operation of the County government. The next election will be in 2018.

Name Affiliation Term
  Joseph W. Alton Republican 1965–1974
  Robert A. Pascal Republican 1974–1982
  O. James Lighthizer Democrat 1982–1990
  Robert R. Neall Republican 1990–1994
  John G. Gary Republican 1994–1998
  Janet S. Owens Democrat 1998–2006
  John R. Leopold Republican 2006–2013
  Laura Neuman Republican 2013–2014
  Steve Schuh Republican 2014–present

County Council

The County Council, as the legislative branch, adopts ordinances and resolutions, and has all of the County's legislative powers.

The most recent county election occurred November 4, 2014. The partisan makeup remained unchanged, with Republicans holding a 4-3 majority.

Current County Board
Position Name Affiliation District Region
  Member Michael Peroutka Republican 5 Severna Park, Broadneck
  Member Derek Fink Republican 3 Pasadena
  Vice Chairman Peter Smith Democratic 1 Severn
  Member John Grasso Republican 2 Glen Burnie
  Member Andrew Pruski Democratic 4 Crownsville
  Member Chris Trumbauer Democratic 6 Annapolis
  Chairman Jerry Walker Republican 7 Gambrillis/Crofton

Law enforcement

The Annapolis Police Department covers eastern Anne Arundel County

There are several major law enforcement agencies servicing Anne Arundel County:

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1790 22,598 —
1800 22,623 0.1%
1810 26,668 17.9%
1820 27,165 1.9%
1830 28,295 4.2%
1840 29,532 4.4%
1850 32,393 9.7%
1860 23,900 −26.2%
1870 24,457 2.3%
1880 28,526 16.6%
1890 34,094 19.5%
1900 39,620 16.2%
1910 39,553 −0.2%
1920 43,408 9.7%
1930 55,167 27.1%
1940 68,375 23.9%
1950 117,392 71.7%
1960 206,634 76.0%
1970 297,539 44.0%
1980 370,775 24.6%
1990 427,239 15.2%
2000 489,656 14.6%
2010 537,656 9.8%
Est. 2014 560,133 [17] 4.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[18]
1790-1960[19] 1900-1990[20]
1990-2000[21] 2010-2014[1]

2010

The ethnic makeup of the county, according to the 2010 U.S. Census, was the following:

2000

As of the census[22] of 2000, there were 489,656 people, 178,670 households, and 129,178 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,177 people per square mile (455/km²). There were 186,937 housing units at an average density of 449 per square mile (174/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.24% White, 13.57% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.29% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. 2.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.7% were of German, 13.1% Irish, 10.5% English, 8.1% United States or American and 7.0% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 178,670 households out of which 34.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.10 males.

As of Census 2010 the population was 537,658. The ethnic and racial make-up of the county population was 72.42% Non-Hispanic white, 15.52% black, 0.31% Native American, 3.41% Asian, 0.16% Non-Hispanic of some other race, 2.37% non-Hispanics of two or more races and 6.12% Hispanic.

Economy

Principal employers

According to the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, the following were the principal employers in the county in November 2014 (excluding U.S. post offices and state and local governments, but including public institutions of higher education).[23]

Employer Employees
Fort George G. Meade (including the NSA) 50,000
Northrop Grumman 6,900
Anne Arundel Health System 4,000
Southwest Airlines 3,200
Maryland Live! Casino 3,000
University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center 2,800
U.S. Naval Academy/Naval Support Activity 2,340
Booz Allen Hamilton 2,300
Walmart/Sam's Club 2,106
Anne Arundel Community College 2,056
Allegis Group 1,500
Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) 1,229
Giant Food 1,220
Target Corporation 1,050
Lockheed Martin 925
Verizon 844
Safeway 800
Food Lion 790
Rockwell Collins 750
Sears Holdings
(Sears, Roebuck and Co. & Kmart)		 743
AT&T Services 700
Ciena 683
TeleCommunication Systems 650
United States Coast Guard Yard 640
Johns Hopkins HealthCare 625
Shoppers Food Warehouse 625
Under Armour 617
Maryland Jockey Club/Laurel Park 616
L-3 Communications 600
Navy Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) 600
KEYW Corp. 583

Personal income

In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $61,768, and the median income for a family was $69,019 (these figures had risen to $79,294 and $91,071 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[24]). Males had a median income of $43,747 versus $32,348 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,578. About 3.60% of families and 5.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.30% of those under age 18 and 5.80% of those age 65 or over.

State government

Several state agencies are headquartered in unincorporated areas in Anne Arundel County. Executive departments include the Department of Agriculture,[25] the Aviation Administration,[26] the Department of Housing and Community Development,[27] and the Department of Transportation.[28] The Rural Maryland Council, an independent agency, is also headquartered in an unincorporated area in the county.[29]

State correctional facilities

The Maryland House of Correction, operated by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, was located in Anne Arundel County. The prison was closed in 2007.[30]

The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services operates several additional correctional facilities in the unincorporated town of Jessup in Anne Arundel County, including:

  • Brockbridge Correctional Facility
  • Jessup Correctional Institution
  • Jessup Pre-Release Unit
  • Maryland Correctional Institution - Jessup
  • Maryland Correctional Institution for Women

District of Columbia facilities

The District of Columbia Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) operates the New Beginnings Youth Development Center, a secure youth prison, in the county. Oak Hill Youth Center, the previous DYRS secure facility, was also in the county.[30]

U.S. Department of Defense Facilities

Fort George G. Meade is a large U.S. Army post located in the northwest of the county. It is the home of the National Security Agency.

The Naval Academy is located in Annapolis.

Healthcare

There are two full-service hospitals in Anne Arundel County: Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis and Baltimore Washington Medical Center (formerly North Arundel Hospital) in Glen Burnie, part of the University of Maryland Medical System.

Media

Education

Transportation

Anne Arundel County is the home of Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, commonly referred to as BWI. BWI serves as the main airport for greater Baltimore. It is also an increasingly popular alternative airport to residents of the Washington, D.C. area. BWI is an East Coast hub for Southwest Airlines, meaning that direct flights are available between BWI and much of the country.

The southern portion of the Maryland Transit Administration's Light Rail system, connecting downtown Baltimore with BWI, runs through the northern part of Anne Arundel County.

The county also has multiple stops on the MARC commuter rail service, including a stop at BWI Rail Station, located near BWI Airport. Amtrak trains also stop at BWI's train station.

Additionally, the Laurel-based Connect-a-ride system operates two routes in the western portion of the county, including Severn, Arundel Mills, Maryland City, Glen Burnie, Hanover, and Odenton. Howard County's Howard Transit Silver route serves Arundel Mills shopping mall and BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.

The county is served by one main-line interstate, Interstate 97, which is the country's only main-line interstate highway contained completely within a single county. Interstate 695, the McKeldin Beltway (commonly known as the Baltimore Beltway), runs through the northern part of the county. Interstate 895, the Harbor Tunnel Thruway, runs through the county towards the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. Interstate 195, a spur off of Interstate 95, serves BWI Airport.

Interstate 595 also runs through central Anne Arundel County. This highway, however, is not signed. It is referred to by its more common names, US 50 and US 301.

The remaining limited-access freeways are all Maryland State highways that serve the more densely populated northern part of the county. The Baltimore Washington Parkway runs through the northwest of the county, roughly parallel to the border with Howard County. Maryland Route 100 runs east-west from Pasadena through Hanover and into Howard County, while Maryland Route 32 connects I-97 near Millersville with Columbia in Howard County by way of Odenton and Fort Meade. Maryland Route 10, the Arundel Expressway, is a north-south bypass around Glen Burnie, connecting the Baltimore Beltway with Ritchie Highway north of Severna Park.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge crosses the Chesapeake Bay from the county; it connects the Western Shore with the Eastern Shore in Queen Anne's County.

Recreation

Maryland Park Service

Sandy Point State Park is located at the end of the Broadneck peninsula near the west end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. It features a beach and marina and hosts many festivals and special events throughout the year.[32] Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden is located at the Department of Natural Resources headquarters in Annapolis. The 5 acre garden features representations of the state's various geographic areas.[33] The county also contains some of the easternmost portions of Patapsco Valley State Park, consisting of mostly undeveloped areas of forest and wetlands along the lower Patapsco River.

Anne Arundel Recreation and Parks

The Department of Recreation and Parks maintains "a comprehensive system of recreational programs for county residents and the preservation of valuable land," including indoor and outdoor sports facilities, community parks, green ways, archaeological, environmental, and historical preserves, and large regional facilities.[34] Some of the major facilities include the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail, Downs Park, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Fort Smallwood Park, Kinder Farm Park, and Quiet Waters Park.

Other major attractions include the Maryland Renaissance Festival in Crownsville, the Maryland State House and the Colonial Annapolis Historic District.

Anne Arundel County is home to the two largest shopping malls in the State of Maryland: Westfield Annapolis Mall and Arundel Mills in Hanover in addition to Marley Station Mall in Glen Burnie. Adjacent to Arundel Mills is the Maryland Live! casino.

Communities

Map of Anne Arundel County Maryland.svg
Bracketed number refers to location on map, right

City

Town

Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Notable residents

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Odenton Patch Odenton's Population Jumps 17K According to Census. by Tim Lemke, "The western portion of Anne Arundel County saw significant growth, paced by a more than 80 percent jump in residents in Odenton", February 16, 2011, accessed February 17, 2012.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ http://www.aacounty.org/Elections/VR17%20Political%20Party%20Reports/02012013.pdf
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Anne Arundel County Department of Detention Facilities
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Major Employers in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (Nov. 2014 data).
  24. ↑ American FactFinder
  25. ↑ Home page. Maryland Department of Agriculture. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  26. ↑ "Maryland Aviation Administration Contacts." Maryland Aviation Administration. Retrieved on March 2, 2010.
  27. ↑ Home page. Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  28. ↑ "MDOT Departments". Maryland Department of Transportation. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  29. ↑ "Contact Us". Rural Maryland Council. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 "GR2009052900126.gif." The Washington Post. Retrieved on October 7, 2010.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. ↑ Press Release
  39. ↑ Crime Scene interview
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

 Howard County Baltimore City and Baltimore County Kent County
Queen Anne's County
  Anne Arundel County, Maryland  
Prince George's County Calvert County Talbot County

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