Cecil County, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Cecil County is a county located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

. It is part of the Delaware Valley
Delaware Valley
The Delaware Valley is a term used to refer to the valley where the Delaware River flows, along with the surrounding communities. This includes the metropolitan area centered on the city of Philadelphia. Such educational institutions as Delaware Valley Regional High School in Alexandria Township...

. It was named for Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, 1st Proprietor and 1st Proprietary Governor of Maryland, 9th Proprietary Governor of Newfoundland , was an English peer who was the first proprietor of the Province of Maryland. He received the proprietorship after the death of his father, George Calvert, the...

 (1605–1675), who was the first Proprietary Governor
Proprietary Governor
Proprietary Governors were individuals authorized to govern proprietary colonies. Under the proprietary system, individuals or companies were granted commercial charters by the King of England to establish colonies. These proprietors then selected the governors and other officials in the colony....

 of the colony of Maryland from 1632 until his death in 1675. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....

 is Elkton
Elkton, Maryland
The town of Elkton is the county seat of Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,893 as of the 2000 census and 14,842 according to current July 2008 census estimates. It is the county seat of Cecil County...

. The newspaper of record is the Cecil Whig
Cecil Whig
The Cecil Whig is a local newspaper published in Cecil County, Maryland every weekday. It has a circulation of approximately 17,500. Although the paper was founded to promote the ideals of the Whig political party, the publication has long outlasted its namesake.Publisher: David FikeExecutive...

. As of 2010, the population was 101,108.

Law and government

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

History

Cecil County was created in 1674 by proclamation of the Governor. It was created from portions of Baltimore
Baltimore County, Maryland
Baltimore County is a county located in the northern part of the US state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 805,029. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Towson. The name of the county was derived from the barony of the Proprietor of the Maryland...

 and Kent Counties
Kent County, Maryland
Kent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, on its Eastern Shore. It was named for the county of Kent in England. Its county seat is Chestertown. In 2010, the county population was 20,197...

. One of the earliest developers of the county was George Talbot appointed Surveyor-General of Maryland in 1683, who came from Ballyconnell
Ballyconnell
Ballyconnell is a town in County Cavan, Ireland. It is situated on the N87 national secondary road at the junction of four townlands Annagh, Cullyleenan, Doon and Derryginny in the parish of Tomregan, Barony of Tullyhaw. The town has an altitude of 55 metres above sea level...

, County Cavan, Ireland.

The county has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places listings in Cecil County, Maryland
This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Cecil County, Maryland.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Cecil County, Maryland, United States...

.

Geography

Cecil County is in the northeast corner of Maryland, south of the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

 line and west of the Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...

 line. Cecil County is physically divided into two masses of land by the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal is a 14-mile long, 450-foot wide and 40-foot deep ship canal that cuts across the states of Maryland and Delaware, in the United States. It connects the waters of the Delaware River with those of the Chesapeake Bay and the Port of Baltimore...

. Geographically it is part of Maryland's Eastern Shore and the Delmarva Peninsula
Delmarva Peninsula
The Delmarva Peninsula is a large peninsula on the East Coast of the United States, occupied by most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia...

. According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 417.88 square miles (1,082.3 km²), of which 348.13 square miles (901.7 km²) (or 83.31%) is land and 69.75 square miles (180.7 km²) (or 16.69%) is water.

The southern part of the county lies within the Atlantic Coastal Plain
Atlantic Coastal Plain
The Atlantic coastal plain has both low elevation and low relief, but it is also a relatively flat landform extending from the New York Bight southward to a Georgia/Florida section of the Eastern Continental Divide, which demarcates the plain from the ACF River Basin in the Gulf Coastal Plain to...

 and is mainly flat. North of U.S. Route 40, the terrain becomes hilly, with the most rugged hills occurring in the northwestern and north central parts of the county. The lowest elevation is sea level along the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...

. The highest elevation is 534 feet (162.8 m) just below the Mason-Dixon line
Mason-Dixon line
The Mason–Dixon Line was surveyed between 1763 and 1767 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon in the resolution of a border dispute between British colonies in Colonial America. It forms a demarcation line among four U.S. states, forming part of the borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and...

 near Nottingham, Pennsylvania
Nottingham, Pennsylvania
Nottingham is an unincorporated community located in West Nottingham Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania. The community is located at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Pennsylvania Route 272 near the border with East Nottingham Township a short distance north of the Maryland border. It is home to...

 just east of U.S. Route 1.

Adjacent counties

  • Chester County, Pennsylvania
    Chester County, Pennsylvania
    -State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...

     (northeast)
  • Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
    Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
    Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...

     (north)
  • New Castle County, Delaware
    New Castle County, Delaware
    New Castle County is the northernmost of the three counties of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 its population was 538,479, an increase of 7.6% over the previous decade. The county seat is Wilmington. The center of population of Delaware is located in New Castle County, in the town of...

     (east)
  • Harford County
    Harford County, Maryland
    Harford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 244,826. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.-History:...

     (west)
  • Kent County
    Kent County, Maryland
    Kent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, on its Eastern Shore. It was named for the county of Kent in England. Its county seat is Chestertown. In 2010, the county population was 20,197...

     (south)

Demographics

Historical populations
of Cecil County
> Year Population
1790 13,625
1800 9,018
1810 13,066
1820 16,048
1830 15,432
1840 17,232
1850 18,939
1860 23,862
1870 25,874
1880 27,108
1890 25,851
> Year Population 1900 24,662 1910 23,759 1920 23,612 1930 25,827 1940 26,407 1950 33,356 1960 48,408 1970 53,291 1980 60,430 1990 71,347 2000 85,951 2010 101,108

2010

Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:
  • 89.2 White
    White American
    White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...

  • 6.2 Black
    African American
    African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...

  • 0.3% Native American
    Native Americans in the United States
    Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...

  • 1.1% Asian
    Asian American
    Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...

  • 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
    Pacific Islander American
    Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...

  • 2.2% Two or more races
    Multiracial American
    Multiracial Americans, US residents who identify themselves as of "two or more races", were numbered at around 9 million, or 2.9% of the population, in the census of 2010. However there is considerable evidence that the real number is far higher. Prior to the mid-20th century many people hid their...

  • 1.0% Other races
    Race (United States Census)
    Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

  • 3.4% Hispanic or Latino
    Hispanic and Latino Americans
    Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...

     (of any race)

2000

As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there were 85,951 people, 31,223 households, and 23,292 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 was 247 people per square mile (95/km²). There were 34,461 housing units at an average density of 99 per square mile (38/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.39% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 3.91% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.33% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.69% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, 0.50% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 1.15% from two or more races. 1.52% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

 of any race. 17.9% were of German, 16.1% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

, 13.8% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...

, 13.8% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 and 6.5% Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...

 ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 31,223 households out of which 37.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.40% were non-families. 19.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.70% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $50,510, and the median income for a family was $56,469. Males had a median income of $40,350 versus $28,646 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 for the county was $21,384. About 5.40% of families and 7.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.20% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

May 2008 the county commissioners adopted a 10% property tax increase. This is in addition to the property tax increase added by the increasing property assessments, which are increased each year and reassessed every 3 years.

Maryland state planning data suggest that the population of the county could double in the next thirty years, reaching 160,000 by 2030.

As of the 2010 Census the racial makeup of Cecil County was 87.38% Non-Hispanic white, 6.22% black, 0.29% Native American, 1.08% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.09% Non-Hispanics of some other race, 1.80% Non-Hispanics of two or more races and 3.37% Hispanics.

Public libraries

There are 7 branches of the Cecil County Public Library
Cecil County Public Library
The Cecil County Public Library is a public library system in Cecil County, Maryland, located in the northeastern tip of Maryland.CCPL has circulated over a million items since FY2009, serving the community through seven branch libraries, a bookmobile, and an ebranch...

 and the Library also does significant outreach throughout the county.

Public school system

There are 17 elementary schools, 6 middle schools,and 5 high schools, operated by Cecil County Public Schools
Cecil County Public Schools
Cecil County Public Schools is a public school system serving the residents of Cecil County, Maryland.-High schools:*Bohemia Manor High School, Chesapeake City, MD*Elkton High School, Elkton, MD*North East High School, North East, MD...

.

Cities and towns

This county contains the following incorporated municipalities:
  1. Cecilton
    Cecilton, Maryland
    Cecilton is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 474 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cecilton is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....

     (incorporated 1864)
  2. Charlestown
    Charlestown, Maryland
    Charlestown is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,019 at the 2000 census.-History:It is the location of Charlestown Historic District and Indian Queen Tavern and Black's Store, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.-Geography:Charlestown...

     (incorporated 1742)
  3. Chesapeake City
    Chesapeake City, Maryland
    Chesapeake City is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 787 at the 2000 census.The town was originally named by Bohemian colonist Augustine Herman the Village of Bohemia , but the name was changed in 1839 when the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal was built...

     (incorporated 1849) (Note that despite the name, Chesapeake City is a town and not a city .)
  4. Elkton
    Elkton, Maryland
    The town of Elkton is the county seat of Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,893 as of the 2000 census and 14,842 according to current July 2008 census estimates. It is the county seat of Cecil County...

     (incorporated 1787)
  5. North East
    North East, Maryland
    North East is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,733 at the 2000 census.-History:The Turkey Point Light Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002...

     (incorporated 1849)
  6. Perryville
    Perryville, Maryland
    Perryville is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 3,672 at the 2000 census. The town is located off Interstate 95, on the north side of the mouth of the Susquehanna River.-History:...

     (incorporated 1882)
  7. Port Deposit
    Port Deposit, Maryland
    Port Deposit is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. It is located on the north bank of the Susquehanna River near its discharge into the Chesapeake Bay...

     (incorporated 1824)
  8. Rising Sun
    Rising Sun, Maryland
    Rising Sun is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,702 at the 2000 census.-Overview:Rising Sun is located at ....

     (incorporated 1860)


All but one are classified as town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...

s under Maryland law.
Elkton
Elkton, Maryland
The town of Elkton is the county seat of Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,893 as of the 2000 census and 14,842 according to current July 2008 census estimates. It is the county seat of Cecil County...

 was officially pronounced a city on March 1, 2011.

The United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

 recognizes no Census-Designated Places in Cecil County, which is unusual for Maryland counties, which usually have many unincorporated population centers.

There are a few areas that aren't listed as Census Designated Places:
  1. Calvert
    Calvert, Maryland
    Calvert is an unincorporated community in Cecil County, Maryland, United States, about 6 miles east of Rising Sun. It is named for George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore....

  2. Carpenter Point
    Carpenter Point, Maryland
    Carpenter Point is an unincorporated community in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. Carpenter Point was the site of the first permanent settlement in Cecil County, Maryland, established on July 20, 1658 when William Carpenter patented of land called Anna Catherine Neck, abutting Bay Head...

  3. Childs
    Childs, Maryland
    Childs is an unincorporated community in Cecil County, Maryland, United States....

  4. Colora
    Colora, Maryland
    Colora is an unincorporated community in western Cecil County, Maryland in the United States, near Conowingo and Port Deposit.The zip code of this area is 21917, and has some historic houses and also some new ones, such as some development neighborhoods....

  5. Conowingo
    Conowingo, Maryland
    Conowingo is a small community in western Cecil County, Maryland, USA.Conowingo is a Susquehannock word for "at the rapids".Conowingo was originally located on the eastern bank of the Susquehanna River at the confluence of the Conowingo Creek with the river...

  6. Earleville
    Earleville, Maryland
    Earleville is an unincorporated community in Cecil County, Maryland, United States.Located at Earleville and listed on the National Register of Historic Places are: Bohemia Farm, Mount Harmon, Rose Hill, and St. Stephen's Episcopal Church.-External links:*...

  7. Elk Mills
    Elk Mills, Maryland
    Elk Mills is an unincorporated community in Cecil County, Maryland, United States....

  8. Elk Neck
  9. Fair Hill
  10. Georgetown
  11. Perry Point
    Perry Point, Maryland
    Perry Point is an unincorporated community in Cecil County, Maryland, United States....

  12. Red Point
    Red Point, Maryland
    Red Point is an unincorporated community located just off Maryland Route 272 south of North East, Maryland, USA. It is near Elk Neck State Park, where the North East River enters Chesapeake Bay....

  13. Warwick
  14. White Crystal Beach
    White Crystal Beach, Maryland
    Crystal Beach is an unincorporated community in Cecil County, Maryland, United States.Crystal beach is a partnership between two brothers of the Green Family. Kenneth "Gene" Eugene Green and Alfred "Dickie" Ernest Green...


Notable residents

  • Robert Alexander, born in Cecil County, delegate to the Continental Congress
    Continental Congress
    The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....

  • John Andrews, (1746–1813), born in Cecil County, was one of the leaders of the separation of the Episcopal Church from the Anglican Church
  • Robert Somers Brookings, founder of the Brookings Institute
  • David Davis
    David Davis (Supreme Court justice)
    David Davis was a United States Senator from Illinois and associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. He also served as Abraham Lincoln's campaign manager at the 1860 Republican National Convention....

     - Associate Supreme Court Justice.
  • Jacob Tome
    Jacob Tome
    Jacob Tome was an American philanthropist, politician, and the founder of the Tome School.-Biography:...

     - founder of the Tome School
    Tome School
    The Tome School is a private school located in North East in Cecil County in Maryland, USA and is one of the oldest schools in the state of Maryland.-Port Deposit:...


See also

  • Cecil Whig
    Cecil Whig
    The Cecil Whig is a local newspaper published in Cecil County, Maryland every weekday. It has a circulation of approximately 17,500. Although the paper was founded to promote the ideals of the Whig political party, the publication has long outlasted its namesake.Publisher: David FikeExecutive...

     - the local newspaper.
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Cecil County, Maryland
    National Register of Historic Places listings in Cecil County, Maryland
    This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Cecil County, Maryland.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Cecil County, Maryland, United States...



External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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