College Park, Maryland
Encyclopedia
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland
, USA
. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park
, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S. National Archives
.
College Park's United States Postal Service
ZIP code
s are 20740, 20741 (Berwyn Heights; North College Park) and 20742 (University of Maryland).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km²), of which, 5.4 square miles (14 km²) of it is land and 0.18% is water.
) and the College Station stop of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
. The suburb was incorporated in 1945 and included the subdivisions of College Park, Lakeland, Berwyn, Oak Spring, Branchville, Daniel's Park, and Hollywood. The original College Park subdivision was first plotted in 1872 by Eugene Campbell. The area remained undeveloped and was re-platted in 1889 by John O. Johnson and Samuel Curriden, Washington real estate developers. The original 125 acre (0.5058575 km²) tract was divided into a grid-street pattern with long, narrow building lots, with a standard lot size of 50 feet (15.2 m) by 200 feet (61 m). College Park developed rapidly, catering to those who were seeking to escape the crowded Washington, D.C.
, as well as to a rapidly expanding staff of college faculty and employees. College Park originally included single-family residences constructed in the Shingle
, Queen Anne
, and Stick styles, as well as modest vernacular dwellings. Commercial development increased in the 1920s, aided by the increased automobile traffic and the growing campus along Baltimore Avenue / Route 1
. By the late 1930s, most of the original subdivision had been partially developed. Several fraternities and sororities from the University of Maryland built houses in the neighborhood. After World War II, construction consisted mostly of infill of ranch and split-level houses. After incorporation in 1945, the city continued to grow and build a
municipal center in 1959.
The Lakeland neighborhood was developed beginning in 1892 around the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, whose Branchville and Calvert Road depots were located approximately one mile to the north and south, respectively. Lakeland was created by Edwin Newman, who improved the original 238 acre (0.96315268 km²) located to the west of the railroad. He also built a number of the original homes, a small town hall, and a general store
. The area was originally envisioned as a resort-type community around Lake Artemesia
. However, due to the flood-prone, low-lying topography, the neighborhood attracted a lower-income population became an area for African-American settlement. Around 1900, the Baltimore Gold Fish Company built five artificial lakes in the area to spawn goldfish
and rare species of fish. A one-room school was built in 1903 for the African-American population; a new school was built in 1925.
The Berwyn neighborhood was developed beginning about 1885 adjacent to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. It was created by Francis Shannabrook, a Pennsylvanian who purchased a tract of land between Baltimore Avenue and the railroad tracks. Shannabrook established a small depot, built a general store, and erected approximately 15 homes in the area to attract moderate-income families looking to move out of Washington. The neighborhood began to grow after 1900 when the City and Suburban Electric Railway entered the area. By 1925 there were approximately 100 single-family homes; mostly two-story, wood-frame buildings. The community housing continued to develop in the 1930s and 1940s with one story bungalows, capes, and victorians, and later grew to include raised ranches and split level homes.
The Daniels Park neighborhood was developed beginning in 1905 on the east and west sides of the City and Suburban Electric Railway in north College Park. Daniels Park was created by Edward Daniels on 47 acres (190,202.4 m²) of land. This small residential subdivision
was improved with single-family houses arranged along a grid pattern of streets. The houses range in style from American Foursquare
s to bungalows, and were built between 1905 and the 1930s.
The Hollywood neighborhood was developed beginning in the early 20th century along the City and Suburban Electric Railway. Edward Daniels, the developer of Daniels Park, planned the Hollywood subdivision as a northern extension of that earlier community. Development in Hollywood was slow until after World War II when Albert Turner acquired large tracts of the northern part of the neighborhood in the late 1940s. Turner was able to develop and market brick and frame three-bedroom bungalows beginning in 1950. By 1952, an elementary school had been built. The Hollywood Park, a 21 acres (84,984.1 m²) facility along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad line, is operated by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
.
held Spring Training
camp in College Park. In order to conserve rail transport during World War II
, the 1943 Spring Training
was limited to an area east of the Mississippi River
and north of the Ohio River
.
roared through the area. This storm moved at peak intensity through the University of Maryland, College Park campus, and then moved parallel to I-95 through the Laurel
area, where F3 damage was also noted. The damage path from this storm was measured at 17.5 miles (28.2 km) in length, and this tornado caused two deaths and 55 injuries, along with $101 million in property damage. The two deaths were sisters who died when their car was picked up and hurled over a building before being slammed to the ground; both young women were University of Maryland
students.
This tornado was part of the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., tornado outbreak of 2001
, one of the most dramatic recent tornado events to directly affect the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.
The first tornado of the outbreak was also the strongest – an F4 (see Fujita scale
) tornado that left a 10 miles (16.1 km)-long damage path through rural Culpeper and Fauquier Counties in Virginia. Weak (F1) tornadoes east of Warrenton, and just west of Dulles International Airport soon followed.
A second supercell to the southeast spawned the family of tornadoes that moved through Washington. A first tornado (F0) was confirmed in the Quantico and Prince William Forest Park areas; this was soon followed by an F1 tornado that left a 15 miles (24.1 km)-long path parallel to I-95 and I-395 through Franconia, western Alexandria and Arlington. This tornado dissipated near the west end of the Mall in Washington, D.C.
, and was followed by many reports of funnel clouds. This same storm produced the F3 tornado that roared through College Park.
. Part of the city is located within the Calvert Hills Historic District
; listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 2002.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 24,657 people, 6,030 households, and 3,039 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,537.5 people per square mile (1,753.2/km²). There were 6,245 housing units at an average density of 1,149.2 per square mile (444.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.82% White, 15.93% Black or African American
, 0.33% Native American, 10.03% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.57% from other races
, and 2.31% from two or more races. 5.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,030 households out of which 19.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% were married couples
living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.6% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% 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 3.11.
In the city the population was spread out with 10.5% under the age of 18, 51.3% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 11.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 110.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,168, and the median income for a family was $62,759 (these figures had risen to $66,953 and $82,295 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $40,445 versus $31,631 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,026. About 4.2% of families and 19.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
The current Mayor of College Park is Andrew M. Fellows, who took office in 2009. Previous mayors were:
College Park has six government departments:
As of September 2011, College Park belongs to Maryland's 5th congressional district
.
By the turn of the 21st century, College Park began experiencing significant development pressure. Both students and city residents have decried the city's lack of amenities and poor sense of place. In 2002, the city and county passed the Route 1 Sector Plan, which allowed and encouraged mixed use development on College Park's main roadway.
Recent projects like the East Campus Redevelopment Initiative, the University View and Northgate Condos give many in the community hope that the city may one day be like other notable college towns around the country, with a vibrant downtown and a diverse population. A full list of current projects in the pipeline can be found on the City of College Park's Economic Development Updates.
The University of Maryland's Student Government Association sponsored a design charrette in April 2006 to envision the future of College Park. In July 2006, a group of students created Rethink College Park—a community group providing a website to share information about development and encourage public dialogue.
Currently, in the year 2010, there have been notable architectural additions to the city of College Park, Maryland. A parking garage was completed in the downtown area in August 2009 near the intersection of Route 1 and Knox Road. The View apartments, mentioned above, recently completed two new towers to add to their apartment complex. Next to the View apartments, graduate school apartment towers are being constructed, with completion anticipated in Fall 2011.
is one of the oldest continuously operating airports in the United States
and is one of the oldest airports in the world, having been in continuous operation since 1909. Its future status is uncertain, as it lies just a few miles outside the restricted airspace
of Washington, D.C.
In 1977, the airport was added to the National Register of Historic Places
.
College Park has a station (College Park-U of Md
) on the Washington Metro
Green Line
; a large commuter parking garage was completed in 2004 adjacent to the Metro station. MARC
trains run on CSX
tracks adjacent to the Green Line and stop at a small station next to the College Park Metro station. The Metro station lies at what had been the historic junction of Calvert Road and the CSX tracks.
College Park had streetcar service from 1903 to 1962 along what is now Rhode Island Avenue and the College Park Trolley Trail
.
, the flagship institution of the University System of Maryland
is located within the College Park city limits.
. The city is zoned to several different schools.
Elementary school students attend:
Middle school students attend:
High school students attend:
students plan voter registration
drives and seek to elect one of their own to the city council. City residents, including students living within the city are eligible to run for city council if they are over the age of 21. Over the past twenty years there have been multiple attempts, none of which were successful until Marcus Afzali won a seat in 2009.
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S. National Archives
National Archives and Records Administration
The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent agency of the United States government charged with preserving and documenting government and historical records and with increasing public access to those documents, which comprise the National Archives...
.
College Park's United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
s are 20740, 20741 (Berwyn Heights; North College Park) and 20742 (University of Maryland).
Bordering areas
- BeltsvilleBeltsville, MarylandBeltsville is a census-designated place in northern Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 15,691 at the 2000 census. Beltsville includes the unincorporated community of Vansville.-Geography:...
(North) - Berwyn HeightsBerwyn Heights, MarylandBerwyn Heights is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,942 at the 2000 census. It is bordered by College Park to the west, Greenbelt to the northeast, East Riverdale to the southwest, and Riverdale Park to the south....
(East) - University ParkUniversity Park, MarylandUniversity Park is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,318 at the 2000 census.-Geography:University Park is located at ....
(Southwest) - Riverdale ParkRiverdale Park, MarylandRiverdale Park is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 6,690 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Riverdale Park is located at ....
(South) - AdelphiAdelphi, MarylandAdelphi is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 14,998 at the 2000 census...
(West) - HyattsvilleHyattsville, MarylandHyattsville is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 17,557 at the 2000 census.- History :The city was named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt. He purchased his first parcel of land in the area in March 1845...
(Southwest)
Geography
College Park is located at 38°59′48"N 76°55′39"W (38.996560, -76.927509).According to 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...
, the city has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km²), of which, 5.4 square miles (14 km²) of it is land and 0.18% is water.
History
College Park was developed beginning in 1889 near the Maryland Agricultural College (later the University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
) and the College Station stop of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
. The suburb was incorporated in 1945 and included the subdivisions of College Park, Lakeland, Berwyn, Oak Spring, Branchville, Daniel's Park, and Hollywood. The original College Park subdivision was first plotted in 1872 by Eugene Campbell. The area remained undeveloped and was re-platted in 1889 by John O. Johnson and Samuel Curriden, Washington real estate developers. The original 125 acre (0.5058575 km²) tract was divided into a grid-street pattern with long, narrow building lots, with a standard lot size of 50 feet (15.2 m) by 200 feet (61 m). College Park developed rapidly, catering to those who were seeking to escape the crowded Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, as well as to a rapidly expanding staff of college faculty and employees. College Park originally included single-family residences constructed in the Shingle
Shingle Style architecture
The Shingle style is an American architectural style made popular by the rise of the New England school of architecture, which eschewed the highly ornamented patterns of the Eastlake style in Queen Anne architecture....
, Queen Anne
Queen Anne Style architecture
The Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
, and Stick styles, as well as modest vernacular dwellings. Commercial development increased in the 1920s, aided by the increased automobile traffic and the growing campus along Baltimore Avenue / Route 1
U.S. Route 1 in Maryland
U.S. Route 1 is the easternmost and longest of the major north–south routes of the United States Numbered Highway System, running from Key West, Florida to Fort Kent, Maine. In the U.S...
. By the late 1930s, most of the original subdivision had been partially developed. Several fraternities and sororities from the University of Maryland built houses in the neighborhood. After World War II, construction consisted mostly of infill of ranch and split-level houses. After incorporation in 1945, the city continued to grow and build a
municipal center in 1959.
The Lakeland neighborhood was developed beginning in 1892 around the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, whose Branchville and Calvert Road depots were located approximately one mile to the north and south, respectively. Lakeland was created by Edwin Newman, who improved the original 238 acre (0.96315268 km²) located to the west of the railroad. He also built a number of the original homes, a small town hall, and a general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
. The area was originally envisioned as a resort-type community around Lake Artemesia
Lake Artemesia
Lake Artemesia is a man-made lake in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. It is part of the Lake Artemesia Natural Area in College Park and Berwyn Heights...
. However, due to the flood-prone, low-lying topography, the neighborhood attracted a lower-income population became an area for African-American settlement. Around 1900, the Baltimore Gold Fish Company built five artificial lakes in the area to spawn goldfish
Goldfish
The goldfish is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of order Cypriniformes. It was one of the earliest fish to be domesticated, and is one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish....
and rare species of fish. A one-room school was built in 1903 for the African-American population; a new school was built in 1925.
The Berwyn neighborhood was developed beginning about 1885 adjacent to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. It was created by Francis Shannabrook, a Pennsylvanian who purchased a tract of land between Baltimore Avenue and the railroad tracks. Shannabrook established a small depot, built a general store, and erected approximately 15 homes in the area to attract moderate-income families looking to move out of Washington. The neighborhood began to grow after 1900 when the City and Suburban Electric Railway entered the area. By 1925 there were approximately 100 single-family homes; mostly two-story, wood-frame buildings. The community housing continued to develop in the 1930s and 1940s with one story bungalows, capes, and victorians, and later grew to include raised ranches and split level homes.
The Daniels Park neighborhood was developed beginning in 1905 on the east and west sides of the City and Suburban Electric Railway in north College Park. Daniels Park was created by Edward Daniels on 47 acres (190,202.4 m²) of land. This small residential subdivision
was improved with single-family houses arranged along a grid pattern of streets. The houses range in style from American Foursquare
American Foursquare
The American Foursquare or American Four Square is an American house style popular from the mid-1890s to the late 1930s. A reaction to the ornate and mass produced elements of the Victorian and other Revival styles popular throughout the last half of the 19th century, the American Foursquare was...
s to bungalows, and were built between 1905 and the 1930s.
The Hollywood neighborhood was developed beginning in the early 20th century along the City and Suburban Electric Railway. Edward Daniels, the developer of Daniels Park, planned the Hollywood subdivision as a northern extension of that earlier community. Development in Hollywood was slow until after World War II when Albert Turner acquired large tracts of the northern part of the neighborhood in the late 1940s. Turner was able to develop and market brick and frame three-bedroom bungalows beginning in 1950. By 1952, an elementary school had been built. The Hollywood Park, a 21 acres (84,984.1 m²) facility along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad line, is operated by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is a bi-county agency that administers parks and planning in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland.-History:...
.
Spring Training
In 1943, the Washington SenatorsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
held Spring Training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
camp in College Park. In order to conserve rail transport during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the 1943 Spring Training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
was limited to an area east of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
and north of the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
.
September 2001 tornado
On September 24, 2001, a violent, multiple-vortex F3 tornadoTornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
roared through the area. This storm moved at peak intensity through the University of Maryland, College Park campus, and then moved parallel to I-95 through the Laurel
Laurel, Maryland
Laurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...
area, where F3 damage was also noted. The damage path from this storm was measured at 17.5 miles (28.2 km) in length, and this tornado caused two deaths and 55 injuries, along with $101 million in property damage. The two deaths were sisters who died when their car was picked up and hurled over a building before being slammed to the ground; both young women were University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
students.
This tornado was part of the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., tornado outbreak of 2001
Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. tornado outbreak of 2001
The Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., tornado outbreak of 2001 was the most dramatic recent tornado event to directly affect the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area in the United States...
, one of the most dramatic recent tornado events to directly affect the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.
The first tornado of the outbreak was also the strongest – an F4 (see Fujita scale
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
) tornado that left a 10 miles (16.1 km)-long damage path through rural Culpeper and Fauquier Counties in Virginia. Weak (F1) tornadoes east of Warrenton, and just west of Dulles International Airport soon followed.
A second supercell to the southeast spawned the family of tornadoes that moved through Washington. A first tornado (F0) was confirmed in the Quantico and Prince William Forest Park areas; this was soon followed by an F1 tornado that left a 15 miles (24.1 km)-long path parallel to I-95 and I-395 through Franconia, western Alexandria and Arlington. This tornado dissipated near the west end of the Mall in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and was followed by many reports of funnel clouds. This same storm produced the F3 tornado that roared through College Park.
Historic sites
The following is a list of historic sites in College Park identified by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning CommissionMaryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is a bi-county agency that administers parks and planning in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland.-History:...
. Part of the city is located within the Calvert Hills Historic District
Calvert Hills Historic District
Calvert Hills Historic District is a national historic district in College Park, Prince George's County, Maryland. It is roughly bounded on the north by Calvert Road, on the east by the Green Line metrorail corridor , on the south by the northern boundary of Riverdale Park, and on the west by...
; listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2002.
| Site name | Image | Location | M-NCPPC Inventory Number | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baker-Holliday House | 5005 Huron Street | 66-027-24 | Located in Daniels Park. | |
| 2 | Bowers-Sargent House | 9312 Rhode Island Avenue | 66-027-28 | Located in Daniels Park. | |
| 3 | College Park Airport College Park Airport College Park Airport is a public airport located in the City of College Park, in Prince Georges County, Maryland, USA. It is the world's oldest continuously operated airport.-History:... |
6709 Corporal Frank S. Scott Drive | 66-004 | Listed on the National Register of Historic Places National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation... , September 23, 1977 |
|
| 4 | College Park Woman’s Club | 4711 Knox Road | 66-021-09 | Owned by the City of College Park. | |
| 5 | Cory House Cory House (College Park, Maryland) The Cory House, constructed circa 1891, is one of the oldest private residences in College Park, Maryland. The house is an example of Queen Anne style architecture. The house is a registered Prince George's County Historic Site.- History :... |
4710 College Avenue | 66-021-08 | ||
| 6 | Holbrook House | 4618 College Avenue | 66-021-31 | ||
| 7 | Lake House (Presbyterian Parsonage) | 8524 Potomac Avenue | 66-018 | Located in Berwyn. | |
| 8 | LaValle House | 5013 Huron Street | 66-027-25 | Located in Daniels Park. | |
| 9 | McDonnell House | 7400 Dartmouth Avenue | 66-021-10 | ||
| 10 | National Archives Archeological Site National Archives Archeological Site (College Park, Maryland) The National Archives Site is an archeological site at the National Archives facility in College Park, Prince George's County, Maryland. The site contains archeological remains from prehistoric settlements during the Late Archaic period, c. 4000-1500 B.C... |
Address Restricted | 66-036 | Listed on the National Register of Historic Places National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation... , August 22, 1996 |
|
| 11 | The Rossborough Inn The Rossborough Inn The Rossborough Inn is a historic building on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park. Construction on the building began in 1798 and was completed in 1812, making it the oldest building on campus and the oldest building in the City of College Park... |
Baltimore Avenue (US 1 U.S. Route 1 U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south U.S. Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs 2,377 miles from Fort Kent, Maine at the Canadian border south to Key West, Florida. U.S. 1 generally parallels Interstate 95, though it is significantly farther west between... ) |
66-035-02 | Located on the University of Maryland campus. | |
| 12 | Taliaferro House | 7406 Columbia Avenue | 66-021-30 |
Demographics
As of the 2010 Census College Park, Maryland had a population of 30,413. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 58.2% non-Hispanic white, 13.8% non-Hispanic black, 0.3% Native American, 3.6% Chinese, 2.9% Asian Indian, 1.9% Korean, 4.4% other Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% non-Hispanic from some other race, 3.5% from two or more races and 11.9% Hispanic or Latino of any race.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 24,657 people, 6,030 households, and 3,039 families residing in the city. 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 4,537.5 people per square mile (1,753.2/km²). There were 6,245 housing units at an average density of 1,149.2 per square mile (444.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.82% White, 15.93% Black 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, 10.03% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.57% 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 2.31% from two or more races. 5.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,030 households out of which 19.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% 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, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.6% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% 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 3.11.
In the city the population was spread out with 10.5% under the age of 18, 51.3% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 11.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 110.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,168, and the median income for a family was $62,759 (these figures had risen to $66,953 and $82,295 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $40,445 versus $31,631 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 city was $16,026. About 4.2% of families and 19.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The Government of College Park is a Council-Manager form of government. The city manager is appointed by the city council and the mayor elected every two years. The council has eight councilmembers, representing four districts in the city. City Council meetings are held once a week at the College Park City Hall.The current Mayor of College Park is Andrew M. Fellows, who took office in 2009. Previous mayors were:
- William A. Duvall (1945–1951)
- Charles R. Davis (1951–1963)
- William W. GullettWilliam W. GullettWilliam Waitman Gullett served as the first County Executive of Prince George's County, Maryland from 1971 to 1974. He had previously served three terms as the Mayor of College Park from 1963 to 1969, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of Maryland, 1967–68 and a Presidential Elector for...
(1963–1969) - William R. Reading (1969–1973)
- Dervey A. Lomax (1973–1975)
- St. Clair Reeves (1975–1981)
- Alvin J. Kushner (1981–1987)
- Anna Latta Owens (1987–1993)
- Joseph E. Page (1993–1997)
- Michael J. Jacobs (1997–2001)
- Stephen A. Brayman (2001–2009)
College Park has six government departments:
- Administration
- Community Resources
- Finance
- Planning
- Public Services
- Public Works
As of September 2011, College Park belongs to Maryland's 5th congressional district
Maryland's 5th congressional district
Maryland's 5th congressional district comprises all of Charles, St. Mary's, and Calvert Counties, as well as portions of Prince George's and Anne Arundel Counties. The district is currently represented by Democrat Steny Hoyer, the House Minority Whip....
.
Neighborhoods
- Autoville/Cherry Hill
- Berwyn
- Branchville
- Calvert HillsCalvert Hills Historic DistrictCalvert Hills Historic District is a national historic district in College Park, Prince George's County, Maryland. It is roughly bounded on the north by Calvert Road, on the east by the Green Line metrorail corridor , on the south by the northern boundary of Riverdale Park, and on the west by...
- College Park Woods
- Crystal Springs/Patricia Court
- Daniels Park
- Hollywood
- Lakeland
- North College Park
- Old Town
- Sunnyside
- Yarrow
Development
Recent projects like the East Campus Redevelopment Initiative, the University View and Northgate Condos give many in the community hope that the city may one day be like other notable college towns around the country, with a vibrant downtown and a diverse population. A full list of current projects in the pipeline can be found on the City of College Park's Economic Development Updates.
The University of Maryland's Student Government Association sponsored a design charrette in April 2006 to envision the future of College Park. In July 2006, a group of students created Rethink College Park—a community group providing a website to share information about development and encourage public dialogue.
Currently, in the year 2010, there have been notable architectural additions to the city of College Park, Maryland. A parking garage was completed in the downtown area in August 2009 near the intersection of Route 1 and Knox Road. The View apartments, mentioned above, recently completed two new towers to add to their apartment complex. Next to the View apartments, graduate school apartment towers are being constructed, with completion anticipated in Fall 2011.
Economy
According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Maryland, College Park University of Maryland, College Park The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C... |
13,082 |
| 2 | University of Maryland University College University of Maryland University College The University of Maryland University College is located in the unincorporated community of Adelphi in Prince George's County, Maryland in the United States. Serving over 90,000 students worldwide, UMUC is the largest 4-year public university in Maryland and one of the largest distance learning... |
2,790 |
| 3 | National Archives and Records Administration National Archives and Records Administration The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent agency of the United States government charged with preserving and documenting government and historical records and with increasing public access to those documents, which comprise the National Archives... |
900 |
| 4 | Food and Drug Administration Food and Drug Administration The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments... |
775 |
| 5 | Ikea IKEA IKEA is a privately held, international home products company that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture such as beds and desks, appliances and home accessories. The company is the world's largest furniture retailer... |
300 |
| 6 | American Center for Physics American Institute of Physics The American Institute of Physics promotes science, the profession of physics, publishes physics journals, and produces publications for scientific and engineering societies. The AIP is made up of various member societies... |
200 |
Airport
College Park AirportCollege Park Airport
College Park Airport is a public airport located in the City of College Park, in Prince Georges County, Maryland, USA. It is the world's oldest continuously operated airport.-History:...
is one of the oldest continuously operating airports in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and is one of the oldest airports in the world, having been in continuous operation since 1909. Its future status is uncertain, as it lies just a few miles outside the restricted airspace
Restricted airspace
Restricted airspace is an area of airspace in which the local controlling authorities have determined that air traffic must be restricted for safety or security concerns...
of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
In 1977, the airport was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Major highways
Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway)Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway)Interstate 495 is a Interstate Highway that surrounds the United States' capital of Washington, D.C., and its inner suburbs in adjacent Maryland and Virginia. I-495 is widely known as the Capital Beltway or simply the Beltway, especially when the context of Washington, D.C., is clear...
joins
I-95Interstate 95 in MarylandInterstate 95 in Maryland is a major highway that runs diagonally from northeast to southwest, from Maryland's border with Delaware, to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, briefly entering the District of Columbia before reaching Virginia...
at the College Park InterchangeCollege Park InterchangeThe College Park Interchange is the southern end of the segment of Interstate 95 in Maryland between the Baltimore Beltway and the Capital Beltway ; it is the point where Interstate 95 and Interstate 495 join with one another within Maryland....
, connecting with AlexandriaAlexandria, VirginiaAlexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
and RichmondRichmond, VirginiaRichmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. West of the interchange, I-495 continues west toward Silver Spring, MarylandSilver Spring, MarylandSilver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
and Northern VirginiaNorthern VirginiaNorthern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
.
U.S. 1U.S. Route 1 in MarylandU.S. Route 1 is the easternmost and longest of the major north–south routes of the United States Numbered Highway System, running from Key West, Florida to Fort Kent, Maine. In the U.S...
is a major north-south roadway running through College Park, serving as the main street in the downtown area. It is a major route to BeltsvilleBeltsville, MarylandBeltsville is a census-designated place in northern Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 15,691 at the 2000 census. Beltsville includes the unincorporated community of Vansville.-Geography:...
and LaurelLaurel, MarylandLaurel is a city in northern Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County, and Howard County, Maryland, United States, located midway between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Incorporated in 1870, the city maintains a historic district including its Main Street...
to the north and HyattsvilleHyattsville, MarylandHyattsville is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 17,557 at the 2000 census.- History :The city was named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt. He purchased his first parcel of land in the area in March 1845...
and Washington, DC to the south.
Public transportation
College Park-U of Md (Washington Metro)
College Park – University of Maryland is a Washington Metro station in Prince George's County, Maryland on the Green Line.The station is located in College Park near the University of Maryland, College Park, with entrances at the intersection of Calvert Road and Bowdoin Avenue, and near the...
) on the Washington Metro
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
Green Line
Green Line (Washington Metro)
The Green Line is one of five heavy rail subway lines that constitute the Washington Metro rapid transit system in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The Green Line consists of 21 stations, with termini at Branch Avenue and at Greenbelt. The Green Line runs through Prince George's County,...
; a large commuter parking garage was completed in 2004 adjacent to the Metro station. MARC
MARC Train
MARC , known prior to 1984 as Maryland Rail Commuter Service, is a regional rail system comprising three lines in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. MARC is administered by the Maryland Transit Administration , a Maryland Department of Transportation agency, and is operated under contract...
trains run on CSX
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
tracks adjacent to the Green Line and stop at a small station next to the College Park Metro station. The Metro station lies at what had been the historic junction of Calvert Road and the CSX tracks.
College Park had streetcar service from 1903 to 1962 along what is now Rhode Island Avenue and the College Park Trolley Trail
College Park Trolley Trail
The College Park Trolley Trail is a long rail trail within the city of College Park Maryland.The trail runs on the abandoned right-of-way of the Washington, Berwyn and Laurel Electric Railway...
.
Media
- UMTV (University of Maryland)
- WMUC broadcasts from the University of Maryland campus, with a range of two miles (3 km) - roughly from the campus to the Beltway. It is also broadcast over the internet at wmucradio.com.
- The DiamondbackThe DiamondbackThe Diamondback is the independent student newspaper of the University of Maryland, College Park. It was founded in 1910 as The Triangle and renamed in 1921 in honor of a local reptile, the Diamondback terrapin...
, a student publication, is distributed five days a week on a limited basis downtown, including in city hall, and widely on the campus of the University of Maryland. - A College Park edition of The Gazette (a weekly publication distributed widely featuring community news) is available throughout the city and is distributed free.
- The oldest operational PersianPersian languagePersian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
PodcastPodcastA podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
is called Radio College ParkRadio College ParkRadio College Park is the oldest operational Persian podcast in the entire world and a weekly audio program produced by a group of Iranian graduate students at the University of Maryland at College Park. The subjects of the programs of this podcast include science, society, art, entertainment,...
as it is produced by a group of Iranian graduate students at the University of Maryland, College ParkUniversity of Maryland, College ParkThe University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
.
Education
Colleges and universities
The University of Maryland, College ParkUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, the flagship institution of the University System of Maryland
University System of Maryland
The University System of Maryland is a public corporation and charter school system comprising 12 Maryland institutions of higher education. It is the 12th-largest university system in the United States, with over 125,000 undergraduate, 43,000 graduate and roughly 13,000 combined full-time and...
is located within the College Park city limits.
Public schools
College Park is served by Prince George's County Public SchoolsPrince George's County Public Schools
The Prince George's County Public Schools system is a large school district administered by the government of Prince George's County, Maryland, United States and is overseen by the Maryland State Department of Education...
. The city is zoned to several different schools.
Elementary school students attend:
- Hollywood Elementary School (in College Park)
- Paint Branch Elementary School (in College Park)
- University Park Elementary School (in University ParkUniversity Park, MarylandUniversity Park is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,318 at the 2000 census.-Geography:University Park is located at ....
) - Mary Harris "Mother" Jones Elementary School (Adelphi CDPAdelphi, MarylandAdelphi is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 14,998 at the 2000 census...
)
Middle school students attend:
- Greenbelt Middle School (in GreenbeltGreenbelt, MarylandGreenbelt is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Contained within today's City of Greenbelt is the historic planned community now known locally as "Old Greenbelt" and designated as the Greenbelt Historic District...
) - Hyattsville Middle School (in HyattsvilleHyattsville, MarylandHyattsville is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 17,557 at the 2000 census.- History :The city was named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt. He purchased his first parcel of land in the area in March 1845...
) - Buck Lodge Middle School (Adelphi CDP)
High school students attend:
- Eleanor Roosevelt High SchoolEleanor Roosevelt High School (Greenbelt, Maryland)Eleanor Roosevelt High School , is a Maryland public magnet high school specializing in science, mathematics, technology, and engineering. The school was established in 1978 at its current location in Greenbelt, Maryland and is part of the Prince George's County Public Schools system...
(GreenbeltGreenbelt, MarylandGreenbelt is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Contained within today's City of Greenbelt is the historic planned community now known locally as "Old Greenbelt" and designated as the Greenbelt Historic District...
) - High Point High SchoolHigh Point High SchoolHigh Point High School is a high school located in Beltsville, an unincorporated section of Prince George's County, Maryland, United States of America, and built on the highest point in Prince George's County....
(Beltsville CDPBeltsville, MarylandBeltsville is a census-designated place in northern Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 15,691 at the 2000 census. Beltsville includes the unincorporated community of Vansville.-Geography:...
) - Northwestern High SchoolNorthwestern High School (Hyattsville, Maryland)Northwestern High School , established in 1951, is a public comprehensive secondary school located in Hyattsville, Maryland in Prince George's County, less than a mile from the internationally known University of Maryland, College Park. It is part of the Prince George's County Public Schools system...
(Hyattsville) - Parkdale High SchoolParkdale High SchoolParkdale High School or PHS is a public magnet high school located at 6001 Good Luck Road, Riverdale, Maryland 20737. The principal is Mrs. Cheryl Logan. The September 2009 enrollment is approximately 2,172-students in grades nine through twelve. Parkdale's schools hours are from 7:45am until...
(Riverdale ParkRiverdale Park, MarylandRiverdale Park is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 6,690 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Riverdale Park is located at ....
)
Private schools
- Al Huda School, K-12
- Berwyn Baptist School, PreK-8
- Friends Community School, K-8
- Holy Redeemer School, K-8
- St. Mark the Evangelist School, K-8
Museums
- The Art Gallery at the University of MarylandThe Art Gallery at the University of MarylandThe Art Gallery at the University of Maryland is a contemporary art gallery on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park. Founded in 1955, the Gallery was initially housed in the Tawes Building before moving to a newly-constructed exhibition facility in the Arts-Sociology Building in...
- College Park Aviation Museum
- National Museum of LanguageNational Museum of LanguageThe National Museum of Language, located in College Park, Maryland, is a cultural institution established in 1997 to"examine the history, impact, and art of language," and remains one of only a handful of institutions designed for this purpose....
City-student politics
Like many college towns, College Park has had its share of political controversy. Occasionally, University of MarylandUniversity of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
students plan voter registration
Voter registration
Voter registration is the requirement in some democracies for citizens and residents to check in with some central registry specifically for the purpose of being allowed to vote in elections. An effort to get people to register is known as a voter registration drive.-Centralized/compulsory vs...
drives and seek to elect one of their own to the city council. City residents, including students living within the city are eligible to run for city council if they are over the age of 21. Over the past twenty years there have been multiple attempts, none of which were successful until Marcus Afzali won a seat in 2009.
- 1993 – Dana L. Loewenstein & Michael J. Moore – Perhaps the most controversial of all student races was that of Loewenstein, a former president of the Panhellenic Association, the sorority umbrella organization at the university. A year after she had lost the election, she was charged with 16 counts of perjuryPerjuryPerjury, also known as forswearing, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. That is, the witness falsely promises to tell the truth about matters which affect the outcome of the...
, 16 counts of aiding and advising to falsely register voters and faced a maximum prison sentence of over 200+ years. Ms. Loewenstein's opponent in the council race, Michael Smith, joined former council member Chester Joy in filing a complaint with the Prince George's County Board of Elections days before the Nov. 2 election. The complaint alleged that 16 of her sorority pledges lived in one district but registered in another. The complaint was turned over to the state's attorney, who filed criminal charges against Loewenstein a year after she lost the election. The complaint alleged that all of the pledges lived in on-campus dorms but used the Sigma Delta TauSigma Delta TauSigma Delta Tau is a national sorority and member of the National Panhellenic Conference, was founded March 25, 1917 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The original name, Sigma Delta Phi, was changed after the women discovered a sorority with the same name already existed...
house address as their residence. At trial, the 16 sorority pledges testified they signed the registration cards during their first meeting, when they were probationary members. Loewenstein was found not guilty by the Circuit Court.
- 2001 – Mike Mann & Daniel Dorfman – In November 2001, Michael Mann and Daniel Dorfman, sought the two District 3 seats on the College Park City Council. Campaigning against incumbent Eric Olson and for an open seat created by then-councilman Brayman's decision to run for mayor, the two campaigned heavily to inform students there was a council race going on that year, and registered over 700 students to vote in the municipal election. Despite their hard work and an almost year-long campaign, they were defeated.
- 2007 – Nick Aragon – In January 2007, Nick Aragon lost a special election for the city council. Two incumbents created a vacancy when they were elected to higher county offices. In turn, the city was forced to hold a special election after the November 2006 elections. The city chose an election date during the university's winter recess, a time when many students were away from the city. With some help from the Student Government Association (SGA) and an endorsement by College Park Mayor Steve Brayman, the Aragon campaign encouraged students to use absentee ballots, although few actually did, and Aragon lost the election.
- 2009- Marcus Afzali- Marcus Afzali, a 24-year-old doctoral student in the Department of Government and Politics at UMD, won a seat on the city council representing District 4 in November 2009. Afzali attributed displays of "energy"--exemplified by taking time to knock on doors and reach out to residents—as the cause behind his success. The 2009 election is notable not only for Afzali's performance at the polls, but for the fact that both District 4 incumbents lost.