Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Upper Marlboro is a town in and the county seat of Prince George's County, Maryland
, United States
. The live-in population of the town core proper was only 648 at the 2000 census, although Greater Upper Marlboro
is many times larger.
Although the area has many rural, pastoral features, including horse farms, it is surrounded by encroaching housing developments and is the daytime county seat
of Prince George's County
, a large urban and suburban area of some 850,000 people adjacent to Washington, D.C.
U.S. Highway 301
and Maryland Route 4
intersect at the edge of town. Major features of the town include the courthouse, jail, county office building, board of education, and a lake with walking path. Just to the south of town is the Prince George's Equestrian Center which is the location of the annual county fair, a major annual antiques show and the Show Place Arena on the former Marlboro racetrack grounds. This arena is used for events such as hockey games, circuses, rodeos, conventions, trade shows, and graduation ceremonies of many regional high schools, as well as daily overflow parking for county governmental employees, jurors, and visitors. In earlier times the town was a tobacco
auction market, before tobacco farming nearly disappeared in Maryland. On November 3, 2004, a major fire badly damaged the roof and interior of the court house. Except for supermarkets, an Amish
market, car dealers, and a Home Depot, all outside of town, the town and surrounding area have only minimal shopping; therefore, residents must travel to Bowie, Clinton, Brandywine
, Waldorf, or Forestville to find department stores. Upper Marlboro is convenient to employees commuting to locations along Maryland Route 4 or US Route 301, such as Andrews Air Force Base
and the Federal Census Bureau.
The Town of Upper Marlboro is often mistaken for the unincorporated
census-designated place
of Greater Upper Marlboro
, which surrounds the town with a population of nearly 20,000 in an area of 77 square miles (as designated by the post office).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), of which, 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (4.65%) is water.
Darnall's Chance
, also known as the Buck House, was built between 1694 and 1712. The house can still be found across from the present day County Administration Building on Gov. Oden Bowie Drive. It was owned by the Darnall and Carroll families. The home may have been the birthplace of Daniel Carroll, a signer of the US Constitution, and his brother, John Carroll, the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in America.
In 1706, Marlborough Town was established as a port town by the Act for the Advancement of Trade and Erecting Ports and Towns. It was declared that the town would be constructed, "at the upper landing on the Western Branch, commonly called Colonel Belt's landing." County surveyor Thomas Truman Greenfield conducted a survey of 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of the three estates from which the town would be formed. Streets, alleys, a meetinghouse, lots for small businesses, and 100 lots to be used for homes were laid out. Earliest plans showed the town being laid out in a grid pattern with an L shape.
Residents of the area were not happy with Greenfield's initial layout and petitioned the General Assembly to have the town replatted. In 1744, the new survey was approved and the town was given a new name, Upper Marlborough. Upper was added to distinguish the town from the community of Marlboro (now known as Lower Marlboro
) in Calvert County.
Early in its life, when the western branch of the Patuxent River was still navigable, the town served as a port town for tobacco ships. The town blossomed into an agricultural, social, and political hot spot. Farms, many of which raised tobacco, dominated the surrounding areas.
In 1721, a courthouse was constructed in the town. The county seat was then moved from Charles Town, on the banks of the Patuxent, to Upper Marlborough. The courthouse was built with money from a 12 pound tobacco tax imposed on county inhabitants. One of the first laws passed at the courthouse was the Public School Act, which established a public school system.
During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, many prominent merchants, lawyers, and politicians lived and worked in the area. Horse racing came to the town around the mid-18th century and attracted many people from the surrounding areas. The Maryland Jockey Club sponsored spring and summer races at the race track south of town, and racing continued there until 1972, when they were moved to the Bowie Race Track. The race track is now part of the Equestrian Center owned by Prince George's County.
In 1870, the town was incorporated by the Maryland General Assembly. A volunteer fire department was organized in 1886, and the Marlborough Fire Association was incorporated the following year.
In the late 19th century, the town’s name changed from Upper Marlborough to Upper Marlboro. The name change is linked to a postal clerk who felt the extra letters, “ugh,” didn’t properly fit on the rubber stamps being used at the time. By 1893, postal guides were referring to the town as Upper Marlboro and the name stuck, despite a proposed ballot to have it changed back in 1968.
Since its initial conception the town has changed quite a bit. It initially boomed as a port town for tobacco trade, but the clearing and cultivation of land for farming would lead to erosion in the area. Over the years this erosion caused sedimentation, leading the Western Branch to become unnavigable. The fields of tobacco that once dominated the area have been converted over to residential developments, with the number of farms dwindling each year.
Today, the town is still the governing center of Prince George's County. Located within the town are the Prince George's County Courthouse, County Administration Building, and the Board of Education. The town's atmosphere is remarkably different, depending on the time of day. During the day, people from all across the county flock in for court hearings and government affairs, but in the evening, the town is pretty much empty.
In 1939, the courthouse was substantially expanded and rebuilt. During this time, the building gained its famous stone Ionic columns. According to county historian Susan Pearl, “They wanted the neo-classic Georgian university campus building, and that’s what they got.” The total cost of the revision was $178,000.
Small additions were made in 1947 and 1969.
In the early 1990s a new courthouse was erected behind the existing courthouse. The new courthouse, composed of the Marbury and Bourne wing, was completed in 1991. The new building occupies 360000 square feet (33,445.1 m²) of space and cost $80 million. The old courthouse was then designated as the Duvall Wing and was attached to the new section by walkways.
In May 2003, the old courthouse was closed for a $25 million renovation. On November 3, 2004, two months before the building was scheduled to reopen, a fire broke out and destroyed much of the 151000 square feet (14,028.4 m²) building. The fire left only a charred skeleton of the cupola, which had overlooked Main St. for 64 years.
In January 2007, the courthouse briefly caught fire again when sparks from a construction worker’s welding tool ignited building materials on the roof. Firefighters quickly contained the blaze and the renovations continued.
On March 12, 2009, the Duvall Wing of the Prince George's County Courthouse reopened after being closed in 2001 for renovations.
of 2000, there were 648 people, 292 households, and 165 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,586.7 people per square mile (610.2/km²). There were 309 housing units at an average density of 756.6 per square mile (291.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 51.54% White, 45.06% African American, 0.46% Native American, 1.08% Asian, 0.15% from other races
, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.
There were 292 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.5% were married couples
living together, 22.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 36.3% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 72.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,813, and the median income for a family was $58,542. Males had a median income of $42,639 versus $39,000 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $28,892. About 1.3% of families and 1.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.
existed, its headquarters were in Lake Arbor
, near Upper Marlboro. Also, the courthouse draws a small amount of business to the area in the form of various bail bond offices and law firms.
Numerous other events occur at the nearby Show Place Arena.
Some who report being from "Upper Marlboro" are from the larger unincorporated area of Greater Upper Marlboro which uses the postal designation of "Upper Marlboro", and not from the much smaller municipality.
system.
Residents are zoned to:
of the East Coast Hockey League played two seasons in Upper Marlboro from 1997 to 1999 at the Show Place Arena, just outside of town, before moving to Jackson, Mississippi
.
The Chesapeake Tide
of the Continental Indoor Football League started play at the Show Place Arena, just outside of town, in 2007. Beginning in 2009, they will be known as the Maryland Maniacs and play in the Indoor Football League
.
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....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The live-in population of the town core proper was only 648 at the 2000 census, although Greater Upper Marlboro
Greater Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Greater Upper Marlboro is a census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States that completely surrounds Upper Marlboro, the county seat...
is many times larger.
Although the area has many rural, pastoral features, including horse farms, it is surrounded by encroaching housing developments and is the daytime 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....
of Prince George's County
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....
, a large urban and suburban area of some 850,000 people adjacent to 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....
U.S. Highway 301
U.S. Route 301 in Maryland
U.S. Route 301 in Maryland is a major highway that runs from Delaware to the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge into Virginia. It passes through three of Maryland's four main regions: the Eastern Shore, the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area, and Southern Maryland...
and Maryland Route 4
Maryland Route 4
Maryland Route 4 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from MD 5 in Leonardtown north to Southern Avenue at the Washington, D.C. border, past which the highway continues as Pennsylvania Avenue...
intersect at the edge of town. Major features of the town include the courthouse, jail, county office building, board of education, and a lake with walking path. Just to the south of town is the Prince George's Equestrian Center which is the location of the annual county fair, a major annual antiques show and the Show Place Arena on the former Marlboro racetrack grounds. This arena is used for events such as hockey games, circuses, rodeos, conventions, trade shows, and graduation ceremonies of many regional high schools, as well as daily overflow parking for county governmental employees, jurors, and visitors. In earlier times the town was a tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
auction market, before tobacco farming nearly disappeared in Maryland. On November 3, 2004, a major fire badly damaged the roof and interior of the court house. Except for supermarkets, an Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
market, car dealers, and a Home Depot, all outside of town, the town and surrounding area have only minimal shopping; therefore, residents must travel to Bowie, Clinton, Brandywine
Brandywine
-Geographic locations:In British Columbia*Brandywine Falls Provincial Park*Brandywine MountainIn Delaware*Brandywine Creek, a tributary of the Christina River.*Brandywine Hundred, an unincorporated subdivision of New Castle County...
, Waldorf, or Forestville to find department stores. Upper Marlboro is convenient to employees commuting to locations along Maryland Route 4 or US Route 301, such as Andrews Air Force Base
Andrews Air Force Base
Joint Base Andrews is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 11th Wing, Air Force District of Washington ....
and the Federal Census Bureau.
The Town of Upper Marlboro is often mistaken for the unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
of Greater Upper Marlboro
Greater Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Greater Upper Marlboro is a census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States that completely surrounds Upper Marlboro, the county seat...
, which surrounds the town with a population of nearly 20,000 in an area of 77 square miles (as designated by the post office).
Geography
Upper Marlboro is located at 38°48′59"N 76°45′12"W (38.816488, -76.753454).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 town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), of which, 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (4.65%) is water.
History
The area of Upper Marlboro was first settled around 1695. It was named after John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, an ancestor of Winston Churchill. The land, which was to become the town, was part of several estates known as Grove Landing, Meadows, and Darnall's Chance, owned by the Brooke, Beall, and Darnall families, respectively.Darnall's Chance
Darnall's chance
Darnall's Chance, also known as Buck House, Buck-Wardrop House, or James Wardrop House, is a historic home located at 14800 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, in Upper Marlboro, Prince George's County, Maryland, United States....
, also known as the Buck House, was built between 1694 and 1712. The house can still be found across from the present day County Administration Building on Gov. Oden Bowie Drive. It was owned by the Darnall and Carroll families. The home may have been the birthplace of Daniel Carroll, a signer of the US Constitution, and his brother, John Carroll, the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in America.
In 1706, Marlborough Town was established as a port town by the Act for the Advancement of Trade and Erecting Ports and Towns. It was declared that the town would be constructed, "at the upper landing on the Western Branch, commonly called Colonel Belt's landing." County surveyor Thomas Truman Greenfield conducted a survey of 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of the three estates from which the town would be formed. Streets, alleys, a meetinghouse, lots for small businesses, and 100 lots to be used for homes were laid out. Earliest plans showed the town being laid out in a grid pattern with an L shape.
Residents of the area were not happy with Greenfield's initial layout and petitioned the General Assembly to have the town replatted. In 1744, the new survey was approved and the town was given a new name, Upper Marlborough. Upper was added to distinguish the town from the community of Marlboro (now known as Lower Marlboro
Lower Marlboro, Maryland
Lower Marlboro, Maryland is a small, waterfront unincorporated community in Calvert County, Maryland along the Patuxent River....
) in Calvert County.
Early in its life, when the western branch of the Patuxent River was still navigable, the town served as a port town for tobacco ships. The town blossomed into an agricultural, social, and political hot spot. Farms, many of which raised tobacco, dominated the surrounding areas.
In 1721, a courthouse was constructed in the town. The county seat was then moved from Charles Town, on the banks of the Patuxent, to Upper Marlborough. The courthouse was built with money from a 12 pound tobacco tax imposed on county inhabitants. One of the first laws passed at the courthouse was the Public School Act, which established a public school system.
During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, many prominent merchants, lawyers, and politicians lived and worked in the area. Horse racing came to the town around the mid-18th century and attracted many people from the surrounding areas. The Maryland Jockey Club sponsored spring and summer races at the race track south of town, and racing continued there until 1972, when they were moved to the Bowie Race Track. The race track is now part of the Equestrian Center owned by Prince George's County.
In 1870, the town was incorporated by the Maryland General Assembly. A volunteer fire department was organized in 1886, and the Marlborough Fire Association was incorporated the following year.
In the late 19th century, the town’s name changed from Upper Marlborough to Upper Marlboro. The name change is linked to a postal clerk who felt the extra letters, “ugh,” didn’t properly fit on the rubber stamps being used at the time. By 1893, postal guides were referring to the town as Upper Marlboro and the name stuck, despite a proposed ballot to have it changed back in 1968.
Since its initial conception the town has changed quite a bit. It initially boomed as a port town for tobacco trade, but the clearing and cultivation of land for farming would lead to erosion in the area. Over the years this erosion caused sedimentation, leading the Western Branch to become unnavigable. The fields of tobacco that once dominated the area have been converted over to residential developments, with the number of farms dwindling each year.
Today, the town is still the governing center of Prince George's County. Located within the town are the Prince George's County Courthouse, County Administration Building, and the Board of Education. The town's atmosphere is remarkably different, depending on the time of day. During the day, people from all across the county flock in for court hearings and government affairs, but in the evening, the town is pretty much empty.
The Courthouse
The courthouse, which has been a critical part of the town since it became the county seat in 1721, has quite a history. Since this 1721, the courthouse in Upper Marlboro has seen many changes. Between 1798 and 1801, a new courthouse was constructed on the site of the old one. The courthouse was again rebuilt in the 1880s.In 1939, the courthouse was substantially expanded and rebuilt. During this time, the building gained its famous stone Ionic columns. According to county historian Susan Pearl, “They wanted the neo-classic Georgian university campus building, and that’s what they got.” The total cost of the revision was $178,000.
Small additions were made in 1947 and 1969.
In the early 1990s a new courthouse was erected behind the existing courthouse. The new courthouse, composed of the Marbury and Bourne wing, was completed in 1991. The new building occupies 360000 square feet (33,445.1 m²) of space and cost $80 million. The old courthouse was then designated as the Duvall Wing and was attached to the new section by walkways.
In May 2003, the old courthouse was closed for a $25 million renovation. On November 3, 2004, two months before the building was scheduled to reopen, a fire broke out and destroyed much of the 151000 square feet (14,028.4 m²) building. The fire left only a charred skeleton of the cupola, which had overlooked Main St. for 64 years.
In January 2007, the courthouse briefly caught fire again when sparks from a construction worker’s welding tool ignited building materials on the roof. Firefighters quickly contained the blaze and the renovations continued.
On March 12, 2009, the Duvall Wing of the Prince George's County Courthouse reopened after being closed in 2001 for renovations.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 648 people, 292 households, and 165 families residing in the town. 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 1,586.7 people per square mile (610.2/km²). There were 309 housing units at an average density of 756.6 per square mile (291.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 51.54% White, 45.06% African American, 0.46% Native American, 1.08% Asian, 0.15% 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 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.
There were 292 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.5% 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, 22.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 36.3% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 72.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,813, and the median income for a family was $58,542. Males had a median income of $42,639 versus $39,000 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 town was $28,892. About 1.3% of families and 1.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
When Crown BooksCrown Books
Crown Books Corporation was a bookseller headquartered in Lake Arbor, an unincorporated community in Prince George's County, Maryland, near Largo and Upper Marlboro. It was founded in the Washington, D.C., metro area by Robert Haft in 1977...
existed, its headquarters were in Lake Arbor
Lake Arbor, Maryland
Lake Arbor is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. It is also known as Mitchellville. The population was 8,533 at the 2000 census...
, near Upper Marlboro. Also, the courthouse draws a small amount of business to the area in the form of various bail bond offices and law firms.
Events
Annual events within the town limits include:- Marlborough Day, a street festival and parade held on the day before Mother's Day.
- * Cruzin' Main St, a charity car show typically held in August.
- Homecoming day parades for both Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High SchoolDr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High SchoolDr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School is a public high school which opened its doors to students for the very first time in the Fall of 2006. Wise was constructed to relieve overcrowding in several Southern-area high schools, mainly Frederick Douglass High School...
and Frederick Douglass High SchoolFrederick Douglass High School (Prince George's County, Maryland)Frederick Douglass High School, established in 1934 as Marlboro High School and renamed Frederick Douglass High School in 1935, is a public high school located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland; is a part of the Prince George's County Public Schools system; and is named after the famous abolitionist,...
Numerous other events occur at the nearby Show Place Arena.
Town Departments
The Town has three departments:- General Government- M. David Williams was hired as the Town Clerk in February 2007.
- Public Safety consists of the Upper Marlboro Police Department (UMPD), which is the primary law enforcement agency serving the municipality of Upper Marlboro. The current chief of police is Michael T. Gonnella. The UMPD is also aided by the Prince George's County Police and Sheriff's OfficePrince George's County Sheriff's OfficeThe Prince George's County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services in Prince George's County, Maryland in the United States. Its headquarters is located in Upper Marlboro. The Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of Prince George's County and is elected by popular vote of the...
as directed by authority. - Public Works- Lewis Carroll has been the Public Work superintendent for over 10 years. The department has traditionally been divided into Highways and Streets and Sanitation.
Famous residents
- Dr. William BeanesWilliam BeanesWilliam Beanes was a medical doctor in the American Colonial Period.-Early life:Beanes was the third generation of the same name and the fourth generation American. He was born near Croome in Prince George's County, Maryland. Little is known of his childhood except that he is of Scottish descent...
(1749–1828): indirectly responsible for precipitating the situation in which the American national anthemNational anthemA national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
, The Star-Spangled BannerThe Star-Spangled Banner"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
, was written. - Thomas Fielder Bowie (April 7, 1808 – October 30, 1869)Thomas Fielder BowieThomas Fielder Bowie was an American politician.Born in Nottingham, Maryland near Queen Anne, in Prince George's County, Maryland Bowie attended Charlotte Hall Academy in St. Mary's County, Maryland and Princeton College. In 1826, Bowie was elected to the New York Alpha of Phi Beta Kappa...
: U.S. congressman - John CarrollJohn Carroll (bishop)John Carroll, was the first Roman Catholic bishop and archbishop in the United States — serving as the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He is also known as the founder of Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic university in the United States, and St...
, S.J.Society of JesusThe Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(1735–1815): first Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Bishop and Archbishop in the United States and founder of Georgetown UniversityGeorgetown UniversityGeorgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
. - Thomas J. ClaggettThomas John ClaggettThomas John Claggett was the first bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America to be consecrated on American soil and the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.-Early family life:...
(1742–1816): first Episcopalian Bishop consecrated in the United States. - William H. ClagettWilliam H. ClagettWilliam Horace Clagett was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from various places in the United States. He was the uncle of Samuel B. Pettengill....
(1838–1901) U.S. Congressman from the Montana TerritoryMontana TerritoryThe Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 28, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Montana.-History:...
, born in Upper Marlboro in 1838. - Charles Clagett MarburyCharles Clagett MarburyCharles Clagett Marbury was an American politician.Marbury was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1931 and served until he was elected to the state Senate in 1941...
Judge, Maryland Court of Appeals; Maryland State Senator; Maryland House of Delegates. - Lansdale SasscerLansdale SasscerLansdale Ghiselin Sasscer represented the fifth district of the state of Maryland in the United States House of Representatives for seven terms from 1939–1953....
: U.S. Congressman for Maryland's 5th DistrictMaryland's 5th congressional districtMaryland'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....
, born in Upper Marlboro in 1893.
Some who report being from "Upper Marlboro" are from the larger unincorporated area of Greater Upper Marlboro which uses the postal designation of "Upper Marlboro", and not from the much smaller municipality.
Education
Residents are zoned to schools in the 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...
system.
Residents are zoned to:
- Barack Obama Elementary School
- Mattaponi Elementary School
- Marlton Elementary School
- James Madison Middle School
- Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High SchoolDr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High SchoolDr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School is a public high school which opened its doors to students for the very first time in the Fall of 2006. Wise was constructed to relieve overcrowding in several Southern-area high schools, mainly Frederick Douglass High School...
- Frederick Douglass High SchoolFrederick Douglass High School (Prince George's County, Maryland)Frederick Douglass High School, established in 1934 as Marlboro High School and renamed Frederick Douglass High School in 1935, is a public high school located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland; is a part of the Prince George's County Public Schools system; and is named after the famous abolitionist,...
- Rosaryville Elementary School
- Melwood Elementary School
Sports
The Chesapeake IcebreakersChesapeake Icebreakers
The Chesapeake Icebreakers are a defunct minor league ice hockey team that played in the East Coast Hockey League from 1997-1999. The Icebreakers were an expansion team that was granted to Upper Marlboro, Maryland for the start of the 1997–98 ECHL season.Home games were played at a converted...
of the East Coast Hockey League played two seasons in Upper Marlboro from 1997 to 1999 at the Show Place Arena, just outside of town, before moving to Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
.
The Chesapeake Tide
Chesapeake Tide
The Maryland Maniacs are an Indoor Football team based in College Park, Maryland, the team plays its home games at Cole Field House. Inaugural season home games were held at The Show Place Arena...
of the Continental Indoor Football League started play at the Show Place Arena, just outside of town, in 2007. Beginning in 2009, they will be known as the Maryland Maniacs and play in the Indoor Football League
Indoor Football League
The Indoor Football League began in 1999 as an offshoot of the troubled Professional Indoor Football League. Keary Ecklund, the owner of the Green Bay Bombers and Madison Mad Dogs, left the PIFL after its first, financially-troubled, season to start his own league. Unlike the PIFL, the IFL was an...
.