Anne Arundel County, Maryland
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Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland.
As of 2000, the population is 489,656. The estimated population for 2003 was 506,620. It was named for Anne Calvert, Baroness Baltimore, née Anne Arundell, the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is Annapolis, which is also the capital of the state. It is pronounced "Ann a-RUN-dul" (emphasis on the second syllable), different from the pronunciation of Arundel in Sussex in England as "A-run-dul" (emphasis on the first syllable).
This county is a part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.
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History
Anne Arundel County was an original county in Maryland, created in 1650, the year after Anne Arundel's death. Part of the original Anne Arundel County (the Howard District) was broken off and made into Howard County, Maryland in 1851, the 21st of 23 counties.
Geography
Anne Arundel County is located to the southeast of the city of Baltimore. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,523 km² (588 mi²). 1,077 km² (416 mi²) of it is land and 445 km² (172 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 29.25% water. It is located on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay.
Government
Anne Arundel County has had a charter government since 1965. The government consists of a County Executive and a seven-member County Council. The County Executive and Councilmen are elected in years it gubernatorial elections, and may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.
County Executives
The County Executive, oversees the executive branch of the County government that consists of a number of offices and departments. The executive branch is charged with implementing County law and overseeing the operation of the County government. The next election is in 2006.
2006 Anne Arundel County Executive Election
County Council
The County Council, as the legislative branch, adopts ordinances and resolutions, and has all of the County's legislative powers.
The current members of the County Council are:
| District | Name | Party |
|---|---|---|
| District 1 | Pamela G. Beidle | Democrat |
| District 2 | C. Edward Middlebrooks | Republican |
| District 3 | Ronald C. Dillon, Jr. | Republican |
| District 4 | Bill D. Burlison | Democrat |
| District 5 | Cathleen Vitale | Republican |
| District 6 | Barbara Samorajczyk | Democrat |
| District 7 | Edward R. Reilly | Republican |
Councilman Dillon is the current Chairman. Councilman Reilly is the current Vice-Chairman.
Transportation
Anne Arundel county is the home of Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, commonly referred to as BWI. BWI serves as the main airport for greater Baltimore. It is also an increasingly popular alternative airport to residents of the Washington, D.C., area. BWI is an east coast hub for Southwest Airlines, meaning that low-cost direct flights are available between BWI and much of the country.
The southern portion of the Maryland Transit Administration's Light Rail system, connecting downtown Baltimore with BWI, runs through part of Anne Arundel county.
The county is served by one main-line interstate, Interstate 97, which is the only main-line interstate highway contained completely within one county. Interstate 695 is the McKeldin Beltway (formerly the Baltimore Beltway), and runs through the northern part of the county. Interstate 895 is the Harbor Tunnel Thruway and runs through the county towards the tunnel.Interstate 195 serves BWI Airport.
Interstate 595 also runs through central Anne Arundel County. This highway however is not signed. It is referred to by its more common names, US 50 and US 301.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is also in the county, connecting the Western Shore with the Eastern Shore in Queen Anne's County.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 489,656 people, 178,670 households, and 129,178 families residing in the county. The population density is 455/km² (1,177/mi²). There are 186,937 housing units at an average density of 174/km² (449/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 81.24% White, 13.57% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.29% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. 2.63% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 178,670 households out of which 34.90% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% are married couples living together, 11.10% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% are non-families. 21.30% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.40% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.65 and the average family size is 3.09.
In the county the population is spread out with 25.20% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.00% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 97.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $61,768, and the median income for a family is $69,019. Males have a median income of $43,747 versus $32,348 for females. The per capita income for the county is $27,578. 5.10% of the population and 3.60% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.30% of those under the age of 18 and 5.80% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Cities and towns
Anne Arundel County contains only two incorporated municipalities: the city of Annapolis, incorporated in 1708, and the town of Highland Beach, incorporated 1922.
Unincorporated areas are also considered as towns by many people and listed in many collections of towns, but they lack local government. Various organizations, such as the United States Census Bureau, the United States Postal Service, and local chambers of commerce, define the communities they wish to recognize differently, and since they are not incorporated, their boundaries have no official status outside the organizations in question. The Census Bureau recognizes the following census-designated places in the county:
- Arden-on-the-Severn
- Arnold
- Brooklyn Park
- Cape Saint Claire
- Crofton
- Crownsville
- Deale
- Ferndale
- Fort Meade
- Glen Burnie
- Green Haven
- Herald Harbor
- Hillsmere Shores
- Jessup (This CDP is shared between Howard and Anne Arundel Counties.)
- Lake Shore
- Linthicum
- Londontowne
- Maryland City
- Mayo
- Millersville
- Naval Academy
- Odenton
- Parole
- Pasadena
- Pumphrey
- Riva
- Riviera Beach
- Selby-on-the-Bay
- Severn
- Severna Park
- Shady Side
- South Gate
Other unincorporated places not listed as Census-Designated Places but known in the area include:
External links
- Anne Arundel County official website (http://www.aacounty.org)
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State of Maryland |
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| State Capital: | |
| Regions: |
Western | Southern | Eastern Shore | Baltimore-Washington Metro Area | Chesapeake | Delaware Valley |
| Notable Cities: | Baltimore | Bowie | College Park | Cumberland | Frederick | Gaithersburg | Greenbelt | Hagerstown | Laurel | Rockville | Salisbury | Takoma Park | Westminster |
| Counties: |
Allegany | Anne Arundel | Baltimore City | Baltimore County | Calvert | Caroline | Carroll | Cecil | Charles | Dorchester | Frederick | Garrett | Harford | Howard | Kent | Montgomery | Prince George's | Queen Anne's | St. Mary's | Somerset | Talbot | Washington | Wicomico | Worcester |