Brunswick, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Brunswick is a city in Frederick County
, Maryland
, United States
. The population was 5,870 at the 2010 census.
Indians. In 1728 the first settlement was built, and the region became known as Eel Town, because the natives would fish for eel in the Potomac River
. A grant to the land was then given to John Hawkins by George II of Great Britain
on August 10, 1753. The land was sold and Leonard Smith platted it in 1787 with the name of “Berlin,” as many Germans settled in the area. The name “Berlin” however, could not be used for mail as there was already a Berlin
on the Eastern Shore of Maryland
, so the post office changed the name to "Barry." The town continued to grow and was incorporated April 18, 1890 with the name “Brunswick.”
Established along the now-defunct Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
, the town became a hub for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
, which built a six mile long rail yard
along the Potomac
from 1891 to 1912, boosting the population to over 5,000, and making Brunswick virtually a company town
. The railroad reduced its yard operations in the 1950s.
Today Brunswick is home to a commuter rail station serving Washington, D.C.
, and also home of the Brunswick Railroad Museum
that shows the history of the city, and is home of a large model railroad showing why the city's location was important to the railroad.
Parade on the first weekend of November, Potomac River Festival and Race, "Movies in the Park" during the summer, the Farmers' Market, Arts In The Parks, Little League
opening day, and various other city and museum events.
The City of Brunswick markets its historic downtown
, the Railroad Museum, and its access to the C&O Canal and Potomac River. There are a number of antique stores, a knitting shop, a martial arts studio, beauty salon and a hardware store. There are live music performances many nights of the week at Beans in the Belfry, a café in a converted Lutheran church.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), of which 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 0.94%, is water.
of 2000, there were 4,894 people, 1,866 households, and 1,306 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,324.3 people per square mile (895.5/km²). There were 1,957 housing units at an average density of 929.4 per square mile (358.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.09% White, 5.31% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races
, and 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.
There were 1,866 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples
living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,513, and the median income for a family was $53,232. Males had a median income of $36,304 versus $25,017 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,685. About 2.5% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.
Frederick County, Maryland
Frederick County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 233,385....
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,870 at the 2010 census.
History
The area now known as Brunswick was originally home to the SusquehannaSusquehannock
The Susquehannock people were Iroquoian-speaking Native Americans who lived in areas adjacent to the Susquehanna River and its tributaries from the southern part of what is now New York, through Pennsylvania, to the mouth of the Susquehanna in Maryland at the north end of the Chesapeake Bay...
Indians. In 1728 the first settlement was built, and the region became known as Eel Town, because the natives would fish for eel in the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
. A grant to the land was then given to John Hawkins by George II of Great Britain
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
on August 10, 1753. The land was sold and Leonard Smith platted it in 1787 with the name of “Berlin,” as many Germans settled in the area. The name “Berlin” however, could not be used for mail as there was already a Berlin
Berlin, Maryland
Berlin is a town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census.-History:The town of Berlin had its start around the 1790s, part of the Burley Plantation, a land grant dating back to 1677...
on the Eastern Shore of Maryland
Eastern Shore of Maryland
The Eastern Shore of Maryland is a territorial part of the U.S. state of Maryland that lies predominately on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay and consists of nine counties. The origin of term Eastern Shore was derived to distinguish a territorial part of the State of Maryland from the Western...
, so the post office changed the name to "Barry." The town continued to grow and was incorporated April 18, 1890 with the name “Brunswick.”
Established along the now-defunct Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, abbreviated as the C&O Canal, and occasionally referred to as the "Grand Old Ditch," operated from 1831 until 1924 parallel to the Potomac River in Maryland from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, D.C. The total length of the canal is about . The elevation change of...
, the town became a hub for 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...
, which built a six mile long rail yard
Rail yard
A rail yard, or railroad yard, is a complex series of railroad tracks for storing, sorting, or loading/unloading, railroad cars and/or locomotives. Railroad yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock stored off the mainline, so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic....
along the Potomac
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
from 1891 to 1912, boosting the population to over 5,000, and making Brunswick virtually a company town
Company town
A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
. The railroad reduced its yard operations in the 1950s.
Today Brunswick is home to a commuter rail station serving 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 also home of the Brunswick Railroad Museum
Brunswick Railroad Museum
The Brunswick Railroad Museum is a railroad museum in Brunswick, Maryland.-Museum focus:The museum demonstrates the effect of railroads on society in a company town, using the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's effect on Brunswick as an example.-Exhibits:...
that shows the history of the city, and is home of a large model railroad showing why the city's location was important to the railroad.
Tourism
The largest city-wide event is "Railroad Days" on the first weekend in October. Other events year round include the Veterans DayVeterans Day
Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11. It coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark...
Parade on the first weekend of November, Potomac River Festival and Race, "Movies in the Park" during the summer, the Farmers' Market, Arts In The Parks, Little League
Little League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
opening day, and various other city and museum events.
The City of Brunswick markets its historic downtown
Brunswick Historic District
The Brunswick Historic District includes the historic center of the railroad town of Brunswick, Maryland. The district includes the 18th century former town of Berlin, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad yards along the Potomac River, and the town built between 1890 and 1910 to serve the...
, the Railroad Museum, and its access to the C&O Canal and Potomac River. There are a number of antique stores, a knitting shop, a martial arts studio, beauty salon and a hardware store. There are live music performances many nights of the week at Beans in the Belfry, a café in a converted Lutheran church.
Geography
Brunswick is located at 39°18′50"N 77°37′36"W (39.313908, -77.626732).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 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), of which 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²), or 0.94%, is water.
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 4,894 people, 1,866 households, and 1,306 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 2,324.3 people per square mile (895.5/km²). There were 1,957 housing units at an average density of 929.4 per square mile (358.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.09% White, 5.31% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.18% 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 1.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.
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, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,513, and the median income for a family was $53,232. Males had a median income of $36,304 versus $25,017 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 $20,685. About 2.5% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.