Fairmount Heights, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Fairmount Heights is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland
, United States
. The population was 1,508 at the 2000 census. The town was formally incorparated in 1935, making the town the second oldest African-American municipality
in Prince George's County. The town is composed of seven subdivisions: Fairmount Heights (1900), Waterford (1907), Mount Weissner (1909), North Fairmount Heights (1910), West Fairmount Heights (1911) and Sylvan Vista (1923). The Town is currently seeking to be added to the National Register of Historic Places
.
(*)- Served as acting mayor
James Armstrong, the first supervisor of colored schools in Prince George’s County and later a member of the town council, built his home there in 1904.
Prominent architect William Sidney Pittman built his home on Eastern Avenue; his wife, Portia, was the daughter of Booker T. Washington
, founder of the Tuskegee Institute
.
Doswell Brooks moved into the community about 1928. He was the first black supervisor of colored schools in Prince George's County and the first African-American member of the Board of Education.
Robert Gray was a very active citizen of Fairmount Heights. He was the principal of the first school built in the town, Fairmount Heights Elementary, and served as president of the Fairmount Heights Federal Credit Union and as the town's clerk-treasurer, deputy mayor, and mayor. In 2001, Prince George's County Public Schools
named and dedicated an elementary school in Chapel Oaks, Maryland in his honor.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,508 people, 498 households, and 361 families residing in the town. The population density
was 5,622.7 people per square mile (2,156.5/km²). There were 561 housing units at an average density of 2,091.7 per square mile (802.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 1.13% White, 95.82% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.60% from other races
, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.
There were 498 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were married couples
living together, 26.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.52.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $48,250, and the median income for a family was $53,304. Males had a median income of $34,107 versus $34,327 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,966. About 6.9% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.
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 population was 1,508 at the 2000 census. The town was formally incorparated in 1935, making the town the second oldest African-American municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in Prince George's County. The town is composed of seven subdivisions: Fairmount Heights (1900), Waterford (1907), Mount Weissner (1909), North Fairmount Heights (1910), West Fairmount Heights (1911) and Sylvan Vista (1923). The Town is currently seeking to be 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...
.
Mayors
- Robert S. Nichols (1935-1937)
- Ulysses Markall (1937-1941)
- George H. Patterson (1941-1943)
- James A. Campbell (1943-1955)
- Doswell E. Brooks (1955-1967)
- Lawrence L. Brooks, Sr. (1967-1973)
- Charles C. Davis (1973-1977)
- Robert R. Gray (1977-1991)
- Ruth S. Brown (1991-1993)
- Jerome T. Countee (1993-1997)
- Kathleen T. Scott (1997-1998)
- R. Dean Cooks * (1998-1999)
- Johnnie R. Saxton (1999-2003)
- Lillie Thompson-Martin (2003-2007)
- Madeline E. Richardson (2007-2009)
- Nathaniel R. Mines, Jr. (2009-2011)
- Lillie Thompson-Martin (2011-Present)
(*)- Served as acting mayor
Town Government
The Town of Fairmount Heights consist of six (6) elected councilmembers and a elected mayor who sits as chair of the town council. The mayor and the councilmembers are elected to serve for two (2) years. The following are current officers of the town:- Mayor: Lillie Thompson-Martin, 2013
- Vice-Mayor/Councilmember: Jacqueline Woods-Dodson, 2012
- Councilmember: Kiristan M. Leftwich, 2012
- Councilmember: Nancy Dixon Saxon, 2012
- Councilmember: Kevin Downing, 2013
- Councilmember: Harry Saunder, 2013
- Councilmember: Aaron Wilson, 2013
Notable Residents
Fairmount Heights has been the home of several pioneers and achievers who made significant contributions to the town and to Prince George's County.James Armstrong, the first supervisor of colored schools in Prince George’s County and later a member of the town council, built his home there in 1904.
Prominent architect William Sidney Pittman built his home on Eastern Avenue; his wife, Portia, was the daughter of Booker T. Washington
Booker T. Washington
Booker Taliaferro Washington was an American educator, author, orator, and political leader. He was the dominant figure in the African-American community in the United States from 1890 to 1915...
, founder of the Tuskegee Institute
Tuskegee University
Tuskegee University is a private, historically black university located in Tuskegee, Alabama, United States. It is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund...
.
Doswell Brooks moved into the community about 1928. He was the first black supervisor of colored schools in Prince George's County and the first African-American member of the Board of Education.
Robert Gray was a very active citizen of Fairmount Heights. He was the principal of the first school built in the town, Fairmount Heights Elementary, and served as president of the Fairmount Heights Federal Credit Union and as the town's clerk-treasurer, deputy mayor, and mayor. In 2001, Prince George's County Public Schools
Prince 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...
named and dedicated an elementary school in Chapel Oaks, Maryland in his honor.
Bordering areas
- Seat PleasantSeat Pleasant, MarylandSeat Pleasant is an incorporated city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States immediately east of Washington D.C. The population was 4,885 at the 2000 census. Two state highways run through it — Maryland Route 704 and Maryland Route 214...
(southeast) - Capitol HeightsCapitol Heights, MarylandCapitol Heights is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,138 at the 2000 census. Development around the Capitol Heights Metro station has medical facilities and eateries to support the community...
(south) - CheverlyCheverly, MarylandCheverly is a town in central Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., United States. The town was founded in 1918 and it was incorporated in 1931. Cheverly had 6,433 residents as of the 2000 Census....
(north) - Carmody Hills-Pepper Mill VillageCarmody Hills-Pepper Mill Village, MarylandCarmody Hills-Pepper Mill Village is a census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland. The combination is arbitrary, and in the mind of most local people there are two separate communities: Carmody Hills and Pepper Mill Village.-Geography:...
(southeast)
Geography
Fairmount Heights is located at 38°54′6"N 76°54′52"W (38.901761, -76.914504).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 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
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 1,508 people, 498 households, and 361 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 5,622.7 people per square mile (2,156.5/km²). There were 561 housing units at an average density of 2,091.7 per square mile (802.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 1.13% White, 95.82% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.60% 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 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.
There were 498 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% 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, 26.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.5% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.52.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $48,250, and the median income for a family was $53,304. Males had a median income of $34,107 versus $34,327 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 $17,966. About 6.9% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.