Kent County, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Kent County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Maryland
, on its Eastern Shore. It was named for the county of Kent
in England. Its county seat
is Chestertown
. In 2010, the county population was 20,197. It is the least populous of Maryland's 23 counties.
The county has a number of properties which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. A peninsula
along the southern shore of the Sassafras River containing several large farms and a large pond that were assembled into one property by the former owners of The Sassafras Boat Company marina and Sassafras House restaurant at Georgetown, Liz Maytag and Mike Revuke, has been preserved as a wildlife sanctuary.
won it with 52% of the vote to Democrat John Kerry
's 46%. In the 2008 United States Presidential Election, Barack Obama
won Kent County by 48 votes more than John McCain
.
The Sheriff of Kent County is John Price IV.
The commissioners of Kent County are -
Ronald H. Fithian (D) President,
William W. Pickrum (D),
Alexander P. Rasin (R)
According to the Maryland Geological Survey, the highest point in Kent County is 102 feet above sea level, approximately 2.25 miles west of Coleman's Corner (shown on maps as "Coleman") just northeast of the mouth of Still Pond Creek.
The border with Kent County, Delaware is rather unusual since the counties both share the same name. The only other instances in which two neighboring counties with the same name share a state border are Sabine County, Texas and Sabine Parish, Louisiana
, Bristol County, Massachusetts
and Bristol County, Rhode Island
, Union County, Arkansas and Union Parish, Louisiana
, and Escambia County, Alabama
and Escambia County, Florida
respectively.
>
Year
Population
1900
18,786
1910
16,957
1920
15,026
1930
14,242
1940
13,465
1950
13,677
1960
15,481
1970
16,146
1980
16,695
1990
17,842
2000
19,197
2010
20,197
As of the census
of 2000, there were 19,197 people, 7,666 households, and 5,136 families residing in the county. The population density
was 69 people per square mile (27/km²). There were 9,410 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.64% White
, 17.41% Black
or African American
, 0.15% Native American
, 0.54% Asian
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
, 1.04% from other races
, and 1.18% from two or more races. 2.84% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 15.7% were of English
, 14.2% German, 12.4% Irish
and 11.3% American
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 7,666 households out of which 26.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.70% were married couples
living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the county the population was spread out with 20.80% under the age of 18, 10.90% from 18 to 24, 23.70% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 19.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,869, and the median income for a family was $46,708. Males had a median income of $31,899 versus $24,513 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $21,573. About 9.30% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.00% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
All five are classified as town
s under Maryland law.
The United States Census Bureau
recognizes no Census-Designated Places in Kent County, which is unusual for Maryland counties, which usually have many unincorporated population centers.
Other unincorporated places not listed as Census-Designated Places but known in the area include:
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
, on its Eastern Shore. It was named for the county of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
in England. Its 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....
is Chestertown
Chestertown, Maryland
Chestertown is a town in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,746 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kent County. The ZIP code is 21620 and the area codes are 410 and 443...
. In 2010, the county population was 20,197. It is the least populous of Maryland's 23 counties.
History
In 1642, the governor and council appointed commissioners for the Isle and County of Kent. This act appears to have led to the establishment of Kent County.The county has a number of properties which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places listings in Kent County, Maryland
This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Kent County, Maryland.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Kent County, Maryland, United States...
. A peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
along the southern shore of the Sassafras River containing several large farms and a large pond that were assembled into one property by the former owners of The Sassafras Boat Company marina and Sassafras House restaurant at Georgetown, Liz Maytag and Mike Revuke, has been preserved as a wildlife sanctuary.
Government and politics
Kent County was granted home rule in 1970 under a state code. Kent County is the most politically competitive county on Maryland's eastern shore. In 2004, Republican George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
won it with 52% of the vote to Democrat John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
's 46%. In the 2008 United States Presidential Election, Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
won Kent County by 48 votes more than John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
.
The Sheriff of Kent County is John Price IV.
The commissioners of Kent County are -
Ronald H. Fithian (D) President,
William W. Pickrum (D),
Alexander P. Rasin (R)
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 414.31 square miles (1,073.1 km²), of which 279.43 square miles (723.7 km²) (or 67.44%) is land and 134.87 square miles (349.3 km²) (or 32.55%) is water.According to the Maryland Geological Survey, the highest point in Kent County is 102 feet above sea level, approximately 2.25 miles west of Coleman's Corner (shown on maps as "Coleman") just northeast of the mouth of Still Pond Creek.
Adjacent counties
- Cecil CountyCecil County, MarylandCecil County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is part of the Delaware Valley. It was named for Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore , who was the first Proprietary Governor of the colony of Maryland from 1632 until his death in 1675. The county seat is Elkton. The newspaper...
(north) - New Castle County, DelawareNew Castle County, DelawareNew Castle County is the northernmost of the three counties of the U.S. state of Delaware. As of 2010 its population was 538,479, an increase of 7.6% over the previous decade. The county seat is Wilmington. The center of population of Delaware is located in New Castle County, in the town of...
(northeast) - Kent County, DelawareKent County, DelawareKent County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is coextensive with the Dover, Delaware, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 the population was 162,310, a 28.1% increase over the previous decade. The county seat is Dover, the state capital...
(southeast) - Queen Anne's CountyQueen Anne's County, MarylandQueen Anne's County is a county located on the Eastern Shore of the U.S. state of Maryland.As of 2010, the population was 47,798. Its county seat and most populous municipality is Centreville. The census-designated place of Stevensville is the county's most populous place...
(south)
The border with Kent County, Delaware is rather unusual since the counties both share the same name. The only other instances in which two neighboring counties with the same name share a state border are Sabine County, Texas and Sabine Parish, Louisiana
Sabine Parish, Louisiana
Sabine Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is Many. In 2010, the parish's population was 24,233....
, Bristol County, Massachusetts
Bristol County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 534,678 people, 205,411 households, and 140,706 families residing in the county. The population density was 962 people per square mile . There were 216,918 housing units at an average density of 390 per square mile...
and Bristol County, Rhode Island
Bristol County, Rhode Island
The border with Bristol County, Massachusetts is rather unusual since the counties both share the same name. The only other instances in which two neighboring counties with the same name share a state border are Sabine County, Texas and Sabine Parish, Louisiana, Union Parish, Louisiana and Union...
, Union County, Arkansas and Union Parish, Louisiana
Union Parish, Louisiana
Union Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Farmerville....
, and Escambia County, Alabama
Escambia County, Alabama
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*62.1% White*31.9% Black*4.4% Native American*0.2% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.5% Two or more races*1.9% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
and Escambia County, Florida
Escambia County, Florida
Escambia County is the westernmost county in the U.S. state of Florida. The 2010 population was 297,619. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 296,772. Its county seat is Pensacola.- History :...
respectively.
Demographics
| > | Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1790 | 12,836 |
| 1800 | 11,771 |
| 1810 | 11,450 |
| 1820 | 11,453 |
| 1830 | 10,501 |
| 1840 | 10,842 |
| 1850 | 11,386 |
| 1860 | 13,267 |
| 1870 | 17,102 |
| 1880 | 17,605 |
| 1890 | 17,471 |
2010
Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:- 80.1% WhiteWhite AmericanWhite Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
- 15.1% BlackAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
- 0.2% Native AmericanNative Americans in the United StatesNative Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
- 0.8% AsianAsian AmericanAsian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
- 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific IslanderPacific Islander AmericanPacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
- 1.8% Two or more racesMultiracial AmericanMultiracial Americans, US residents who identify themselves as of "two or more races", were numbered at around 9 million, or 2.9% of the population, in the census of 2010. However there is considerable evidence that the real number is far higher. Prior to the mid-20th century many people hid their...
- 2.0% Other racesRace (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...
- 4.5% Hispanic or LatinoHispanic and Latino AmericansHispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
(of any race)
2000
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 19,197 people, 7,666 households, and 5,136 families residing in the county. 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 69 people per square mile (27/km²). There were 9,410 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.64% White
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...
, 17.41% Black
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...
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...
, 0.15% Native 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...
, 0.54% Asian
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...
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
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...
, 1.04% 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 1.18% from two or more races. 2.84% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race. 15.7% were of English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 14.2% German, 12.4% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and 11.3% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 7,666 households out of which 26.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.70% 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, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the county the population was spread out with 20.80% under the age of 18, 10.90% from 18 to 24, 23.70% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 19.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,869, and the median income for a family was $46,708. Males had a median income of $31,899 versus $24,513 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 county was $21,573. About 9.30% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.00% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
- Kent County High School
- Kent County Middle School
- Galena Elementary School\
- Judy Center (Pre-school)
- Henry Highland Garnett Elementary School
- Millington Elementary School
- Rock Hall Elementary School
- Worton Elementary School
- Kent School
- Chestertown Christian Academy
- Echo Hill Outdoor SchoolEcho Hill Outdoor SchoolThe Echo Hill Outdoor School was founded in 1972 by Peter P. Rice Jr. and is located near Betterton in Kent County on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The School provides 1 to 5 day programs for children and adults from public and private schools throughout the Mid-Atlantic in experiential education and...
- Radcliffe Creek School
- Washington CollegeWashington CollegeWashington College is a private, independent liberal arts college located on a campus in Chestertown, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore. Maryland granted Washington College its charter in 1782...
Cities and towns
This county contains the following incorporated municipalities:- BettertonBetterton, MarylandBetterton is a town in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The population was 376 at the 2000 census.-Betterton Historic District:The Betterton Historic District consists of a collection of vernacular Victorian resort structures. The district includes many of the homes, hotels and cottages built...
(incorporated 1906) Mayor- Carolyn C. Sorge - ChestertownChestertown, MarylandChestertown is a town in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,746 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kent County. The ZIP code is 21620 and the area codes are 410 and 443...
(incorporated 1805) Mayor- Margo G. Bailey - GalenaGalena, MarylandGalena is a town in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The population was 428 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Galena is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
(incorporated 1858) Mayor- Harry J. Pisapia - MillingtonMillington, MarylandMillington is a town in Kent and Queen Anne's counties in the U.S. state of Maryland. The population was 416 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Millington is located at ....
(incorporated 1890) (This town is partly in Kent County and partly in Queen Anne's CountyQueen Anne's County, MarylandQueen Anne's County is a county located on the Eastern Shore of the U.S. state of Maryland.As of 2010, the population was 47,798. Its county seat and most populous municipality is Centreville. The census-designated place of Stevensville is the county's most populous place...
.) Mayor- T. Edward Robinson - Rock HallRock Hall, MarylandRock Hall is a town in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,396 at the 2000 census.The town is a center for the fishing, crabbing, and oystering industries in Kent County as well as a home to marinas that cater to the pleasure craft that sail the Chesapeake Bay...
(incorporated 1908) Mayor- Bob Willis
All five are classified as town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
s under Maryland law.
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...
recognizes no Census-Designated Places in Kent County, which is unusual for Maryland counties, which usually have many unincorporated population centers.
Other unincorporated places not listed as Census-Designated Places but known in the area include:
- FairleeFairlee, MarylandFairlee, Maryland is an unincorporated community in Kent County, Maryland, United States.-References:...
- GeorgetownGeorgetown, MarylandGeorgetown is an unincorporated community in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The former Georgetown located in Montgomery County, Maryland, was incorporated into the District of Columbia when it was created in 1790.-References:...
- LynchLynch, MarylandLynch is an unincorporated community in Kent County, Maryland, United States.-References:...
- KennedyvilleKennedyville, MarylandKennedyville is an unincorporated community in Kent County, Maryland, United States.-References:...
- MasseyMassey, MarylandMassey is an unincorporated community in Kent County, Maryland, United States.-References:...
- Still PondStill Pond, MarylandStill Pond is an unincorporated community in Kent County, Maryland, United States. Much of the community is included in the Still Pond Historic District and it is notable as the first place in Maryland that women gained the right to vote.-Notable residents:...
- Tolchester
- WortonWorton, MarylandWorton is an unincorporated community in Kent County, Maryland, United States.-References:...
Miscellaneous
- The newspaper of record is the Kent County News.
- Kent County Public Schools were some of the last in the country to fully integrate, but this was because of construction delays in opening the desegregated high school, which opened in the fall of 1969. Primary grade feeder schools in the Kent County system were integrated before the opening of the centrally located high school.
- Kent County, Maryland, is one of the few counties in the United States to border its namesake in another state—in this case, Kent CountyKent County, DelawareKent County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Delaware. It is coextensive with the Dover, Delaware, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 the population was 162,310, a 28.1% increase over the previous decade. The county seat is Dover, the state capital...
, Delaware. - In 1790 Kent County contained the centre of population of the United States, according to the US Census Bureau.