Riverdale Park, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Riverdale Park is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland
, United States
. The population was 6,690 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (2.45%) is water.
of 2000, there were 6,690 people, 2,172 households, and 1,437 families residing in the town. The population density
was 4,212.7 people per square mile (1,624.5/km²). There were 2,321 housing units at an average density of 1,461.5 per square mile (563.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 39.91% White, 38.51% African American, 0.49% Native American, 4.25% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 12.99% from other races
, and 3.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.27% of the population.
There were 2,172 households out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples
living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.60.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 38.7% from 25 to 44, 15.6% from 45 to 64, and 4.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 110.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,041, and the median income for a family was $49,904. Males had a median income of $30,053 versus $30,200 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,293. About 9.0% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
In a referendum held August 8, 1998 it was voted to rename the town to Riverdale Park, effective September 7, 1998. The United States Postal Service
, however, still refers to the incorporated town of Riverdale Park as well as some of the surrounding unincorporated area to the east as "Riverdale." The ZIP code
assigned to the Riverdale post office is 20737.
In the 1880's Riverdale was a small community of 30-40 homes clustered around a stop on the B&O Railroad midway between the towns of Hyattsville and Berwyn. It was surrounded by farm land and was bordered on the west by the main thoroughfare connecting Washington and Baltimore, which in those days was merely a narrow dirt road known locally as "the pike". Riverdale was also the home of Riverdale Presbyterian Church (founded in 1896) that has since moved to University Park.
The Town has its own police department; Patrick Timmons is Acting Chief of Police (following the departure of Teresa Chambers
).
Riverdale Park, and subsequent Riverdale Heights are served by two primarily volunteer fire departments within the Prince Georges Fire and EMS Department. "Riverdale 7", and "Riverdale Heights 13" both provide services to the community with volunteer firefighters and a staff of live-in volunteers that staff apparatus.
system.
Elementary schools serving the town include:
Middle schools serving the town in separate attendance zones include:
High schools serving the town in separate attendance zones include:
station on the MARC
commuter rail's Camden Line
.
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 6,690 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Riverdale Park is located at 38°57′46"N 76°55′47"W (38.962810, -76.929699).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 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), of which, 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (2.45%) 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 6,690 people, 2,172 households, and 1,437 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 4,212.7 people per square mile (1,624.5/km²). There were 2,321 housing units at an average density of 1,461.5 per square mile (563.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 39.91% White, 38.51% African American, 0.49% Native American, 4.25% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 12.99% 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 3.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.27% of the population.
There were 2,172 households out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% 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, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.60.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 38.7% from 25 to 44, 15.6% from 45 to 64, and 4.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 110.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,041, and the median income for a family was $49,904. Males had a median income of $30,053 versus $30,200 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 $19,293. About 9.0% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
History
The town was incorporated in 1920 as Riverdale, drawing the name from Riversdale, the plantation owned by the Calvert family that is at the center of the town.In a referendum held August 8, 1998 it was voted to rename the town to Riverdale Park, effective September 7, 1998. The United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
, however, still refers to the incorporated town of Riverdale Park as well as some of the surrounding unincorporated area to the east as "Riverdale." The ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
assigned to the Riverdale post office is 20737.
In the 1880's Riverdale was a small community of 30-40 homes clustered around a stop on the B&O Railroad midway between the towns of Hyattsville and Berwyn. It was surrounded by farm land and was bordered on the west by the main thoroughfare connecting Washington and Baltimore, which in those days was merely a narrow dirt road known locally as "the pike". Riverdale was also the home of Riverdale Presbyterian Church (founded in 1896) that has since moved to University Park.
Government
The Town is governed by a Mayor and Town Council. The council is made up of six members who represent each ward in the Town. As of the 2011 General Election, the Mayor of Riverdale Park is Vernon Archer.The Town has its own police department; Patrick Timmons is Acting Chief of Police (following the departure of Teresa Chambers
Teresa Chambers
Teresa Chambers was the Chief of the United States Park Police from February 2002 until December 2003. She was fired after speaking with a Washington Post reporter in detail about her concerns that new requirements instituted by the United States Congress to double the number of stationary guards...
).
Riverdale Park, and subsequent Riverdale Heights are served by two primarily volunteer fire departments within the Prince Georges Fire and EMS Department. "Riverdale 7", and "Riverdale Heights 13" both provide services to the community with volunteer firefighters and a staff of live-in volunteers that staff apparatus.
Education
Riverdale Park is within 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.
Elementary schools serving the town include:
Middle schools serving the town in separate attendance zones include:
High schools serving the town in separate attendance zones include:
- Bladensburg High SchoolBladensburg High SchoolBladensburg High School is a secondary school located in Bladensburg, Maryland.The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district....
- Northwestern High SchoolNorthwestern High School (Hyattsville, Maryland)Northwestern High School , established in 1951, is a public comprehensive secondary school located in Hyattsville, Maryland in Prince George's County, less than a mile from the internationally known University of Maryland, College Park. It is part of the Prince George's County Public Schools system...
- Parkdale High SchoolParkdale High SchoolParkdale High School or PHS is a public magnet high school located at 6001 Good Luck Road, Riverdale, Maryland 20737. The principal is Mrs. Cheryl Logan. The September 2009 enrollment is approximately 2,172-students in grades nine through twelve. Parkdale's schools hours are from 7:45am until...
http://parkdalehs.pgcps.org/
Transportation
The town is served by the RiverdaleRiverdale (MARC station)
Riverdale is a passenger rail station on the MARC Camden Line between Washington, DC and Baltimore's Camden Station. The station is part of the Riverdale Park Historic District, which has been part of the National Register of Historic Places since 2002....
station on the MARC
MARC Train
MARC , known prior to 1984 as Maryland Rail Commuter Service, is a regional rail system comprising three lines in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. MARC is administered by the Maryland Transit Administration , a Maryland Department of Transportation agency, and is operated under contract...
commuter rail's Camden Line
Camden Line
The Camden Line is a MARC commuter rail line that runs between Union Station, Washington, D.C. and Camden Station, Baltimore, Maryland over the CSX Capital Subdivision. Service began along this route in 1835 as part of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad , making it the oldest passenger rail line in...
.