Thurmont, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Thurmont is a town
in Frederick County
, Maryland
, United States
. The population was 5,588 at the 2000 census
. The town is located in the northern part of Frederick County (north of Frederick, Maryland
, the county seat
), approximately ten miles from the Pennsylvania
border, along U.S. Highway 15. It is very close to Cunningham Falls State Park
and Catoctin Mountain Park
, which contains the presidential retreat of Camp David
. The town's slogan is "Gateway to the Mountains." Thurmont was designated in 2005 as a "Main Street Maryland Community."
on January 18, 1894.
The Western Maryland Railway
built its main railroad line to Thurmont in 1871, connecting the town with Baltimore
, and later with Hagerstown
and Cumberland
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 3 square miles (7.8 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 5,588 people, 2,119 households, and 1,568 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,881.8 people per square mile (726.4/km²). There were 2,193 housing units at an average density of 738.5 per square mile (285.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.09% White, 0.27% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.27% from other races
, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.
There were 2,119 households in which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples
living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,530, and the median income for a family was $56,138. Males had a median income of $37,804 versus $27,266 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,474. About 4.0% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
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...
in Frederick County
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 5,588 at the 2000 census
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...
. The town is located in the northern part of Frederick County (north of Frederick, Maryland
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
, the 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....
), approximately ten miles from the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
border, along U.S. Highway 15. It is very close to Cunningham Falls State Park
Cunningham Falls State Park
Cunningham Falls State Park is a Maryland State Park located west of Thurmont, Maryland, USA, in the Catoctin Mountains. It features a man-made lake and its namesake waterfall, Cunningham Falls. Cunningham Falls is a cascading waterfall. It is the largest waterfall in Maryland. Catoctin...
and Catoctin Mountain Park
Catoctin Mountain Park
Catoctin Mountain Park, located in north-central Maryland, is part of the forested Catoctin Mountain ridge that forms the eastern rampart of the Appalachian Mountains...
, which contains the presidential retreat of Camp David
Camp David
Camp David is the country retreat of the President of the United States and his guests. It is located in low wooded hills about 60 mi north-northwest of Washington, D.C., on the property of Catoctin Mountain Park in unincorporated Frederick County, Maryland, near Thurmont, at an elevation of...
. The town's slogan is "Gateway to the Mountains." Thurmont was designated in 2005 as a "Main Street Maryland Community."
History
Thurmont was originally incorporated in 1751 as the Town of Mechanicstown. The name was changed to Thurmont by an act of the Maryland General AssemblyMaryland General Assembly
The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...
on January 18, 1894.
The Western Maryland Railway
Western Maryland Railway
The Western Maryland Railway was an American Class I railroad which operated in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It was primarily a coal hauling and freight railroad, with a small passenger train operation. The WM became part of the Chessie System in 1973 and ceased operating its lines...
built its main railroad line to Thurmont in 1871, connecting the town with Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, and later with Hagerstown
Hagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown is a city in northwestern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Washington County, and, by many definitions, the largest city in a region known as Western Maryland. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2010 census was 39,662, and the population of the...
and Cumberland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
.
Geography
Thurmont is located at 39°37′30"N 77°24′37"W (39.624974, -77.410245).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 3 square miles (7.8 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 5,588 people, 2,119 households, and 1,568 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 1,881.8 people per square mile (726.4/km²). There were 2,193 housing units at an average density of 738.5 per square mile (285.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.09% White, 0.27% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.27% 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 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population.
There were 2,119 households in which 39.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% 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, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,530, and the median income for a family was $56,138. Males had a median income of $37,804 versus $27,266 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 $20,474. About 4.0% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Town of Thurmont
- "Thurmont Scrapbook" - History articles from Greater Emmitsburg Area Historical Society
- "ThurmontFirst" The Thurmont Economic Development and Main Street web site featuring the online business directory, business news, events and photo albums.
- "The R. S. Kinnaird Collection of Historic Thurmont Images" A collection of over 2,900 images of Thurmont and surrounding communities.