University Park, Maryland
Encyclopedia
University Park is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland
, United States
. The population was 2,318 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all of it land.
University Park is bordered by the cities of College Park
and Hyattsville, the town of Riverdale Park
, and certain unincorporated parts of Prince George's County, such as Adelphi
.
The town includes a public park and a portion of Wells Run, a small tributary
of the Northeast Branch of the Anacostia River
.
of 2000, there were 2,318 people, 877 households, and 637 families residing in the town. The population density
was 4,677.5 people per square mile (1,790.0/km²). There were 898 housing units at an average density of 1,812.1 per square mile (693.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 85.46% White, 7.29% African American, 0.26% Native American, 3.67% Asian, 1.04% from other races
, and 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.57% of the population.
There were 877 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% were married couples
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $89,450, and the median income for a family was $96,349. Males had a median income of $62,375 versus $43,083 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $40,402. About 1.2% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.
, police department, and sanitation services.
The current mayor of University Park is John Tabori.
The Chief of Police is Michael Wynnyk, appointed by the mayor with approval of the town council.
University Park is served by several voluntary organizations, including the University Park Civic Association (UPCA), the University Park Women's Club (UPWC), and the Lewisdale-University Park Boys and Girls Club (LUP).
, sworn officers that provided twenty-four-hour service to a population of over 2,300 within the municipality and adjoining streets and roadways. The UPPD provides vehicular, foot, and bicycle patrol and is aided by the Prince George's County Police and Sheriff's Office
for other incidents deemed appropriate by authority.
made such restrictive covenants unconstitutional in 1948, University Park town codes prohibited the sale of property to black people.
Since 1997, there has been a registered town historic district
in University Park, known as the University Park Historic District
. Residents who own homes that are 'contributing structures' to the University Park Historic District may participate in the Heritage Preservation Tax Credit Program, administered through the Maryland Historical Trust. Participants in this program receive a tax credit
for a portion of the cost of certified work that maintains or rehabilitates the contributing structures. One such structure identified by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
is Bloomfield (Deakins House), an early 19th-century plantation house located at 6404 Queens Chapel Road.
, which crashed into The Pentagon
during a flight from Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
. They were headed to Australia for a two-month stay. Sheila Hein died when Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, in which she worked.
), and Northwestern High School
(in Hyattsville).
Many University Park high school students choose to attend Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt
http://www.upmd.org/community/schools.html.
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 2,318 at the 2000 census.
Geography
University Park is located at 38°58′17"N 76°56′36"W (38.971381, -76.943399).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 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all of it land.
University Park is bordered by the cities of College Park
College Park, Maryland
College Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S...
and Hyattsville, the town of Riverdale Park
Riverdale Park, Maryland
Riverdale Park is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 6,690 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Riverdale Park is located at ....
, and certain unincorporated parts of Prince George's County, such as Adelphi
Adelphi, Maryland
Adelphi is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 14,998 at the 2000 census...
.
The town includes a public park and a portion of Wells Run, a small tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Northeast Branch of the Anacostia River
Anacostia River
The Anacostia River is a river in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States. It flows from Prince George's County in Maryland into Washington, D.C., where it joins with the Washington Channel to empty into the Potomac River at Buzzard Point. It is approximately long...
.
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 2,318 people, 877 households, and 637 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 4,677.5 people per square mile (1,790.0/km²). There were 898 housing units at an average density of 1,812.1 per square mile (693.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 85.46% White, 7.29% African American, 0.26% Native American, 3.67% Asian, 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 2.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.57% of the population.
There were 877 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% 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, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $89,450, and the median income for a family was $96,349. Males had a median income of $62,375 versus $43,083 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 $40,402. About 1.2% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The town was incorporated in 1936, and has expanded several times since then. The town has its own town councilTown council
A town council is a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or civil parishes. A council may serve as both the representative and executive branch....
, police department, and sanitation services.
The current mayor of University Park is John Tabori.
The Chief of Police is Michael Wynnyk, appointed by the mayor with approval of the town council.
University Park is served by several voluntary organizations, including the University Park Civic Association (UPCA), the University Park Women's Club (UPWC), and the Lewisdale-University Park Boys and Girls Club (LUP).
Law Enforcement
The town is serviced by the University Park Police Department (UPPD). The UPPD was created in 1962 with a single officer acting as chief and patrolman. The UPPD currently has an authorized force of eight certifiedMaryland Police and Correctional Training Commission
Headquartered in Sykesville, MD, the Maryland Police And Correctional Training Commissions is a state oversight agency for all law enforcement and correctional agencies in Maryland.-Duties:...
, sworn officers that provided twenty-four-hour service to a population of over 2,300 within the municipality and adjoining streets and roadways. The UPPD provides vehicular, foot, and bicycle patrol and is aided by the Prince George's County Police and Sheriff's Office
Prince George's County Sheriff's Office
The Prince George's County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services in Prince George's County, Maryland in the United States. Its headquarters is located in Upper Marlboro. The Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of Prince George's County and is elected by popular vote of the...
for other incidents deemed appropriate by authority.
Historical items
Like many towns incorporated in this period, until the United States Supreme Court decision in Shelley v. KraemerShelley v. Kraemer
Shelley v. Kraemer, 334 U.S. 1 , is a United States Supreme Court case which held that courts could not enforce racial covenants on real estate.-Facts of the case:...
made such restrictive covenants unconstitutional in 1948, University Park town codes prohibited the sale of property to black people.
Since 1997, there has been a registered town historic district
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
in University Park, known as the University Park Historic District
University Park Historic District (University Park, Maryland)
The University Park Historic District is a national historic district located at the town of University Park, Prince George's County, Maryland. The district, which developed over the period 1920 to 1945, is almost exclusively residential and developed as a middle-class, automobile suburb of...
. Residents who own homes that are 'contributing structures' to the University Park Historic District may participate in the Heritage Preservation Tax Credit Program, administered through the Maryland Historical Trust. Participants in this program receive a tax credit
Tax credit
A tax credit is a sum deducted from the total amount a taxpayer owes to the state. A tax credit may be granted for various types of taxes, such as an income tax, property tax, or VAT. It may be granted in recognition of taxes already paid, as a subsidy, or to encourage investment or other behaviors...
for a portion of the cost of certified work that maintains or rehabilitates the contributing structures. One such structure identified by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is a bi-county agency that administers parks and planning in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland.-History:...
is Bloomfield (Deakins House), an early 19th-century plantation house located at 6404 Queens Chapel Road.
Famous people
- Jim HensonJim HensonJames Maury "Jim" Henson was an American puppeteer best known as the creator of The Muppets. As a puppeteer, Henson performed in various television programs, such as Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, films such as The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper, and created advanced puppets for...
, creator of The MuppetsThe MuppetsThe Muppets are a group of puppet characters created by Jim Henson starting in 1954–55. Although the term is often used to refer to any puppet that resembles the distinctive style of The Muppet Show, the term is both an informal name and legal trademark owned by the Walt Disney Company in reference...
later used on Sesame StreetSesame StreetSesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
, grew up in University Park, Maryland. - Morgan WoottenMorgan WoottenMorgan Bayard Wootten is an American former high school basketball coach.From 1956 to 2002, he coached at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland. He has the most wins as a head coach in the history of basketball on any level. A number of his players went on to play in the NBA,...
coached at DeMatha Catholic High SchoolDeMatha Catholic High SchoolDeMatha Catholic High School, named after Saint John of Matha, is a four-year Catholic high school for young men located in Hyattsville, Maryland, USA. DeMatha is known for academic achievement, music, arts, service and athletics...
in Hyattsville, Maryland from 1956 to 2002. The coach with the most wins in high school basketball history, he was elected to the Basketball Hall of FameBasketball Hall of FameThe Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, honors exceptional basketball players, coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game of basketball worldwide...
, the only high school basketball coach ever so honored. He currently resides in University Park. - Parris GlendeningParris GlendeningParris Nelson Glendening , a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 59th Governor of Maryland from January 18, 1995 to January 15, 2003...
, governor of Maryland from 1995–2003, called University Park his hometown. - Maryland State Senator (22nd District) Paul G. PinskyPaul G. PinskyPaul G. Pinsky is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. He is currently serving in his 4th full term in the Maryland State Senate, representing Maryland's District 22 in Prince George's County.-Background:...
currently resides in University Park. - James M. Cain, author, The Postman Always Rings Twice, Double Indemnity.
September 11, 2001
The town of University Park suffered greatly on September 11, 2001, not by terrorist attacks on the town itself, but by the loss of five of its residents: The Falkenberg/Whittington family - Charles, Zoe, and Dana Falkenberg and Leslie Whittington, died on September 11 aboard American Airlines Flight 77American Airlines Flight 77
American Airlines Flight 77 was American Airlines' daily scheduled morning transcontinental flight, from Washington Dulles International Airport, in Dulles, Virginia to Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California...
, which crashed into The Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
during a flight from Dulles International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
. They were headed to Australia for a two-month stay. Sheila Hein died when Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, in which she worked.
Schools
University Park is served by University Park Elementary School (in University Park), Hyattsville Middle School (in HyattsvilleHyattsville, Maryland
Hyattsville is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 17,557 at the 2000 census.- History :The city was named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt. He purchased his first parcel of land in the area in March 1845...
), and Northwestern High School
Northwestern 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...
(in Hyattsville).
Many University Park high school students choose to attend Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt
Greenbelt, Maryland
Greenbelt is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Contained within today's City of Greenbelt is the historic planned community now known locally as "Old Greenbelt" and designated as the Greenbelt Historic District...
http://www.upmd.org/community/schools.html.