Anne Arundel County, Maryland

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Anne Arundel County (Template:Audio; Template:IPAc-en), also notated as AA or A.A. County, is located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 588,261,<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> an increase of just under 10% since 2010. Its county seat is Annapolis,<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> which is also the capital of the state. The county is named for Anne Arundell (Template:Circa/1616–1649), Lady Baltimore, a member of the Arundell family in Cornwall, England, and the wife of Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore (1605–1675), founder and first lord proprietor of the colony Province of Maryland. The county is part of the Central Maryland region of the state. Anne Arundel County is included in the Washington–Baltimore–Arlington combined statistical area.

History

The county was named for Lady Anne Arundell, (1615/1616–1649), the daughter of Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour, members of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England. She married Cecilius Calvert, second Lord Baltimore, (1605–1675), and the first lord proprietor of the colony, Province of Maryland, in an arranged marriage contract in 1627 or 1628.Template:Citation needed Modern spelling adds an 'e' to her first name of "Ann" and removes the second 'L' from the family name of "Arundell", but the old traditional spelling of her name is still used in the title of the local historical society, the Ann Arundell County Historical Society.

Anne Arundel County was originally part of St. Mary's County, the province's first erected county in the southern portion of the Province of Maryland, which had first been established by arriving settlers in 1634. In 1650, the year after Lady Ann Arundell's death, the county separated from St. Mary's and "erected" into its own jurisdiction and became the third of the 23 Maryland counties. It was composed of the hundreds of Town Neck, Middle Neck, Broad Neck, South River, West River, and Herring Creek.<ref>Anne Arundel County Maryland - Our Early Settlers, Maryland Genealogy Trails, accessed April 2018.</ref> Between 1654 and 1658, the county was known as "Providence" by many of its early settlers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On March 25, 1655, after the English Civil War, (1642–1651), in Europe, the Battle of the Severn, the first naval colonial battle ever fought in North America, was fought in Anne Arundel County on the Severn River between Puritan forces supporting the Commonwealth of England and forces loyal to Lord Proprietor Cecilius Calvert. The Commonwealth forces under William Fuller were victorious.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In 1692, the Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church, became the established church of the Province of Maryland through an Act of the General Assembly. Ten counties had been established in the colony, and those counties were divided into 30 parishes, with vestrymen appointed within each. Ann Arrundell County was divided into four parishes: Herring Creek, South River, Middle Neck, and Broad Neck.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Between 1694 and 1695, the provincial capital of Maryland was moved from St. Mary's City along the northern shore of the Potomac River across from the southern colonial border with the Province of Virginia in St. Mary's County farther north along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, midway in the colony to Annapolis in Anne Arundel County. Prior to the move, Annapolis was known as "Providence".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During the American Revolutionary War, citizens of Anne Arundel County supported the Continental Army by providing troops for three regiments. The 3rd Maryland Regiment, the 4th Maryland Regiment, and the 6th Maryland Regiment were recruited in the county.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

During the War of 1812, one of the original six heavy frigates of the recently re-established United States Navy, U.S.S. Constitution, sailed from Annapolis prior to its victorious engagement with the H.M.S. Guerriere of the British Royal Navy.Template:Citation needed

On May 22, 1830, the inaugural horse-drawn train of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad travelled the Template:Convert of the newly completed track from Mount Clare Station in southwestern Baltimore to Ellicott Mills, (now Ellicott City), then in the Western or Howard District (now Howard County) of Anne Arundel County. This was the first regular railroad passenger service in the United States.Template:Disputed inline<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1831, land west of the railroad was considered the Howard District of Anne Arundel County. In 1851, The Howard District was broken off to form Howard County, now the 21st county in Maryland (of 23).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The county has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="nris">Template:NRISref</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert (29%) is covered by water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> Anne Arundel County is located to the south of Baltimore.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Most of the county's borders are defined by water. To the east lies the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, and numerous tidal tributaries of the bay indent the shoreline, the various rivers, creeks, streams, inlets forming prominent peninsulas, also known as "necks" (as further south in Virginia). The largest of these tributaries include (from north to south), the Magothy River, Severn River, South River, and the West River. Further south, the upper Patuxent River forms the border of Anne Arundel with Prince George's County to the west. Deep Run forms part of the northwestern border with Howard County, and Lyons Creek forms part of the southern border with Calvert County. The Patapsco River to the north is the border with Baltimore County, but the communities and areas of Brooklyn and Curtis Bay neighborhoods (and adjacent Fairfield, Wagner's Point [also known as East Brooklyn], Arundel Cove [off of Curtis Creek], and Hawkins Point), lying south of the Patapsco River were annexed from Anne Arundel County to Baltimore in the third major annexation of January 1919.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Anne Arundel County originally included all of the land between the Patuxent River and the Patapsco River (mainstem and South Branch) upstream to their headwaters on Parr's Ridge. The northwestern section of this long tract later became Howard County, with the border between the two running very close to the Atlantic Seaboard fall line. As a result, Anne Arundel County lies almost entirely within the Atlantic Coastal Plain, while Howard County is almost entirely within the Piedmont province.Template:Citation needed

Elevations in Anne Arundel County range from sea level at the Chesapeake and tidal tributaries to about Template:Convert in western areas near the fall line.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The terrain is mostly flat or gently rolling, but more dramatic banks and bluffs can be found where waterways cut through areas of higher elevation.Template:Citation needed

With the exception of the very limited extent of Piedmont underlain by Precambrian to early Paleozoic metamorphic rock, all of the county is underlain by thick deposits of gravel, sand, silt, and clay dating from the early Cretaceous to Holocene times.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Most of these sediments are unconsolidated but include local formations of sandstone, especially in the Pasadena area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Crofton Parkway in Crofton in early March

Anne Arundel County has a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and cool winters. Annual precipitation averages around Template:Convert per year throughout the county, with a fairly even distribution throughout the year. Annual snowfall totals around Template:Convert on average at BWI Airport, which has an elevation of Template:Convert above sea level.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Slightly colder winter temperatures and higher snowfall are experienced at the higher elevations, with slightly lower snowfall closer to sea level.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to the most recent USDA Hardiness zone maps, the lowland areas of the county fall into Zone 8a, with an expected annual minimum temperatures of Template:Convert, while higher elevation and inland areas fall into Zone 7b, with expected annual minima of Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Politics and government

File:Anne Arundel County Courthouse June 2005.jpg

The Anne Arundel County Courthouse in June 2005

Anne Arundel County has had a charter government since 1965. The government consists of a county executive and a seven-member county council. These members are elected in the same years Maryland conducts its gubernatorial and legislative elections, and may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.Template:Citation needed

The Democrats have the most registered voters in the county, but the large number of Republican-leaning independents means Republicans win more county-wide elections than in other mostly suburban counties in Maryland, but Democrats are the dominant party in Annapolis city elections. In the 2016 presidential election, Anne Arundel County voted for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump by 6,016 votes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was the first time that the county had supported a Democrat for president since 1964. Four years later, Joe Biden won the county by nearly 15%, the largest margin of victory for a Democrat in the county since the landslide election of Lyndon Johnson in the 1964 presidential election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Anne Arundel County is one of six "reverse pivot counties", counties that voted Republican in 2008 and 2012 before voting Democratic in 2016 onward.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Voter registration

Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024<ref name="MDBOE">Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Party color cell	Democratic	172,730	Template:Percentage
Template:Party color cell	Republican	128,951	Template:Percentage
Template:Party color cell	Unaffiliated	105,269	Template:Percentage
Template:Party color cell	Libertarian	2,496	Template:Percentage
Template:Party color cell	Other parties	4,340	Template:Percentage
Total		413,786	Template:Percentage

County Executives

Template:See also The county executive oversees the executive branch of the county government, which consists of a number of offices and departments. The executive branch is charged with implementing County law and overseeing the operation of the county government.

	Name	Affiliation	Term
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	Joseph W. Alton	Republican	1965–1974
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	Robert A. Pascal	Republican	1974–1982
	O. James Lighthizer	Democrat	1982–1990
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	Robert R. Neall	Republican	1990–1994
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	John G. Gary	Republican	1994–1998
	Janet S. Owens	Democrat	1998–2006
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	John R. Leopold	Republican	2006–2013
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	Laura Neuman	Republican	2013–2014
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	Steve Schuh	Republican	2014–2018
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	Steuart Pittman	Democratic	2018–present

County Council

The County Council, as the legislative branch, adopts ordinances and resolutions, and has all of the county's legislative powers. The most recent county election occurred November 8, 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Current County Board
Position		Name	Affiliation	District	Region
	Chair	Pete Smith	Democratic	1	Severn
	Vice-chair	Allison Pickard	Democratic	2	Glen Burnie
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	Member	Nathan Volke	Republican	3	Pasadena
	Member	Julie Hummer	Democratic	4	Crownsville
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	Member	Amanda Fielder	Republican	5	Severna Park, Broadneck
	Chair	Lisa Brannigan Rodvien	Democratic	6	Annapolis
style="background-color:Template:Party color" \|	Member	Shannon Leadbetter	Republican	7	Gambrillis/Crofton/Davidsonville/Edgewater

Law enforcement

File:Annapolis Police New Car.jpg

The Annapolis Police Department covers the City of Annapolis.

Several major law enforcement agencies serve Anne Arundel County:

Anne Arundel County Police Department is headed by Chief Amal Awad.
Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office is headed by Sheriff Everett Sesker.
Annapolis Police Department
Maryland State Police
Maryland Natural Resources Police
Maryland Transportation Authority Police
Maryland Transit Administration Police
Anne Arundel County Department of Detention Facilities<ref>Anne Arundel County Department of Detention Facilities Template:Webarchive</ref>

Federal representation

In the 119th Congress, Anne Arundel County is represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Sarah Elfreth (D) of the 3rd district, and Steny Hoyer (D) of the 5th district.

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2020 census

**Anne Arundel County, Maryland – Racial and ethnic composition**
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	389,386	367,893	72.42%	62.54%
Black or African American alone (NH)	81,819	102,555	15.22%	17.43%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	1,365	1,178	0.25%	0.20%
Asian alone (NH)	18,154	25,187	3.38%	4.28%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	392	411	0.07%	0.07%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	880	3,118	0.16%	0.53%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	12,758	31,123	2.37%	5.29%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	32,902	56,796	6.12%	9.65%
Total	537,656	588,261	100.00%	100.00%

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, 537,656 people, 199,378 households, and 139,262 families were residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. The 212,562 housing units had an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 75.4% White, 15.5% Black or African American, 3.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.4% from some other race, and 2.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.1% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 23.3% were German, 18.6% were Irish, 12.3% were English, 7.4% were Italian, 5.0% were Polish, and 4.4% were American.<ref name="census-dp2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 199,378 households, 34.6% had children under 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.2% were not families, and 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.63, and the average family size was 3.11. The median age was 38.4 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $83,456 and for a family was $97,557. Males had a median income of $63,187 versus $48,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $38,660. About 3.3% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">Template:Cite web</ref>

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, 489,656 people, 178,670 households, and 129,178 families were residing in the county. The population density was 1,177 people/sq mi. There were 186,937 housing units with an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 81.24% White, 13.57% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.29% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. About 2.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race; 17.7% were of German, 13.1% Irish, 10.5% English, 8.1% United States or American, and 7.0% Italian ancestry.Template:Citation needed

Of the 178,670 households, 34.9% had children under 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were not families. About 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.65, and the average family size was 3.09.Template:Citation needed

In the county, the age distribution was 25.2% under 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.10 males.Template:Citation needed

Economy

Principal employers

According to the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, the following were the principal employers in the county in November 2014 (excluding U.S. post offices and state and local governments, but including public institutions of higher education).<ref>Major Employers in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (Oct. 2015 data).</ref>

Employer	Employees
Fort George G. Meade (including the National Security Agency)	53,733
Northrop Grumman	7,725
Anne Arundel Health System	4,000
Southwest Airlines	3,200
Maryland Live! Casino	3,000
University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center	2,901
U.S. Naval Academy / Naval Support Activity	2,340
Walmart / Sam's Club	2,106
Booz Allen Hamilton	2,100
Anne Arundel Community College	1,849
Allegis Group	1,500
Computer Sciences Corporation	1,229
Giant Food	1,220
Target Corporation	1,050
Lockheed Martin	925
Verizon	844
L-3 Communications	818
Safeway	800
Food Lion	790
Rockwell Collins	773
AT&T Services	700
KEYW Corp.	683
TeleCommunication Systems	650
Johns Hopkins HealthCare	625
Shoppers Food Warehouse	625
Under Armour	617
Maryland Jockey Club / Laurel Park	616
Navy Enterprise Resource Planning	600
Ciena	600
United States Coast Guard Yard	598
The Home Depot	597

Personal income

In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $61,768, and the median income for a family was $69,019 (these figures had risen to $79,294 and $91,071 respectively as of a 2007 estimate<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>). Males had a median income of $43,747 versus $32,348 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,578. About 3.60% of families and 5.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.30% of those under age 18 and 5.80% of those age 65 or over.Template:Citation needed

State government

Several state agencies are headquartered in unincorporated areas in Anne Arundel County. Executive departments include the Department of Agriculture,<ref>Home page. Maryland Department of Agriculture. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.</ref> the Aviation Administration,<ref>"Maryland Aviation Administration Contacts." Maryland Aviation Administration. Retrieved on March 2, 2010.</ref> the Department of Housing and Community Development,<ref>Home page Template:Webarchive. Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.</ref> and the Department of Transportation.<ref>"MDOT Departments Template:Webarchive". Maryland Department of Transportation. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.</ref> The Rural Maryland Council, an independent agency, is also headquartered in an unincorporated area in the county.<ref>"Contact Us Template:Webarchive". Rural Maryland Council. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.</ref>

State correctional facilities

The Maryland House of Correction, operated by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, was located in Anne Arundel County. The prison was closed in 2007.<ref name="Map"/>

The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services operates several additional correctional facilities in the unincorporated town of Jessup in Anne Arundel County, including:

Brockbridge Correctional Facility
Jessup Correctional Institution
Jessup Pre-Release Unit
Maryland Correctional Institution – Jessup
Maryland Correctional Institution for Women

District of Columbia facilities

The District of Columbia Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) operates the New Beginnings Youth Development Center, a secure youth prison, in the county. Oak Hill Youth Center, the previous DYRS secure facility, was also in the county.<ref name="Map">"GR2009052900126.gif." The Washington Post. Retrieved on October 7, 2010.</ref>

U.S. Department of Defense facilities

Fort George G. Meade is a large U.S. Army post located in the northwest of the county. It is the home of the National Security Agency.

The Naval Academy is located in Annapolis.

Healthcare

There are two full-service hospitals in Anne Arundel County: Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis and Baltimore Washington Medical Center (formerly North Arundel Hospital) in Glen Burnie, part of the University of Maryland Medical System.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Media

The newspapers of record are The Capital and the Maryland Gazette (now owned by The Capital), which was founded in 1727.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

Template:More citations needed

Children are educated by the Anne Arundel County Public Schools, which cover the entire county.<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>
Postsecondary education is offered by Anne Arundel Community College at several locations throughout the county.
Anne Arundel County is also home to the United States Naval Academy and St. John's College, U.S., both in Annapolis.

Transportation

File:BWI aerial2.jpg

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is located in Anne Arundel County

File:2019-07-25 10 11 16 View north along Interstate 97 (Robert Crain Highway) from the overpass for Benfield Boulevard on the edge of Gambrills and Severna Park in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.jpg

I-97 northbound at Benfield Boulevard in Anne Arundel County

File:MD 41 I97 FHWA 1990 MD972.jpg

Interstate 97 in 1990

Anne Arundel County is the home of Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, commonly referred to as BWI. BWI serves as the main airport for the metropolitan Baltimore region. It is also an increasingly popular alternative airport to residents of the Washington, D.C., area. BWI is an East Coast hub for Southwest Airlines, meaning that nonstop flights are available between BWI and much of the country.

The southern portion of the Maryland Transit Administration's Light Rail system, connecting downtown Baltimore with BWI, runs through the northern part of Anne Arundel County.

The county also has multiple stops on the MARC commuter rail service, including a stop at BWI Rail Station, located near BWI Airport. Amtrak trains also stop at BWI's train station.

The Laurel-based Connect-a-ride system operates two routes in the western portion of the county, including Severn, Arundel Mills, Maryland City, Glen Burnie, Hanover, and Odenton. Howard County's Howard Transit Silver route serves Arundel Mills shopping mall and BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.

Major roads and highways

Recreation

Maryland Park Service

Sandy Point State Park is located at the end of the Broadneck peninsula near the west end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. It features a beach and marina and hosts many festivals and special events throughout the year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden is located at the Department of Natural Resources headquarters in Annapolis. The 5 acre garden features representations of the state's various geographic areas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county also contains some of the easternmost portions of Patapsco Valley State Park, consisting of mostly undeveloped areas of forest and wetlands along the lower Patapsco River.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Anne Arundel Recreation and Parks

The Department of Recreation and Parks maintains "a comprehensive system of recreational programs for county residents and the preservation of valuable land," including indoor and outdoor sports facilities, community parks, green ways, archaeological, environmental, and historical preserves, and large regional facilities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some of the major facilities include the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail, Downs Park, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Fort Smallwood Park, Kinder Farm Park, and Quiet Waters Park.Template:Citation needed

Other attractions include the Maryland Renaissance Festival in Crownsville, the Maryland State House and the Colonial Annapolis Historic District.Template:Citation needed

Anne Arundel County is home to the two largest shopping malls in the State of Maryland: Westfield Annapolis Mall and Arundel Mills in Hanover in addition to Marley Station Mall in Glen Burnie. Adjacent to Arundel Mills is the Maryland Live! casino.Template:Citation needed