Editing Cottage City, Maryland

{{Short description|Town in Maryland, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Cottage City, Maryland
|official_name            = Town of Cottage City
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

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|blank_emblem_type        = Logo

<!-- Maps -->
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|map_caption              = Location of Cottage City, Maryland
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<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{nowrap|{{flag|United States of America}}}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Maryland}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Maryland|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = {{nowrap|{{flagicon image|Flag of Prince George's County, Maryland (1963–present).svg}} [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's]]}}

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|established_title        = 
|established_date         = 
|established_title1       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1        = 1924<ref>{{cite web|title=Cottage City|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/37mun/cottage/html/c.html|website=Maryland Manual|access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref>
<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_24.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=April 26, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 0.74
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<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
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|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 1335
|population_density_km2   = 1893.53
|population_density_sq_mi = 4908.09

<!-- General information -->
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|coordinates              = {{coord|38|56|11|N|76|57|2|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 20722
|area_code                = [[Area codes 301 and 240|301, 240]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 24-20050
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0597284
|website                  = http://www.cottagecitymd.gov/
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|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}

'''Cottage City''', officially the '''Town of Cottage City''', is a town in [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's County]], [[Maryland]], United States.<ref>{{gnis|597284}}</ref> Per the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 1,335.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cottage City town, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US2420050|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=April 15, 2022}}</ref> Cottage City is a small, quiet community lying between [[Eastern Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Eastern Avenue]] (the border with [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]), [[Brentwood, Maryland|Brentwood]], [[Colmar Manor, Maryland|Colmar Manor]], and the [[Anacostia River]]. Cottage City was developed, beginning in 1870, under the name of "The Highlands". The area was incorporated in 1924 as Cottage City.<ref name="sha">{{cite web| url=http://www.sha.maryland.gov/oppen/pg_co.pdf | title=Community Summary Sheet, Prince George's County| date=May 10, 2008| work=Cottage City, Maryland| publisher=Maryland State Highway Administration, 1999}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Cottage City Maryland town hall.jpg|thumb|right|Cottage City's [[Town Hall]]]]
[[File:Dueling Creek MD & CSX train with containers.jpg|thumb|right|Dueling Creek passes through this culvert under the [[Capital Subdivision|CSX railroad]] line from Mount Rainier.]]
Its history dates to pre-revolutionary America; old records indicate that the area was home to several of the [[Potomac River]] Indian tribes. With the coming of European settlers, the area became noted for its deep-water [[Anacostia River]] port, known then as Harrison's Landing. Contributing to the economy of Harrison's Landing was Moyer's Grist Mill located in Yarrow, the very first mill of its type between [[Baltimore]] and [[Alexandria, Virginia]]. Yarrow was renamed several times, but today we know Yarrow as Cottage City.

Known as the Dark and Bloody Grounds, the former site of the [[Bladensburg Dueling Grounds]] was located along [[Dueling Creek]] and [[Bladensburg Road]]; the historic location now shares the present-day boundary of the towns of Cottage City and [[Colmar Manor, Maryland|Colmar Manor]].  Cottage City and Moyer's Mill played a key role in the [[Battle of Bladensburg]] during the [[War of 1812]]. The mill acted as a [[hospital]] for wounded American [[militia]], as well as an [[artillery battery]]. American forces were repulsed in a bitter fight in Mr. Moyer's [[orchard]]s, an event that resulted ultimately in the [[Burning of Washington|burning of the nation's capital]].

During the post-[[American Civil War|Civil War]] years, President [[Ulysses S. Grant]] stayed at a summer retreat known as the [[Friendship House]] located in Cottage City. Friendship House is long gone, replaced in the 1940s by an apartment house located on 38th Avenue and Parkwood Street.

During the 1870s, groups of [[Real estate development|developers]] began to promote a residential community with large lots and a [[grid plan|grid pattern]] of streets, stating the advantages of the community. "The Highlands" would feature [[cottage]]s and [[villa]]s on wide avenues, a good view, nominal taxes, and was close to Washington, D.C., the historic Bladensburg battlefield, spa spring, and dueling ground. The development failed despite the advertising campaign. In 1886, Colonel Gilbert Moyer bought the Highland tract, and incorporated the Highland Company in 1888. The land was re-[[Subdivision (land)|subdivided]] into smaller lots, and Moyer promoted the land by including information that a [[tram|streetcar]] line was soon to be developed in the area. This attempt to develop the area also failed. A few houses were developed on the Moyer property beginning in 1904 with broad streets laid out in a grid and trees planted along the street. A single-track [[tram|trolley]] line ran through the community from Washington to Bladensburg. Called the [[Washington, Spa Spring and Gretta Railroad]], the trolley was eventually discontinued in 1923, partially due to competition from the [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad]] and the streetcar line in [[Mount Rainier, Maryland|Mount Rainier]].<ref name="Denny">Denny, George D., Jr. ''Proud Past, Promising Future: Cities and Towns in Prince George's County''. Brentwood, Maryland: Tuxedo Press, 1997.</ref>

In 1915, Charles Lightbrown borrowed money and attempted to market the subdivision plat from 1888 with a few minor changes. This attempt succeeded where the two earlier attempts had failed. Lightbrown built most of the housing in the community. Consisting of one-story cottages with four rooms and no running water, the housing was attractive to [[veteran]]s  returning from [[World War I]] who needed economical homes which were ready to inhabit.<ref name="Denny"/>  Electric service was introduced to the community in 1914. In 1919, the [[Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission]] installed water service to the town; [[sanitary sewer|sewer]] service was added the following year. The town was incorporated in 1924, taking its name from the uniform cottages built by Charles Lightbrown.<ref>''The Neighborhoods of Prince George's County.'' [[Upper Marlboro, Maryland|Upper Marlboro]]: Community Renewal Program, 1974.</ref>

The [[exorcism of Roland Doe]], the story that was the basis for the 1971 novel and 1973 film ''[[The Exorcist (film)|The Exorcist]]'', has its roots in Cottage City.<ref>[http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage1.html Part I - The Haunted Boy: the Inspiration for the Exorcist, by Mark Opsasnick]</ref>

In 1999, Cottage City, [[Bladensburg, Maryland|Bladensburg]], and [[Colmar Manor, Maryland|Colmar Manor]] were lauded by the [[Joint Center for Sustainable Communities]] for their collaboration with Prince George's County for the Port Towns Revitalization Initiative, which created a common ''[[Port Towns]]'' identity for the towns; encouraged businesses development through infrastructure and façade improvements; acquisition of historic properties and plans for their reuse; and reconstruction of the Bladensburg waterfront and [[marina]].

Today, Cottage City is a small, ethnically mixed community with old cottage-style homes that sit on tree-lined streets. The community is an active and enthusiastic partner with the county in the Port Towns Redevelopment Plan, an effort to revitalize the neighborhoods while preserving their historic heritages. The riches that the town hopes to gain by this effort are an improved environment and an improved quality of life for its citizens.

==Geography==
Cottage City is located at {{coord|38|56|11|N|76|57|2|W|type:city}} (38.936261, -76.950606).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|0.25|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=July 2, 2012 }}</ref>

==Bordering areas==

* [[Washington, D.C.]] (south)
* [[Colmar Manor, Maryland|Colmar Manor]] (southeast)
* [[Brentwood, Maryland|Brentwood]] (southwest)
* [[North Brentwood, Maryland|North Brentwood]] (west)
* [[Mount Rainier, Maryland|Mount Rainier]] (southwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 938
|1940= 1044
|1950= 1249
|1960= 1099
|1970= 993
|1980= 1122
|1990= 1236
|2000= 1136
|2010= 1305
|2020= 1335
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Cottage City town, Maryland – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cottage City town, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US2420050&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cottage City town, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US2420050&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|150
|style='background: #ffffe6; |159
|11.49%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11.91%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|576
|style='background: #ffffe6; |459
|44.14%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |34.38%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|10
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5
|0.77%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.37%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|90
|style='background: #ffffe6; |69
|6.90%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.17%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.37%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|3
|style='background: #ffffe6; |9
|0.23%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.67%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|27
|style='background: #ffffe6; |42
|2.07%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.15%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|449
|style='background: #ffffe6; |587
|34.41%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |43.97%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''1,305'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''1,335'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 25, 2013}}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,305 people, 467 households, and 263 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|5220.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 500 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2000.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 20.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 46.6% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.7% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 6.9% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 19.2% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 4.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 34.4% of the population.

There were 467 households, of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.3% were married couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.7% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.67.

The median age in the town was 38.7 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.2% were from 25 to 44; 31.5% were from 45 to 64; and 10.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,136 people, 465 households, and 248 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|4,613.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 503 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,042.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 28.61% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 54.75% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.88% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 4.05% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 7.57% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.14% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 13.29% of the population.

There were 465 households, out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.7% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.5% were non-families. 41.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.39.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,594, and the median income for a family was $47,639. Males had a median income of $33,438 versus $34,519 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $17,166. About 11.0% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 23.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
[[Prince George's County Police Department]] District 1 Station in [[Hyattsville, Maryland|Hyattsville]] serves Cottage City.<ref>"[https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/District-1-Station-Hyattsville-1 District 1 Station - Hyattsville] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909112749/https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/District-1-Station-Hyattsville-1 |date=September 9, 2018 }}. [[Prince George's County Police Department]]. Retrieved on September 9, 2018. [https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2650/District-1-Beat-Map--PDF?bidId= Beat map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909055502/https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2650/District-1-Beat-Map--PDF?bidId= |date=September 9, 2018 }}.</ref>

==Transportation==
[[File:2019-06-11 11 35 10 View south along U.S. Route 1 Alternate (Bladensburg Road) just north of 43rd Avenue along the border of Colmar Manor and Cottage City in Prince George's County, Maryland.jpg|thumb|right|US 1 Alternate southbound on the edge of Cottage City]]
Two state highways serve Cottage City. The more significant one is [[U.S. Route 1 Alternate (Washington, D.C.)|U.S. Route 1 Alternate]]. US 1 Alternate follows Bladensburg Road along Cottage City's border with Colmar Manor, connecting the town to [[Washington, D.C.]], and [[Bladensburg, Maryland|Bladensburg]]. [[Maryland Route 208]] is the other state highway in the town, connecting US 1 Alternate to [[Brentwood, Maryland|Brentwood]] via 38th Avenue.

==Education==
Cottage City is zoned to [[Prince George's County Public Schools]]:<ref>"[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2420050_cottage_city/DC10BLK_P2420050_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Cottage City town, MD]." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on March 1, 2018.</ref>
* Rogers Heights Elementary School<ref>"[http://gis.pgcps.org/mapgallery/Maps/Boundaries%20-%20Elementary.pdf NEIGHBORHOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND BOUNDARIES SCHOOL YEAR 2018-2019]." [[Prince George's County Public Schools]]. Retrieved on August 26, 2018.</ref>
* William Wirt Middle School<ref>"[http://gis.pgcps.org/mapgallery/Maps/Boundaries%20-%20Middle.pdf NEIGHBORHOOD MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND BOUNDARIES SCHOOL YEAR 2018-2019]." [[Prince George's County Public Schools]]. Retrieved on August 26, 2018.</ref>
* [[Bladensburg High School]]<ref>"[http://gis.pgcps.org/mapgallery/Maps/Boundaries%20-%20High.pdf NEIGHBORHOOD HIGH SCHOOLS AND BOUNDARIES SCHOOL YEAR 2018-2019]." [[Prince George's County Public Schools]]. Retrieved on August 26, 2018.</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Elizabeth Magie]]. In 1904, Elizabeth Magie received a patent for her Landlord's Game, a leftwing teaching tool that came to be known by millions as the board game Monopoly. However, Magie reportedly received a mere $500 for her creation, no royalties, and until recently, little credit.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pilon|first1=Mary|title=Lizzie Magie invented Monopoly, so why haven't we heard of her?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/10/lizzie-magie-invented-monopoly-landlords-game|work=The Guardian|date=April 10, 2015|access-date=March 1, 2016}}</ref>''
*[[Exorcism of Roland Doe|Ronald Hunkeler]], a.k.a. Roland Doe or Robbie Mannheim, alleged demonically possessed boy who inspired [[William Peter Blatty]] to write the fictionalized book ''[[The Exorcist (novel)|The Exorcist]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Cottage City, Maryland}}
* {{official website|http://www.cottagecitymd.gov/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040313070321/http://users.starpower.net/cotcitmd/cchist.htm Cottage City History]
* [http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/16784/mr-satans-neighborhood/ "Mr. Satan's Neighborhood: After 50 years of silence, Cottage City finally lets go of its demons," by Eddie Dean], ''[[Washington City Paper]]'', February 26, 1999

{{Prince George's County, Maryland}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Maryland]]
[[Category:Washington metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Towns in Prince George's County, Maryland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1924]]
[[Category:1924 establishments in Maryland]]