Editing Wicomico County, Maryland

{{short description|County in Maryland, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Wicomico County
 | native_county        = 
 | state                = Maryland
 | ex image             = Wicomico_County_Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image size        = 300px
 | ex image cap         = Wicomico County Courthouse in Salisbury
 | seal                 = Seal of Wicomico County, Maryland.png
 | founded year         = 1867
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Salisbury
 | largest city wl      = Salisbury
 | motto                = 
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 400
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 374
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 26
 | area percentage      = 6.4
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 103588
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | district             = 1st
 | district2            = 
 | district3            = 
<!-- up to 10 districts -->
 | web                  = www.wicomicocounty.org
 | named for            = [[Wicomico River (Maryland eastern shore)|Wicomico River]]
 | flag                 = Flag of Wicomico County, Maryland.gif
}}

'''Wicomico County''' ({{IPAc-en|w|aɪ|ˈ|k|ɒ|m|ᵻ|k|oʊ}} {{respell|wy|KOM|ik|oh}})<ref>Weiner, Tim. [https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/30/us/ex-director-of-cia-disappears-while-canoeing-on-choppy-river.html "Ex-Director of C.I.A. Disappears While Canoeing on Choppy River"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 30, 1996. Retrieved on April 25, 2009.</ref> is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the southeastern part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Maryland]], on the [[Delmarva Peninsula]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 103,588.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/all?q=Wicomico%20County,%20Maryland |access-date=August 13, 2022 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Salisbury, Maryland|Salisbury]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was named for the [[Wicomico River (Maryland eastern shore)|Wicomico River]], which in turn derives its name from the [[Algonquin language|Algonquian language]] words {{lang|alq|wicko mekee}}, meaning "a place where houses are built," apparently referring to a Native American town on the banks. The county is included in the [[Salisbury, MD-DE Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. The county is part of the [[Eastern Shore of Maryland|Lower Eastern Shore]] region of the state.

==History==
Wicomico County was created from [[Somerset County, Maryland|Somerset]] and [[Worcester County, Maryland|Worcester]] counties in 1867.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Wicomico County, Maryland - Historical Chronology |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/wi/chron/html/wichron.html |access-date=August 13, 2022 |website=msa.maryland.gov}}</ref>

==Politics and government==
Wicomico County was granted a charter form of government in 1964.<ref name=":0" />

In the period after the [[Reconstruction era]], Wicomico County became solidly [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] due to its strong support for secession and state efforts to [[Disfranchisement after Reconstruction era|disenfranchise most blacks]] by raising barriers to voter registration. Independent insurgent white groups worked to [[Voter intimidation|intimidate]] and discourage black voters, especially in rural areas.<ref>Levine, Mark V.; "Standing Political Decisions and Critical Realignment: The Pattern of Maryland Politics, 1872-1948"; ''[[The Journal of Politics]]'', volume 38, no. 2 (May 1976), pp. 292-325</ref>

No [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] carried Wicomico County until 1928, when [[Herbert Hoover]] won due to anti-Catholic sentiment in the heavily Protestant county against Democratic candidate [[Al Smith]]. The popular general [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] carried Wicomico in 1952. Eisenhower would again carry Wicomico in 1956, and Republican [[Richard Nixon]] would win it in 1960 against [[John F. Kennedy]] who, like Al Smith, was Catholic.

No Democratic presidential nominee has won Wicomico County since [[Lyndon Johnson]]’s landslide in [[1964 United States presidential election|1964]], as white conservatives increasingly moved into the Republican Party.<ref>Sullivan, Robert David; [http://www.americamagazine.org/content/unconventional-wisdom/how-red-and-blue-map-evolved-over-past-century "How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century"]; ''America Magazine'' published in ''The National Catholic Review''; June 29, 2016.</ref> [[Bill Clinton]], a son of the South, came within 384 votes of beating [[Bob Dole]] in 1996. The county trended Republican in 2000 and 2004, but [[Barack Obama]] obtained a higher proportion of the county vote in 2008 and 2012, likely benefiting from support from young, educated, or minority voters. In 2020, [[Joe Biden]] came extremely close to winning the county, with [[Donald Trump]] only edging him out by 890 votes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Election Results |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2020/results/general/gen_results_2020_4_by_county_23-1.html |access-date=August 13, 2022 |website=elections.maryland.gov}}</ref> Biden obtained 47.7% of the county's vote, the highest percentage for any Democrat since 1964. Trump also won less than 50% of the vote, the first time a Republican had been held below a majority of the vote in Wicomico County since 1996.

{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024<ref name="MDBOE">{{cite web |title=Maryland Board of Elections Voter Registration Activity Report March 2024 |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/pdf/vrar/2024_03.pdf |website=Maryland Board of Elections |access-date=April 9, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 26203}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |26203 |66,196 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 23950}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |23950 |66,196 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Unaffiliated
| align = center | {{formatnum: 14769}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |14769 |66,196 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 361}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |361 |66,196 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|None}}
| [[Third party (U.S. politics)|Other parties]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 913}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |913 |66,196 |2}}
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | {{formatnum: 66,196}}
! align = center | {{Percentage |100}}
|}

{{PresHead|place=Wicomico County, Maryland|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=June 12, 2018}}</ref>|source2=<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/PresidentList.html|title=Our Campaigns - U.S. President|access-date=January 22, 2021}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|24,065|21,513|1,334|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|22,944|22,054|1,218|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|22,198|18,050|2,299|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|21,764|19,635|860|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|21,849|19,436|569|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|21,998|15,137|368|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|16,338|14,469|988|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|12,687|12,303|2,296|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|13,560|11,481|5,231|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|16,272|9,413|70|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|16,124|8,160|48|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|11,229|9,431|1,245|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|10,537|9,412|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|13,115|5,510|190|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|8,707|5,392|4,356|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|7,448|8,695|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|8,671|7,350|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|9,377|5,289|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|9,061|5,878|26|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|5,062|5,415|39|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|5,040|5,674|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|4,741|7,198|73|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,545|7,273|95|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,812|6,895|48|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|5,923|4,095|15|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|2,604|3,068|271|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|4,225|5,054|30|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,539|3,285|98|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|2,038|3,176|558|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|2,273|2,751|158|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|2,179|2,593|128|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|2,376|2,793|205|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|2,022|2,253|347|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,427|2,317|282|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|1,441|2,210|236|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|1,354|2,262|65|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|1,348|2,058|42|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1876|Democratic|1,080|2,073|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1872|Democratic|1,081|1,470|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1868|Democratic|421|1,464|0|Maryland}}
|}

Wicomico County's government, since 2006, uses a council-elected executive system where the voters elect members of the County Council and Executive. Prior to 2006, the county operated under a council-administrator system where voters elected council members who in turn appointed an administrator to oversee the government.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wboc.com/story/27167247/wicomico-county-executive-race|title=Wicomico County Executive Race|website=www.wboc.com|date=October 30, 2014 |language=en|access-date=June 16, 2019}}</ref>

===County council===
The legislative functions of government are vested in the [[County council|County Council]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wicomico County, MD: County Council|url=https://ecode360.com/13910446|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=Wicomico County, MD Code|language=en-US}}</ref> The County Council consists of seven members, five of whom are elected from [[single-member district]]s; the other two are elected [[at-large]].

{| class=wikitable
|+Wicomico County Council<ref>{{cite web |title=County Council Members |url=http://www.wicomicocounty.org/185/County-Council |access-date=March 21, 2025 |publisher=Wicomico County government}}</ref>
|-
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| District
! align=center | Name
! valign=bottom | Party
! Role&nbsp;
|-
| District 1
| Shanie P. Shields
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic
| 
|-
| District 2
| Jeff Merritt
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
|Vice President
|-
| District 3
| Shane T. Baker
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
|
|-
| District 4
| Joshua Hastings
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic
|
|-
| District 5
| Joseph Holloway
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
| 
|-
| At-Large
| John T. Cannon
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
| President
|-
| At-Large
| James Winn
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
|
|}

===County executive===
{{see also|List of county executives of Maryland#Wicomico}}
The [[List of county executives of Maryland|county executive]]<ref>{{cite web|date=December 5, 2014|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/wi/html/wicoex.html|title=County Executives|publisher=Maryland State Archives|access-date=December 8, 2014}}</ref> oversees the executive branch of the County government, which consists of a number of offices and departments.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wicomico County, MD: The Executive Branch|url=https://ecode360.com/13910525|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=Wicomico County, MD Code|language=en-US}}</ref>  The executive branch is charged with implementing County law and overseeing the operation of County Government. The position of County Executive was established by a modification of the county's Charter in 2006. Day-to-day functions of the executive branch fall to the appointed Director of Administration, who also serves as the Acting County Executive during vacancies in the office of the County Executive.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wicomico County, MD: Director of Administration.|url=https://ecode360.com/13910549|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=Wicomico County, MD Code|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Wicomico County, MD: Vacancy in the Office of County Executive.|url=https://ecode360.com/13910540|access-date=July 26, 2020|website=Wicomico County, MD Code|language=en-US}}</ref> Upon the death of Robert L. "Bob" Culver Jr., on July 26, 2020,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wicomico County Executive Bob Culver Passes Away|url=https://www.wboc.com/story/42413767/wicomico-county-executive-bob-culver-has-died-family-says|access-date=August 16, 2021|website=www.wboc.com|date=July 26, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> the Wicomico County Council appointed then-Director of Administration John D. Psota to that role in an acting capacity until the 2022 election cycle for the county executive seat.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Peck|first=Louis|date=September 19, 2020|title=Moving to End Standoff, Wicomico Council Taps County Administrator as Acting Exec|url=https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/09/18/moving-to-end-standoff-wicomico-council-taps-county-administrator-as-acting-exec/|access-date=August 17, 2021|website=Maryland Matters|language=en-US}}</ref>

In June 2024, the Wicomico County Council voted to approve a referendum for the [[2024 Maryland elections|2024 elections]] on whether to restore Wicomico County to a [[council–manager government]], thereby abolishing the county executive position. The measure, which was not approved by voters, would have gone into effect at the conclusion of Julie Giordano's current term in late 2026.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peck |first1=Louis |title=Wicomico County Council puts referendum on ballot to do away with county executive’s office |url=https://marylandmatters.org/2024/06/19/wicomico-county-council-puts-referendum-on-ballot-to-do-away-with-county-executives-office/ |access-date=June 19, 2024 |work=[[Maryland Matters]] |date=June 19, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-06 |title=2024 Wicomico County Elections: Live Results |url=https://www.delmarvanow.com/elections/results/2024-11-05/maryland/24045/wicomico-county |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=The Daily Times |language=en}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
|+Wicomico County Executive
|-
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Name
! valign=bottom | Party
! valign=bottom | From
! valign=bottom | To
|-
| Richard M. Pollitt, Jr.
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic
| 2006
| 2014
|-
| Robert L. Culver, Jr.
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
| 2014
| 2020
|-
|John D. Psota (Acting)
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
| 2020
| 2022
|-
|Julie Giordano
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
| 2022
| 
|}

===Sheriff===
Law enforcement in the county is provided by the [[Wicomico County Sheriff's Office]]. The sheriff, Mike Lewis, a Republican, is an elected official.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wboc.com/story/5771259/mike-lewis-sworn-in-as-wicomico-sheriff|title=Mike Lewis Sworn in as Wicomico Sheriff|access-date=November 10, 2017|language=en}}</ref>  Municipal police agencies exist in the towns of [[Delmar, Maryland|Delmar]] and [[Pittsville, Maryland|Pittsville]], along with the cities of [[Fruitland, Maryland|Fruitland]] and [[Salisbury, Maryland|Salisbury]].

===State's attorney===
The Wicomico County [[State's attorney|State's Attorney]] is responsible for prosecuting the felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile cases occurring in the county. The current elected State's Attorney is Jamie Dykes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/2017/11/10/jamie-dykes-wicomico-interim-states-attorney/845470001/|title=Coming home: Dykes ready to lay groundwork as Wicomico County interim state's attorney|work=Delmarva Daily Times|access-date=November 10, 2017|language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|400|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|374|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|26|sqmi}} (6.4%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_24.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 14, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913171515/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_24.txt|archive-date=September 13, 2014}}</ref>

The county's boundary with [[Delaware]] is composed of the [[Mason-Dixon line]] and the [[Transpeninsular Line]]. The intersection of these two historical lines is the midpoint of the Transpeninsular Line, fixed by [[Charles Mason|Mason]] and [[Jeremiah Dixon|Dixon]] between 1763 and 1767. The midpoint is located about {{convert|8|mi|km}} northwest of Salisbury, near the center of the [[Delmarva Peninsula]]. The county is generally flat, characteristic of the region, with a few small hills in the northeast. The lowest elevation is at sea level and the highest elevation is {{convert|98|ft|m|abbr=on}}.

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Dorchester County, Maryland|Dorchester County]], Maryland (northwest)
* [[Somerset County, Maryland|Somerset County]], Maryland (southwest)
* [[Sussex County, Delaware]] (north)
* [[Worcester County, Maryland|Worcester County]], Maryland (southeast)

===Major highways===
* {{Jct|state=MD|US|13}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|US-Bus|13|dab1=Salisbury}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|US|50}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|US-Bus|50}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|12}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|54}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|313}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|346}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|347}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|348}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|349}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|350}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|352}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|353}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|354}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|374}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|513}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|670}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|675}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|815}}
* {{Jct|state=MD|MD|992}}

===Climate===
The county has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa'') according to the [[Köppen climate classification]]. According to the [[Trewartha climate classification]], the subtropical boundary of eight months of daily averages of at least {{convert|50|°F|°C|abbr=on}} runs through the northern part of Wicomico County. The [[hardiness zone]] is mainly 7b.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 15802
|1880= 18016
|1890= 19930
|1900= 22852
|1910= 26815
|1920= 28165
|1930= 31229
|1940= 34530
|1950= 39641
|1960= 49050
|1970= 54236
|1980= 64540
|1990= 74339
|2000= 84644
|2010= 98733
|estyear=2023
|estimate=104800
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 3, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 14, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 14, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/md190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 14, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 14, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2018<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24/24045.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 24, 2013}}</ref>
|2020=103588}}

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States Census|census of 2000]], there were 84,644 people, 32,218 households, and 21,779 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|224|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 34,401 housing units at an average density of {{convert|91|/mi2|/km2|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 72.58% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 23.29% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.22% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 1.75% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.80% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.34% from two or more races. 2.18% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

The largest ancestry groups in Wicomico County are 23% [[African American]], 14% [[English American]], 13% [[german people|German]], 12% [[irish people|Irish]] and 4% [[italian people|Italian]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genealogyInfo.php?locIndex=2836|title=Wicomico County, MD Ancestry & Family History|publisher=Podunk, Inc.|access-date=October 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004232430/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genealogyInfo.php?locIndex=2836|archive-date=October 4, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

There were 32,218 households, out of which 32.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.20% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county the population was spread out, with 24.80% under the age of 18, 11.80% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,035, and the median income for a family was $47,129. Males had a median income of $32,481 versus $23,548 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $19,171. About 8.70% of families and 12.80% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census]], there were 98,733&nbsp;people, 37,220&nbsp;households, and 24,172&nbsp;families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US24045
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=January 22, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020116/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US24045
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|263.7|PD/sqmi}}. There were 41,192 housing units at an average density of {{convert|110.0|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US24045
  |access-date=January 22, 2016
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213192647/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US24045
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 68.7% white, 24.2% black or African American, 2.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.9% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.5% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 15.7% were [[English people|English]], 15.1% were [[Germans|German]], 13.6% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 6.0% were [[Americans|American]], and 5.6% were [[Italians|Italian]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US24045
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 22, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213035118/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US24045
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 37,220&nbsp;households, 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.1% were non-families, and 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 35.7 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $50,752 and the median income for a family was $62,150. Males had a median income of $42,408 versus $34,544 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,505. About 7.8% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US24045
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 22, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020929/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US24045
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

=== 2020 census ===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 United States Census]], there were 103,588 people.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US24045 |access-date=August 13, 2022 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 59.3% white, 27.0% black or African American, 3.0% Asian, 0.4% American Indian and Alaskan Native, 3.7% from other races, and 6.5% from two or more races.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Wicomico%20County,%20Maryland&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1 |access-date=August 13, 2022 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

==Education==

===Primary and secondary schools===
[[Wicomico County Public Schools]] operates all public schools in the county.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st24_md/schooldistrict_maps/c24045_wicomico/DC20SD_C24045.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Wicomico County, MD|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 25, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st24_md/schooldistrict_maps/c24045_wicomico/DC20SD_C24045_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

====Private schools====
*[[Faith Baptist School (Salisbury, Maryland)|Faith Baptist School]]
*Salisbury Baptist Academy
*St. Francis de Sales
*Salisbury Christian School
*Stepping Stones Learning Academy
*The Salisbury School
*Wicomico Day School

===Colleges and universities===
* [[Salisbury University]]
* [[Wor-Wic Community College]]

==Economy==
[[Perdue Farms]], a poultry and grain corporation, is headquartered in Salisbury. [[Piedmont Airlines]] is headquartered at [[Salisbury–Ocean City–Wicomico Regional Airport]] in [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] Wicomico County.<ref>"[http://piedmont-airlines.com/careers.shtml Career Opportunities] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090524021557/http://www.piedmont-airlines.com/careers.shtml |date=2009-05-24 }}." ''[[Piedmont Airlines]]''. Retrieved on May 20, 2009.</ref> Other major employers in the county include [[Salisbury University]], [[Verizon]], [[TidalHealth Peninsula Regional]], [[The Knowland Group]], [[Chesapeake Shipbuilding]], [[Walmart]], [[Sam's Club]], Wor-Wic Community College, and Dove Pointe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wicomico County - Major Employer Lists - Office of Workforce Information and Performance (OWIP) |url=https://labor.maryland.gov/lmi/emplists/wicomico.shtml |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=labor.maryland.gov}}</ref>

Other industries in Wicomico County include electronic component manufacturing, shipbuilding, and agriculture.

==Transportation==
[[U.S. 13]] runs north–south through the county, while [[U.S. 50]] runs east–west through the county.

Salisbury–Ocean City–Wicomico Regional Airport is the only airport in the region offering commercial passenger fights. These flights are run by [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]] to [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] and [[Charlotte, North Carolina]].

Until 1957 the Pennsylvania railroad operated the ''[[Del-Mar-Va Express]]'' train from [[Cape Charles, Virginia]], through [[Union Station (Salisbury, Maryland)|Salisbury Union Station]] to Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Pennsylvania Railroad, Table 65|journal=Official Guide of the Railways |publisher=National Railway Publication Company |volume=90 |issue=7 |date=December 1957}}</ref>

==Media==

===Periodicals===
* ''Coastal Style'' - bimonthly magazine
* ''[[The Daily Times (Salisbury)|The Daily Times]] - daily newspaper''
* ''Metropolitan Magazine'' - monthly magazine
* ''Salisbury Independent'' - weekly newspaper
* ''Salisbury Star'' - monthly newspaper

===Television===
Salisbury is the focus city of a larger Delmarva television market, which includes [[Dover, Delaware|Dover]] and the northern [[Eastern Shore of Virginia]]. Most of the market's major-network affiliates are based in Salisbury, including [[WBOC-TV]] ([[CBS]], [[Telemundo]], [[NBC]], and [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]), [[WMDT]] ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] and [[The CW]]), and [[Maryland Public Television]] station [[WCPB]] ([[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]]).

==Communities==
[[File:Salisbury MD Main Street.jpg|thumb|right|Salisbury]]

===Cities===
*[[Fruitland, Maryland|Fruitland]]
*[[Salisbury, Maryland|Salisbury]] (county seat)

===Towns===
*[[Delmar, Maryland|Delmar]]
*[[Hebron, Maryland|Hebron]]
*[[Mardela Springs, Maryland|Mardela Springs]]
*[[Pittsville, Maryland|Pittsville]]
*[[Sharptown, Maryland|Sharptown]]
*[[Willards, Maryland|Willards]]

===Census-designated places===
{{div col}}
*[[Allen, Maryland|Allen]]
*[[Bivalve, Maryland|Bivalve]]
*[[Jesterville, Maryland|Jesterville]]
*[[Nanticoke, Maryland|Nanticoke]]
*[[Nanticoke Acres, Maryland|Nanticoke Acres]]
*[[Parsonsburg, Maryland|Parsonsburg]]
*[[Powellville, Maryland|Powellville]]
*[[Quantico, Maryland|Quantico]]
*[[Tyaskin, Maryland|Tyaskin]]
*[[Waterview, Maryland|Waterview]]
*[[Whitehaven, Maryland|Whitehaven]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
*[[Doe Run, Maryland|Doe Run]]
*[[Silver Run, Wicomico County, Maryland|Silver Run]]
*[[Wetipquin, Maryland|Wetipquin]]
*[[Whiton, Maryland|Whiton]] (partly in [[Worcester County, Maryland|Worcester County]])

==Notable people==
* [[Erin Burnett]], born in [[Mardela Springs, Maryland|Mardela Springs]], CNBC host and currently host of ''[[Erin Burnett OutFront]]'' on [[CNN]]
* [[Joseph Stewart Cottman]] (1803–1863), born near Allen, [[United States Congressman]] from Maryland<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896">{{cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location=Chicago |  year = 1963}}</ref>
* [[Alexis Denisof]], born in Salisbury, actor best known for ''[[How I Met Your Mother]]'' and ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]''
* [[Lewis J. Fields]], born in Delmar, [[United States Marine Corps]] [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]]<ref name="The Washington Posts">{{cite web | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1988/03/08/gen-lj-fields-dies/4cb04ecc-65bd-4fbf-a31a-34ab71b95228/ | access-date = November 7, 2017 | work = washingtonpost.com | title = GEN. Lewis J. Fields DIES | publisher = The Washington Posts Websites}}</ref>
* [[John Glover (actor)|John Glover]], reared in Salisbury, actor
* [[Linda Hamilton]], born in Salisbury, actress best known for her starring role in the television series ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1987 TV series)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' and the films ''[[The Terminator]]'' and ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]''
* [[Maulana Karenga]], born and lived in [[Parsonsburg, Maryland|Parsonsburg]], activist, author, and professor of [[Africana studies]], best known as the creator of [[Kwanzaa]]
* Sarah Louise Northcott, convicted of murder in 1928 in [[Riverside County, California]], and served 12 years in prison, for her role in the [[Wineville Chicken Coop murders]]—following her parole in 1940, she moved to Parsonsburg, where she resided until her death in 1944<ref name="Paul 2008">{{cite book | title = Nothing is Strange with You: The Life and Crimes of Gordon Stewart Northcott | url = https://archive.org/details/nothingisstrange0000paul | url-access = registration | publisher = Xlibris Corporation | location=Bloomington, Indiana | year = 2008}}{{self-published source|certain=yes|date=December 2017}}</ref>{{Self-published inline|certain=yes|date=December 2017}}
* [[Frank Perdue]], former president and CEO of [[Perdue Farms]]

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Wicomico County, Maryland]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.wicomicocounty.org/ Wicomico County government]
*{{osmrelation|934717}}
*[http://www.wicomicotourism.org Wicomico County Convention and Visitor's Bureau]
*[http://www.wicomicolibrary.org Wicomico Public Library]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20161228211107/http://www.yourcommunitylink.org/ Your Community Link: A Database of Community, Government, and Non-Profit organizations on the Lower Shore]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Wicomico County, Maryland
|North     = [[Sussex County, Delaware]]
|Northeast = 
|East      = 
|Southeast = [[Worcester County, Maryland|Worcester County]]
|South     = 
|Southwest = [[Somerset County, Maryland|Somerset County]]
|West      = 
|Northwest = [[Dorchester County, Maryland|Dorchester County]]
}} 
{{Wicomico County, Maryland}}
{{Maryland}}
{{Salisbury metropolitan area}}

{{coord|38.37|-75.63|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MD_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Wicomico County, Maryland| ]]
[[Category:Maryland counties]]
[[Category:1867 establishments in Maryland]]
[[Category:Salisbury metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1867]]
[[Category:Maryland counties on the Chesapeake Bay]]