Kent County, Maryland

Kent County, Maryland
County
Kent County
Kent County Courthouse in Chestertown
Seal
Location in the U.S. state of Maryland
Maryland's location in the U.S.
Founded	December 30, 1642
Named for	Kent
Seat	Chestertown
Largest town	Chestertown
Area
• Total	413 sq mi (1,070 km2)
• Land	277 sq mi (717 km2)
• Water	136 sq mi (352 km2), 33%
Population (est.)
• (2015)	19,787
• Density	48/sq mi (19/km²)
Congressional district	1st
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.kentcounty.com

Kent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2010 census, its population was 20,197,^[1] making it the least populous county in Maryland. Its county seat is Chestertown.^[2] The county was named for the county of Kent in England.^[3] The county is located on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

History

In 1642, the governor and council appointed commissioners for the Isle and County of Kent. This act appears to have led to the establishment of Kent County. In 1675, the first county seat was New Yarmouth. The seat was briefly moved upriver to Quaker Neck, and then to the site of modern Chestertown. Before the American Revolution New Town on Chester, now Chestertown, was a port entry for the counties of Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne's.^[4]

The county has a number of properties which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[5]

In 1793, the county had its first newspaper, called Apollo, or Chestertown Spy. It was succeeded by local papers such as the Chestertown Gazette.

Washington College, the oldest college in Maryland, is located in Kent County.

Government and politics

Kent County was granted home rule in 1970 under a state code. Kent County is the most politically competitive county on Maryland's eastern shore. In 2004, Republican George W. Bush won it with 52% of the vote to Democrat John Kerry's 46%. In the 2008 United States Presidential Election, Barack Obama won Kent County by 48 votes more than John McCain.^[6] In 2012 Republican Mitt Romney won Kent County by 28 votes over Democrat Barack Obama.

The Sheriff of Kent County is John Price IV.

The commissioners of Kent County are - Ronald H. Fithian (D) President, William W. Pickrum (D) and William A. Short (R)

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 413 square miles (1,070 km²), of which 277 square miles (720 km²) is land and 136 square miles (350 km²) (33%) is water.^[7]

According to the Maryland Geological Survey, the highest point in Kent County is 102 ft above sea level, approximately 2.25 mi west of Coleman's Corner (shown on maps as "Coleman"), just northeast of the mouth of Still Pond Creek.^[8]

Kent County is the smallest county in Maryland. It has a 209-mile shoreline, including Eastern Neck Island. The Chesapeake Bay is on the west, Sassafras River on the north, and the Chester River on the south. The eastern border with Delaware is part of the Mason–Dixon line.

Adjacent counties

• Cecil County (north)
• New Castle County, Delaware (northeast)
• Kent County, Delaware (southeast)
• Queen Anne's County (south)

Kent County in Maryland and Kent County in Delaware are two of twenty-two counties or parishes in the United States with the same name to border each other across state lines. The others are Union Parish, Louisiana and Union County, Arkansas, Big Horn County, Montana and Big Horn County, Wyoming, Sabine County, Texas and Sabine Parish, Louisiana, Bristol County, Massachusetts and Bristol County, Rhode Island, Escambia County, Alabama and Escambia County, Florida, Pike County, Illinois and Pike County, Missouri, Teton County, Idaho and Teton County, Wyoming, Park County, Montana and Park County, Wyoming, San Juan County, New Mexico and San Juan County, Utah, and Vermilion County, Illinois and Vermillion County, Indiana. respectively. (Note, despite the different spellings, the source of the name is the same for Vermilion County, Illinois and Vermillion County, Indiana—the Vermillion River which flows through both counties.)

National protected area

• Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

A farm in Kent County, Maryland

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 19,197 people, 7,666 households, and 5,136 families residing in the county. The population density was 69 people per square mile (27/km²). There were 9,410 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.64% White, 17.41% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. 2.84% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.7% were of English, 14.2% German, 12.4% Irish and 11.3% American ancestry.

There were 7,666 households out of which 26.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.70% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the county the population was spread out with 20.80% under the age of 18, 10.90% from 18 to 24, 23.70% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 19.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,869, and the median income for a family was $46,708. Males had a median income of $31,899 versus $24,513 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,573. About 9.30% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.00% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 20,197 people, 8,165 households, and 5,272 families residing in the county.^[14] The population density was 72.9 inhabitants per square mile (28.1/km²). There were 10,549 housing units at an average density of 38.1 per square mile (14.7/km²).^[15] The racial makeup of the county was 80.1% white, 15.1% black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.9% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.5% of the population.^[14] In terms of ancestry, 18.7% were English, 18.7% were German, 15.5% were Irish, 7.9% were American, and 5.8% were Italian.^[16]

Of the 8,165 households, 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.4% were non-families, and 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.78. The median age was 45.6 years.^[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $50,141 and the median income for a family was $63,507. Males had a median income of $41,046 versus $35,161 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,536. About 5.1% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.^[17]

Education

Communities

This county contains the following incorporated municipalities:

Towns

• Betterton
• Chestertown (county seat)
• Galena
• Millington (partly in Queen Anne's County)
• Rock Hall

Census-designated places

The United States Census Bureau recognizes the following Census-designated places in Kent County:

• Butlertown
• Edesville
• Fairlee
• Georgetown
• Kennedyville
• Tolchester
• Worton

Unincorporated communities

Other unincorporated places not listed as Census-Designated Places but known in the area include:

• Lynch
• Massey
• Still Pond

Miscellaneous

• The newspaper of record is the Kent County News.
• Kent County Public Schools were some of the last in the country to fully integrate, but this was because of construction delays in opening the desegregated high school, which opened in the fall of 1969. Primary grade feeder schools in the Kent County system were integrated before the opening of the centrally located high school.
• Kent County, Maryland, is one of the few counties in the United States to border its namesake in another state—in this case, Kent County, Delaware.
• In 1790 Kent County contained the centre of population of the United States, according to the US Census Bureau. It is on the edge of a cornfield at 39.16.30 N 76.11.12 W.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Kent County, Maryland

References

External links

• Kent County government

Coordinates: 39°14′N 76°06′W / 39.23°N 76.10°W / 39.23; -76.10

		Cecil County	New Castle County, Delaware
	Chesapeake Bay
		Kent County, Maryland
		Queen Anne's County	Kent County, Delaware

Municipalities and communities of Kent County, Maryland, United States
County seat: Chestertown
Towns	Betterton Chestertown Galena Millington‡ Rock Hall
CDPs	Butlertown Edesville Fairlee Kennedyville Tolchester Worton
Unincorporated communities	Chesterville Georgetown‡ Golts Hassengers Corner Langford Lynch Massey Pomona Sassafras Sharpstown Still Pond Tolchester Beach
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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