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Anne Arundel County, Maryland facts for kids

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Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County Courthouse in Annapolis
Anne Arundel County Courthouse in Annapolis
Flag of Anne Arundel County
Flag
Official seal of Anne Arundel County
Seal
Map of Maryland highlighting Anne Arundel County
Location within the U.S. state of Maryland
Map of the United States highlighting Maryland
Maryland's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Maryland
Founded April 9, 1650
Named for Anne Arundell
Seat Annapolis
Largest community Glen Burnie
Area
 • Total 588 sq mi (1,520 km2)
 • Land 415 sq mi (1,070 km2)
 • Water 173 sq mi (450 km2)  29%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 588,261
 • Estimate 
(2023)
594,582 Increase
 • Density 1,000.4/sq mi (386.3/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts 3rd, 5th


Anne Arundel County (/əˈrʌndəl/), also called AA or A.A. County, is a county in the state of Maryland, United States. In 2020, its population was 588,261 people. This was almost a 10% increase since 2010.

The county's main city and government center is Annapolis. Annapolis is also the capital city of Maryland. The county is named after Anne Arundell (around 1615/1616–1649). She was Lady Baltimore and the wife of Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, who founded the Province of Maryland colony. Anne Arundel County is part of the larger Central Maryland region. It is also part of the Washington–Baltimore–Arlington combined statistical area.

History

Anne Arundel County is named after Lady Anne Arundell (1615/1616–1649). She was the daughter of Thomas Arundell, a noble from Cornwall, England. Lady Anne married Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, who was the first leader of the Province of Maryland colony. Their marriage was arranged in 1627 or 1628.

Anne Arundel County was first part of St. Mary's County. St. Mary's was the first county created in Maryland in 1634. In 1650, the year after Lady Anne Arundell died, the county became its own area. It was the third of Maryland's 23 counties.

On March 25, 1655, a naval battle happened in Anne Arundel County. This was the Battle of the Severn, the first naval battle in North America. It was fought on the Severn River. Forces supporting the English government fought against those loyal to Lord Baltimore. The government forces won the battle.

In 1692, the Church of England became the official church of Maryland. The colony's ten counties were divided into 30 church areas called parishes. Anne Arundel County had four parishes.

Between 1694 and 1695, the capital of Maryland moved. It moved from St. Mary's City to Annapolis in Anne Arundel County. Before this, Annapolis was known as "Providence."

During the American Revolutionary War, people from Anne Arundel County helped the American army. They provided soldiers for three different regiments.

In the War of 1812, a famous U.S. Navy ship, the U.S.S. Constitution, sailed from Annapolis. It then won a battle against a British ship.

On May 22, 1830, the first horse-drawn train in the U.S. ran. It traveled 13 miles (21 km) from Baltimore to Ellicott Mills. Ellicott Mills was then part of Anne Arundel County. This was the start of regular passenger train service in the United States. In 1851, the western part of Anne Arundel County became Howard County.

Many historic places in the county are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Anne Arundel County covers about 588 square miles (1,523 km²). About 173 square miles (448 km²), or 29%, is covered by water. The county is located south of Baltimore.

Most of the county's edges are formed by water. To the east is the Chesapeake Bay. Many rivers and creeks flow into the bay, creating land areas called "necks." The largest rivers include the Magothy River, Severn River, South River, and West River. The Patuxent River forms the western border with Prince George's County. The Patapsco River to the north forms the border with Baltimore County.

The land in Anne Arundel County is mostly flat or gently rolling. It ranges from sea level near the bay to about 300 feet (91 m) in western areas. The county's ground is made of thick layers of gravel, sand, and clay.

Adjacent counties and independent city

National protected area

Climate

Crofton Parkway spring
Crofton Parkway in Crofton in early March

Anne Arundel County has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot summers and cool winters. The county gets about 40 inches (100 cm) of rain each year. Snowfall averages around 20.1 inches (51 cm) per year near BWI Airport. Higher areas may get slightly more snow.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 22,598
1800 22,623 0.1%
1810 26,668 17.9%
1820 27,165 1.9%
1830 28,295 4.2%
1840 29,532 4.4%
1850 32,393 9.7%
1860 23,900 −26.2%
1870 24,457 2.3%
1880 28,526 16.6%
1890 34,094 19.5%
1900 39,620 16.2%
1910 39,553 −0.2%
1920 43,408 9.7%
1930 55,167 27.1%
1940 68,375 23.9%
1950 117,392 71.7%
1960 206,634 76.0%
1970 297,539 44.0%
1980 370,775 24.6%
1990 427,239 15.2%
2000 489,656 14.6%
2010 537,656 9.8%
2020 588,261 9.4%
2023 (est.) 594,582 10.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

Anne Arundel County, Maryland – Racial and ethnic composition
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.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 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

In 2010, there were 537,656 people living in Anne Arundel County. There were 199,378 households and 139,262 families. The population density was about 1,296 people per square mile.

The people living in the county were mostly White (75.4%), Black or African American (15.5%), and Asian (3.4%). About 6.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average household had 2.63 people, and the average family had 3.11 people. The average age of people in the county was 38.4 years. The median income for a household was $83,456. For a family, it was $97,557. About 5.3% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Economy

Principal employers

Many different companies and organizations employ people in Anne Arundel County. Here are some of the largest employers in 2014:

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

Correctional facilities

The state of Maryland operates several correctional facilities in Jessup, Anne Arundel County. These are places where people who have broken laws live. The District of Columbia also has a youth development center in the county. This center helps young people who have been in trouble.

U.S. Department of Defense facilities

Fort George G. Meade is a large U.S. Army base in the county. It is home to the National Security Agency. The United States Naval Academy is also located in Annapolis.

Healthcare

Anne Arundel County has two hospitals. They are Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis and Baltimore Washington Medical Center in Glen Burnie.

Media

The main newspapers in the county are The Capital and the Maryland Gazette. The Maryland Gazette started in 1727.

Education

  • Children in the county attend schools run by the Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
  • For higher education, students can go to Anne Arundel Community College.
  • The county is also home to the United States Naval Academy and St. John's College, both in Annapolis.

Transportation

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
I-97 northbound at Benfield Boulevard in Anne Arundel County
MD 41 I97 FHWA 1990 MD972
Interstate 97 in 1990

Anne Arundel County is where the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is located. BWI is the main airport for the Baltimore area. It is also a popular airport for people living near Washington, D.C.. Many nonstop flights to different parts of the country are available from BWI.

The southern part of the Maryland Transit Administration's Light Rail system runs through the northern part of the county. This connects downtown Baltimore to BWI.

The county also has stops for the MARC commuter rail service. This includes a stop at the BWI Rail Station. Amtrak trains also stop at BWI's train station.

Major roads and highways

  • I-97
  • I-195
  • I-595
  • I-695
  • I-895
  • US 50 / US 301
  • MD 2
  • MD 3
  • MD 3 Bus.
  • MD 4
  • MD 10
  • MD 32
  • MD 100
  • MD 295

Recreation

Maryland Park Service

Sandy Point State Park is a park with a beach and a marina. It hosts many events. Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden is a 5-acre garden in Annapolis. It shows different types of plants from Maryland's regions. The county also has parts of Patapsco Valley State Park, which has forests and wetlands.

Anne Arundel Recreation and Parks

The Department of Recreation and Parks manages many parks and programs for county residents. These include sports fields, community parks, and historical sites. Some major places are the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail, Downs Park, Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, Fort Smallwood Park, Kinder Farm Park, and Quiet Waters Park.

Other fun places to visit include the Maryland Renaissance Festival in Crownsville. You can also visit the Maryland State House and the Colonial Annapolis Historic District.

Anne Arundel County has two of the largest shopping malls in Maryland: Westfield Annapolis Mall and Arundel Mills in Hanover. Next to Arundel Mills is the Maryland Live! casino.

Communities

Map of Anne Arundel County Maryland.svg
Bracketed number refers to location on map

City

Town

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

See also

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