Berlin, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Berlin, Maryland
Town
Downtown Berlin, Maryland
Flag Seal
Location in Worcester County and the state of Maryland
Berlin, Maryland Location in Maryland Show map of Maryland Berlin, Maryland Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Worcester
Incorporated	1868
Area
• Total	3.43 sq mi (8.87 km2)
• Land	3.38 sq mi (8.77 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2)
Elevation	36 ft (11 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,026
• Density	1,485.22/sq mi (573.41/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	21811
Area codes	410, 443
FIPS code	24-06800
GNIS feature ID	0583167
Website	http://berlinmd.gov

Berlin [bʌrlɪn] is a charming town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. It is well-known for its historic downtown area, called the Berlin Commercial District. In 2020, about 5,026 people lived here. Berlin is part of the larger Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History of Berlin, Maryland

Berlin welcome sign

The land where Berlin now stands was once a large farm called Burley Plantation. This farm was established by William Tomkins in 1677. Over time, old Native American trails became important colonial roads. Berlin grew at a busy crossroads where these roads met.

Early businesses in the new town included a tavern, a blacksmith shop, and a place to care for horses. People say the town's name, pronounced "Burl'in," comes from the "Burley Inn," an early tavern at this crossroads.

Growth and Development

After the American Civil War, Berlin officially became a town in 1868. This led to a period of fast growth. Within ten years, the Delaware, Maryland and Virginia Railroad arrived. This made Berlin an important business center for the northern part of Worcester County.

In 1895, a large fire destroyed much of the central business district. But the town quickly rebuilt. New buildings with beautiful Victorian styles, like Queen Anne and Italianate, were built along Main Street.

Modern Berlin

As Ocean City grew into a popular tourist spot, Berlin also benefited. It became a convenient stop for travelers. Just north of Berlin is Ocean Pines, Maryland, a waterfront community that shares Berlin's ZIP code.

Since the late 1980s, Berlin has worked hard to improve its historic downtown and nearby neighborhoods. Many of Berlin's old homes show architectural styles from the Federal, Victorian, and 20th Century periods. Forty-seven of these buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Berlin is also recognized by Maryland as a "Main Street Community" for its efforts to bring new life to its downtown.

Other historic places near Berlin listed on the National Register include:

• Buckingham Archeological Site
• Burley Manor
• Caleb's Discovery
• Fassitt House
• Genesar
• Henry's Grove
• Merry Sherwood
• Williams Grove

Geography of Berlin

Berlin is located at coordinates 38°20'N 75°13'W.

The United States Census Bureau reports that the town covers a total area of about 3.15 square miles (8.16 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land.

Population and People

The historic Calvin B. Taylor House

In 2010, Berlin had a population of 4,485 people. The town had 1,688 households and 1,155 families. The population density was about 1,423.8 people per square mile (549.7 people per square kilometer). This means many people live in a relatively small area.

Who Lives in Berlin?

In 2010, the people living in Berlin were:

• 68.8% White
• 23.3% African American
• 0.6% Native American
• 1.4% Asian
• 2.7% from other races
• 3.3% from two or more races

About 5.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Many households (36.9%) had children under 18 living with them. The average age in Berlin was 38.4 years. About 25.8% of residents were under 18 years old.

Climate in Berlin

Berlin has a Humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm to hot summers and wet winters, sometimes with snow. Rain falls throughout the year.

Schools in Berlin

Berlin has four public schools and one private school. Together, these schools teach about 5,000 students. Worcester County Public Schools is one of the biggest employers in Berlin.

Public Schools

• Buckingham Elementary School
• Berlin Intermediate School
• Stephen Decatur Middle School
• Stephen Decatur High School

Private School

• Worcester Preparatory School

Town Infrastructure

Berlin Town Hall

Berlin has important services and transportation systems that help the town run smoothly.

Transportation

Berlin is located where two major roads meet: U.S. Route 50 (which runs east-west) and U.S. Route 113 (which runs north-south). They connect at a large cloverleaf interchange northeast of town. A cloverleaf interchange is a special road design that allows traffic to move between two highways without stopping.

• US 50 goes west to Salisbury and east to Ocean City.
• US 113 goes north to Selbyville, Delaware and south toward Snow Hill and Pocomoke City.
• Maryland Route 818 runs through the center of Berlin on Main Street.
• Other state roads like Maryland Route 346, Maryland Route 374, Maryland Route 375, Maryland Route 376, and Maryland Route 377 also serve the town.

Public bus service is provided by Shore Transit. You can take a bus from Berlin to Salisbury, Ocean City, and Pocomoke City. The Maryland and Delaware Railroad also has a train line that runs through Berlin.

Utilities

The Berlin Electric Utility Department provides electricity to homes and businesses in Berlin. They generate some power themselves and buy more from other sources.

The Water Resources Department handles water, wastewater, and stormwater for the town. The Public Works department collects trash and recycling. Sandpiper Energy provides natural gas to Berlin.

Famous People from Berlin

Many notable people have connections to Berlin, Maryland:

• Stephen Decatur (1779–1820) – A famous American Naval hero. He was the youngest Commodore in US Navy history.
• Linda Harrison (born 1945) – An actress.
• David H. Jarvis (1862–1911) – An officer who led a brave winter rescue mission in Alaska.
• James Lee Purnell Jr. (1937–2021) – A politician and civil rights activist.
• Oliver Purnell (born 1953) – A well-known men's basketball coach.
• William H. Sutphin (1887–1972) – A former U.S. Representative from New Jersey.
• Ben Tate (born 1988) – A professional football player who was a running back for the Cleveland Browns.
• Calvin B. Taylor (1857–1932) – A banker, politician, lawyer, and educator.
• Charles Tindley (1851–1933) – A minister and composer.
• Spiro Agnew (1918–1996) – A former Vice President of the United States. He passed away in Berlin.

See also

In Spanish: Berlin (Maryland) para niños