Clinton, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clinton, Maryland
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The Surratt House in 2006
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Location of Clinton, Maryland
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maryland |
| County |  Prince George's |
| Area | |
| • Total | 25.09 sq mi (64.99 km2) |
| • Land | 25.02 sq mi (64.79 km2) |
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2) |
| Elevation | 249 ft (76 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 38,760 |
| • Density | 1,549.35/sq mi (598.21/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
20735
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| Area code(s) | 301, 240 |
| FIPS code | 24-17900 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0597253 |
Clinton is a community in Prince George's County, Maryland, in the United States. It's called a "census-designated place" (CDP), which means it's a specific area the government counts for population, even though it's not officially a city or town.
Clinton was once known as Surrattsville before and during the American Civil War. In 2020, about 38,760 people lived there. Clinton is famous for its connection to the Abraham Lincoln assassination during the Civil War. It is located near Camp Springs, Rosaryville, Melwood, and Andrews Air Force Base.
Contents
Exploring Clinton's Location
Clinton is found at 38°45′49″N 76°53′44″W / 38.76361°N 76.89556°W. This location is about 38.76 degrees North and 76.89 degrees West. The area covers about 64.9 square kilometers (25.09 square miles). Most of this area, about 64.7 square kilometers (25.02 square miles), is land. A small part, about 0.2 square kilometers (0.08 square miles), is water.
Who Lives in Clinton?
The number of people living in Clinton has grown a lot over the years.
- In 1980, there were 16,438 people.
- By 2000, the population grew to 26,064.
- In 2020, it reached 38,760 people.
Most people in Clinton are Black or African American. In 2020, about 77% of the population was Black or African American. About 6% were White, and about 2.5% were Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up about 10% of the population.
Clinton's Past: A Look at History
Clinton was first settled in the 1770s. Back then, it was just a simple crossroads with a few buildings. It was known as Surratt's Villa. Later, in the 1800s, it became Surrattsville.
The Surratt House and Lincoln's Assassination
The main building in Surrattsville was very important. It served as a post office, an inn (like a hotel), a tavern (a place to eat and drink), and a place where people voted. This building was one of two properties owned by Mary Surratt. Her other property was in Washington, D.C.
On April 14 and 15, 1865, a very important event happened. John Wilkes Booth, who had just assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, stopped at the Surrattsville tavern. He went there to pick up weapons and other supplies. The U.S. government believed that Mary Surratt had brought these supplies earlier. They thought she was involved with the people who planned Lincoln's assassination, including her own son, John Surratt.
Mary Surratt was found guilty of being involved in the Lincoln assassination. She faced serious consequences for her alleged role. Her house is now the Surratt House Museum. This museum teaches visitors about the assassination. Because of the bad reputation of the Surratt name, the U.S. Post Office changed the town's name to Robeystown. This was a common practice, naming towns after the local postmaster.
From Robeystown to Clinton
In 1879, Robeystown was renamed Clinton. However, the local high school still keeps the name Surrattsville. Some people in the area still call the town "Surattsville" in everyday conversation.
Other Historic Places
The Wyoming house is another historic building in Clinton. It's a wooden house built in different stages between the 1700s and early 1800s. It has a special roof called a gambrel roof. This house is listed in important historical records.
In 1913, a general store was opened by Blossie Keubeth Miller. Today, a commercial building from the 1950s stands there. It houses a liquor store and is still owned by the Miller family.
Modern Clinton
Clinton mainly has single-family homes. But it also has some townhouse communities and a retirement building. The Southern Maryland Regional Hospital is located in Clinton. There is also a private airfield.
Louise F. Cosca Regional Park is a great place for outdoor activities. It's a public park where you can go camping, hiking, and fishing in a lake. It also has a playground and a nature museum with fun activities. Clinton also has a large shopping area. There's a big parking lot nearby where buses take people to the Branch Avenue station of the Washington Metrorail system. The James O. Hall Research Center, which is part of the Surratts House, is also in Clinton.
Clinton started to grow a lot in the 1950s. This growth was partly because of the expansion of the nearby Andrews Air Force Base. This base is home to the Air Force Systems Command and the President's plane, Air Force One.
Some movies have been filmed in Clinton. The Photon Effect was filmed there and in Baltimore. Another movie called Safehouse was filmed in Clinton in 2007.
Learning in Clinton: Schools and Libraries
Schools in Clinton spend about $14,000 per student each year. On average, there are 18 students for every teacher. There are also many students per librarian and counselor.
Public Schools
The Prince George's County Public Schools system runs the public schools in Clinton.
Elementary Schools
- Clinton Grove Elementary School
- James Ryder Randall Elementary School
- Waldon Woods Elementary School
- Francis T. Evans Elementary School (near Andrews Air Force Base)
- Melwood Elementary School
- Rose Valley Elementary School
- Tayac Elementary School
Middle Schools
- Stephen Decatur Middle School
- James Madison Middle School
- Gwynn Park Middle School
- Isaac J. Gourdine Middle School
High Schools
- Surrattsville High School
- Frederick Douglass High School
- Gwynn Park High School
- Dr. Henry A. Wise High School
- Friendly High School
Other Schools
- Tanglewood Regional
Private Schools
Clinton also has several private schools:
- Clinton Christian School
- Grace Brethren Christian Church and School
- Henson Valley Academy
- Independent Baptist Academy
- Jabez Christian Academy
- Outreach Christian Center Academy
- St. John the Evangelist School
- St. Mary's of Piscataway Catholic School and Church
Public Libraries
The Prince George's County Memorial Library System has a branch in Clinton called the Surratts-Clinton Branch.
Famous People from Clinton
Many notable people have connections to Clinton:
- Lindsay Allen, a WNBA player
- Luke Barnett, an actor known for his Funny or Die episodes
- Tray Chaney, an actor from The Wire
- Dante Cunningham, a basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans
- Joe Haden, an NFL defensive back
- Marcia Gay Harden, an Academy Award-winning actress
- Taraji P. Henson, a Golden Globe-winning and Academy Award-nominated actress
- Ty Lawson, a basketball player
- Rodney McLeod, an NFL defensive back
- Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., a former Maryland State Senate President
- Yuri Nosenko, a KGB defector
- Patrick O’Connell, a 3-Star Michelin Chef
- Beth Bernobich, a Lambda Literary Award-winning author
- Chris Rice, a CCM singer/songwriter
- Tank, an R&B singer
- Delonte West, an NBA basketball player
- Brian Westbrook, an NFL running back
- Laura Wright, an actress
- Trevor Keels, an NBA basketball player
