Crofton, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Crofton, Maryland
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Crofton Parkway
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Location of Crofton, Maryland
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maryland |
| County |  Anne Arundel |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Hall |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.61 sq mi (17.12 km2) |
| • Land | 6.61 sq mi (17.12 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 98 ft (30 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 29,641 |
| • Density | 4,483.59/sq mi (1,731.01/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
21114
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| Area code(s) | 410, 443, and 667 |
| FIPS code | 24-20875 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0590046 |
Crofton is a special kind of community in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. It's known as a census-designated place and a planned community. This means it's a specific area recognized by the government for counting people, and it was designed and built with a clear plan.
Crofton is located about 9.8 miles (15.8 km) west of Annapolis, which is Maryland's capital city. It's also about 24 miles (38.6 km) south of Baltimore and 24 miles (38.6 km) east-northeast of Washington, D.C.. The community was started in 1964. In 2020, about 29,136 people lived there.
Contents
Discovering Crofton's Past
How Crofton Was Built
In 1963, a company called Crawford Corporation bought a lot of land, over 1,600 acres (6.5 km²). They announced plans to build a brand new community called Crofton. This new town was created around the same time as other planned communities like Reston, Virginia (1964) and Columbia, Maryland (1967).
Crofton was designed with a community golf course at its heart, which later became the Crofton Country Club. The town officially opened in the fall of 1964. The company wanted an English name that sounded nice and suggested a pleasant place to live. They chose "Crofton," named after a small town in England.
The Snakehead Fish Incident
Crofton was in the national news in 2002 because of a fish called the northern snakehead. This fish, which is very aggressive, was found in a pond behind the Crofton post office.
To get rid of the fish, the pond and two nearby ponds were treated with special chemicals in September 2002. Workers found and removed six adult snakeheads and over a thousand baby fish.
This event started a big discussion across the country about invasive species. These are plants or animals that are not native to an area and can harm the local environment. Several movies were even inspired by this incident, including Snakehead Terror and Frankenfish. A documentary called Fishzilla: Snakehead Invasion also explored the damage these fish caused.
Crofton's Location and Landscape
The original part of Crofton was built on a farm. It's located within a special triangle formed by three main roads: Crain Highway (Maryland Route 3), Davidsonville Road (Maryland Route 424), and Defense Highway (Maryland Route 450).
Inside this triangle, there's a loop road called Crofton Parkway, which is about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long. This road goes around the center of the community. Today, the Crofton area extends further north and east, including Crofton Park.
The Little Patuxent River forms a natural border on Crofton's southwest side. This river helps separate Anne Arundel County from Prince Georges County. Crofton covers a total area of about 17.1 square kilometers (6.6 square miles), and all of it is land.
Learning in Crofton: Schools
Crofton has several public schools that are part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools system.
Elementary Schools
- Crofton Elementary School (grades K-5)
- Crofton Meadows Elementary School (grades K-5)
- Crofton Woods Elementary School (grades K-5)
- Nantucket Elementary School (grades K-5)
Middle and High Schools
After elementary school, students from these four schools go to Crofton Middle School for grades 6–8. This school is located in nearby Gambrills, Maryland.
Older students attend Crofton High School for grades 9-12. This high school is also in Gambrills. Crofton High School opened in September 2020.
Private Preschools
Crofton also has several private preschools for younger children:
- Beaver Creek Child Care
- Crofton Children's Centre
- Crofton Day School
- Crofton Nursery School
- Creative Garden Nursery School and Kindergarten
Who Lives in Crofton: Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2010 | 27,348 | — | |
| 2020 | 29,641 | 8.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Crofton has grown quite a bit over the years. In 2010, the population was 27,348 people. By 2020, it had increased to 29,641.
Most households in Crofton are families. In 2010, about 71.5% of households were families, with an average of 2.67 people living in each home.
The community has also become more diverse. In 2000, about 90% of the people were White. By 2010, this percentage had changed to about 79.8% White, with more people from other racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Population History
Here's how Crofton's population has changed over the years:
| Year | Total Population |
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| 1970 | 4,478 |
| 1980 | 12,009 |
| 1990 | 12,781 |
| 2000 | 20,091 |
| 2010 | 27,348 |
| 2020 | 29,136 |
How Crofton is Managed
The older part of Crofton is a special area called a Special Community Benefit District (SCBD). It is managed by the Board of Directors of the Crofton Civic Association.
This association has staff members like a Town Manager, police, and recreation coordinators. They help take care of the parks, ensure public safety, and organize community events. The Town Hall, where these offices are located, was originally built as a sales center for the community. It was given to the community in 1973.
Newer parts of Crofton are not part of this special district. They are often managed by different Homeowners Associations (HOAs).
Important Places in Crofton
Historic Sites and Landmarks
- Katcef Archeological Site: This is an archaeological site where scientists have found evidence of native campsites. These sites date back thousands of years, from the Paleo-Indian period to later times. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
- Linthicum Walks: This is a historic home built over 200 years ago by Thomas Linthicum III. The land was first granted in 1672. Even George Washington stayed here when he traveled between Annapolis, Philadelphia, and his home at Mount Vernon, Virginia. Today, the home is owned by Anne Arundel County and cared for by a group called the Friends of Linthicum Walks. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
- White's Hall: This house is the birthplace of Johns Hopkins. He was a very important entrepreneur and philanthropist who used his money to start Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Hopkins family lived in the Crofton area for 270 years. The historic house, built in the late 1700s, is still standing near Riedel Road and Johns Hopkins Road. It is privately owned.
Famous People from Crofton
Many notable people have connections to Crofton:
- Spiro Agnew: A former Vice President of the United States.
- Kyle Beckerman: A professional soccer player for Real Salt Lake and a star of the U.S. Team in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He grew up in Crofton.
- Bill Belichick: A famous head coach for the New England Patriots football team. He was raised in Crofton.
- Peter Bondra: A professional hockey player.
- Johns Hopkins: The businessman who founded Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Hospital.
- Chris Kubasik: A former president and Chief Operating Officer of Lockheed Martin Corporation. He grew up in Crofton.
- Charles Thomas McMillen: A former Democratic congressman and professional basketball player.
- Gheorghe Mureșan: A former professional basketball player for the Washington Bullets. He holds the record for being the tallest man to play in the NBA.
- Edward Snowden: Known for leaking sensitive government documents. He attended schools in Crofton.
See also
In Spanish: Crofton (Maryland) para niños
