Denton, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Denton, Maryland
Town
Town of Denton
The Choptank River in July 2008
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  "The Garden of America"
Location in Caroline County and the U.S. state of Maryland
Denton, Maryland Location in Maryland Show map of Maryland Denton, Maryland Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States of America
State	Maryland
County	Caroline
Founded	1781
Incorporated	1802
Area
• Total	5.35 sq mi (13.86 km2)
• Land	5.27 sq mi (13.64 km2)
• Water	0.09 sq mi (0.22 km2)
Elevation	43 ft (13 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,848
• Density	920.45/sq mi (355.35/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	21629
Area code(s)	410
FIPS code	24-22725
GNIS feature ID	0590087

Denton is a town in Caroline County, Maryland, United States. It's a special place because it's the county seat of Caroline County, which means it's where the main government offices for the county are located. In 2020, about 4,848 people lived in Denton.

History of Denton

Denton was first settled in 1781. It was originally called Eden Town. This name honored Sir Robert Eden, who was the very last royal governor of Maryland. Over time, people shortened the name from Eden Town to Denton. The town officially became a town in 1802.

The town grew thanks to trade along the nearby Choptank River. Ships would carry goods and people, helping Denton connect with other communities. The river was quite deep, making it a natural barrier. During the time of slavery, this river was a difficult obstacle for enslaved people trying to escape to freedom in the North. In 1858, an Irish-American abolitionist (someone who worked to end slavery) named Hugh Hazlett and a group of people seeking freedom were stopped near Denton. A special marker in town remembers this important event.

From the 1840s to the 1920s, steamships were very popular. These boats carried passengers and goods from Denton to places like Cambridge and other towns along the Chesapeake Bay.

Today, you can visit the Museum of Rural Life in Denton. This museum helps visitors understand the town's history, especially its farming roots. There's also a historic steamboat pier that has been saved and preserved.

Geography and Climate

Denton is located at 38°53′2″N 75°49′36″W / 38.88389°N 75.82667°W / 38.88389; -75.82667. It covers an area of about 5.50 square miles (14.24 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Denton's Climate

The weather in Denton has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate. On climate maps, you might see it labeled as "Cfa."

Population and People

Denton has grown quite a bit over the years. Here's how its population has changed:

What the 2010 Census Showed

In 2010, there were 4,418 people living in Denton. There were 1,606 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. About 38.6% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.56 people.

The average age of people in Denton was 35.8 years old. About 26.6% of the residents were under 18 years old. Also, 15.1% of the population was 65 years old or older.

Media and News

Denton has its own local radio station, WKDI (840 AM). The town is also served by a weekly newspaper called the Times-Record. For a monthly read, there's the Caroline Review magazine.

Town Infrastructure

Infrastructure refers to the basic facilities and systems that a town needs to function. This includes things like roads, water, and electricity.

Getting Around: Transportation

MD 313 southbound and MD 404 eastbound in Denton

Denton is connected by several important Maryland Routes. These include MD 404, MD 313, MD 328, MD 16, and MD 619.

• MD 404 goes around Denton, acting as a bypass. It's a main road connecting the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to the west with the Delaware Beaches to the east.
• A special route called MD 404 Business goes right through the middle of Denton.
• MD 313 also goes around the east side of Denton. It heads north to Greensboro and south to Federalsburg.
• MD 328 starts in West Denton and goes southwest towards Easton.
• MD 16 passes south of Denton and connects to places like Preston and Cambridge.
• MD 619 connects the center of Denton to MD 313 and MD 404 in the northern part of town.

The town is also located next to the Choptank River. For public transportation, Delmarva Community Transit offers bus services. These buses connect Denton to nearby towns like Easton, Federalsburg, Preston, and Greensboro. The American Discovery Trail, a long-distance trail for hiking and biking, also runs through Denton.

Town Services: Utilities

The town of Denton provides important services to its residents.

• Electricity is supplied by Delmarva Power, which is part of a larger company called Exelon.
• Natural gas comes from Chesapeake Utilities.
• The Denton Public Works department handles water and sewer services, as well as trash collection. They provide water to about 1,600 homes and can handle a lot of water each day. The town also has a Wastewater Treatment Plant that cleans used water. Trash is collected once a week from homes in Denton.

Famous People from Denton

Denton has been home to several notable individuals:

• Anna Murray-Douglass, an important Abolitionist
• Harry Hughes, a former governor of Maryland
• Sophie Kerr, a well-known author
• Russ Snowberger, a racing car driver
• Sherman W. Tribbitt, a former governor of Delaware

See also

In Spanish: Denton (Maryland) para niños