Perryville, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Perryville
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U.S. Post Office, Perryville MD, April 2010
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Location of Perryville, Maryland
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Maryland | ||
| County | Cecil | ||
| Incorporated | 1882 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 3.20 sq mi (8.28 km2) | ||
| • Land | 3.19 sq mi (8.27 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 72 ft (22 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,391 | ||
| • Density | 1,375.63/sq mi (531.18/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
21903
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| Area code(s) | 410 | ||
| FIPS code | 24-61150 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0590999 | ||
| Website | http://www.perryvillemd.org/ | ||
Perryville is a small town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. It's located right where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay. In 2020, about 4,391 people lived there. The town is easy to get to, as it's close to Interstate 95.
Contents
History of Perryville
Early Settlements and Names
Perryville was first settled by Europeans way back in 1622. A man named Edward Palmer was given permission to start a settlement on what is now Garrett Island. Later, in the 1600s, Lord Baltimore gave a large area of land, including Perryville, to George Talbot.
Before it became an official town in 1882, Perryville had a few different names. It was known as Lower Ferry around 1695, and then Susquehanna in the 1700s. Finally, it was named Perryville after Mary Perry, who was the wife of John Bateman.
Perryville in the Revolutionary War
During the American Revolutionary War, Perryville was an important spot for the American army. Colonel John Rodgers, who ran a ferry and a tavern in town, gathered a group of soldiers called the 5th Company of the Maryland Militia. This group was part of the famous Flying Camp and helped a lot in the early parts of the war.
Even George Washington, a key leader in the war, often stopped at Rodgers Tavern when he traveled. Rodgers Tavern is now a historic place, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Colonel Rodgers' son, also named John Rodgers, became a famous naval officer. He helped stop pirates in the Mediterranean Sea and later became a Commodore. He is known as the "Father of the American Navy" for his service in the War of 1812.
Growth in the 1800s and 1900s
In the 1800s, Perryville became a key stop on the train line that went from Wilmington to Baltimore. During the American Civil War, parts of this railway were destroyed. To move soldiers and supplies, the Union Army started using the ferry across the Susquehanna River again. The Principio Furnace, an old iron-making site, is also nearby and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
In the 1900s, Perryville was a popular place for people visiting the United States Naval Training Center Bainbridge. This center was about three miles away and is no longer active. Perryville also continued to be important for the railroad. When the interstate highway system was built, I-95 brought even more visitors and businesses to the town.
Modern Perryville
Today, Perryville is home to the Perry Point Veteran's Medical Center. This center is on a beautiful campus where the Susquehanna River flows into the Chesapeake Bay. This location also hosts a campus for AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. This program brings young Americans aged 18 to 24 to do community service across the country.
Perryville is also the last stop for the MARC Penn Line commuter rail service. This train takes people south to Baltimore and Washington, D.C.. The train station, built in 1905, is also a railroad museum and a place where Amtrak trains are maintained.
The town is also proud to have the largest linwood tree in Maryland. It's located at 50 Millcreek Road on an estate once called the Anchorage.
Geography and Area
Perryville is located at 39°34′11″N 76°4′7″W / 39.56972°N 76.06861°W. This means it's in the northeastern part of Maryland.
The town covers a total area of about 3.06 square miles (7.93 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 3.05 square miles (7.90 square kilometers), is land. Only a very small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 143 | — | |
| 1890 | 344 | 140.6% | |
| 1900 | 770 | 123.8% | |
| 1910 | 635 | −17.5% | |
| 1920 | 652 | 2.7% | |
| 1930 | 704 | 8.0% | |
| 1940 | 729 | 3.6% | |
| 1950 | 679 | −6.9% | |
| 1960 | 674 | −0.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,091 | 210.2% | |
| 1980 | 2,018 | −3.5% | |
| 1990 | 2,456 | 21.7% | |
| 2000 | 3,672 | 49.5% | |
| 2010 | 4,361 | 18.8% | |
| 2020 | 4,391 | 0.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
How Many People Live Here?
In 2010, there were 4,361 people living in Perryville. These people lived in 1,762 homes, and 1,130 of those were families. The town had about 1,430 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Perryville were White (84.6%). There were also African American residents (9.6%), Asian residents (1.3%), and people from other backgrounds. About 4.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Perryville was 40.7 years old. About 23.4% of the residents were under 18, and 12.6% were 65 or older. The town had a nearly equal number of males (49.7%) and females (50.3%).
Economy and Businesses
Major Employers and Attractions
Perryville is home to one of IKEA's large distribution centers. This center has one of the biggest rooftop solar power systems in the United States! It uses 25,913 solar panels to create a lot of clean electricity every year.
In 2010, Perryville opened the first legal casino in Maryland, called Hollywood Casino Perryville. It's located near the I-95 exit. The casino has slot machines, video games, table games, and a poker room. The money earned from the casino helps both the town of Perryville and Cecil County.
In 2018, it was announced that Great Wolf Resorts would open a new Great Wolf Lodge in Perryville. This huge resort opened on June 14, 2023. It's the twentieth and largest Great Wolf Lodge! It has a big indoor waterpark, other fun attractions, a Dunkin' store, and a Build-a-Bear Workshop.
Transportation and Services
Getting Around Perryville
_from_the_overpass_for_Maryland_State_Route_222_(Perrylawn_Drive)_in_Perryville,_Cecil_County,_Maryland.jpg)
The main way to get to Perryville is by road. Interstate 95 runs along the northern edge of the town, and you can get off at Maryland Route 222 to enter Perryville. U.S. Route 40 also goes through the town.
For those who prefer trains, the MARC's Penn Line commuter rail service ends at the Perryville station. This train can take you to Baltimore and Washington, D.C.. There's also a bus service called Cecil Transit that connects Perryville to nearby towns like North East and Elkton.
Local Library
A new branch of the Cecil County Public Library opened in Perryville in 2008, offering books and resources to the community.
Schools in Perryville
Perryville has four schools. There are public schools for elementary, middle, and high school students. The mascot for Perryville High School is the panther. There is also a private Catholic school for grades K-8 called Good Shepherd.
Churches in the Town
There are six churches in Perryville:
- Blythedale Seventh-day Adventist Church
- First Baptist Church of Perryville
- Good Shepherd Catholic Church
- Perryville Presbyterian Church
- Perryville United Methodist Church
- St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Famous People from Perryville
- Jim Keesey (1902–1951), a professional baseball player, was born in Perryville.
- John Rodgers (1772–1838), a famous naval officer, was born in Perryville.
- John Chew Thomas (1764–1836), a politician, was also born in Perryville.
See also
In Spanish: Perryville (Maryland) para niños
