Taneytown, Maryland Facts for Kids

Taneytown ( taw-NEE-town) is a city in Carroll County, Maryland, United States. The population was 6,728 at the 2010 census. Taneytown was founded in 1754. Of the city, George Washington once wrote, "Tan-nee town is but a small place with only the Street through wch.(sic) the road passes, built on. The buildings are principally of wood." Taneytown has a history museum that displays the history of the city for visitors and citizens to see. The Bullfrog Road Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Geography
Demographics
- 2010 census
History
Haunted Barn
Transportation
Notable people
Images for kids
See also

Geography

Taneytown is located at 39°39′26″N 77°10′14″W / 39.65722°N 77.17056°W / 39.65722; -77.17056 (39.657099, -77.170627).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.05 square miles (7.90 km²), of which, 3.04 square miles (7.87 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	285	—
1860	365	28.1%
1870	413	13.2%
1880	519	25.7%
1890	566	9.1%
1900	665	17.5%
1910	824	23.9%
1920	800	−2.9%
1930	938	17.3%
1940	1,208	28.8%
1950	1,420	17.5%
1960	1,519	7.0%
1970	1,731	14.0%
1980	2,618	51.2%
1990	3,695	41.1%
2000	5,128	38.8%
2010	6,728	31.2%
2020	7,234	7.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,728 people, 2,434 households, and 1,813 families living in the city. The population density was 2,213.2 inhabitants per square mile (854.5/km²). There were 2,554 housing units at an average density of 840.1 per square mile (324.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.3% White, 4.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.7% of the population.

There were 2,434 households, of which 40.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.5% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.14.

The median age in the city was 37 years. 27.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.2% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

History

Taneytown was founded in 1754 and became the seat of Taneytown Hundred in colonial Frederick County. Taneytown takes its name from Raphael Taney, a recipient of one of the first land grants in the area, though Taney likely never lived in the town that bears his name. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Roger Brooke Taney, author of the Dred Scott decision, born in 1777, shares a common ancestor with him. When Carroll County was formed on 19 January 1837, Taneytown Hundred and Taneytown were included.

Much of the town was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Taneytown Historic District in 1986.

Taneytown was the first town in Maryland to make English the official language. This action was primarily sponsored by the local branch of the Ku Klux Klan.

There is a Steve Earle song called "Taneytown" on his album El Corazon.

Haunted Barn

Every October since 1974 the Taneytown Jaycees organize a Halloween event called "The Haunted Barn". This is a haunted house tour through an old warehouse (the original barn location was destroyed by an arsonist in 1986) decorated for the event. The design of the tour changes every year but always ends with visitors being chased by masked attendants with chainsaws.

The town sought to close the Haunted Barn after an accident involving two teenaged visitors, one of whom was severely injured. The town decided that the site would be best used as a recreation center for children. The barn is no longer active.

Transportation

The primary means of travel to and from Taneytown is by road. Two primary highways serve the city, Maryland Route 140 and Maryland Route 194. MD 140 follows Baltimore Street through central Taneytown. From the city, MD 140 continues eastward to Westminster and Baltimore, while to the west it traverses Emmitsburg before entering Pennsylvania. MD 194 follows Frederick Street and York Street through the city. From Taneytown, MD 194 continues north to Pennsylvania, while heading south, it proceeds into the Frederick area.

Notable people

Taneytown was home to Fr. Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, Catholic priest, missionary, and Russian prince during the late 18th century.

Taneytown was the headquarters of Union Army General George Meade for a period during the American Civil War. Fellow Civil War general Jacob G. Lauman was born in Taneytown.

Congressman Joseph A. Goulden of New York was from a family with a house in Taneytown, where he usually stayed during the summer. Goulden was present in Gettysburg when Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, and Goulden heard the speech in person.

Actor Fred Gwynne, star of TV's The Munsters, died in Taneytown on July 2, 1993, after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Explorer Rogers Birnie was born in Taneytown in 1851. Shortly after his birth his family moved to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.