Worcester County, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Worcester County
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
George Washington Purnell House
|
|||
|
|||
Location within the U.S. state of Maryland
|
|||
 Maryland's location within the U.S. |
|||
| Country |  United States |
||
| State |  Maryland |
||
| Founded | 1742 | ||
| Named for | Family of Marquess of Worcester | ||
| Seat | Snow Hill | ||
| Largest community | Ocean Pines | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 695 sq mi (1,800 km2) | ||
| • Land | 468 sq mi (1,210 km2) | ||
| • Water | 227 sq mi (590 km2) 33% | ||
| Population
(2020)
|
|||
| • Total | 52,460  |
||
| • Density | 75/sq mi (29/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 1st | ||
Worcester County is the county farthest to the east in the state of Maryland. In 2020, about 52,460 people lived here. Its main town, or county seat, is Snow Hill. This county is part of the Lower Eastern Shore area of Maryland.
It's special because it's the only county in Maryland that touches the Atlantic Ocean. It also borders both Delaware and Virginia. The county was named after Mary Arundell. She was the wife of Sir John Somerset, whose father was the first Marquess of Worcester.
Worcester County is part of the Salisbury area. It includes all of Maryland's ocean coast. This coast has many bays like Assawoman Bay and Chincoteague Bay. These bays are protected by sandy islands such as Fenwick Island and Assateague Island. The county is home to the popular beach town of Ocean City. It also has wild natural areas on Assateague Island and in the Pocomoke River swamp.
Contents
History of Worcester County
Worcester County was formed in 1742. It was created by dividing a larger area called Somerset County. The county seat, or main town, was moved to Snow Hill. This town is located on the Pocomoke River.
Early Land Divisions and Borders
In the past, areas like Worcester County were divided into "hundreds." These were old colonial land sections. Later, these hundreds became election districts. There were also arguments over land borders between Maryland and Pennsylvania. These arguments were finally settled by the famous "Mason–Dixon line" survey.
Important People and Early Life
In 1779, Stephen Decatur was born near Berlin. He became a famous officer in the United States Navy. He was a hero in early American wars.
European settlers from Britain and Ireland came to Worcester County. They also brought enslaved people from West Africa. Many free people of color lived in the county before the American Civil War. This was partly due to groups like the Quakers and Methodists. Worcester County had a strong movement against slavery.
Farming and Industries Grow
At first, people in Worcester County grew tobacco. But the soil wasn't great for it. So, they started growing wheat, corn, and raising animals. They also made iron from "bog iron" ore. Big cypress swamps along the Pocomoke River led to logging and shipbuilding.
When steam boats and railroads arrived, it helped the seafood industry. Oysters, clams, and crabs were sent to big cities like Baltimore and New York. After the American Civil War, parts of Worcester and Somerset Counties formed Wicomico County in 1867. Also, the beach resort of Ocean City was founded.
Modern Times and Major Storms
In the early 1900s, growing vegetables and canning them became important. Later, the seafood and vegetable farming slowed down. But then, the large-scale poultry industry grew. Ocean City has also grown a lot since the 1960s. It is now a year-round community.
Two big storms changed Worcester County's history. A hurricane in 1933 damaged Ocean City. But it also created the Ocean City Inlet, a waterway to the ocean. The "Ash Wednesday" storm in 1962 destroyed many homes on Assateague Island. This led to the creation of the Assateague Island National Seashore.
Many historic places in the county are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography of Worcester County
Worcester County covers about 695 square miles. About 468 square miles are land, and 227 square miles (33%) are water. It is the second-largest county in Maryland by total area.
The land is mostly flat and near the coast. The lowest point is sea level along the Atlantic Ocean. The highest point is about 49 feet high in the northwest part of the county.
Protected Natural Areas
- Assateague Island National Seashore (part of it)
- Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (part of it)
Neighboring Counties
- Accomack County, Virginia (south)
- Somerset County (west)
- Sussex County, Delaware (north)
- Wicomico County (northwest)
Climate and Weather
Worcester County has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. Most months have average temperatures above freezing.
| Climate data for Ocean City Beach, MD (1981-2010 Averages) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 77 (25) |
78 (26) |
88 (31) |
94 (34) |
98 (37) |
102 (39) |
103 (39) |
100 (38) |
99 (37) |
94 (34) |
84 (29) |
78 (26) |
103 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 44.3 (6.8) |
46.3 (7.9) |
53.3 (11.8) |
62.1 (16.7) |
71.0 (21.7) |
79.9 (26.6) |
84.4 (29.1) |
83.2 (28.4) |
77.6 (25.3) |
68.0 (20.0) |
58.4 (14.7) |
48.6 (9.2) |
64.8 (18.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 36.7 (2.6) |
38.5 (3.6) |
45.0 (7.2) |
53.8 (12.1) |
62.7 (17.1) |
72.0 (22.2) |
77.0 (25.0) |
75.7 (24.3) |
69.9 (21.1) |
59.5 (15.3) |
50.2 (10.1) |
41.1 (5.1) |
56.9 (13.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 29.1 (−1.6) |
30.8 (−0.7) |
36.7 (2.6) |
45.4 (7.4) |
54.4 (12.4) |
64.2 (17.9) |
69.5 (20.8) |
68.3 (20.2) |
62.1 (16.7) |
50.9 (10.5) |
42.1 (5.6) |
33.6 (0.9) |
49.0 (9.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −6 (−21) |
−2 (−19) |
8 (−13) |
22 (−6) |
30 (−1) |
40 (4) |
45 (7) |
41 (5) |
31 (−1) |
22 (−6) |
15 (−9) |
−2 (−19) |
−6 (−21) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.19 (81) |
2.67 (68) |
3.61 (92) |
3.02 (77) |
3.10 (79) |
3.18 (81) |
3.32 (84) |
3.87 (98) |
3.02 (77) |
3.17 (81) |
2.96 (75) |
3.21 (82) |
38.32 (973) |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 68.8 | 68.4 | 63.9 | 66.0 | 71.4 | 74.4 | 74.8 | 76.3 | 74.7 | 72.9 | 71.1 | 69.5 | 71.0 |
| Average dew point °F (°C) | 27.4 (−2.6) |
29.0 (−1.7) |
33.5 (0.8) |
42.7 (5.9) |
53.3 (11.8) |
63.4 (17.4) |
68.4 (20.2) |
67.7 (19.8) |
61.5 (16.4) |
50.8 (10.4) |
41.2 (5.1) |
31.9 (−0.1) |
47.7 (8.7) |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: PRISM | |||||||||||||
Transportation in Worcester County
Freight trains run from Snow Hill north to Berlin. The main train line also goes through the southwest part of the county. The Ocean City Municipal Airport is nearby, but it doesn't have regular passenger flights. The closest airport with commercial flights is near Salisbury.
Public buses are available through Shore Transit. They connect towns like Pocomoke City, Snow Hill, Berlin, and Ocean City. Ocean City Transportation runs bus service called Beach Bus in Ocean City. During summer, you can even take a bus from Ocean City to the Delaware Beaches.
Main Roads in the County
US 13
US 50
US 113
US 113 Bus.
MD 12
MD 90
MD 346
MD 354
MD 367
MD 371
MD 374
MD 376
MD 377
MD 452
MD 528
MD 575
MD 589
MD 610
MD 611
MD 707
MD 756
MD 818
People of Worcester County
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 11,640 | — | |
| 1800 | 16,370 | 40.6% | |
| 1810 | 16,971 | 3.7% | |
| 1820 | 17,421 | 2.7% | |
| 1830 | 18,273 | 4.9% | |
| 1840 | 18,377 | 0.6% | |
| 1850 | 18,859 | 2.6% | |
| 1860 | 20,661 | 9.6% | |
| 1870 | 16,419 | −20.5% | |
| 1880 | 19,539 | 19.0% | |
| 1890 | 19,747 | 1.1% | |
| 1900 | 20,865 | 5.7% | |
| 1910 | 21,841 | 4.7% | |
| 1920 | 22,309 | 2.1% | |
| 1930 | 21,624 | −3.1% | |
| 1940 | 21,245 | −1.8% | |
| 1950 | 23,148 | 9.0% | |
| 1960 | 23,733 | 2.5% | |
| 1970 | 24,442 | 3.0% | |
| 1980 | 30,889 | 26.4% | |
| 1990 | 35,028 | 13.4% | |
| 2000 | 46,543 | 32.9% | |
| 2010 | 51,454 | 10.6% | |
| 2020 | 52,460 | 2.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 54,171 | 5.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 2020 |
|||
Population in 2020
In 2020, the county had 52,460 people. Most people were White (78.88%). Black or African American people made up 11.75% of the population. People of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.96%.
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 41,331 | 41,383 | 80.33% | 78.88% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 6,973 | 6,166 | 13.55% | 11.75% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 126 | 87 | 0.24% | 0.17% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 569 | 739 | 1.11% | 1.41% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 10 | 5 | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 78 | 166 | 0.15% | 0.32% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 745 | 1,836 | 1.45% | 3.50% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,622 | 2,078 | 3.15% | 3.96% |
| Total | 51,454 | 52,460 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 51,454 people living in Worcester County. The average age was 48.1 years old. The median income for a household was $55,487. This means half of the households earned more, and half earned less. About 10.1% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Education in Worcester County
The Worcester County Public Schools system manages several schools. These schools are overseen by the Worcester County Board of Education.
Public Schools
- Showell Elementary School
- Buckingham Elementary School
- Ocean City Elementary School
- Snow Hill Elementary School
- Pocomoke Elementary School
- Berlin Intermediate School
- Stephen Decatur Middle School
- Snow Hill Middle School
- Pocomoke Middle School
- Stephen Decatur High School
- Snow Hill High School
- Pocomoke High School
- Worcester Technical High School
- Cedar Chapel Special School
Worcester Technical High School opened in 2008. It offers technical training to all county residents.
Private Schools
- Worcester Preparatory School
- Seaside Christian Academy
- Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School
- Snow Hill Mennonite School
- The Tidewater School by the Sea
Communities in Worcester County
Worcester County has several towns and cities.
Cities
Towns
- Berlin
- Ocean City
- Snow Hill (This is the county seat)
Census-Designated Places (CDPs)
These are areas that the Census Bureau defines for statistics. They are not officially incorporated towns.
Other Communities
These are smaller, unincorporated communities.
- Boxiron
- Cedartown
- Friendship
- Germantown
- Goodwill
- Ironshire
- Klej Grange
- Nassawango Hills
- Public Landing
- Showell
- Sinepuxent
- South Point
- Taylorville
- Whiton (partly in Wicomico County)
Notable Residents
- Spiro Agnew, a former Vice President of the United States.
- Fannie Birckhead, a community leader.
- Janeen L. Birckhead, a military officer.
- Stephen Decatur, a famous naval officer.
- Linda Harrison, an actress.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Worcester (Maryland) para niños
