Bladensburg

Bladensburg, Maryland
Location of Bladensburg, Maryland
Coordinates: 38°56′29″N 76°55′48″W / 38.94139°N 76.93°W / 38.94139; -76.93
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Prince George's
Area
- Total	1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2)
- Land	1.0 sq mi (2.6 km2)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	52 ft (16 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	7,661
- Density	7,766.1/sq mi (2,998.5/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	20710
Area code(s)	301
FIPS code	24-07850
GNIS feature ID	0597086

Bladensburg is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States.^[1] The population was 7,661 at the 2000 census.

Bladensburg is 8.65 miles (13.92 km) from central Washington, DC. Areas in Bladensburg have the ZIP code 20710.

Bordering areas

• Edmonston (north)
• Hyattsville (northwest)
• Cottage City (southwest)
• Colmar Manor (southwest)

History

Originally called Garrison’s Landing, Bladensburg was renamed in honor of Thomas Bladen, governor of Maryland, 1742–1747. Bladensburg was established in 1742 as a regional commercial center by an Act of the Maryland General Assembly. The Act also authorized the town commissioners to purchase 60 acres (240,000 m²) of land to be laid out in one-acre lots. The Act required that a house covering at least 400 square feet (37 m²) of ground with a brick or stone chimney be constructed within 18 months of the sale of the lot. As of 6 June 1746, only 18 of the lots had been improved according to the stipulations of the act. Christopher Lowndes' house, Bostwick, and those built by David Ross and William Hilleary (the William Hilleary House) were among them.^[2] With the establishment in 1747 of a government tobacco inspection system, Bladensburg became a designated tobacco inspection and grading port.

A seaport during the colonial period, Bladensburg is best remembered for the Battle of Bladensburg (1814) during the War of 1812, which cleared the way for the burning of Washington by British troops. Its role as a seaport faded as the Anacostia River silted up and larger ships could no longer reach the port.

However, the town remained an important crossroads of routes north to Baltimore and Philadelphia, south and east to the towns of Annapolis and Upper Marlboro, and west to the District of Columbia. The original terminus of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was Bladensburg, forcing all passengers intended for Washington to board carriages in Bladensburg to continue on into the city. A sharp decline of passengers was experienced in Bladensburg when an extension of the B&O was permitted into the District of Columbia in 1835.^[3][4]

Bladensburg remained a small town throughout the rest of the 19th century with modest development and infrastructure improvements. A major attraction in Bladensburg from the 18th century through the 20th century was the Spa Springs. Thought to be a cure for various illnesses, the springs attracted visitors from throughout the region and reachable by the Washington, Spa Spring and Gretta Railroad. Another attraction was the Dueling Grounds, the site of many famous duels until after the American Civil War. The town was incorporated in 1854. Schools and churches were constructed, including the first Freedmen’s Bureau school for African-Americans in 1866. The town experienced its most significant growth in the early 20th century with the construction of the first two residential sections of the town in 1914 and 1917. Named Decatur Heights, the subdivisions had gridded streets platted on the north and south sides of Annapolis Road. The town was enlarged again in 1947 by the Sunnybrook subdivision. The mid to late 20th century brought additional residential construction in the form of single-family houses and apartment complexes, as well as the construction of the Bladensburg Shopping Center.^[3]

In 1999, Bladensburg, Colmar Manor, and Cottage City were lauded by the Joint Center for Sustainable Communities for their collaboration with Prince George's County for the Port Towns Revitalization Initiative, which created a common Port Towns identity for the towns; encouraged businesses development through infrastructure and façade improvements; acquisition of historic properties and plans for their reuse; and reconstruction of the Bladensburg waterfront and marina.

Historic sites

The following is a list of historic sites in Bladensburg identified by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission:^[5]

	Site name	Image	Location	M-NCPPC Inventory Number	Comment
1	Bostwick		3901 48th St.	69-005-09	Added to the National Register of Historic Places, 1975-08-19
2	George Washington House		Baltimore Ave. at Upshur St.	69-005-02	Added to the National Register of Historic Places, 1974-08-07
3	Hilltop Manor		4100-4112, 4200-4214 53rd Ave., 4100-4210 53rd Pl., & 5300-5304 Annapolis Rd.	n/a	Added to the National Register of Historic Places, 2007-12-21
4	Market Master's House		4006 48th St.	69-005-08	Added to the National Register of Historic Places, 1990-03-29
5	St. Paul’s Baptist Church		4107 47th Street	69-005-06
6	William Hilleary House or Hilleary-Magruder House		4703 Annapolis Rd.	69-005-07	Added to the National Register of Historic Places, 1978-07-20

Property taxes

Property Tax Information

Geography

Bladensburg is located at 38°56′29″N 76°55′48″W / 38.94139°N 76.93°W / 38.94139; -76.93 (38.941428, -76.930053)^[6].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²), of which, 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²) of it is land and 1.00% is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[7] of 2000, there were 7,661 people, 3,121 households, and 1,719 families residing in the town. The population density was 7,766.1 people per square mile (2,987.8/km²). There were 3,443 housing units at an average density of 3,490.3/sq mi (1,342.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 16.42% White, 70.92% African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.52% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 6.87% from other races, and 2.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.07% of the population.

There were 3,121 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.8% were married couples living together, 20.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.9% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,966, and the median income for a family was $41,394. Males had a median income of $30,969 versus $28,538 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,046. About 7.5% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 21.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Bladensburg residents are zoned to schools in the Prince George's County Public Schools district.

Public elementary schools serving the town include:

• Bladensburg Elementary School (Bladensburg)
• Port Towns Elementary School (Bladensburg)
• Rogers Heights Elementary School (Bladensburg)
• Templeton Elementary School (Bladensburg)

William Wirt Middle School (Unincorporated Prince George's County) and Bladensburg High School serve Bladensburg.

Private schools

Elizabeth Seton High School, a private high school, is located in Bladensburg [1].

References

1. ^ USGS GNIS: Bladensburg, Maryland
2. ^ Bostwick, Prince George's County, Inventory No.: PG:69-2, including photo in 1997, at Maryland Historical Trust website
3. ^ ^{a b} "Community Summary Sheet, Prince George's County". Bladensburg, Maryland. Maryland State Highway Administration, 1999. 2008-05-10. http://www.sha.state.md.us/keepingcurrent/maintainRoadsBridges/bridges/oppe/suburbs/pg_co.pdf. 
4. ^ Denny, George D., Jr. Proud Past, Promising Future: Cities and Towns in Prince George's County. Brentwood, Maryland: Tuxedo Press, 1997.
5. ^ M-NCPPC Illustrated Inventory of Historic Sites (Prince George's County, Maryland), 2006.
6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 
7. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31. 

External links

• town website
• Bladensburg Archaeology Project

• Bladensburg, Maryland is at coordinates 38°56′29″N 76°55′48″W / 38.941428°N 76.930053°W / 38.941428; -76.930053 (Bladensburg, Maryland)Coordinates: 38°56′29″N 76°55′48″W / 38.941428°N 76.930053°W / 38.941428; -76.930053 (Bladensburg, Maryland)

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Prince George's County, Maryland County seat: Upper Marlboro Cities Bowie | College Park | District Heights | Glenarden | Greenbelt | Hyattsville | Laurel | Mount Rainier | New Carrollton | Seat Pleasant Towns Berwyn Heights | Bladensburg | Brentwood | Capitol Heights | Cheverly | Colmar Manor | Cottage City | Eagle Harbor | Edmonston | Fairmount Heights | Forest Heights | Landover Hills | Morningside | North Brentwood | Riverdale Park | University Park | Upper Marlboro CDPs Accokeek | Adelphi | Andrews Air Force Base | Beltsville | Brandywine | Calverton‡ | Camp Springs | Carmody Hills-Pepper Mill Village | Chillum | Clinton | Coral Hills | East Riverdale | Forestville | Fort Washington | Friendly | Glenn Dale | Goddard | Greater Landover | Greater Upper Marlboro | Hillandale‡ | Hillcrest Heights | Kettering | Lake Arbor | Langley Park | Lanham-Seabrook | Largo | Marlow Heights | Marlton | Mitchellville | Oxon Hill-Glassmanor | Rosaryville | South Laurel | Springdale | Suitland-Silver Hill | Temple Hills | Walker Mill | West Laurel | Woodlawn | Woodmore Other communities Aquasco | Ardmore | Avondale | Berwyn | Carmody Hills | Carole Highlands | Cedar Heights | Cheltenham | Collington | Croom | Danville | Glassmanor | Green Meadows | Indian Creek Village | Kentland | Landover | Lanham | Lewisdale | Meadows | Montpelier | Muirkirk | North College Park | North Englewood | Oxon Hill | Palmer Park | Pepper Mill Village | Piscataway | Rogers Heights | Seabrook | South Bowie | Tuxedo | Vansville | West Bowie | West Hyattsville Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties