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Dorchester County, Maryland

Coordinates: 38°25′N 76°05′W / 38.42°N 76.08°W / 38.42; -76.08
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38°25′N 76°05′W / 38.42°N 76.08°W / 38.42; -76.08

Dorchester County
County
Dorchester County Courthouse and Jail
Dorchester County Courthouse and Jail
Flag of Dorchester County
Flag
Official seal of Dorchester County
Seal
Map of Maryland highlighting Dorchester County
Location within the U.S. state of Maryland
Map of the United States highlighting Maryland
Maryland's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°25′N 76°05′W / 38.42°N 76.08°W / 38.42; -76.08
Country United States
State Maryland
Founded1669
Named forEarl of Dorset
SeatCambridge
Largest cityCambridge
Area
 • Total
983 sq mi (2,550 km2)
 • Land541 sq mi (1,400 km2)
 • Water442 sq mi (1,140 km2)  45%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
32,531
 • Density60.13/sq mi (23.22/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.dorchestercountymd.com

Dorchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. At the 2020 census, the population was 32,531.[1] Its county seat is Cambridge.[2][3] The county was formed in 1669 and named for the Earl of Dorset, a family friend of the Calverts (the founding family of the Maryland colony).[4] The county is part of the Mid-Eastern Shore region of the state.

Dorchester County comprises the Cambridge, MD Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Salisbury-Cambridge, MD-DE Combined Statistical Area.

Dorchester County is the largest county by total area in Maryland. It is bordered by the Choptank River to the north, Talbot County to the northwest, Caroline County to the northeast, Wicomico County to the southeast, Sussex County, Delaware, to the east, and the Chesapeake Bay to the west. Dorchester County uses the slogan, "The Heart of Chesapeake Country", due to its geographical location and the heart-like shape of the county on a map.

History

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Many residents of Dorchester County have historically been watermen and farmers. The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries provide harvests of crabs, oysters and many fish species to both commercial and recreational fishermen. Dorchester County was the birthplace of Harriet Tubman, who escaped from slavery and afterward worked to guide other refugee slaves to freedom in the North.[5]

Dorchester County has been hit by two deadly tornadoes. The first occurred on June 23, 1944, in Cambridge, where two people were killed and 33 were injured. The other was on May 8, 1984, in Hurlock, where one death and six injuries were reported.[6] Both storms caused between 500,000 and 5 million dollars of damage.[7][8]

Politics, government and law

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Dorchester County operates under the charter home rule form of government, and the affairs of the county are managed by five county council members. Each is elected from a single-member district defined within the county. Meetings of the county council are held weekly. The agenda and the minutes of each week's proceedings are public record.[9]

In earlier times, unlike highly secessionist Wicomico, Worcester, Queen Anne's and Cecil counties,[10] Dorchester was a swing county in the late 19th century due to the voting power of its freedman population, who strongly supported the Republican Party. The conservative whites voted Democratic for William Jennings Bryan in 1908, after Maryland had passed laws raising barriers to voter registration among blacks, resulting in a dramatic drop in their voting until after passage of civil rights legislation in the 1960s.[11]

The white population of Dorchester has historically voted very conservatively. Along with rock-ribbed Unionist Garrett County, located in Appalachia, its white majority was one of only two Maryland counties to vote for Barry Goldwater in 1964. During the following election, Dorchester was the only county in the state where the segregationist George Wallace outpolled either Nixon or Humphrey. In the late 20th century, white conservatives in the South shifted from the Democratic to the Republican Party. Since then the only Democratic presidential nominee to carry Dorchester County was southern native son Bill Clinton in 1996.

The county has trended less conservative in recent years, with Democrat Barack Obama coming within five percentage points of beating Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election; Obama won nationally.

Voter registration

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Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024[12]
Democratic 9,521 40.78%
Republican 9,229 39.53%
Unaffiliated 4,221 18.08%
Libertarian 115 0.49%
Other parties 262 1.12%
Total 23,348 100%
United States presidential election results for Dorchester County, Maryland[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 9,390 55.99% 6,954 41.46% 428 2.55%
2020 8,764 54.85% 6,857 42.92% 356 2.23%
2016 8,413 55.26% 6,245 41.02% 567 3.72%
2012 7,976 51.64% 7,257 46.99% 211 1.37%
2008 8,168 53.48% 6,912 45.25% 194 1.27%
2004 7,801 58.48% 5,411 40.57% 127 0.95%
2000 5,847 51.33% 5,232 45.93% 313 2.75%
1996 4,337 43.14% 4,613 45.88% 1,104 10.98%
1992 4,934 45.03% 3,933 35.89% 2,090 19.07%
1988 6,343 62.55% 3,709 36.58% 88 0.87%
1984 6,699 67.12% 3,160 31.66% 122 1.22%
1980 5,160 48.91% 4,908 46.52% 482 4.57%
1976 4,768 51.29% 4,528 48.71% 0 0.00%
1972 6,859 74.97% 2,136 23.35% 154 1.68%
1968 4,183 41.36% 2,714 26.83% 3,217 31.81%
1964 5,327 53.86% 4,564 46.14% 0 0.00%
1960 4,626 48.24% 4,964 51.76% 0 0.00%
1956 5,809 60.88% 3,733 39.12% 0 0.00%
1952 5,524 52.61% 4,823 45.94% 152 1.45%
1948 3,751 44.92% 4,507 53.97% 93 1.11%
1944 4,241 47.10% 4,764 52.90% 0 0.00%
1940 3,953 39.03% 6,088 60.11% 87 0.86%
1936 3,735 41.32% 5,293 58.56% 11 0.12%
1932 3,466 43.05% 4,547 56.47% 39 0.48%
1928 6,333 74.20% 2,180 25.54% 22 0.26%
1924 3,356 50.76% 3,047 46.08% 209 3.16%
1920 4,218 51.38% 3,950 48.11% 42 0.51%
1916 2,468 46.39% 2,750 51.69% 102 1.92%
1912 2,387 44.79% 2,509 47.08% 433 8.13%
1908 2,627 47.89% 2,769 50.48% 89 1.62%
1904 2,680 55.04% 2,087 42.86% 102 2.09%
1900 3,366 53.93% 2,733 43.78% 143 2.29%
1896 3,048 52.24% 2,638 45.21% 149 2.55%
1892 2,365 51.45% 2,015 43.83% 217 4.72%

Law enforcement

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The county is policed by the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office (DSO), the Maryland State Police, and the DNR Police. The DSO is a full service agency, headed by Sheriff James W. Phillips Jr. since December 2002.[14][15]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 983 square miles (2,550 km2), of which 541 square miles (1,400 km2) is land and 442 square miles (1,140 km2) (45%) is water.[16] It is the largest county in Maryland by area.

Climate

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Dorchester has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) according to the Köppen climate classification. The Trewartha climate classification has only the area near the bay as Cf and the remainder of the county as oceanic (Do.) Average monthly temperatures in Cambridge range from 36.1 °F in January to 78.4 °F in July.[17]

Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179015,875—
180016,3463.0%
181018,10810.8%
182017,759−1.9%
183018,6865.2%
184018,8430.8%
185018,8770.2%
186020,4618.4%
187019,458−4.9%
188023,11018.8%
189024,8437.5%
190027,96212.6%
191028,6692.5%
192027,895−2.7%
193026,813−3.9%
194028,0064.4%
195027,815−0.7%
196029,6666.7%
197029,405−0.9%
198030,6234.1%
199030,236−1.3%
200030,6741.4%
201032,6186.3%
202032,531−0.3%
2023 (est.)32,879[18]1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[19]
1790-1960[20] 1900-1990[21]
1990-2000[22] 2010–2018[23]

Dorchester County is sparsely populated and is the least densely populated county in Maryland. The largest town is Cambridge with a population of 12,326 as of the 2010 census. Much of this county is made up of marshlands, forest, and farmland.

2000 census

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At the 2000 census,[24] there were 30,674 people, 12,706 households and 8,500 families residing in the county. The population density was 55 per square mile (21/km2). There were 14,681 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 69.45% White, 28.39% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 1.26% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.1% were of American, 12.7% English, 9.8% German and 8.2% Irish ancestry.

There were 12,706 households, of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.50% were married couples living together, 15.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.10% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.86.

23.30% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 89.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.40 males.

The median household income was $34,077 and the median family income was $41,917. Males had a median income of $29,014 and females $22,284. The per capita income was $18,929. 13.80% of the population and 10.10% of families were below the poverty line. 18.10% of those under the age of 18 and 14.20% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.[25]

2010 census

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At the 2010 United States census, there were 32,618 people, 13,522 households and 8,894 families residing in the county.[26] The population density was 60.3 inhabitants per square mile (23.3/km2). There were 16,554 housing units at an average density of 30.6 per square mile (11.8/km2).[27] The racial makeup of the county was 67.6% white, 27.7% black or African American, 0.9% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.4% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population.[26] In terms of ancestry, 17.0% were American, 13.9% were English, 11.4% were German, and 11.1% were Irish.[28]

Of the 13,522 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.2% were non-families, and 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 43.3 years.[26]

The median household income was $45,151 and the median family income was $56,662. Males had a median income of $40,814 and females $30,184. The per capita income was $25,139. About 9.5% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.[29] In 2010, the racial makeup of the county was 66.16% Non-Hispanic whites, 27.70% blacks, 0.34% Native Americans, 0.92% Asians, 0.03% Pacific Islanders, 0.09% Non-Hispanics from some other race, 1.64% Non-Hispanics reporting two or more races and 3.64% Hispanic or Latino.

Education

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Public schools

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  • Dorchester County School of Technology
  • Choptank Elementary School
  • Hurlock Elementary School
  • Maple Elementary School
  • Sandy Hill Elementary School
  • South Dorchester K-8
  • Vienna Elementary School
  • Warwick Elementary School
  • Mace's Lane Middle School
  • North Dorchester Middle School
  • Cambridge South Dorchester High School
  • North Dorchester High School

Media

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The local newspapers are The Dorchester Banner and The Dorchester Star (a free, weekly publication). A regional newspaper, The Star Democrat, serves several counties on the Mid-Shore, including Dorchester.

Dorchester County is included in the coverage area of local television stations WBOC, WMDT and WRDE-LD. It also receives coverage from television stations based in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. It is also by a local LPFM radio station, WHCP-LP (101.5FM), operated by the locally based non-profit Cambridge Community Radio, Inc.

Communities

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City

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Non-census designated places

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Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Dorchester County, Maryland". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  2. ^ Dorchester County, Maryland - Government. Msa.maryland.gov. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 108.
  5. ^ Footner, Hulbert, Maryland Man and the Eastern Shore
  6. ^ "The Most 'Important' US Tornadoes by State". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2006.
  7. ^ Library, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  8. ^ May 8, 1984, Tornado History Project
  9. ^ "Overview". Dorchester County Government. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  10. ^ Levine, Mark V.; "Standing Political Decisions and Critical Realignment: The Pattern of Maryland Politics, 1872-1948", The Journal of Politics, volume 38, no. 2, May 1976, pp. 292-325
  11. ^ Menendez, Albert J., The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, pp. 220-221 ISBN 0786422173
  12. ^ "Maryland Board of Elections Voter Registration Activity Report March 2024" (PDF). Maryland Board of Elections. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  14. ^ "Sheriff James W. Phillips, Jr". Dorchester County Sheriff's Office. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  15. ^ "James W. Phillips, Jr., Sheriff, Dorchester County, Maryland". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. September 29, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  16. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  17. ^ "PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University".
  18. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  19. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  20. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  21. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  22. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
  23. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 1, 2011. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  24. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  25. ^ Dorchester County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau Archived July 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  26. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  27. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  28. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  29. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
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