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Located 25 miles south of Washington, D.C., Charles County has long been known for its pastoral farmlands, extensive waterfront, and rich historical and cultural heritages. Situated on a peninsula between the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers in Southern Maryland, Charles County contains unique environmental resources which include bountiful hardwood forests, rich estuaries, undisturbed natural areas, and wildlife.
Charles County was one of Maryland's least known counties until 1940, when the Potomac River Bridge was constructed and opened. No longer a sole destination, the opening of the bridge permitted north-south traffic to proceed through the county on US 301, and began a process of development that continues today.
Over the years, the county has grown into a community filled with diversity. The north/northwestern section of the county has been designated as the Development District and accommodates higher density suburban development, while the southern areas have retained the older rural and semi-rural development patterns.
Population
A look at the county's total population during each of the decennial census counts between the years 1790 (1st Census year) and 1940, reveals a relatively stable population ranging from 15,191 to 20,613 persons, averaging around 18,350 persons.
Since 1950, however, housing and commerce have both greatly expanded. Growth can be attributed to a number of factors. In particular, the county's proximity to Washington, D.C., and regional in-migration to the newer suburban areas such as Charles County. The County's relatively low tax rate, lower housing costs and its rural character also add to its appeal as a popular market. With a Census 2000 total population of 120,546, Charles County was the ninth fastest growing county in the state between the 1990 Census and Census 2000. This population count reflects an average annual growth rate of 1.77 percent during that 10-year period.
The county's population is expected to continue to grow at a rate of approximately 2.0 percent per year, reaching a total of 182,000 persons by the year 2020.
Housing
To accommodate its increasing population, numerous homes and developments have emerged throughout the county. The demands of the progressive growth and development have been appeased primarily with single-family housing units, town homes and multi-family developments. Growth has distributed itself most significantly in the county's development district, encompassing the Waldorf (sixth), Pomonkey (seventh), and portions of the La Plata (first) election districts.
Complimenting the increase in populations, housing units have almost doubled their number between the 1980 Census and Census 2000, increasing from 22,721 to a count of 43,903 at Census 2000. Residential permit issuances steadily increased through the nineties, reaching their peak in 1998 with a total of 1,454 permits issued for new residential structures during that year.
With a current housing unit total of 43,903, Charles County anticipates the number of housing units will near 60,000 by the year 2010.
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Income
Median household income (Census 2000) for Charles County surpasses the state's median household income by 18 percent, and ranks the county as the fourth highest in the state. Median household income during Census 2000 was recorded at $62,199, representing a 3.25 percent increase over the 1990 Census figure.
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