Cecil County, Maryland

Cecil County is a county located in the U.S. State of Maryland. As of 2000, the population is 85,951. It was named for Cecil(ius) Calvert, second Lord Baltimore (1605-1675), founder of the Maryland Colony, who was Proprietor of the colony from 1632 until his death in Middlesex, England in 1675. Its county seat is Elkton.

Table of contents 1 Law and Government 1.1 County Executive 2 History 3 Geography 4 Demographics 5 Cities and Towns

Law and Government Cecil County is still governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland.

County Executive

The county commissioners exercise such executive powers as exist in the government of the county.

History Cecil County was created in 1674 by proclamation of the Governor. It was created from portions of Baltimore and Kent Counties.

Geography Cecil County is in the extreme northeast corner of Maryland, south of the Pennsylvania line and west of the Delaware line. The County includes eight municipalities, all classified as towns under Maryland law:

1. Cecilton (incorporated 1864)
2. Charlestown (incorporated 1742)
3. Chesapeake City (incorporated 1849)
4. Elkton (incorporated 1787)
5. North East (incorporated 1849)
6. Perryville (incorporated 1882)
7. Port Deposit (incorporated 1824)
8. Rising Sun (incorporated 1860)

The United States Census Bureau recognizes no Census-Designated Places in Cecil County, which is unusual for Maryland counties, which usually have many unincorporated population centers.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,082 km² (418 mi²). 902 km² (348 mi²) of it is land and 181 km² (70 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 16.69% water.

Demographics As of the census of 2000, there are 85,951 people, 31,223 households, and 23,292 families residing in the county. The population density is 95/km² (247/mi²). There are 34,461 housing units at an average density of 38/km² (99/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 93.39% White, 3.91% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 1.52% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 31,223 households out of which 37.00% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% are married couples living together, 11.10% have a female householder with no husband present, and 25.40% are non-families. 19.90% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.10% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.71 and the average family size is 3.12.

In the county the population is spread out with 27.70% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 31.20% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.50% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $50,510, and the median income for a family is $56,469. Males have a median income of $40,350 versus $28,646 for females. The per capita income for the county is $21,384. 7.20% of the population and 5.40% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 9.20% are under the age of 18 and 7.70% are 65 or older.

Cities and Towns

• Cecilton
• Charlestown
• Chesapeake City
• Elkton
• North East
• Perryville
• Port Deposit
• Rising Sun