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Bladensburg is a town in
Prince George's County ) , demonym = Prince Georgian , ZIP codes = 20607–20774 , area codes = 240, 301 , founded date = April 23 , founded year = 1696 , named for = Prince George of Denmark , leader_title = Executive , leader_name = Angela D. Alsobrooks ...
,
Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean t ...
. The population was 9,657 at the 2020 census. Areas in Bladensburg are located within ZIP code 20710. Bladensburg is from central
Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
.


History

Originally called Garrison's Landing, Bladensburg was renamed in honor of
Thomas Bladen Thomas Bladen (23 February 1698 – 2 February 1780) was a colonial governor in North America and politician who sat in the British House of Commons between 1727 and 1741. He served as the 19th Proprietary Governor of Maryland from 1742 to 1747. ...
, governor of Maryland, 1742–1747. Bladensburg was established in 1742 as a regional commercial center by an act of the
Maryland General Assembly The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland that convenes within the State House in Annapolis. It is a bicameral body: the upper chamber, the Maryland Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber ...
. The act also authorized the town commissioners to purchase of land to be laid out in lots. The act required that a house covering at least 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.


Port, war, and railroad (1740s–1830s)

With the establishment in 1747 of a government tobacco inspection system, Bladensburg became a designated
tobacco Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...
inspection and grading port. The Market Master's House is evidence of that role. The town was a
seaport A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as ...
during the colonial period. Bladensburg is best remembered for the Battle of Bladensburg (1814) during the
War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It be ...
, the only battle in US history in which a sitting president (
James Madison James Madison Jr. (March 16, 1751June 28, 1836) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father. He served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for h ...
) rode into battle. US defeat in that battle, called "the greatest disgrace ever dealt to American arms", cleared the way for the burning of
Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
by British troops. Its role as a seaport faded as the
Anacostia River The Anacostia River is a river in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States. It flows from Prince George's County in Maryland into Washington, D.C., where it joins with the Washington Channel to empty into the Potomac River at Buzzard Poin ...
silt Silt is granular material of a size between sand and clay and composed mostly of broken grains of quartz. Silt may occur as a soil (often mixed with sand or clay) or as sediment mixed in suspension with water. Silt usually has a floury feel ...
ed up and larger ships could no longer reach the port. However, the town remained an important crossroads of routes north to
Baltimore Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore was ...
and
Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...
, south and east to the towns of
Annapolis Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east ...
and Upper Marlboro, and west to the District of Columbia. The original terminus of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was the first common carrier railroad and the oldest railroad in the United States, with its first section opening in 1830. Merchants from Baltimore, which had benefited to some extent from the construction of ...
was Bladensburg, forcing all passengers intended for Washington to board carriages 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.


1840s–present

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 was reachable by the Washington, Spa Spring and Gretta Railroad. Another attraction was the
Bladensburg Dueling Grounds Bladensburg Dueling Grounds is a small spit of land, a fraction of its original size, along Dueling Creek, formerly in the town of Bladensburg, Maryland, and now within the town of Colmar Manor, just to the northeast of Washington, D.C. ...
or
Dueling Creek Dueling Creek is a tributary of the Anacostia River in southern Maryland in the United States, located in the town of Colmar Manor. The Bladensburg Dueling Grounds on the creek was a favorite spot for duels in the 19th Century, and was the site o ...
, the site of many famous duels until after the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and t ...
. The town was incorporated in 1854. Schools and churches were constructed, including the first
Freedmen's Bureau The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, usually referred to as simply the Freedmen's Bureau, was an agency of early Reconstruction, assisting freedmen in the South. It was established on March 3, 1865, and operated briefly as a ...
school for
African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
s 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. After a history major flooding, the Army Corps of Engineers implemented a flood control system around this time that altered the course of the Anacostia River and added levees. 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 partial list of historic sites in Bladensburg identified by the
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is a bi-county agency that administers parks and planning in Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland. History The commission was formed in 1927 by the Maryland G ...
: Bladensburg is also the site of the Peace Cross, a
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
memorial at the center of a 2019 Supreme Court case American Legion v. American Humanist Association, which allowed the landmark to remain as a state-maintained monument.


Geography

Bladensburg is located at (38.941428, −76.930053). According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...
, the town has a total area of , of which is land and is water. The community is home to the "Bladensburg Waterfront Park" at the
confluence In geography, a confluence (also: ''conflux'') occurs where two or more flowing bodies of water join to form a single channel. A confluence can occur in several configurations: at the point where a tributary joins a larger river (main stem); o ...
of the Northeast Branch and Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River.


Bordering areas

* Edmonston (northwest) * Hyattsville (northwest) * Rogers Heights (northeast) * Riverdale (northeast) * Cottage City (southwest) * Colmar Manor (southwest) * Cheverly (southeast) *
Tuxedo Black tie is a semi-formal Western dress code for evening events, originating in British and American conventions for attire in the 19th century. In British English, the dress code is often referred to synecdochically by its principal element ...
(south) * Woodlawn (east) *
Landover Hills Landover Hills is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 1,815. The town has a neighborhood named Defense Heights. History Landover Hills was incorporated in 1945. Geography Landover Hi ...
(east)


Demographics


2020 census

''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.''


2010 census

As of the
census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...
of 2010, there were 9,148 people, 3,542 households, and 1,960 families living in the town. The
population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...
was . There were 3,826 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 12.6%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...
, 65.6%
African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.5% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 16.6% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
or Latino of any race were 26.9% of the population. There were 3,542 households, of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.7% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...
living together, 22.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.7% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.39. The median age in the town was 31.5 years. 26.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 11% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 32.7% were from 25 to 44; 20.3% were from 45 to 64; and 9.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.


2000 census

As of the
census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...
of 2000, there were 7,661 people, 3,121 households, and 1,719 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 3,443 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 16.42%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...
, 70.92%
African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.34% Native American, 2.52% Asian, 0.05%
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...
, 6.87% from other races, and 2.88% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
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 Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...
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 Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...
for the town was $17,046. About 7.5% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, 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 Elementary established an
English as a second language English as a second or foreign language is the use of English by speakers with different native languages. Language education for people learning English may be known as English as a second language (ESL), English as a foreign language (EFL ...
(ESOL) program years prior to 2004. By that year about 33% of the students were designated as ESOL. As of that year special ESOL teachers visit classrooms and provide support to regular teachers. * Port Towns Elementary School * Rogers Heights Elementary School * Templeton Elementary School The zoned middle school is William Wirt Middle School.
Bladensburg High School Bladensburg High School is a public high school located in Bladensburg, Maryland, United States. The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Prince George's County Public Schools district. The school serves: the towns of Bl ...
is the sole zoned high school of the town. International High School at Langley Park: a special high school for students who are new immigrants to the United States.


Private schools

Elizabeth Seton High School Elizabeth Seton High School is a private, all-girls Roman Catholic high school in Bladensburg, Maryland, United States. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. Elizabeth Seton High School was established on March 15, 1957, ...
, a private high school, is located in Bladensburg.


Transportation

Several major surface roads serve Bladensburg. U.S. Route 1 Alternate is the only U.S. Highway serving the town. It follows Baltimore Avenue along a northeast-southwest alignment on the west edge of town. Major state routes serving Bladensburg include
Maryland Route 201 Maryland Route 201 (MD 201) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Kenilworth Avenue, the highway runs from the District of Columbia boundary in Tuxedo, where the highway continues south as District of ...
, which follows Kenilworth Avenue on a general north-south alignment, and
Maryland Route 450 Maryland Route 450 (MD 450) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from U.S. Route 1 Alternate (US 1 Alternate) in Bladensburg east to US 50, US 301, and MD 2 near Arnold. MD 450 forms a local complement ...
, which follows Annapolis Road on an east-west route.
Maryland Route 202 Maryland Route 202 (MD 202) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The highway runs from MD 725 in Upper Marlboro north to MD 450 in Bladensburg. MD 202 connects the central Prince George's County communities of Bladensburg, C ...
reaches its northern terminus at MD 450 in Bladensburg, while Maryland Route 769 follows the old alignment of MD 201 along minor surface roads through town. The nearest freeway is the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, which passes just east of the town limits.


Government

Prince George's County Police Department District 1 Station in Hyattsville serves Bladensburg. The
United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the ...
operates the Bladensburg Post Office.BLADENSBURG
"
United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the ...
. Retrieved on September 11, 2018. "4921 TILDEN RD BLADENSBURG, MD 20710-9998"


Notable people

* Caleb T. Bailey, born in Bladensburg in 1898; Brigadier general, USMC * Robert M. Wright, born in Bladensburg in 1840; one of the founders of Dodge City,
Kansas Kansas () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its Capital city, capital is Topeka, Kansas, Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita, Kansas, Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebras ...


References


External links

* {{authority control * Towns in Maryland Washington metropolitan area Towns in Prince George's County, Maryland Populated places established in 1742 1742 establishments in Maryland