Hampstead, Maryland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hampstead is a town in Carroll County, Maryland, United States. The population was 5,060 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Brief timeline of the history of Hampstead
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Hampstead is located at 39°36′37″N, 76°51′5″W (39.610303, -76.851493)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.9 km² (2.7 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 5,060 people, 1,787 households, and 1,327 families residing in the town. The population density was 729.0/km² (1,887.1/mi²). There were 1,851 housing units at an average density of 266.7/km² (690.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.79% White, 0.79% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.09% of the population.

There were 1,787 households out of which 50.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.32.

In the town the population was spread out with 34.7% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 39.5% from 25 to 44, 14.2% from 45 to 64, and 5.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $56,655, and the median income for a family was $62,460. Males had a median income of $45,000 versus $30,407 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,730. About 1.3% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Brief timeline of the history of Hampstead

1631 - King Charles I of England gives a portion of what is now known as Maryland to Lord Baltimore.
1680 - Christopher Gist marks a trail from Patapsco (Baltimore), to Le Tort (Carlisle, Pennsylvania) passing through what was to become Hampstead.
1720 - The trail evolves into a road.
1786 - Christopher Baughan maps out the town. Early settlers are disappointed to find no iron ore which they had expected, and became farmers instead.
Late 1700s - The road through Hampstead is improved. A stagecoach line runs on it between Baltimore and Carlisle.
1796 - Peter Frank turns the town's first building into a tavern and overnight lodging for guests. This was especially lucrative because the town was "swampy" and many travelers would get "bogged down" in it.
About 1800 - First one-room school house is built, where St. John's Methodist church stands today.
1837 - Carroll County is carved out of parts of Baltimore and Frederick counties. Hampstead becomes the easternmost town in the newly formed county.
1860 - Many Hampstead residents are involved in the American Civil War in some capacity. Evidence of tunnels from this era, perhaps used to hide slaves or horses, exists in one of the houses on Main Street.
1879 - The first railroad passes through town, running up to Gettysburg.
1888 - The town is officially incorporated. It was about 6,500 feet long, north to south.
1904 - The town jail, with one room, is built behind the old fire hall, which is now "Towne Pride Interiors".
Early 1920s - Malco Milling and Lighting Company occupies a five-story building on Gill Avenue. It attempts to provide DC current electricity, with little success or reliability. This building is still the tallest building in town.
1919 - The Hampstead School is finished and dedicated. It is the first consolidated public school building in Hampstead.
1923 - The main road is paved.
1924 - The first bus line runs passengers south to Emory Grove. Once there passengers could pick up a trolley to Baltimore.
1925 - The same bus line is extended north to Hanover, Pennsylvania.
Late 1920s - The Baltimore Gas & Electric Company runs a line through town.
1935 - Water lines are run into the town.
1953 - The Mayor and Town council establish offices in the old First National Bank building on South Main Street.
1956 - North Carroll Senior High School is opened in Greenmount, consolidating Hampstead and Manchester High Schools.
1962 - North Carroll Senior High School is enlarged and renamed North Carroll Junior-Senior High School.
1975 - The current North Carroll High School opens on Hampstead-Mexico Road to accommodate a rising population.
1986 - A new Hampstead Elementary School opens near the new high school. The oldest building, built in 1919 and now serving solely elementary students, is closed.
1991 - Spring Garden Elementary is opened to accommodate the need for another elementary school.
2006 - Ground is broken on the Hampstead Bypass which will attempt to reduce traffic in town as part of a larger plan to renovate and revitalize the town's Main Street.

All timeline information is from Joan Prall's "Hampstead: Its Heart and History", published in 1998, or from any of the external links listed below.