Sharpsburg, Maryland

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Sharpsburg is a town in Washington County, Maryland, approximately 13 miles (20 km) south of Hagerstown. The population was 691 at the 2000 census.

During the American Civil War, the Battle of Antietam (or Battle of Sharpsburg) was fought on what is now Antietam National Battlefield, along the shores of Antietam Creek.

1 History
2 Government
3 Geography
4 Demographics
5 External links

[edit] History

A settler named Joseph Chapline settled in the area around 1740. After the conclusion of the French and Indian War, he founded the town in 1763, naming it in honor of his friend Horatio Sharpe, the Proprietary Governor of the Province of Maryland.

Situated to the east of the Potomac River and its water power, the town attracted industry in the early 19th century, particularly after the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was extended to Sharpsburg around 1836. It was incorporated in 1832.

Confederate General Robert E. Lee invaded Maryland in the late summer of 1862 and was intercepted by Union General George B. McClellan. Their armies met in the Battle of Antietam (or Battle of Sharpsburg) on September 17, 1862—the single bloodiest day of the American Civil War and all of American military history, seeing nearly 23,000 casualties. The inconclusive but strategic Union victory partially politically enabled Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. This victory was a turning point of the war because it stopped the Confederacy from advancing and winning an important battle on Northern soil. Sharpsburg celebrates an annual Heritage Festival in mid-September. Its Memorial Day commemorations are claimed to be among the oldest in the U.S.

[edit] Government

Sharpsburg elects a mayor and six town councilmen, all to four-year terms.

[edit] Geography

Sharpsburg is located at 39°27′28″N, 77°44′58″W (39.457666, -77.749513)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²).

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 691 people, 286 households, and 193 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,212.7/km² (3,119.1/mi²). There were 304 housing units at an average density of 533.5/km² (1,372.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.83% White, 0.43% African American, 0.58% Asian, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.29% of the population.

There were 286 households out of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the town the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,786, and the median income for a family was $52,875. Males had a median income of $37,500 versus $22,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,917. About 1.1% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.