Taneytown, Maryland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Taneytown (TAW-nee-town) is a city in Carroll County, Maryland, United States. The population was 5,128 at the 2000 census. Taneytown was founded in 1754. Of the town George Washington once wrote "Tawny town is but a small place with only the Street through wch. the road passes, built on. The buildings are principally of wood".

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Haunted Barn
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Taneytown is located at 39°39′26″N, 77°10′14″W (39.657099, -77.170627)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.5 km² (2.9 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 5,128 people, 1,786 households, and 1,387 families residing in the city. The population density was 687.5/km² (1,781.1/mi²). There were 1,848 housing units at an average density of 247.7/km² (641.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.00% White, 1.74% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.62% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.50% of the population.

There were 1,786 households out of which 47.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the city the population was spread out with 34.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,820, and the median income for a family was $49,615. Males had a median income of $31,862 versus $24,261 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,258. About 9.0% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

Taneytown was the headquarters of Union Army General George Meade for a period during the American Civil War.

Taneytown was home to Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin during the late 1700's.

Taneytown is the first city in Maryland to make English the official language.

Taneytown is the hometown of Augustus "Gus" Bowman, international recording star and guitar player of bands including Forced Forward, Desperate Measures, Innerside Burning, and Looks Like Rain. He has performed in numerous countries and many of the 50 United States.

[edit] Haunted Barn

Every October since 1974 the Taneytown Jaycees organize a Halloween event called "The Haunted Barn". This is a haunted house tour through an old warehouse (the original barn location was destroyed by an arsonist in 1986) decorated for the event. The design of the tour changes every year but always ends with masked attendants chasing visitors with chainsaws.

It has been suspected that the building of a new police station within a few feet of the Haunted Barn site forced its closure. The barn did not open in 2005; there is local speculation that the building will be turned into a regional recreation center for children.