Crofton, Maryland | |
|---|---|
 Crofton Parkway | |
 Location of Crofton, Maryland | |
| Coordinates:39°0′15″N76°41′18″W / 39.00417°N 76.68833°W /39.00417; -76.68833 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maryland |
| County |  Anne Arundel |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town Hall |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.61 sq mi (17.12 km2) |
| • Land | 6.61 sq mi (17.12 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 98 ft (30 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 29,641 |
| • Density | 4,483.3/sq mi (1,731.01/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 21114 |
| Area codes | 410, 443, and 667 |
| FIPS code | 24-20875 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0590046 |
| Website | www |
Crofton is acensus-designated place andplanned community inAnne Arundel County, Maryland, United States, located 9.8 miles (15.8 km) west of the state capitalAnnapolis, 24 miles (39 km) south ofBaltimore, and 24 miles (39 km) east-northeast ofWashington, D.C. The community was established in 1964 and as of the2020 census, it had a population of 29,136.[2]
In 1963, after the Crawford Corporation accumulated over 1,600 acres (650 ha) of land, it announced that it would build a new community called Crofton. This new town and planned community was founded at the same time asReston, Virginia (April 17, 1964) andColumbia, Maryland (1967). Crofton would be anchored by a community golf course, which later became the Crofton Country Club. Crofton was officially founded in the fall of 1964. The company considered picking an English name for the new town that "sounds well and implies that this is a pleasant place to live." It ended up picking the name "Crofton", named after a small township inCumberland County, England. (Crofton, England was originally calledCroft-town, derived from the word"Croft", as the town standing upon the Crofts.) Crofton, Maryland was founded as a community for racial exclusion.[3][4]
Crofton was in the national news in late June and early July 2002 after a fish called thenorthern snakehead was discovered in a local pond.[5][6][7] The infestation was found in water behind the Crofton post office and the adjacent shopping center,[7] across Route 3 from local landmark Lake Louise.
The snakehead species is highly aggressive and voracious.[8][9] In order to ensure that the fish were eliminated, in September 2002 the main pond and two nearby ponds were dosed heavily withrotenone[9] and subsequently withpotassium permanganate.[10] Six adult snakeheads and more than one thousand juvenile fish were found and destroyed.[10]
Ultimately, the incident initiated a national discussion oninvasive species.[11][12] One comparison case was themute swan,[12] also an invasive and destructive species of theChesapeake Bay watershed but, in comparison, quite beautiful, and which garnered support from some environmental and animal rights groups.
Several movies were inspired by this incident.Syfy aired two movies in relation to the snakehead outbreak: in March 2004, a movie calledSnakehead Terror was featured, and the movieFrankenfish was aired in June 2004. Ten Pound Films also produced a feature film titledSwarm of the Snakehead which related to this incident. In 2007, a documentary titledFishzilla: Snakehead Invasion aired on theNational Geographic Channel, discussing the ecological damage that the snakeheads found in Crofton have done to surrounding areas.
The original community of Crofton was built on the Duvall family farm located within a triangle formed by three major roads: Crain Highway (Maryland Route 3) to the northwest, Davidsonville Road (Maryland Route 424) to the northeast, and Defense Highway (Maryland Route 450) to the south. Within the triangle, Crofton Parkway, a loop road 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long, encircles the center of the community.
The Crofton CDP now extends north and east from the triangle, including Crofton Park and reaching northeast as far as St. Stephens Church Road.
TheLittle Patuxent River borders Crofton on its southwest corner at the intersection of Route 3 and Route 450, providing a buffer betweenAnne Arundel andPrince George's counties.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the Crofton CDP has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17.1 km2), all land.[13]
Crofton contains a number of public schools, administered by theAnne Arundel County Public Schools system:
For grades6–8, students from all four of these elementary schools attend Crofton Middle School in adjacentGambrills, Maryland, with the exception of a portion of Nantucket Elementary School students who live along Riedel Road between Route 3 and Nantucket Drive. These students will attend Arundel Middle School[14][15]
Students residing in communities along St Stephens Church Road between Johns Hopkins Road and Route 3 attend Old Mill Middle School North.
Older students from Crofton attend one of three high schools:
-Crofton High School, grades9-12, also in adjacent Gambrills, Maryland.[16]. Serves the vast majority of students living in the Crofton area.
-Arundel High School grades9-12, also in adjacent Gambrills, Maryland. Will serve Crofton area students who reside in communities along Riedel Road between Nantucket Drive and Route 3 beginning in the 2026-2027 school year[17]
-Severn Run High School grades9-12, located inSevern, Maryland. Serves Crofton area students living along St. Stephens Church Road between Johns Hopkins Road and Route 3.[18][19]
In response to overcrowding caused by continuing development in Bowie, the historical nemesis of Crofton andBRAC realignments,[20][21] a redistricting proposal was approved for Crofton schools in 2013[22] and construction began in late 2018 onCrofton High School.[23] A redistricting committee was formed in late 2018.[23][24] In April 2019, the school board adopted a redistricting plan under which all students from the four local elementary schools will attend the new high school.[25][26][27] Kathryn Feuerherd was appointed principal in May 2019.[25] Crofton High School has been opened as of September 2020.[28][24][25]
There are also some privatepreschools in Crofton:
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 27,348 | — | |
| 2020 | 29,641 | 8.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[34] | |||
As of the 2000census,[35] there were 20,091 people, 7,404 households, and 5,478 families residing in the Crofton census-designated place. The population density was 3,998.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,543.9/km2). There were 7,573 housing units at an average density of 1,507.2 units per square mile (581.9 units/km2). There were 7,404 households, out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% weremarried couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.0% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.13. In the community the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 35.6% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 6.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.
In 2010, Crofton had grown to 27,348,[36] an increase of 36%. The median age remained at 35 years. Of the 10,203 housing units, most were households of families (71.5%) with an average household size of 2.67 people.
Census data show an increase in the percentage of minorities living in Crofton. In 2000, the racial makeup of the community was 90.21%White, 5.13%African American, 0.23% Native American, 2.33%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 0.60% fromother races, and 1.44% from two or more races;Latino was 2.48% of the population.[35] In the 2010 census, the racial makeup of the community was 79.8% White (−10.4%), 10.3% Black (+5.2%), 4.7% Latino (+2.2%), 3.3% two or more races (+1.9%), 4.9% Asian (+2.6%), .1% Native American (+.1%), and 1.4% "some other race".[36]
The U.S. Census Bureau has recorded the following populations for the Crofton census-designated place.
| Year | Total Population |
|---|---|
| 1960 | NA[37] |
| 1970 | 4,478[37] |
| 1980 | 12,009[38] |
| 1990 | 12,781[39] |
| 2000 | 20,091[35] |
| 2010 | 27,348[36] |
| 2020 | 29,136 |
Crofton has experienced a 33.99% income growth rate since 2000.[40] This exceeds both the Maryland state average rate (30.24%) and the national average rate (19.17%).[40]
According to a 2007 estimate,[41] the median income for a household in the area was $93,198, and the median income for a family was $101,644. Males had a median income of $56,819 versus $41,229 for females. Theper capita income for the area was $33,518. About 2.0% of families and 2.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
Income has risen since then. Based on theAmerican Community Survey for 2008–2012, median incomes in the area were $104,279 for households and $120,316 for families.[42] Theper capita income for the area was $43,452.[42] About 1.9% of families and 3.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.[42]
The original (old) section of Crofton is a Special Community Benefit District (SCBD) governed by the Board of Directors of the Crofton Civic Association.[43] The Crofton SCBD staff includes a Town Manager, Non Governmental Figure Head Mayor Tip Conquick, Police, Recreation Coordinator, Maintenance Technician, A Director to the Office of the Mayor and administrative staff that provide for grounds and park maintenance, public safety, and community recreation programs and events.[44] Town Hall is sometimes located in the older section of Crofton, at the corner of Crofton Parkway and Duke of Kent Drive. The structure was built as the sales center for the original Crawford development; it was donated to the community in 1973.[45] Town Hall contains offices for the town manager, other Crofton SCBD staff, and the police department.[45] Newer sections of Crofton area are not incorporated and include several HOAs.
The Crofton Special Community Benefit District is policed by the Crofton Police Department, which was founded in 1969.[46] The department operates under the Anne Arundel County Charter, aided by theAnne Arundel County Police Department andSheriff's Office as directed by authority.[47]
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