Emmitsburg | |
|---|---|
| Town of Emmitsburg | |
 Panoramic view of Emmitsburg from US-15 Rest Area | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location of Emmitsburg, Maryland | |
| Coordinates:39°42′15″N77°19′16″W / 39.70417°N 77.32111°W /39.70417; -77.32111 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maryland |
| County | Frederick |
| Founded | 1785 |
| Incorporated | 1825[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.64 sq mi (4.24 km2) |
| • Land | 1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2) |
| • Water | 0.019 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 400 ft (120 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 2,770 |
| • Density | 1,713.2/sq mi (661.46/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code | 21727 |
| Area codes | 301, 240 |
| FIPS code | 24-26200 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2390171[3] |
| Website | www |
Emmitsburg is a town inFrederick County, Maryland, United States, 0.3 miles (0.5 km) south of theMason-Dixon line separating Maryland fromPennsylvania.
Founded in 1785, Emmitsburg is the home ofMount St. Mary's University. The town has two Catholic pilgrimage sites: theNational Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, which is on the campus of Mount St. Mary's, and theBasilica and National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, who was the first native-born United States citizen to be canonized as a saint.[4] The Seton Shrine is one of thetop eight Catholic pilgrimage destinations in the United States.[5] TheNational Emergency Training Center (NETC) campus is in Emmitsburg, located on the former campus ofSaint Joseph College. The campus includes theEmergency Management Institute, theNational Fire Academy and theNational Fallen Firefighters Memorial.
The population as of the 2020 United States census was 2,776. The current mayor of Emmitsburg is Frank Davis. The current commissioners are Amy Boehman-Pollitt, Jim Hoover, Valerie Turnquist, Kevin Hagan, and Cliff Sweeney.[6] The terms of the mayor and all members of the council, excepting Boehman-Politt, expire in October 2027. Boehman-Politt's term will end in October 2025.[6]
Emmitsburg was named for its founder, William Emmit, in 1785.[7] However, a settlement (named first "Silver Fancy" and later "Poplar Fields")[8] preceded the town, particularly since British authorities restricted colonists' expansion during and after theFrench and Indian War.
In 1757 Lutherans led by pastor George Bager built a church, which they shared with aGerman Reformed congregation until 1798. After theAmerican Revolutionary War, Catholic missionary Rev.Jean Dubois established a mission church, then a seminary, at Emmitsburg. LaterElizabeth Ann Seton established a convent, with a school and hospital. Soon, the number of Methodists in Emmitsburg led to the formation of a circuit around town, rather than share a minister with Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
TheUnion fortified Emmitsburg to stop theConfederate invasion of the Union territory in June 1863 during theAmerican Civil War. Half the town was burned to the ground in a mysterious fire on the night of June 23. Folklore has it that "The Great Fire", as it was known, was started by a Union sympathizer to prevent advancing Confederates from taking supplies from the town.[citation needed] However fate spared the town a battle between the opposing forces, which insteadtook place 12 miles north of it in Pennsylvania near the town ofGettysburg. The town was briefly held by the retreating Confederates on July 4.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.52 square miles (3.94 km2), all land.[9]
Emmitsburg has ahumid continental climate (KöppenDfa) with hot, humid summers and moderately cold winters. It is known for being located near the base ofCatoctin Mountain.
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| Climate data for Emmitsburg, Maryland (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1956–present) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 74 (23) | 79 (26) | 87 (31) | 92 (33) | 94 (34) | 101 (38) | 103 (39) | 103 (39) | 98 (37) | 91 (33) | 82 (28) | 77 (25) | 103 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 40.0 (4.4) | 42.8 (6.0) | 51.9 (11.1) | 64.0 (17.8) | 72.4 (22.4) | 80.8 (27.1) | 85.4 (29.7) | 83.6 (28.7) | 77.0 (25.0) | 65.9 (18.8) | 54.4 (12.4) | 44.2 (6.8) | 63.5 (17.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 31.1 (−0.5) | 32.9 (0.5) | 40.9 (4.9) | 51.8 (11.0) | 61.4 (16.3) | 70.1 (21.2) | 74.8 (23.8) | 73.0 (22.8) | 66.1 (18.9) | 54.7 (12.6) | 43.9 (6.6) | 35.7 (2.1) | 53.0 (11.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 22.3 (−5.4) | 22.9 (−5.1) | 29.8 (−1.2) | 39.6 (4.2) | 50.5 (10.3) | 59.5 (15.3) | 64.3 (17.9) | 62.4 (16.9) | 55.2 (12.9) | 43.5 (6.4) | 33.4 (0.8) | 27.1 (−2.7) | 42.5 (5.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −27 (−33) | −13 (−25) | −5 (−21) | 15 (−9) | 26 (−3) | 35 (2) | 39 (4) | 36 (2) | 24 (−4) | 16 (−9) | 9 (−13) | −19 (−28) | −27 (−33) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.50 (89) | 2.55 (65) | 4.19 (106) | 3.88 (99) | 4.31 (109) | 4.26 (108) | 4.31 (109) | 3.53 (90) | 5.18 (132) | 3.78 (96) | 3.40 (86) | 3.76 (96) | 46.65 (1,185) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.7 (22) | 8.8 (22) | 4.4 (11) | 0.2 (0.51) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.8 (2.0) | 4.5 (11) | 27.5 (70) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 9.0 | 8.3 | 9.9 | 10.8 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 10.5 | 9.7 | 9.3 | 8.7 | 8.0 | 9.3 | 116.6 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 10.3 |
| Source:NOAA[10][11] | |||||||||||||
_from_the_overpass_for_Maryland_State_Route_140_(Taneytown_Pike)_in_Emmitsburg%2c_Frederick_County%2c_Maryland.jpg)
The primary method of travel to and from Emmitsburg is by road.U.S. Route 15 is the main highway serving Emmitsburg, providing connections northward toGettysburg,Pennsylvania and southward toFrederick.U.S. Route 15 Business follows the old alignment of US 15 through the center of Emmitsburg, with the main highway now following a bypass on the east side of town.Maryland Route 140 is the other main highway traversing the town, which provides connections eastward towardsWestminster and eventuallyBaltimore. To the west, MD 140 crosses into Pennsylvania and becomesPennsylvania Route 16.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 812 | — | |
| 1870 | 706 | — | |
| 1880 | 847 | 20.0% | |
| 1890 | 844 | −0.4% | |
| 1900 | 849 | 0.6% | |
| 1910 | 1,054 | 24.1% | |
| 1920 | 940 | −10.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,235 | 31.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,412 | 14.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,261 | −10.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,369 | 8.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,532 | 11.9% | |
| 1980 | 1,552 | 1.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,688 | 8.8% | |
| 2000 | 2,290 | 35.7% | |
| 2010 | 2,814 | 22.9% | |
| 2020 | 2,770 | −1.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] | |||
As of thecensus[13] of 2010, there were 2,814 people, 997 households, and 670 families living in the town. Thepopulation density was 1,851.3 inhabitants per square mile (714.8/km2). There were 1,070 housing units at an average density of 703.9 per square mile (271.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.0%White, 2.0%African American, 0.2%Native American, 0.9%Asian, 0.7% fromother races, and 1.3% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 2.5% of the population.
There were 997 households, of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% weremarried couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.8% were non-families. Of all households, 26.6% were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.22.
The median age in the town was 39.5 years. 26% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.1% were from 45 to 64; and 16.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.
As of thecensus[14] of 2000, there were 2,290 people, 811 households, and 553 families living in the town. The population density was 1,992.9 inhabitants per square mile (769.5/km2). There were 862 housing units at an average density of 750.2 per square mile (289.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.16%White, 0.87%African American, 0.04%Native American, 0.31%Asian, 0.04% fromother races, and 1.57% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.44% of the population.
There were 811 households, out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% weremarried couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. Of all households, 26.8% were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 76.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,710, and the median income for a family was $46,328. Males had a median income of $32,578 versus $23,235 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $16,216. About 4.2% of families and 12.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 44.4% of those age 65 or over.
The town has two newspapers: theEmmitsburg News-Journal,[15] andThe Catoctin Banner,[16] both of which are published monthly,
Municipalities and communities ofFrederick County, Maryland,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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