Prince George's County, Maryland[3] | |
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![Official seal of Prince George's County, Maryland[3]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aSeal_of_Prince_George%2527s_County%2c_Maryland.svg) Seal ![Official logo of Prince George's County, Maryland[3]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aLogo_of_Prince_George%2527s_County%2c_Maryland.png) Logo | |
| Nicknames: | |
| Motto: "Semper Eadem" (English:"Ever the Same") | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofMaryland | |
 Maryland's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:38°50′N76°51′W / 38.83°N 76.85°W /38.83; -76.85 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maryland |
| Founded | April 23, 1696[1] |
| Named after | Prince George of Denmark |
| Seat | Upper Marlboro |
| Largest city | Bowie |
| Government | |
| • Executive | Aisha Braveboy |
| Area | |
• Total | 499 sq mi (1,290 km2) |
| • Land | 483 sq mi (1,250 km2) |
| • Water | 16 sq mi (41 km2) 3.2% |
| Population | |
• Estimate (2024) | 966,629[2] |
| • Density | 1,900/sq mi (730/km2) |
| Demonym | Prince Georgian |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 20607–20774 |
| Area code | 240,301 |
| Congressional districts | 4th,5th,8th |
| Website | princegeorgescountymd.gov |
Prince George's County (often shortened toPG County,PG, orPGC)[4][5] is acounty located in theU.S. state ofMaryland, bordering the eastern portion ofWashington, D.C. As of the2020 U.S. census, the population was 967,201,[7] making it the second-most populouscounty in Maryland, behind neighboringMontgomery County. The 2020 census counted an increase of nearly 104,000 in the previous ten years. Itscounty seat isUpper Marlboro.[8] It is the most populousAfrican American-majority county in theUnited States, as well as the second most affluent behind neighboringCharles County.[9][10][11]
Thecounty is part of theCapital region of the state, though portions of the county are considered to be inSouthern Maryland.[12] The county also hosts many federal governmental facilities, such asJoint Base Andrews and theUnited States Census Bureau headquarters.
The official name of the county, as specified in the county's charter, is "Prince George's County, Maryland".[13] The county is named afterPrince George of Denmark (1653–1708), the consort ofAnne, Queen of Great Britain, and the brother ofKing Christian V of Denmark and Norway. The county'sdemonym is Prince Georgian, and itsmotto isSemper Eadem (English:"Ever the Same"), a phrase used byQueen Anne. Prince George's County is frequently referred to as "PG" or "PG County", an abbreviation which is the subject of debate, some residents viewing it as a pejorative and others holding neutral feelings toward the term or even preferring the abbreviation over the full name.[4]
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The flag of Prince George's County, from 1696 to 1963..svg)
TheCretaceous Era brought dinosaurs to the area that left fossils now preserved in a 7.5-acre (3.0 ha) park inLaurel.[14] The site, which among other finds has yielded fossilized teeth fromAstrodon andPriconodon species, has been called the most prolific in the eastern United States.[15]
In the mid to lateHolocene era, the area was occupied by Paleo-Native Americans and then, later, Native Americans. When the first European settlers arrived, what is now Prince George's County was inhabited by people of thePiscataway Indian Nation. Three branches of the tribe are still living today, two of which are headquartered in Prince George's County.[16]
Prince George's County was created by the EnglishCouncil of Maryland in theProvince of Maryland in April 1696[17] from portions ofCharles andCalvert counties. The county was divided into six districts referred to as "Hundreds":Mattapany,Petuxant,Collington, Mount Calvert,Piscattoway and New Scotland.[17]
A portion was detached in 1748 to formFrederick County. Because Frederick County was subsequently divided to form the presentAllegany,Garrett,Montgomery, andWashington counties, all of these counties in addition were derived from what had up to 1748 been Prince George's County.
In 1791, portions of Prince George's County were ceded to form the newDistrict of Columbia (along with portions ofMontgomery County, Maryland and parts ofNorthern Virginia that were laterreturned to Virginia).
During theWar of 1812, the British marched through the county by way ofBladensburg to burn the White House. On their return, they kidnapped a prominent doctor,William Beanes. LawyerFrancis Scott Key was asked to negotiate for his release, which resulted in his writing "The Star-Spangled Banner".
Prince George's County had the highest population ofenslaved Africans within the state of Maryland. These people carried out forced labor on tobacco farms and plantations throughout Prince George's County.[18][19]
During theCivil War, hundreds of enslaved black men in Prince George's County were given freedom in exchange for joining the Union Army and fighting in Colored units againstConfederate forces. WhenAbraham Lincoln ordered the end of slavery in America, he did not free the slaves in Maryland because he was concerned that slave-owning Maryland would revolt, leavingWashington D.C. surrounded by Confederate forces. HoweverJohn Pendleton Kennedy, a Maryland politician who became an abolitionist after watching a speech byFrederick Douglass, led a referendum campaign to end slavery in the state. In 1864, the citizens of Maryland voted to end slavery. However the state was so divided that the referendum won by only 1,000 votes. Lincoln then ordered the Union Army to enforce the ban in Maryland and all enslaved people in the state were freed.
After the Civil War, many African Americans attempted to become part of Maryland politics, but were met with violent repression after the fall ofReconstruction.[20][verification needed]
In April 1865,John Wilkes Booth made his escape through Prince George's County while en route toVirginia after killing PresidentAbraham Lincoln.
The proportion of African Americans declined during the first half of the 20th century, but was renewed to over 50% in the early 1990s when the county again became majority African American.[21] The first African American County Executive wasWayne K. Curry, elected in 1994.
On July 1, 1997, the Prince George's County section of the city ofTakoma Park, which straddled the boundary between Prince George's and Montgomery counties, was transferred toMontgomery County.[22] This was done after city residents voted in a referendum to be under the sole jurisdiction of Montgomery County, and subsequent approval by both counties and theMaryland General Assembly.[22] This was the first change in Montgomery/Prince George's County line boundaries since 1968, when the City ofLaurel was unified in Prince George's County; additional legislation was proposed in 1990 for a technical correction, though may not have achieved enactment.[23]
The county's population nearly reached one million residents in the 2020 census.[24] It was the largest and highest-incomeblack-majority county in the United States until the 2020 census, when it was surpassed by Charles County.[9][10][25][11] Hispanic residents grew in number to 21% of the total population.[24]
The county experienced a dramatic drop in crime,[26] including record drops in violent crime,[27] although in 2021 and 2022, violent crime increased by 30%.[28] From 2020 to mid-2022 over 2,200 residents died of COVID-19,[29] over 19,000 county residents were left with long-term post-COVID symptoms[30]and over 193,000 COVID infections had been recorded.[29]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 499 square miles (1,290 km2), of which 483 square miles (1,250 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (3.2%) is water.[31]
Prince George's County lies in theAtlantic coastal plain, and its landscape is characterized by gently rolling hills and valleys. Along its western border with Montgomery County,Adelphi,Calverton andWest Laurel rise into thepiedmont, exceeding 300 feet (91 m) in elevation.
ThePatuxent River forms the county's eastern border withHoward,Anne Arundel,Charles andCalvert counties.
Terrain, culture, and demographics differ significantly by location within the county. There are five key regions to Prince George's County: North County, Central County, the Rural Tier, the Inner Beltway, and South County. These regions are not formally defined, however, and the terms used to describe each area can vary greatly.[32] In the broadest terms, the county is generally divided into North County and South County withU.S. Route 50 serving as the dividing line.[33]
Southern Prince George's County is also considered to be a part of theSouthern Maryland region.[12]
Northern Prince George's County includesLaurel,Beltsville,Adelphi,College Park andGreenbelt. This area of the county is anchored by theCapital Beltway and theBaltimore–Washington Parkway. Hyattsville developed early in the 20th century due to its proximity to rail transportation and U.S. Highway 1. Laurel is experiencing a population boom with the construction of theInter-County Connector. The key employers in this region are theUniversity of Maryland,Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, andNASA-Goddard Space Flight Center. Areas of geographic distinction includeGreenbelt Park, a wooded reserve adjacent to the planned environmental community of Greenbelt, andUniversity Park, a collection of historic homes adjacent to the University of Maryland.Riversdale Mansion, along with the historic homes ofBerwyn Heights,Mt. Rainier andHyattsville, along withLangley Park are also located in this area.Lake Artemesia and the surrounding park were constructed during the completion of theWashington Metro Green Line, and it incorporates a stocked fishing lake and serves as the trail-head for an extensiveAnacostia Tributary Trails system that runs along theAnacostia River and its tributaries. The south and central tracts of thePatuxent Wildlife Research Center also lie in this part of the county; the north tract lies north of thePatuxent River inAnne Arundel County.
Central County, located on the eastern outskirts of the Capital Beltway, consists ofMitchellville,Woodmore,Greater Upper Marlboro,Springdale,Largo, andBowie. According to the 2010 census, it has generally been the fastest growing region of the county.[34] Mitchellville is named for a wealthy family, the Mitchells, who owned a large portion of land in this area of the county.[35]Central Avenue, a major exit off the I-95 beltway, running east to west, is one of two main roads in this portion of the county. The other major roadway isOld Crain Highway, which runs north to south along the eastern portion of the county. TheNewton White Mansion on the grounds is a popular site for weddings and political events.Joint Base Andrews,Bowie State University andPrince George's Community College are in the Central region, as well as County government offices.
The inner beltway communities ofCapitol Heights,District Heights,Fairmont Heights,Forestville,Suitland,Hillcrest Heights,Oxon Hill, andSeat Pleasant border neighboring District of Columbia's northeastern and southeastern quadrants. The area has easy access toMetro's Blue,Silver orGreen Lines, commercial centers, Maryland Route 214, and Interstate 95/Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway). Protected bike trails connect residents to the Bladensburg waterfront, Kenilworth parks, and downtown D.C. Fairmont Heights is the second oldest African-American-majority municipality in Prince George's County. The Fairmount Heights Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.[36]
Bowie is best known as a plannedLevittown.[37]William Levitt in the 1960s built traditional homes, as well as California contemporaries alongU.S. Route 50, the key highway to the eastern shore and the state capital ofAnnapolis. Bowie has currently grown to be the largest city in Prince George's County, with more than 50,000 people. It also has a large Caucasian population, compared to much of the county (48% of the population).[38] Housing styles vary from the most contemporary to century-old homes in Bowie's antique district (formerly known as Huntingtown), where the town of Bowie began as a haven for thoroughbred horse racing. Areas of geographic distinction include theOden Bowie Mansion, Allen Pond, key segments of theWashington, Baltimore and Annapolis Trail, as well as planned parks, lakes and walking trails.
Prince George's rural tier was designated "in the 2002 General Plan as an area where residential growth would be minimal";[39] it may be found in the area just beyond the Beltway to the west and south of central county, though with direct access by Route 210, while bounded on the west by the communitiesAccokeek andFort Washington, and the east by thePatuxent River. Prince George's origins are in this part of the county. Most of this area contains the unincorporated parishes, villages and lost towns of Prince George's County. Largely under postal designations of "Upper Marlboro" or "Brandywine", in truth the town of Upper Marlboro is more central county in character, though it is the post office location for various rural settlements. (The names of these unincorporated areas are listed below in the towns section of this article). Since 1721 Upper Marlboro has been the county seat of government, with families that trace their lineage back to Prince George's initial land grants and earliest governing officials. Names like Clagett,Sasscer, King James and Queen Anne pepper the streets.
The rural tier has been the focus of orchestrated efforts by residents and county government to preserve its rural character and environmental integrity.[40][failed verification] Under theMaryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC),Patuxent River Park is the largest natural preserve and provides public access for birdwatching and viewing the rural tier's natural waterfront vistas. In season, the park's Jug Bay Natural Area and the Patuxent Riverkeeper inQueen Anne both offer canoeing and kayaking rentals on the Patuxent. The county's largest collection of tobacco planter mansions and preserved homes are in the rural tier, some managed by the M-NCPPC. Many rural tier roads have scenic highway preservation status.Rosaryville State Park is in the county, not far from the county seat.[citation needed]
South County is a blend of the greenery of the rural tier and the new development of central county. The communities ofClinton,Oxon Hill,Temple Hills includingHillcrest Heights, andFort Washington are the largest areas of south county. It is the only portion of Prince George's County to enjoy the Potomac River waterfront, and that geographic distinction has yielded the rise of theNational Harbor project: a town center and riverside shopping and living development on the Potomac. The National Harbor, and its associated entertainment (MGM National Harbor) and shopping (Tanger Outlets) districts, have become a major tourist and convention attraction, with significant hotel accommodations, eateries and shopping. Together, these projects were built on land formerly occupied by the Salubria plantation, where a 14-year-old slave girl poisoned her owner,John H. Bayne, and his family in 1831.[41]Water taxi service connects National Harbor to other destinations along the Potomac.[42] Several historic sites, including Jones Point Lighthouse, can be viewed from the harbor front. Piscataway Park in Accokeek preserves many acres of woodland and wetlands along the Potomac River opposite Mount Vernon, Virginia. River Road in Fort Washington also yields great views of the Potomac.Fort Washington Park was a major battery and gives access to the public for tours of the fort, scenic access to the river and other picnic grounds.Oxon Hill Manor offers a working farm and plantation mansion for touring;His Lordship's Kindness is another major historic home. Also,Fort Foote is an oldAmerican Civil War fort and tourist destination.
Prince George's and Montgomery Counties share a bi-county planning and parks agency in theM-NCPPC and a public bi-county water and sewer utility in theWashington Suburban Sanitary Commission
Since 1792, the county seat has beenUpper Marlboro. Prior to 1792, the county seat was located at Mount Calvert, a 76-acre (308,000 m2) estate along thePatuxent River on the edge of what is now in theunincorporated community ofCroom. Since 1991, the county has slowly moved government functions from rural Upper Marlboro to the Largo area, closer to the center of population, while proposals to move the actual county seat remain controversial.[43]
Prince George's County was granted acharter form of government in 1970 with the county executive elected as the head of the executive branch and the county council members as the leadership of the legislative branch. The county is divided into nine councilmanic districts, whose number designations wind roughly from north to south.[44] Two at-large council seats were added in 2018.[45] Prince George's County is part of theSeventh Judicial Circuit of the state of Maryland and holds 23 of the 32 total circuit court judges in the circuit (which includes Calvert, Charles, Prince George's, and St. Mary's counties).[46]
Fitch Ratings assigned a 'AAA' bond rating to Prince George's County on August 25, 2011, re-affirming the county's stable financial outlook. Earlier in 2011, the county received 'AAA' status fromStandard & Poor's andMoody's. 'AAA' bond ratings are the highest possible bond ratings a jurisdiction can receive.[47]
As part of the increasingly liberalD.C. suburbs and a nationwide suburban shift towards the Democrats,[48] Prince George's County is a Democratic stronghold, having voted majority-Democratic in every presidential election but four since 1932:Dwight D. Eisenhower's landslide elections in1952 and1956, andRichard Nixon's two candidacies in1968 and1972.[49] It has not given over 15% of the vote to the Republican nominee since2004,[50] and wasJoe Biden's second strongest county in the country (and third-best county equivalent afterWashington, D.C.) in the2020 presidential election, only behindKalawao County, Hawaii, awarding him 89.26% of the vote, andKamala Harris’s strongest county (again, after Washington DC) in the2024 presidential election, awarding her 85.9% of the vote.[51]
| Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024[52] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 454,311 | 75.16% | |||
| Unaffiliated | 97,563 | 16.14% | |||
| Republican | 38,492 | 6.37% | |||
| Libertarian | 1,534 | 0.25% | |||
| Other parties | 12,577 | 2.08% | |||
| Total | 604,477 | 100% | |||
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 45,008 | 11.14% | 347,038 | 85.90% | 11,963 | 2.96% |
| 2020 | 37,090 | 8.73% | 379,208 | 89.26% | 8,557 | 2.01% |
| 2016 | 32,811 | 8.40% | 344,049 | 88.13% | 13,525 | 3.46% |
| 2012 | 35,734 | 9.22% | 347,938 | 89.73% | 4,072 | 1.05% |
| 2008 | 38,833 | 10.38% | 332,396 | 88.87% | 2,797 | 0.75% |
| 2004 | 55,532 | 17.44% | 260,532 | 81.81% | 2,410 | 0.76% |
| 2000 | 49,987 | 18.38% | 216,119 | 79.48% | 5,803 | 2.13% |
| 1996 | 52,697 | 21.93% | 176,612 | 73.50% | 10,993 | 4.57% |
| 1992 | 62,955 | 24.51% | 168,691 | 65.67% | 25,213 | 9.82% |
| 1988 | 86,545 | 38.83% | 133,816 | 60.04% | 2,520 | 1.13% |
| 1984 | 95,121 | 40.96% | 136,063 | 58.59% | 1,036 | 0.45% |
| 1980 | 78,977 | 40.71% | 98,757 | 50.91% | 16,253 | 8.38% |
| 1976 | 81,027 | 42.03% | 111,743 | 57.97% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1972 | 116,166 | 58.55% | 79,914 | 40.28% | 2,330 | 1.17% |
| 1968 | 73,269 | 41.24% | 71,524 | 40.26% | 32,867 | 18.50% |
| 1964 | 46,413 | 36.20% | 81,806 | 63.80% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 44,817 | 41.95% | 62,013 | 58.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 40,654 | 50.86% | 39,280 | 49.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 38,060 | 56.30% | 29,119 | 43.07% | 423 | 0.63% |
| 1948 | 14,718 | 49.02% | 14,874 | 49.54% | 432 | 1.44% |
| 1944 | 13,750 | 49.54% | 14,006 | 50.46% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 9,523 | 36.28% | 16,592 | 63.21% | 136 | 0.52% |
| 1936 | 8,107 | 34.80% | 15,087 | 64.76% | 101 | 0.43% |
| 1932 | 6,696 | 36.09% | 11,580 | 62.41% | 280 | 1.51% |
| 1928 | 9,782 | 59.06% | 6,658 | 40.20% | 122 | 0.74% |
| 1924 | 5,868 | 46.98% | 5,088 | 40.74% | 1,534 | 12.28% |
| 1920 | 6,628 | 56.83% | 4,857 | 41.64% | 178 | 1.53% |
| 1916 | 3,058 | 45.41% | 3,493 | 51.87% | 183 | 2.72% |
| 1912 | 1,456 | 27.26% | 2,424 | 45.38% | 1,461 | 27.35% |
| 1908 | 2,639 | 48.90% | 2,680 | 49.66% | 78 | 1.45% |
| 1904 | 2,845 | 55.36% | 2,270 | 44.17% | 24 | 0.47% |
| 1900 | 3,455 | 55.02% | 2,787 | 44.39% | 37 | 0.59% |
| 1896 | 3,250 | 55.94% | 2,505 | 43.12% | 55 | 0.95% |
| 1892 | 2,423 | 47.31% | 2,655 | 51.85% | 43 | 0.84% |
| Name | Party | Term |
|---|---|---|
| William W. Gullett | Republican | 1970–1974 |
| Win Kelly | Democratic | 1974–1978 |
| Lawrence Hogan | Republican | 1978–1982 |
| Parris Glendening | Democratic | 1982–1994 |
| Wayne K. Curry | Democratic | 1994–2002 |
| Jack B. Johnson | Democratic | 2002–2010 |
| Rushern L. Baker III | Democratic | 2010–2018 |
| Angela D. Alsobrooks | Democratic | 2018–2024 |
| Tara Jackson(acting) | Democratic | 2024–2025 |
| Aisha Braveboy | Democratic | 2025–present |
| Name | Party | District |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Dernoga | Democratic | 1 |
| Wanika Fisher | Democratic | 2 |
| Eric Olson | Democratic | 3 |
| Ingrid Harrison | Democratic | 4 |
| Shayla Adams-Stafford | Democratic | 5 |
| Wala Blegay | Democratic | 6 |
| Krystal Oriadha (Vice Chair) | Democratic | 7 |
| Edward Burroughs III (Chair) | Democratic | 8 |
| Sydney Harrison | Democratic | 9 |
| Jolene Ivey | Democratic | At-large |
| Calvin Hawkins II | Democratic | At-large |
Prince George's County is serviced by multiplelaw enforcement agencies. ThePrince George's County Police Department is the primary police service for county residents residing inunincorporated areas of the county. In addition, thePrince George's County Sheriff's Office acts as the enforcement arm of thecounty court, and also shares some patrol responsibility with the county police. County parks are serviced by the Prince George's County Division of theMaryland-National Capital Park Police.Besides the county-level services, all but one of the 27 local municipalities maintain police departments that share jurisdiction with the county police services.[citation needed] Furthermore, theMaryland State Police enforces the law on state highways which pass through the county with the exception ofMaryland Route 200 where theMaryland Transportation Authority Police is the primary law enforcement agency and theMaryland Department of Natural Resources Police patrol the state parks and navigable waterways located within the county.
Along with the state and local law enforcement agencies, the federal government also maintains several departments that service citizens of the county such as theUS Park Police,US Postal Police, the 316th Security Forces Squadron (specifically coveringAndrews AFB), and otherfederal police located on various federal property within the county.
In addition, nearly all of the incorporated cities and towns in the county have their own municipal police force. Notable exceptions include the city ofCollege Park.
Prince George's County hospitals include Bowie Health Center, Doctors Community Hospital in Lanham, Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital & Nursing Center in Cheverly,Laurel Regional Hospital in Laurel, Southern Maryland Hospital Center in Clinton, University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center, a state-of-the-art acute care teaching hospital, and Fort Washington Medical Center. Hospice of the Chesapeake has offices in Largo, with a staff that serves patients in their homes, including skilled nursing, senior living and assisted living facilities.
The Prince George's County Volunteer Firemen's Association was formed in 1922 with several of the first companies organized in the county. The first members of the association wereHyattsville,Cottage City,Mount Rainier, andBrentwood.
In March 1966, the Prince George's County Government employed the firefighters who had been hired by individual volunteer stations and an organized career department was begun. The career firefighters and paramedics are represented byIAFF 1619. Prince George's County Fire/Rescue Operations consists of 45 Fire/EMS stations.[60]
Prince George's County became the first jurisdiction inMaryland to implement the9-1-1 Emergency Reporting System in 1973. Advanced life support services began for citizens of the county in 1977. Firefighters were certified as Cardiac Rescue Technicians and deployed in what was called at the time Mobile Intensive Care Units to fire stations in Brentwood,Silver Hill, andLaurel.
As of 2007, thePrince George's County Fire/EMS Department operates a combination system staffed by over 800 career firefighters and paramedics, and nearly 1,100 active volunteers.
County law has, for years, required Animal Control to seize allpit bulls from their owners if they become aware of them.[61] This is controversial and Animal Control itself objects to this law.[61] It has routinely required them to act when they see such a dog behaving peacefully inside of a private home merely because Animal Control is checking something unrelated.[61]
ThePrince George's County Delegation represents the county via 23 delegates in theMaryland House of Delegates. Eight senators represent the county in theMaryland State Senate.[62]
| District | Counties represented | Delegate | Party | First elected | Committee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Anne Arundel, Prince George's | .jpg) | Mary A. Lehman | Democratic | 2018 | Environment and Transportation |
| 21 | Anne Arundel, Prince George's | .jpg) | Ben Barnes | Democratic | 2006 | Appropriations (Chair) |
| 21 | Anne Arundel, Prince George's | .jpg) | Joseline Peña-Melnyk | Democratic | 2006 | Health and Government Operations (Chair) |
| 22 | Prince George's |  | Ashanti Martinez | Democratic | 2023(appointed) | Health and Government Operations |
| 22 | Prince George's | .jpg) | Anne Healey | Democratic | 1990 | Environment and Transportation |
| 22 | Prince George's |  | Nicole A. Williams | Democratic | 2019(appointed) | Judiciary |
| 23 | Prince George's |  | Adrian Boafo | Democratic | 2022 | Economic Matters |
| 23 | Prince George's | .jpg) | Kym Taylor | Democratic | 2022 | Judiciary |
| 23 | Prince George's | .jpg) | Marvin E. Holmes, Jr. | Democratic | 2002 | Environment and Transportation |
| 24 | Prince George's | .jpg) | Andrea Harrison | Democratic | 2018 | Economic Matters |
| 24 | Prince George's |  | Tiffany T. Alston | Democratic | 2022 | Health and Government Operations |
| 24 | Prince George's | .jpg) | Jazz Lewis | Democratic | 2017(appointed) | Appropriations |
| 25 | Prince George's | .jpg) | Kent Roberson | Democratic | 2023(appointed) | Judiciary |
| 25 | Prince George's | .jpg) | Denise Roberts | Democratic | 2024(appointed) | Ways and Means |
| 25 | Prince George's |  | Karen Toles | Democratic | 2022(appointed) | Judiciary |
| 26 | Prince George's | .jpg) | Kris Valderrama | Democratic | 2006 | Economic Matters |
| 26 | Prince George's |  | Jamila Woods | Democratic | 2022 | Health and Government Operations |
| 26 | Prince George's | .jpg) | Veronica L. Turner | Democratic | 2018 | Economic Matters |
| 27A | Charles, Prince George's |  | Kevin Harris | Democratic | 2022 | Appropriations |
| 27B | Calvert, Prince George's | _(cropped).jpg) | Jeffrie Long Jr. | Democratic | 2022 | Environment and Transportation |
| 47A | Prince George's |  | Diana M. Fennell | Democratic | 2014 | Economic Matters |
| 47A | Prince George's |  | Julian Ivey | Democratic | 2018 | Appropriations |
| 47B | Prince George's | _(cropped).jpg) | Deni Taveras | Democratic | 2022 | Health and Government Operations |
| District | Senator | Party | Since | Residence | Counties represented |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | James Rosapepe | Democratic | 2007 | College Park | Anne Arundel, Prince George's |
| 22 | Alonzo T. Washington | Democratic | 2023 | Greenbelt | Prince George's |
| 23 | Ron Watson | Democratic | 2021 | Upper Marlboro | Prince George's |
| 24 | Joanne C. Benson | Democratic | 2011 | Landover | Prince George's |
| 25 | Nick Charles | Democratic | 2023 | Forestville | Prince George's |
| 26 | C. Anthony Muse | Democratic | 2023 | Accokeek | Prince George's |
| 27 | Michael A. Jackson | Democratic | 2021 | Brandywine | Calvert,Charles, Prince George's |
In the118th Congress, most of Prince George's County is represented in theU.S. House of Representatives byGlenn Ivey (D) of the4th district andSteny Hoyer (D) of the5th district. A small part of the northwestern portion of the county is represented byJamie Raskin (D) of the8th district.[63]
The County contains a 28-mile portion of the 65-mile-longCapital Beltway. After a decades-long debate, an east–west toll freeway, theIntercounty Connector ("ICC"), which extendsInterstate 370 inMontgomery County to connectI-270 withInterstate 95 andU.S. 1 inLaurel, opened in 2012. An 11.5-mile portion of the 32.5-mile-longBaltimore–Washington Parkway runs from the county's border with Washington, D.C., to its border withAnne Arundel County near Laurel.
TheWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority operatesMetrobus fixed-route bus service andMetrorail heavy-rail passenger service in and out of the county as well as the regionalMetroAccessparatransit system for the handicapped. The Prince George's County Department of Public Works and Transportation also operatesTheBus, a County-wide fixed-route bus system, and the Call-A-Bus service for passengers who do not have access to or have difficulty using fixed-route bus service. Call-A-Bus is a demand-response service which generally requires 14-days advance reservations. The county also offers a subsidized taxicab service for elderly and disabled residents called Call-A-Cab in which eligible customers who sign up for the service purchase coupons giving them a 50 percent discount with participating taxicab companies in Prince George's andMontgomery Counties.
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has fifteen stations of theWashington Metro system located in Prince George's County, with four of them as terminus stations:Greenbelt,New Carrollton,Largo, andBranch Avenue. ThePurple Line, which would link highly developed areas of both Montgomery and Prince George's Counties is currently under-construction and slated to open in 2027. ThePurple Line will provide connections to theWashington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority'sRed Line via Northern Prince George's County and Montgomery County. TheOrange Line andMARC Train'sPenn Line will have transfer points atNew Carrollton station.
TheMARC Train (Maryland Area Rail Commuter) train service has two lines that traverse Prince George's County. TheCamden Line, which runs between BaltimoreCamden Station andWashington Union Station and has six stops in the county atRiverdale,College Park,Greenbelt,Muirkirk,Laurel andLaurel Race Track. ThePenn Line runs on theAmtrak route betweenPennsylvania and Washington Union stations. It has three stops in the county:Bowie State,Seabrook andNew Carrollton.
TheCollege Park Airport (CGS), established in 1909, is the world's oldest continuously operated airport and is home to the adjacentCollege Park Aviation Museum.
Privately owned general aviation airfields in the county includeFreeway Airport (W00) inMitchellville,Potomac Airfield (VKX) inFriendly, and privateheliports.[64]
The area is served by three airports:Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) inArlington County, Virginia,Baltimore–Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) in neighboringAnne Arundel County, andDulles International Airport (IAD) inDulles, Virginia.
Andrews Air Force Base (ADW), the airfield portion ofJoint Base Andrews, is also nearCamp Springs.
Prince George's County is served by a water taxi that operates from the National Harbor to Alexandria, Virginia and to The Wharf in Washington, D.C.[65]
_from_the_pedestrian_overpass_for_the_Woodrow_Wilson_Bridge_Trail_in_National_Harbor%2c_Prince_George%2527s_County%2c_Maryland.jpg)
Because of its location north and east ofWashington, D.C., several future transit technology projects look to be routed partially through Prince George's County. The first stage ofThe Boring Company's proposed Washington-to-New Yorkhyperloop will travel beneath the Baltimore–Washington Parkway through Prince George's en route to Baltimore.[66][67] No hyperloop stops within the county are projected. Similarly, former Maryland GovernorLarry Hogan has supported efforts to trial a 40-milesuperconducting maglev (SCMaglev) train route connecting Washington to Baltimore. Proposed routes would run through Prince George's parallel to the Baltimore–Washington Parkway or along the Amtrak Penn Line corridor.[68] As with the hyperloop, no SCMaglev stop is planned within Prince George's County. The Purple Line light transit rail is currently in construction in College Park and New Carrollton.[69]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 21,344 | — | |
| 1800 | 21,175 | −0.8% | |
| 1810 | 20,589 | −2.8% | |
| 1820 | 20,216 | −1.8% | |
| 1830 | 20,474 | 1.3% | |
| 1840 | 19,539 | −4.6% | |
| 1850 | 21,549 | 10.3% | |
| 1860 | 23,327 | 8.3% | |
| 1870 | 21,138 | −9.4% | |
| 1880 | 26,451 | 25.1% | |
| 1890 | 26,080 | −1.4% | |
| 1900 | 29,898 | 14.6% | |
| 1910 | 36,147 | 20.9% | |
| 1920 | 43,347 | 19.9% | |
| 1930 | 60,095 | 38.6% | |
| 1940 | 89,490 | 48.9% | |
| 1950 | 194,182 | 117.0% | |
| 1960 | 357,395 | 84.1% | |
| 1970 | 660,567 | 84.8% | |
| 1980 | 665,071 | 0.7% | |
| 1990 | 729,268 | 9.7% | |
| 2000 | 801,515 | 9.9% | |
| 2010 | 863,420 | 7.7% | |
| 2020 | 967,201 | 12.0% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 966,629 | [70] | −0.1% |
| =U.S. Decennial Census[71] 1790–1960[72] 1900–1990[73] 1990–2000[74] 2010–2020[24] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[75] | Pop 1990[76] | Pop 2000[77] | Pop 2010[78] | Pop 2020[24] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 383,215 | 303,090 | 194,836 | 128,853 | 109,060 | 57.62% | 41.56% | 24.31% | 14.92% | 11.28% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 246,084 | 365,705 | 498,301 | 548,439 | 571,866 | 37.00% | 50.15% | 62.17% | 63.52% | 59.13% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 1,685 | 2,172 | 2,274 | 2,156 | 1,887 | 0.25% | 0.30% | 0.28% | 0.25% | 0.20% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 16,515 | 27,344 | 30,803 | 34,815 | 41,436 | 2.48% | 3.75% | 3.84% | 4.03% | 4.28% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | x[79] | x[80] | 318 | 330 | 335 | x | x | 0.04% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 3,151 | 974 | 1,706 | 2,167 | 5,746 | 0.47% | 0.13% | 0.21% | 0.25% | 0.59% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x[81] | x[82] | 16,220 | 17,688 | 31,408 | x | x | 2.02% | 2.05% | 3.25% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 14,421 | 29,983 | 57,057 | 128,972 | 205,463 | 2.17% | 4.11% | 7.12% | 14.94% | 21.24% |
| Total | 665,071 | 729,268 | 801,515 | 863,420 | 967,201 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The Hispanic population continues to grow in the county with several cities and CDPs reaching a Latino majority (Adelphi,Brentwood,Chillum,Colmar Manor,East Riverdale,Langley Park,Landover Hills,Woodlawn).
As of the2010 United States census, there were 863,420 people, 304,042 households, and 203,520 families residing in the county.[83] The population density was 1,788.8 inhabitants per square mile (690.7/km2). There were 328,182 housing units at an average density of 679.9 per square mile (262.5/km2).[84] The racial and ancestral makeup of the county was:[85]
Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 14.9% of the population, an equal percentage to Whites of indeterminate origin.[83] In terms of ancestry, 6.5% wereSubsaharan African, and 2.0% wereAmerican.[86]
Of the 304,042 households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples living together, 20.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.1% were non-families, and 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.31. The median age was 34.9 years.[83]
The median income for a household in the county was $71,260 and the median income for a family was $82,580. Males had a median income of $49,471 versus $49,478 for females. The per capita income for the county was $31,215. About 5.0% of families and 7.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 9.6% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.[87]
In 2000, there were 801,515 people living in Prince George's County; the ethnic makeup of the county was as of 2000:
By the 2008 estimates there were 298,439 households, out of which 65.1% were family households and 34.9% were non-family households. 36.4% of households had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.00% were married couples living together, 19.60% had a female householder with no husband present. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 persons and the average family size was 3.25 persons.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.80% under the age of 18, 10.40% from 18 to 24, 33.00% from 25 to 44, 22.10% from 45 to 64, and 7.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county in 2008 was $71,696,[88] and the median income for a family was $81,908. The 2008 mean income for a family in the county was $94,360. As of 2000, males had a median income of $38,904 versus $35,718 for females. The 2008 per capita income for the county was $23,360. About 4.70% of families and 7.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over. Prince George's County is the 70th most affluent county in the United States by median income for families and the most affluent county in the United States with an African-American majority. Almost 38.8% of all households in Prince George's County, earned over $100,000 in 2008.[25]
"30.1% of all residents over the age of 25 had graduated from college and obtained a bachelor's degree (17.8%) or professional degree (12.2%). 86.2% of all residents over the age of 25 were high school graduates or higher."[89]
Prince George's County is relatively religious compared to the rest of Maryland,[90] hosting more than 800 churches, including 12megachurches,[91] as well as a number of mosques, synagogues, andHindu andBuddhist temples. Property belonging to religious entities makes up 3,450 acres (14.0 km2) of land in the county, or 1.8% of the total area of the county.[92][93]
From 2000 to 2020, Prince George's County ranked as the wealthiest African American-majority county in the United States;[94][95] however, it was surpassed byCharles County, Maryland, in the 2020 census.[96]
According to the county'scomprehensive annual financial report, the top private-sector employers in the county are the following. "NR" indicates not ranked in the top ten for the year given.
| Employer | Employees (2021)[97] | Employees (2014)[98] | Employees (2011)[99] | Employees (2005)[99] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland Capital Region Health | 4,800 | NR | NR | NR |
| United Parcel Service | 3,300 | 4,220 | 4,220 | 2,300 |
| MGM National Harbor | 2,400 | NR | NR | NR |
| Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center | 2,000 | 2,430 | 2,000 | NR |
| Verizon | 1,800 | 2,738 | 2,738 | NR |
| Southern Maryland Hospital Center | 1,308 | 1,242 | 1,300 | 1,300 |
| Doctor's Community Hospital | 1,233 | 1,300 | 1,300 | NR |
| Melwood Horticultural Training Center | 1,200 | NR | NR | NR |
| Marriott International | 1,000 | NR | NR | NR |
| Orndoff & Spaid, Inc | 1,000 | NR | NR | NR |
| Giant | NR | 3,000 | 3,600 | 6,152 |
| Dimensions Healthcare System | NR | 2,500 | 2,500 | 2,100 |
| Shoppers Food & Pharmacy | NR | 1,975 | 1,975 | 1,975 |
| Safeway | NR | 1,605 | 1,605 | 2,400 |
| Capital One Bank | NR | NR | 1,456 | NR |
| Target | NR | 1,400 | 1,400 | NR |
The top public-sector employers in the county are as follows. "NR" indicates not ranked in the top ten for the year given.
| Employer | Employees (2021)[97] | Employees (2014)[98] | Employees (2011)[99] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington | 18,000 | 13,500 | 8,057 |
| University System of Maryland | 13,000 | 17,905 | 16,014 |
| NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center | 12,200 | 3,397 | 3,171 |
| Internal Revenue Service | 4,500 | 5,539 | 5,539 |
| U.S. Census Bureau | 4,285 | 4,414 | 4,287 |
| National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office | 3,000 | 1,724 | 1,724 |
| Prince George's Community College | 1,800 | 2,637 | 1,700 |
| U.S. Department of Agriculture | 1,500 | 1,850 | 1,850 |
| Adelphi Laboratory Center | 1,500 | NR | NR |
| National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | 1,200 | 1,350 | 1,350 |
| Prince George's County | NR[a] | 7,003 | 7,052 |
In 2022, the county had lower smoking rates, a higher life expectancy and a higher proportion of the population with insurance than the national average.[100]
As of 2020, the county had lower average violent crime rates than the national and state averages.[101][102] In 2020, among predominantly African-American communities with a population of over 25,000, Prince George's County as well asAugusta, Georgia were considered safer than the national average.[101]
Prince George's County has seen a 57% decline in violent crime rates between 2009 and 2020.[102] The total crime rate for the county declined 30% between 2006 and 2011.[103]
TheUniversity System of Maryland's Adelphi Office is in theunincorporated area ofAdelphi.[104] Formerly it was the headquarters of the entire system.[105]
The county's public schools are managed by thePrince George's County Public Schools system. It serves as theschool district for the entire county.[106]
Prince George's County is home to theUnited States Department of Agriculture'sHenry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center,NASA'sGoddard Space Flight Center, theUnited States Census Bureau,Andrews Air Force Base, theNational Archives and Records Administration'sCollege Park facility, theUniversity of Maryland's flagship College Park campus,Northwest Stadium (home of theWashington Commanders), and theNational Harbor, which its developers, Peterson Companies andGaylord Entertainment Company, bill as the largest single mixed-use project and combined convention center–hotel complex on the East Coast.
_01_(cropped).jpg)
Although Prince George's County is not often credited for theWashington Commanders, the team's home stadium,Northwest Stadium, is inLandover. No other major-league professional sports teams are in the county, though Bowie hosts theChesapeake Baysox, aMinor League Baseball team. The county is known for its very successful youth. In basketball, ESPN published an article declaring Prince George's County the new "Hoops Hot Bed" and ranked it as the number one basketball talent pool in the country.[108] A number of basketball prospects, includingKevin Durant,Victor Oladipo,Jeff Green,Roy Hibbert andTy Lawson, are fromAAU basketball teams such as thePG Jaguars, DC Assault, and DC Blue Devils. Besides AAU, basketball has skyrocketed from local high schools such asDeMatha Catholic High School andBishop McNamara High School, both of which have found some great success locally and nationally.[citation needed]
The county's basketball talent was profiled in the 2020 documentaryBasketball County, produced byKevin Durant. Durant and numerous other residents of the county who went on to success in basketball are featured in the film.[109]
TheJunior Tennis Champions Center, whereFrances Tiafoe played from a young age, is in College Park.[110]
This county contains the following incorporated municipalities:
Part of the city ofTakoma Park was formerly in Prince George's County, but since 1997 the city has been entirely inMontgomery County.[111] The part of Takoma Park that changed counties comprises two residential neighborhoods,Carole Highlands (an unincorporated portion of which is still in Prince George's County) and New Hampshire Gardens.
Unincorporated areas are also considered as towns by many people and listed in many collections of towns, but they lack local government. Various organizations, such as theUnited States Census Bureau, theUnited States Postal Service, and local chambers of commerce, define the communities they wish to recognize differently, and since they are not incorporated, their boundaries have no official status outside the organizations in question. The Census Bureau recognizes the followingcensus-designated places in the county:
Prince George's County has threesister cities, as designated bySister Cities International:
Royal Bafokeng Nation, South Africa
Rishon LeZion, Israel
Ziguinchor, SenegalThe corporate name shall be 'Prince George's County, Maryland,' and it shall thus be designated in all actions and proceedings touching its rights, powers, properties, liabilities, and duties.
Section 103. Name and Boundaries. The corporate name shall be 'Prince George's County, Maryland,' and it shall thus be designated in all actions and proceedings touching its rights, powers, properties, liabilities, and duties. Its boundaries and County seat shall be and remain as they are at the time this Charter takes effect unless otherwise changed in accordance with law.
Adelphi Office/Mailing Address for All USM Offices 3300 Metzerott Road Adelphi, MD 20783-1690
38°50′N76°51′W / 38.83°N 76.85°W /38.83; -76.85
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![Flag of Prince George's County, Maryland[3]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aFlag_of_Prince_George%2527s_County%2c_Maryland.svg)
