Local Counties and Cities

Charles County, Maryland

Population (2007 est.): 143,175
Size: 458 square miles

Located in southern Maryland along the Potomac River, Charles County is one of the fastest growing sections of suburban Maryland. Residents enjoy a relaxed lifestyle that still gives them easy access to all the amenities of Greater Washington. The county features affordable housing, fine schools and a wide range of recreational possibilities, including nine county parks, three state parks and four national wildlife areas.

More and more businesses are discovering the advantages of locating in Charles County, where a variety of commercial space is available at lower costs. Today 2,257 businesses make their home here. This is the site of the Naval Ordinance Station, prominent in weaponry research and development. High technology industries continue to proliferate. Major employers include Automated Graphics Systems, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Potomac Electric Power Company and Southern Maryland Oil.

For more information, visit the Charles County website.

Population Characteristics
Year
Population
Households
1980 (1)
72,750
21,379
1990 (1)
101,154
32,950
2000 (1)
120,154
41,668
2010 (2)
147,400
52,200
2020 (2)
177,200
63,700
2030 (2)
204,200
76,900
Source: 1 - U.S. Census Bureau; 2 - MWCOG Round 7.0 Cooperative Forecast
Age Distribution 2007
Description
Estimate
Percent
Age 0 - 4
9,977
6.94%
Age 5 - 9
10,088
7.02%
Age 10 - 14
11,064
7.70%
Age 15 - 17
7,192
5.00%
Age 18 - 20
5,887
4.10%
Age 21 - 24
7,684
5.35%
Age 25 - 34
19,475
13.55%
Age 35 - 44
23,675
16.47%
Age 45 - 49
11,860
8.25%
Age 50 - 54
9,870
6.87%
Age 55 - 59
8,232
5.73%
Age 60 - 64
6,440
4.48%
Age 65 - 74
7,358
5.12%
Age 75 - 84
3,579
2.49%
Age 85 and over
1,344
0.94%
Source: Claritas, 2007.
Population by Race and Ethnicity 2007
Race/Ethnic Origin
Estimate
Percent
Not Hispanic or Latino:
138,917
White Alone
79,438
57.18%
Black or African American Alone
51,659
37.19%
American Indian and Alaska Native Alone
799
0.58%
Asian Alone
3,334
2.40%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Alone
92
0.07%
Some Other Race Alone
235
0.17%
Two or More Races
3,360
2.42%
Hispanic or Latino:
4,808
White Alone
2,608
54.24%
Black or African American Alone
368
7.65%
American Indian and Alaska Native Alone
86
1.79%
Asian Alone
40
0.83%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Alone
7
0.15%
Some Other Race Alone
1,183
24.60%
Two or More Races
516
10.73%
Source: Claritas, 2007.
Income 2007
Estimate
Aggregate Household Income (billions)
$4.4
Average Household Income
$85,771
Median Household Income
$75,537
Per Capita
$30,662
Source: Claritas, 2007.
Employment/Unemployment Mar 2007
Labor Force
75,163
Employment
72,919
Unemployment
2,244
Unemployment Rate
3.0%
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2007.
Occupational Characteristics of Residents
Major Category
Employed Persons
Distribution
Total
60,836
Management, professional, and related occupations:
21,706
35.7%
Management, business, and financial operations occupations:
8,839
14.5%
Management occupations, except farmers and farm managers
5,176
8.5%
Farmers and farm managers
241
0.4%
Business and financial operations occupations:
3,422
5.6%
Business operations specialists
1,858
3.1%
Financial specialists
1,564
2.6%
Professional and related occupations:
12,867
21.2%
Computer and mathematical occupations
3,560
5.9%
Architecture and engineering occupations:
1,649
2.7%
Architects, surveyors, cartographers, and engineers
1,193
2.0%
Drafters, engineering, and mapping technicians
456
0.7%
Life, physical, and social science occupations
476
0.8%
Community and social services occupations
607
1.0%
Legal occupations
576
0.9%
Education, training, and library occupations
3,094
5.1%
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
811
1.3%
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations:
2,094
3.4%
Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and technical occupations
1,416
2.3%
Health technologists and technicians
678
1.1%
Service occupations:
8,472
13.9%
Healthcare support occupations
804
1.3%
Protective service occupations:
2,468
4.1%
Fire fighting, prevention, and law enforcement workers, including supervisors
1,598
2.6%
Other protective service workers, including supervisors
870
1.4%
Food preparation and serving related occupations
2,288
3.8%
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations
1,204
2.0%
Personal care and service occupations
1,708
2.8%
Sales and office occupations:
17,215
28.3%
Sales and related occupations
5,826
9.6%
Office and administrative support occupations
11,389
18.7%
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations
148
0.2%
Construction, extraction, and maintenance occupations:
7,715
12.7%
Construction and extraction occupations:
4,531
7.4%
Supervisors, construction and extraction workers
718
1.2%
Construction trades workers
3,711
6.1%
Extraction workers
102
0.2%
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations
3,184
5.2%
Production, transportation, and material moving occupations:
5,580
9.2%
Production occupations
2,452
4.0%
Transportation and material moving occupations:
3,128
5.1%
Supervisors, transportation and material moving workers
120
0.2%
Aircraft and traffic control occupations
100
0.2%
Motor vehicle operators
1,846
3.0%
Rail, water and other transportation occupations
101
0.2%
Material moving workers
961
1.6%
Source: American Community Survey 2005
Educational Attainment of Adults
Percent High School Graduate or Higher
89.9%
Percent Bachelor's Degree or Higher
21.2%
Percent Graduate/Professional Degree
7.5%
Source: American Community Survey 2005
Employment Trends
2000
41,867
2010
62,888
50.2%
2020
66,797
6.2%
2030
69,100
3.4%
Source: MWCOG Round 7.0 Cooperative Forecast
Employment by Industry
Industry
Employment
Natural Resources/Mining
121
Construction
4,010
Manufacturing
1,226
Trade/Transportation/Utilities
11,479
Information
508
Financial Activities
1,542
Professional Services
3,044
Education/Health Services
5,168
Leisure/Hospitality
4,111
Other Services
1,272
Unclassified
0
Federal Government
2,168
State/Local Government
6,085
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2005; Note: N/D Not Disclosed
Major Corporate Employers
Employees
Civista Medical Center
850
Facchina Construction Company
488
American Community Property Trust
350
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative
300
Automated Graphic Systems, Inc.
250
Southern Maryland Oil
240
Chaney Enterprises
225
Besche Oil Company
204
Chopp and Company
200
The Maryland Independent
200
Source: Charles County Maryland Economic Development
Housing Inventory
Single unit detached
35,336
Single unit attached
8,219
Multi-units
5,207
Source: American Community Survey 2005
Home Values
Owner-occupied units
Median Value
39,409
$290,800
Source: American Community Survey 2005
Primary and Secondary Education
Total Enrollment
26,026
Number of Schools
34
Elementary
19
Middle
7
High
5
Other
3
Source: National Center for Education Statistics
Private Schools
Total Enrollment
3,379
Number of Schools
19
Source: National Center for Education Statistics
Colleges and Universities
Enrollment
College of Southern Maryland
7,534
Source: National Center for Education Statistics

 

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