History
of Upper Marlboro
The area
of Upper Marlboro was first settled around 1695. It was named after John
Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, an ancestor of Winston Churchill.
The land, which was to become the town, was part of several estates known
as Grove Landing, Meadows, and Darnall's Chance, owned by the Brooke,
Beall, and Darnall families, respectively.
Darnall's
Chance, also known as the Buck House, was built between 1694 and 1712.
The house can still be found across from the present day County Administration
Building on Gov. Oden Bowie Drive. It was owned by the Darnall and Carroll
families. The home may have been the birthplace of Daniel Carroll, a signer
of the US Constitution, and his brother, John Carroll, the first bishop
of the Roman Catholic Church in America. A marker sign at the site calls
the building the oldest still standing in the town and perhaps the entire
country. Some have questions the accuracy of this statement, as much of
the building underwent major renovations in the late 1980s.
In 1706,
Marlborough Town was established as a port town by the Act for the Advancement
of Trade and Erecting Ports and Towns. It was declared that the town would
be constructed, "at the upper landing on the Western Branch, commonly
called Colonel Belt's landing." County surveyor Thomas Truman Greenfield
conducted a survey of 100 acres (0.40 km2) of the three estates from which
the town would be formed. Streets, alleys, a meetinghouse, lots for small
businesses, and 100 lots to be used for homes were laid out. Earliest
plans should the town being laid out in a grid pattern with an L shape.
Residents
of the area were not happy with Greenfield's initial layout and petitioned
the General Assembly to have the town replatted. In 1744, the new survey
was approved and the town was given a new name, Upper Marlborough. Upper
was added to distinguish the town from the community of Marlboro (now
known as Lower Marlboro) in Calvert County.
Early in
its life, when the western branch of the Patuxent River was still navigable,
the town served as a port town for tobacco ships. The town blossomed into
an agricultural, social, and political hot spot. Farms, many of which
raised tobacco, dominated the surrounding areas.
In 1721,
a courthouse was constructed in the town. The county seat was then moved
from Charles Town, on the banks of the Patuxent, to Upper Marlborough.
The courthouse was built with money from a 12 pound tobacco tax imposed
on county inhabitants. One of the first laws passed at the courthouse
was the Public School Act, which established a public school system.
During the
late 1700s and early 1800s many prominent merchants, lawyers, and politicians
lived and worked in the area. Horse racing came to the town around the
mid 1700s and attracted many people from the surrounding areas. The Maryland
Jockey Club sponsored spring and summer races at the race track south
of town, and racing continued there until 1972, when they were moved to
the Bowie Race Track. The race track is now part of the Equestrian Center
owned by Prince George's County.
In 1870,
the town was incorporated by the Maryland General Assembly. A volunteer
fire department was organized in 1886, and the Marlborough Fire Association
was incorporated the following year.
In the late
1800’s, the town’s name changed from Upper Marlborough to
Upper Marlboro. The name change is linked to a postal clerk who felt the
extra letters, “ugh,” didn’t properly fit on the rubber
stamps being used at the time. By 1893, postal guides were referring to
the town as Upper Marlboro and the name stuck, despite a proposed ballot
to have it changed back in 1968.
Since its
initial conception the town has changed quite a bit. It initially boomed
as a port town for tobacco trade, but the clearing and cultivation of
land for farming would lead to erosion in the area. Over the years this
erosion caused sedimentation, leading the Western Branch to become unnavigable.
The fields of tobacco that once dominated the area have been converted
over to residential developments, with the number of farms dwindling each
year.
Today, the
town is still the governing center of Prince George's County. Located
within the town are the Prince George's County Courthouse, County Administration
Building, and the Board of Education. The town's atmosphere is remarkably
different, depending on the time of day. During the day, people from all
across the county flock in for court hearings and government affairs,
but in the evening, the town is pretty much empty.
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The
Courthouse of Upper Marlboro
The courthouse,
which has been a critical part of the town since it became the county
seat in 1721, has quite a history. Since this 1721, the courthouse in
Upper Marlboro has seen many changes. Between 1798 and 1801, a new courthouse
was constructed on the site of the old one. The courthouse was again rebuilt
in the 1880s.
In 1939,
the courthouse was substantially expanded and rebuilt. During this time,
the building gained its famous stone Ionic columns. According to county
historian Susan Pearl, “They wanted the neo-classic Georgian university
campus building, and that’s what they got.” The total cost
of the revision was $178,000.
Small additions
were made in 1947 and 1969.
In the early
1990’s a new courthouse was erected behind the existing courthouse.
The new courthouse, composed of the Marbury and Bourne wing, was completed
in 1991. The new building occupies 360,000 square feet (33,000 m2) of
space and cost $80 million. The old courthouse was then designated as
the Duvall Wing and was attached to the new section by walkways.
In May 2003,
the old courthouse was closed for a $25 million renovation. On November
3rd, 2004, two months before the building was scheduled to reopen, a fire
broke out and destroyed much of the 151,000-square-foot (14,000 m2) building.
The fire left only a charred skeleton of the cupola, which overlooked
Main St. for 64 years.
In January
2007, the courthouse briefly caught fire again when sparks from a construction
worker’s welding tool ignited building materials on the roof. Firefighters
quickly contained the blaze and the renovations continued. The building
is expected to be complete by the end of 2008.
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Demographics
of Upper Marlboro
As of the
census of 2000, there were 648 people, 292 households, and 165 families
residing in the town. The population density was 1,586.7 people per square
mile (610.2/km²). There were 309 housing units at an average density
of 756.6/sq mi (291.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 51.54%
White, 45.06% African American, 0.46% Native American, 1.08% Asian, 0.15%
from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino
of any race were 1.54% of the population.
There were
292 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living
with them, 29.5% were married couples living together, 22.9% had a female
householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 34.2%
of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living
alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was
2.21 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the town
the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from
18 to 24, 36.3% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were
65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females
there were 72.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were
75.4 males.
The median
income for a household in the town was $52,813, and the median income
for a family was $58,542. Males had a median income of $42,639 versus
$39,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,892. About
1.3% of families and 1.4% of the population were below the poverty line,
including none of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.
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Education
in Upper Marlboro
Preschool
St Mary of the Assumption School
4610 Largo Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20772-7832
301-627-6798
Elementary
Schools
Arrowhead
Elementary School
Sheila McConnell
2300 Sansbury Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20774-2462
301-499-7071
Excellence
Christian School
Daniel Mangrum
10675 Crain Hwy.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20772-5503
301-372-3580
Fairhaven
School
staff@fairhavenschool.com
17900 Queen Anne Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20774-8807
301-249-8060
Kettering
Elementary School
Mrs.Talbert
11000 Layton St.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20774-1527
301-808-5977
Kingdom Christian
Academy
11425 Old Marlboro Pike.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20772-2915
301-574-2477
Marlton Elementary
School
Carol Pica
8506 Old Colony Dr S.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20772-5099
301-952-7780
Mattaponi
Elementary School
Janice Hay
11701 Duley Station Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20772-7956
301-599-2442
Melwood Elementary
School
Carrington Smith
7100 Woodyard Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20772-4316
301-599-2500
Patuxent Elementary
School
4410 Bishopmill Dr.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20772-3499
301-952-7700
Phyllis E
Williams Elementary
Shirley Harrison-Jenkins
9601 Prince Pl.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20774-1099
301-499-3373
Rosaryville
Elemenatry School
Nancy Shannon
9925 Rosaryville Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20772-4837
301-599-2490
Middle School
James Madison
Middle School
Bruce Tyler
7300 Woodyard Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20772-4387
301-599-2422
Kettering
Middle School
Legaunt Jones
65 Herrington Dr.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20774-1599
301-808-4060
High
School
Croom Vocational
High School
8520 Duvall Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20772-8485
301-952-7750
Edgemeade
School
Cindy J. Spiller
13101 Croom Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20772-8269
301-888-1333
7 -
12 (Boys Only)
Frederick
Douglass High School
Monica Goldson
8000 Croom Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20772-9749
301-952-2400
Largo High
School
Richmond Myrick
505 Largo Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20774-2197
301-808-8880
Other
Queen
Anne School
14111 Oak Grove Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20774-8428
301-249-5002
Capitol Christian
Academy
610 Largo Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20774-2195
301-336-2200
Clinton Christian
School
Travis Crutchfield
6707 Woodyard Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20772-3898
301-599-9600
Riverdale
Baptist School
Brian Mentzer
1133 Largo Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD
20774-8687
301-249-7000
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Resources
and Links
Fun
Things to Do
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Local
Directory
Boys
& Girls Club
PO Box 87
Upper Marlboro, MD 20773
Phone: (301) 952-0509
Chamber
of Commerce
Contact: Joyce Gladstone
14605 Main Street
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: (301) 574-3001
Community
Center
5400 Race Track Road
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: (301) 627-2828
Darnall's
Chance
14800 Governor Oden Bowie Drive
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: (301) 952-8010
Friends
of the Library
Anne Ramsey
14730 Main Street
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: (301) 627-9330
Forest
Garden Club
Jo Ellyn Bunting
12601 Old Marlboro Pike
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: (301) 627-6536
Library
14730 Main Street
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: (301) 627-9330
Lions
Club
Roger Wirin
14711 Cambridge Drive
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: (301) 627-6897
Marlboro
Golf Club
4750 John Rogers Boulevard
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: (301) 952-1300
Marlboro
Volunteer Fire Department (Company 20)
14815 Pratt Street
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: (301) 883-7720
Marlborough
Day Committee
PO Box 484
Upper Marlboro MD 20773
Phone: (301) 952-9575
Rotary
Club
Andrew V. "Andy" Colevas
Phone: (301) 952-2300
Show
Place Arena
14900 Pennsylvania Avenue
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
General Events: (301) 952-7999
Equestrian: (301) 952-7908
St.
Mary's of the Assumption Church
14908 Main Street
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: (301) 627-3255
Trinity
Episcopal Church
14519 Church Street
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: (301) 627-2636
Union
United Methodist Church
14418 Old Marlboro Pike
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Phone: (301) 627-5088
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