Team Davis

Maryland's location in the U.S.
Statistics                                                    
Founded 1658
Seat La Plata
Area

Total 643 sq mi (1,665 km²)                                        

Land 461 sq mi (1,194 km²)                                            
Water182 sq mi (471 km²), 28.33%
Population                                                                          
 - (2000)
 - Density 
120,546
262/sq mi (101/km²)                                               
Website: www.charlescounty.org
Charles County is a county in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Maryland.
As of 2000, the population was 120,546. Its county seat is La Plata. The county was named for Charles Calvert (1637-1715), third Baron Baltimore.
This county is a part of the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Law/Government
Charles County is governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland. There are five commissioners. As of 2007, they are:
• Edith Jerry Patterson
• Wayne Cooper
• Gary V. Hodge
• Samuel N. Graves, Jr
• Reuben B. Collins, II
 Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 643 square miles (1,666 km²), of which, 461 square miles (1,194 km²) of it is land and 182 square miles (472 km²) of it (28.33%) is water.
 Adjacent Counties
• Prince George's County (north)
• Fairfax County, Virginia (northwest)
• Calvert County (east)
• Stafford County, Virginia (west)
• Prince William County, Virginia (west)
• St. Mary's County (southeast)
• Westmoreland County, Virginia (southeast)
• King George County, Virginia (south)
 Demographics
The county is experiencing a dramatic growth in African American population between 1990 and 2004. Although census figures here are shown from 2000:
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 120,546 people, 41,668 households, and 32,292 families residing in the county. The population density was 262 people per square mile (101/km²). There were 43,903 housing units at an average density of 95 per square mile (37/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.51% White, 26.06% Black or African American, 0.75% Native American, 1.82% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 2.08% from two or more races. 2.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 11.6% were of German, 10.8% Irish, 10.2% English, 9.3% American and 5.3% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 41,668 households out of which 41.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 14.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.50% were non-families. 17.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.70% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 33.20% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 7.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $62,199, and the median income for a family was $67,602. Males had a median income of $43,371 versus $34,231 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,285. About 3.70% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.70% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.
 
Education
 Colleges and universities
• College of Southern Maryland, in La Plata.
 Public school system
Main article: Charles County Public Schools