Betterton, Maryland

Betterton Historic District

The Betterton Historic District consists of a collection of vernacular Victorian resort structures. The district includes many of the homes, hotels and cottages built to accommodate steamboat passengers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Notable buildings within the district include the hotels and boarding homes which catered to the steamboat passengers, several churches, and summer cottages, dating from the golden age of the passenger steamboats on the Chesapeake Bay.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Geography

Betterton is located at the mouth of the Sassafras River on the upper Chesapeake Bay. More precisely, Betterton is located at 39°22′4″N 76°3′39″W (39.367863, -76.060877).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.00 square mile (2.59 km²), of which, 0.99 square miles (2.56 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) is water.

Government

Betterton is governed by a mayor and a town council with four members. Town council meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm in the town hall. The town hall is located in the Betterton Community Center, a former Catholic church refurbished as town offices and a museum, on Main Street.

Betterton Beach

Betterton Beach is located at the foot of Main Street. The beach has 300 feet (91 m) of frontage for swimming. The water is generally free of sea nettles because the water is not very salty. The beach has public restrooms (seasonal), a boardwalk, a fishing jetty, a public landing, and reasonable parking. A picnic pavilion is nearby. Lifeguards service was suspended in 2008, but lifeguard service has resumed since May 20, 2016 with their working hours 11am-6pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Even so, the public beach is currently "swim at your own risk".

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 345 people, 156 households, and 88 families residing in the town. The population density was 348.5 inhabitants per square mile (134.6/km²). There were 317 housing units at an average density of 320.2 per square mile (123.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.5% White, 2.9% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.7% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.

There were 156 households of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.6% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% 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 2.94.

The median age in the town was 46.9 years. 18.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.3% were from 25 to 44; 36.7% were from 45 to 64; and 15.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 376 people, 164 households, and 102 families residing in the town. The population density was 423.9 people per square mile (163.1/km²). There were 277 housing units at an average density of 312.3 per square mile (120.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.29% White, 2.13% African American, 4.52% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.24% of the population.

There were 164 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town, the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,477, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $27,188 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,848. About 6.1% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.