Taneytown, Maryland

Geography

Taneytown is located at 39°39′26″N 77°10′14″W (39.657099, -77.170627).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.05 square miles (7.90 km²), of which, 3.04 square miles (7.87 km²) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) is water.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 6,728 people, 2,434 households, and 1,813 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,213.2 inhabitants per square mile (854.5/km²). There were 2,554 housing units at an average density of 840.1 per square mile (324.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.3% White, 4.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.7% of the population.

There were 2,434 households of which 40.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 14.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.5% were non-families. 20.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.14.

The median age in the city was 37 years. 27.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.2% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,128 people, 1,786 households, and 1,387 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,781.1 people per square mile (687.5/km²). There were 1,848 housing units at an average density of 641.9 per square mile (247.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.00% White, 1.74% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.62% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.50% of the population. 26% of Westminster's residents were German, 14% Irish, 10% English, 5% Italian, 3% French, 2% Polish, 2% Dutch, and 2% Scottish.

There were 1,786 households out of which 47.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the town the population was spread out with 34.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 35.4% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,820, and the median income for a family was $49,615. Males had a median income of $31,862 versus $24,261 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,258. About 9.0% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

History

Taneytown was founded in 1754 and became the seat of Taneytown Hundred in colonial Frederick County. Taneytown takes its name from Raphael Taney, a recipient of one of the first land grants in the area, though Taney likely never lived in the town that bears his name. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Roger Brooke Taney, author of the Dred Scott decision, born in 1777, shares a common ancestor with him. When Carroll County was formed on 19 January 1837, Taneytown Hundred and Taneytown were included.

Much of the town was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Taneytown Historic District in 1986.

Taneytown was the first town in Maryland to make English the official language. This action was primarily sponsored by the local branch of the Ku Klux Klan.

There is a Steve Earle song called "Taneytown" on his album El Corazon.

Notable inhabitants

Taneytown was home to Fr. Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin, Catholic priest, missionary, and Russian prince during the late 18th century.

Taneytown was the headquarters of Union Army General George Meade for a period during the American Civil War. Fellow Civil War general Jacob G. Lauman was born in Taneytown.

Congressman Joseph A. Goulden of New York was from a family with a house in Taneytown, where he usually stayed during the summer. Goulden was present in Gettysburg when Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, and Goulden heard the speech in person.

Actor Fred Gwynne, star of TV's The Munsters, died in Taneytown on July 2, 1993, after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Explorer Rogers Birnie was born in Taneytown in 1851. Shortly after his birth his family moved to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Haunted Barn

Every October since 1974 the Taneytown Jaycees organize a Halloween event called "The Haunted Barn". This is a haunted house tour through an old warehouse (the original barn location was destroyed by an arsonist in 1986) decorated for the event. The design of the tour changes every year but always ends with visitors being chased by masked attendants with chainsaws.

The town sought to close the Haunted Barn after an accident involving two teenaged visitors, one of whom was severely injured. The town decided that the site would be best used as a recreation center for children. The barn is no longer active.