Emmitsburg, Maryland

Emmitsburg was named for its founder, William Emmit, in 1785.^[6] However, a settlement (named first "Silver Fancy" and later "Poplar Fields")^[7] preceded the town, particularly since British authorities restricted colonists' expansion during and after the French and Indian War.

In 1757 Lutherans led by pastor George Bager built a church, which they shared with a German Reformed congregation until 1798. After the American Revolutionary War, Catholic missionary Rev. Jean Dubois established a mission church, then a seminary, at Emmitsburg. Later Elizabeth Ann Seton established a convent, with a school and hospital. Soon, the number of Methodists in Emmitsburg led to the formation of a circuit around town, rather than share a minister with Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

The Union fortified Emmitsburg to stop the Confederate invasion of the Union territory in June 1863 during the American Civil War. Half the town was burned to the ground in a mysterious fire on the night of June 23. Folklore has it that "The Great Fire", as it was known, was started by a Union sympathizer to prevent advancing Confederates from taking supplies from the town. However fate spared the town a battle between the opposing forces, which instead took place 12 miles north of it in Pennsylvania near the town of Gettysburg. The town was briefly held by the retreating Confederates on July 4.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.52 square miles (3.94 km²), all land.^[8]

Emmitsburg has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) with hot, humid summers and moderately cold winters. It is known for being located near the base of Catoctin Mountain.

 

The primary method of travel to and from Emmitsburg is by road. U.S. Route 15 is the main highway serving Emmitsburg, providing connections northward to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and southward to Frederick. U.S. Route 15 Business follows the old alignment of US 15 through the center of Emmitsburg, with the main highway now following a bypass on the east side of town. Maryland Route 140 is the other main highway traversing the town, which provides connections eastward towards Westminster and eventually Baltimore. To the west, MD 140 crosses into Pennsylvania and becomes Pennsylvania Route 16.

As of the census^[12] of 2010, there were 2,814 people, 997 households, and 670 families living in the town. The population density was 1,851.3 inhabitants per square mile (714.8/km²). There were 1,070 housing units at an average density of 703.9 per square mile (271.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.0% White, 2.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 997 households, of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.8% were non-families. Of all households, 26.6% were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.22.

The median age in the town was 39.5 years. 26% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.1% were from 45 to 64; and 16.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.

As of the census^[13] of 2000, there were 2,290 people, 811 households, and 553 families living in the town. The population density was 1,992.9 inhabitants per square mile (769.5/km²). There were 862 housing units at an average density of 750.2 per square mile (289.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.16% White, 0.87% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.04% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.44% of the population.

There were 811 households, out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. Of all households, 26.8% were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 76.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,710, and the median income for a family was $46,328. Males had a median income of $32,578 versus $23,235 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,216. About 4.2% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 44.4% of those age 65 or over.

The town has two newspapers: the Emmitsburg News-Journal,^[14] and The Catoctin Banner,^[15] both of which are published monthly,

• Emmitsburg Historic District

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Emmitsburg, Maryland.

• Emmitsburg.net—Emmitsburg's non-profit community Web site
• Emmitsburg Historical Society's Web site
• Mount St. Mary's University
• Emmitsburg News-Journal—Emmitsburg's community newspaper