Berlin, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Berlin is a town in Worcester County
, Maryland
, United States
. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census.
Berlin incorporated as a town in 1868. In the early 20th century, Berlin was known as a rest stop for travelers on their way to the coastal resort of Ocean City
as well as a stop for tourists who enjoyed hunting and fishing on the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland
.
Since the late 1980s the town has undergone considerable revitalization of its historic downtown commercial district and adjacent residential areas. Berlin's historic residential areas feature nearly two centuries of architectural heritage from the from three distinct periods: Federal
, Victorian
, and 20th Century
. 47 of these structures have been noted in the National Register of Historic Places
as well as the historic commercial district. Berlin has also been designated as a "Main Street Community" by the State of Maryland in recognition of its revitalization progress.
In 2010, the Berlin Fire Company celebrated its 100th anniversary. As of 2010, The Berlin Fire Company provided fire and EMS service to Berlin and the surrounding area, has three stations, 16 pieces of apparatus, approximately 70 volunteers, 9 career EMS providers, and responds to approximately 2,000 calls per year.
Former U.S. Vice-President Spiro Agnew
died at Atlantic General Hospital
in Berlin.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 3,491 people, 1,347 households, and 880 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,587.2 people per square mile (612.7/km²). There were 1,427 housing units at an average density of 648.8 per square mile (250.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 63.74% White, 32.03% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.97% from other races
, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.38% of the population.
There were 1,347 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples
living together, 21.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,438, and the median income for a family was $36,653. Males had a median income of $29,946 versus $20,293 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,303. About 12.9% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.
is one of the two top employers for the Town of Berlin.
Worcester County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*82.0% White*13.6% Black*0.3% Native American*1.1% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*1.3% Other races*3.2% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,491 at the 2000 census.
History
The town of Berlin had its start around the 1790s, part of the Burley Plantation, a 300 acres (1.2 km²) land grant dating back to 1677. The name Berlin is believed to be derived from a contraction of "Burleigh Inn", a tavern located at the crossroads of the Philadelphia Post Road (now South Main Street) and Sinepuxent Road (Tripoli Street). This may be why the traditional pronunciation of the town's name is ˈbɜrlən , as opposed to the more modern pronunciations ˈbɛərlɨn and bɛərˈlɪn . The traditional pronunciation is rarely heard today.Berlin incorporated as a town in 1868. In the early 20th century, Berlin was known as a rest stop for travelers on their way to the coastal resort of Ocean City
Ocean City, Maryland
Ocean City, sometimes known as OC, or OCMD, is an Atlantic Ocean resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. Ocean City is widely known in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is a frequent destination for vacationers in that area...
as well as a stop for tourists who enjoyed hunting and fishing on the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland
Eastern Shore of Maryland
The Eastern Shore of Maryland is a territorial part of the U.S. state of Maryland that lies predominately on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay and consists of nine counties. The origin of term Eastern Shore was derived to distinguish a territorial part of the State of Maryland from the Western...
.
Since the late 1980s the town has undergone considerable revitalization of its historic downtown commercial district and adjacent residential areas. Berlin's historic residential areas feature nearly two centuries of architectural heritage from the from three distinct periods: Federal
Federal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
, Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
, and 20th Century
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
. 47 of these structures have been noted in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as well as the historic commercial district. Berlin has also been designated as a "Main Street Community" by the State of Maryland in recognition of its revitalization progress.
In 2010, the Berlin Fire Company celebrated its 100th anniversary. As of 2010, The Berlin Fire Company provided fire and EMS service to Berlin and the surrounding area, has three stations, 16 pieces of apparatus, approximately 70 volunteers, 9 career EMS providers, and responds to approximately 2,000 calls per year.
Former U.S. Vice-President Spiro Agnew
Spiro Agnew
Spiro Theodore Agnew was the 39th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Richard Nixon, and the 55th Governor of Maryland...
died at Atlantic General Hospital
Atlantic General Hospital
- Atlantic General Hospital Timeline :Atlantic General Hospital, a 62-bed not-for-profit acute care hospital located in Berlin, Maryland, has been providing quality healthcare for more than 15 years...
in Berlin.
Geography
Berlin is located at 38.331075°N 75.213950°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,491 people, 1,347 households, and 880 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,587.2 people per square mile (612.7/km²). There were 1,427 housing units at an average density of 648.8 per square mile (250.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 63.74% White, 32.03% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.97% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.38% of the population.
There were 1,347 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 21.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,438, and the median income for a family was $36,653. Males had a median income of $29,946 versus $20,293 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $19,303. About 12.9% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The town also includes four public schools as well as one private school, which have approximately 5,000 students combined. Worcester County Public SchoolsWorcester County Public Schools
Worcester County Public Schools is a public school district within Worcester County, Maryland.-Elementary schools:* Buckingham Elementary School* Ocean City Elementary School* Pocomoke Elementary School* Showell Elementary School...
is one of the two top employers for the Town of Berlin.
Public
- Buckingham Elementary School
- Berlin Intermediate School
- Stephen Decatur Middle School
- Stephen Decatur High SchoolStephen Decatur High School (Maryland)Stephen Decatur High School is a four-year public high school in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The school was opened in 1954.-About the School:...
Notable natives and residents
- Stephen DecaturStephen DecaturStephen Decatur, Jr. , was an American naval officer notable for his many naval victories in the early 19th century. He was born on the eastern shore of Maryland, Worcester county, the son of a U.S. Naval Officer who served during the American Revolution. Shortly after attending college Decatur...
(1779–1820), American Naval hero of Barbary Wars and War of 1812. Youngest Commodore in US Navy history - Linda Harrison (1945-), actress
- Oliver PurnellOliver PurnellOliver Purnell is an American college basketball coach. He is currently the head coach at DePaul University. Purnell previously served as the head coach for Clemson University, the University of Dayton, Old Dominion University, and Radford University.-Early years:Purnell was born in Berlin,...
(1953-), men's basketball coach at DePaul UniversityDePaul UniversityDePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul... - William H. SutphinWilliam H. SutphinWilliam Halstead Sutphin was an American military, business and Democratic Party politician who represented from 1931-1943.-Biography:...
(1887–1972) represented from 1931–1943, and retired to Berlin in 1951. - Charles TindleyCharles TindleyRev. Dr. Charles Albert Tindley was an American Methodist minister and gospel music composer....
(1851–1933), minister and composer - Ben TateBen TateTate was drafted in the 2nd round in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans. Most projected Tate to be picked somewhere in the early to middle of the second round, and recognizing his value at pick 58, the Texans aggressively traded up to draft him...
(1988-), running backRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Houston TexansHouston TexansThe Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL
Berlin in popular culture
Two major motion pictures have been filmed in or around Berlin:- For Runaway BrideRunaway Bride (1999 film)Runaway Bride is a 1999 American romantic comedy film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere and directed by Garry Marshall. The screenplay was written by Josann McGibbon, Audrey Wells and Sara Parriott.-Plot:...
(1999), starring Richard GereRichard GereRichard Tiffany Gere is an American actor. He began acting in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and a starring role in Days of Heaven. He came to prominence in 1980 for his role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol...
and Julia RobertsJulia RobertsJulia Fiona Roberts is an American actress. She became a Hollywood star after headlining the romantic comedy Pretty Woman , which grossed $464 million worldwide...
, Berlin's Main Street and some of the outlying areas were altered to become the fictitious town of Hale, Maryland. - For Tuck EverlastingTuck Everlasting (2002 film)Tuck Everlasting is a 2002 film based on the children's book of the same title by Natalie Babbitt published in 1975. This Disney version was directed by Jay Russell.- Plot summary :...
(2002), starring Sissy SpacekSissy SpacekSissy Spacek is an American actress and singer. She came to international prominence for her for role as Carrie White in Brian De Palma's 1976 horror film Carrie for which she earned her first Academy Award nomination...
, Ben KingsleyBen KingsleySir Ben Kingsley, CBE is a British actor. He has won an Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards in his career. He is known for starring as Mohandas Gandhi in the film Gandhi in 1982, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor...
, and William HurtWilliam HurtWilliam McGill Hurt is an American stage and film actor. He received his acting training at the Juilliard School, and began acting on stage in the 1970s. Hurt made his film debut as a troubled scientist in the science-fiction feature Altered States , for which he received a Golden Globe nomination...
, alteration of the streets and sidewalks transformed Berlin into the fictitious town of Treegap.