Cape St. Claire, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Cape St. Claire is a covenanted, unincorporated community as well as a census-designated place
in Anne Arundel County
, Maryland
7 miles east of Annapolis, Maryland
. While the community of Cape St. Claire lies entirely within the CDP and accounts for approximately 80% of the homes and residents, the CDP also includes the smaller communities of Atlantis, Walnut Ridge, Green Holly, and St. Claire Court. The population was 8,022 at the 2000 census.
Contained within Cape St. Claire are three marinas, multiple parks and beaches, a shopping center, Broadneck High School
, Cape St. Claire Elementary School and Cape St Claire Swim Club located behind the shopping center. Fire protection is provided by the Cape St. Claire Volunteer Fire Company. Three churches are also located in the confines of Cape St. Claire: Broadneck Baptist Church, Cape St. Claire United Methodist Church and Christ Our Anchor Presbyterian Church. It is also the location of the first Graul's Supermarket.
Also home to The Harbour School at Annapolis
and the Chesapeake Bay
, to the north by the Magothy River
, and to the west by Deep Creek.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²), of which, 2 square miles (5.2 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (23.35%) is water.
of 2000, there were 8,022 people, 2,857 households, and 2,179 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 4,066.9 people per square mile (1,572.2/km²). There were 2,932 housing units at an average density of 1,486.4/sq mi (574.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.98% White, 3.84% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races
, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.13% of the population.
There were 2,856 households out of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $72,000, and the median income for a family was $76,657. Males had a median income of $50,133 versus $32,212 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $27,009. About 1.4% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.
In the early part of the 20th Century, Hugh H. Young, a prominent doctor on the staff of Johns Hopkins University, began buying up the farmland with the intention of building a community. Dr. Young's first attempt, a community called Persimmon Point, was less than successful with only a few lots being sold. This failure was brought on by the Great Depression and the project was put on hold. Upon Dr. Young's death, his children created the River Bay Company to manage the property for development.
The River Bay Company platted the community of Cape St. Claire (incorporating Persimmon Point property as part of the new community) on June 14, 1949. The community was envisioned and sold as a summer retreat for residents of Washington, D.C.
and Baltimore, Maryland. To manage the affairs of the new community, the River Bay Company created and incorporated the Cape St. Claire Club, governed by a Board of Governors. The first meeting of the Board of Governors of the Cape St. Claire Club (renamed the Cape St. Claire Improvement Association on May 12, 1959) was held on June 30, 1949. The Board consisted of three representatives of the River Bay Company named in the Cape St. Claire Club certificate of incorporation: John G. Rouse, Jr.; James C. Morton, Jr.; and George W. Baker, Jr. Mr. James C. Morton was elected Chairman.
In April 1989, the Anne Arundel County Council approved the formation of the Cape St. Claire Special Community Benefits District. The SCBD allows the community to establish a taxing district. The taxes are collected by the county government (as part of the property tax), which are then turned over to the Improvement Association to administer as voted on by the property owners in the community. This special benefits district has allowed the community to purchase additional common property, build a specially-designated fishing/crabbing pier, make improvements to community assets, and hire off-duty county police for additional security.
The community has recently gained the legal ability to change this part of the covenant, and is now undertaking procedures to have these restrictions, which the community members find offensive, removed.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
in Anne Arundel County
Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell , a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is Annapolis, which is also the capital of the state...
, 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...
7 miles east of Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
. While the community of Cape St. Claire lies entirely within the CDP and accounts for approximately 80% of the homes and residents, the CDP also includes the smaller communities of Atlantis, Walnut Ridge, Green Holly, and St. Claire Court. The population was 8,022 at the 2000 census.
Contained within Cape St. Claire are three marinas, multiple parks and beaches, a shopping center, Broadneck High School
Broadneck High School
Broadneck High School is a school in the United States, located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland on Green Holly Drive, in the city of Annapolis and next to the town of Arnold. The Bruin is the school's mascot...
, Cape St. Claire Elementary School and Cape St Claire Swim Club located behind the shopping center. Fire protection is provided by the Cape St. Claire Volunteer Fire Company. Three churches are also located in the confines of Cape St. Claire: Broadneck Baptist Church, Cape St. Claire United Methodist Church and Christ Our Anchor Presbyterian Church. It is also the location of the first Graul's Supermarket.
Also home to The Harbour School at Annapolis
Geography
Cape St. Claire is located at 39°2′34"N 76°26′44"W (39.042910, -76.445623). The community of Cape St. Claire is bounded to the east by the Little Magothy RiverLittle Magothy River
The Little Magothy River runs through Anne Arundel County in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is located southeast of the Magothy River, just outside its mouth but considered part of the same watershed, and north of the Severn River....
and the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
, to the north by the Magothy River
Magothy River
The Magothy River runs through Anne Arundel County in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is located south of the Patapsco River and north of the Severn River...
, and to the west by Deep Creek.
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 CDP has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²), of which, 2 square miles (5.2 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (23.35%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 8,022 people, 2,857 households, and 2,179 families residing in the CDP. 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 4,066.9 people per square mile (1,572.2/km²). There were 2,932 housing units at an average density of 1,486.4/sq mi (574.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.98% White, 3.84% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.65% 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 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.13% of the population.
There were 2,856 households out of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% 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, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.7% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $72,000, and the median income for a family was $76,657. Males had a median income of $50,133 versus $32,212 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 CDP was $27,009. About 1.4% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.
History
The area that was to become Cape St. Claire was mostly farmland until the 1940s. In the late 18th century, much of the land was operated as farmland by a couple of families. Two houses from this era remain—the "Stinchcomb House" located near the Cape St. Claire clubhouse, and Goshen Farm, located on a hill near the Cape St. Claire Elementary School.In the early part of the 20th Century, Hugh H. Young, a prominent doctor on the staff of Johns Hopkins University, began buying up the farmland with the intention of building a community. Dr. Young's first attempt, a community called Persimmon Point, was less than successful with only a few lots being sold. This failure was brought on by the Great Depression and the project was put on hold. Upon Dr. Young's death, his children created the River Bay Company to manage the property for development.
The River Bay Company platted the community of Cape St. Claire (incorporating Persimmon Point property as part of the new community) on June 14, 1949. The community was envisioned and sold as a summer retreat for residents of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and Baltimore, Maryland. To manage the affairs of the new community, the River Bay Company created and incorporated the Cape St. Claire Club, governed by a Board of Governors. The first meeting of the Board of Governors of the Cape St. Claire Club (renamed the Cape St. Claire Improvement Association on May 12, 1959) was held on June 30, 1949. The Board consisted of three representatives of the River Bay Company named in the Cape St. Claire Club certificate of incorporation: John G. Rouse, Jr.; James C. Morton, Jr.; and George W. Baker, Jr. Mr. James C. Morton was elected Chairman.
In April 1989, the Anne Arundel County Council approved the formation of the Cape St. Claire Special Community Benefits District. The SCBD allows the community to establish a taxing district. The taxes are collected by the county government (as part of the property tax), which are then turned over to the Improvement Association to administer as voted on by the property owners in the community. This special benefits district has allowed the community to purchase additional common property, build a specially-designated fishing/crabbing pier, make improvements to community assets, and hire off-duty county police for additional security.
Organizations
In addition to the Cape St. Claire Improvement Association there are many social and service organizations in the community.- Boy Scout Troop 783
- Boy Scout Troop 2214
- Cub Scout Pack 707
- Junior Girl Scout Troop 1566
- Garden Club
- Cape St. Claire Parent-Teacher Organization
- Cape St. Claire Recreation Council
- Cape St. Claire Swim Club
- Volunteer Fire Department
- Yacht Club of Cape St. Claire
Controversy
The Cape St. Claire covenant reads, in part: "At no time shall any lot or any part thereof be sold, leased, transferred to or permitted to be occupied by any Negro, Chinaman, Japanese, or person of Negro, Chinese or Japanese descent. "The community has recently gained the legal ability to change this part of the covenant, and is now undertaking procedures to have these restrictions, which the community members find offensive, removed.