Jessup, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Jessup is an unincorporated town and census-designated place
in Howard County, Maryland
and Anne Arundel County, Maryland
. The population was 7,865 at the 2000 census. The center of population
of Maryland is located in Jessup. It was the location of Maryland House of Correction
, which was one of the Maryland Department of Corrections prison complexes until it closed in 2007. The community has a little-used stop
on the Camden line of the MARC
commuter rail service. The town's prison is referenced several times in the HBO original series, The Wire
.
, the CDP has a total area of 4.2 square miles (11.0 km2).None of the area is covered with water. As of the 2010 census, the center of population for the State of Maryland is located on the grounds of the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center
in Jessup.
. The name is generally attributed to Jonathan Jessup, a civil engineer who worked on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The name was shortened in 1863. Into the mid 20th century, the town was called Jessups, then was shortened to Jessup.
Since the mid-19th century, the area has been home to various penal institutions. Inmates today still refer to these jails as "the cut," probably unaware of the origin of the name.
Among its notable residents was Arnold Elzey
, a major general in the Confederate army during the American Civil War; he retired to a small farm near Jessup.
of 2000, there were 7,865 people, 379 households, and 280 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 1,858.0 people per square mile (717.9/km2). There were 398 housing units at an average density of 94.0/sq mi (36.3/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 67.73% African American, 31.28% White, 1.03% Hispanic or Latino, 0.33% Asian, 0.27% from other races
, 0.22% from two or more races, 0.15% Native American, and 0.03% Pacific Islander.
There were 379 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 3.2% under the age of 18, 15.9% from 18 to 24, 62.5% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 2.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 499.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 539.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $48,000, and the median income for a family was $55,139. Males had a median income of $26,003 versus $24,950 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $19,052. About 5.0% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
operates the Mid-Atlantic Region Office in Jessup and in Anne Arundel County.
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 Howard County, Maryland
Howard County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*62.2% White*17.5% Black*0.3% Native American*14.4% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.6% Two or more races*2.0% Other races*5.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
and Anne Arundel County, Maryland
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...
. The population was 7,865 at the 2000 census. The center of population
Center of population
In demographics, the center of population of a region is a geographical point that describes a centerpoint of the region's population...
of Maryland is located in Jessup. It was the location of Maryland House of Correction
Maryland House of Correction
The Maryland House of Correction, nicknamed "The Cut" or "The House", was a Maryland Department of Corrections state maximum security prison in an unincorporated area in Maryland. Most of its territory was in Anne Arundel County, while portions were in Howard County. The prison opened in 1879 and...
, which was one of the Maryland Department of Corrections prison complexes until it closed in 2007. The community has a little-used stop
Jessup (MARC station)
Jessup is a passenger rail station on the MARC Camden Line between Washington, DC and Baltimore's Camden Station. It was built on 8 Old Jessup Road, east of the embankment of the Jessup Road bridge over the Camden Line, a former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad line.-External links:* *...
on the Camden line of the MARC
MARC Train
MARC , known prior to 1984 as Maryland Rail Commuter Service, is a regional rail system comprising three lines in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. MARC is administered by the Maryland Transit Administration , a Maryland Department of Transportation agency, and is operated under contract...
commuter rail service. The town's prison is referenced several times in the HBO original series, The Wire
The WIRE
the WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
.
Geography
Jessup is located at 39.138374°N 76.774929°W (39.138374, -76.774929). According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 4.2 square miles (11.0 km2).None of the area is covered with water. As of the 2010 census, the center of population for the State of Maryland is located on the grounds of the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center
Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center
Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center is a 220-bed psychiatric hospital in Jessup, Maryland. The center is operated by the Maryland Mental Hygiene Administration within the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. CTPHC is a Maximum Security facility and nearly all of its patients are involved in...
in Jessup.
History
The town began as Jessup's Cut, a post village in Howard County on the Baltimore and Ohio RailroadBaltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
. The name is generally attributed to Jonathan Jessup, a civil engineer who worked on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The name was shortened in 1863. Into the mid 20th century, the town was called Jessups, then was shortened to Jessup.
Since the mid-19th century, the area has been home to various penal institutions. Inmates today still refer to these jails as "the cut," probably unaware of the origin of the name.
Among its notable residents was Arnold Elzey
Arnold Elzey
Arnold Elzey , Jr. was a soldier in both the United States Army and the Confederate Army, serving as a major general during the American Civil War...
, a major general in the Confederate army during the American Civil War; he retired to a small farm near Jessup.
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 7,865 people, 379 households, and 280 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 1,858.0 people per square mile (717.9/km2). There were 398 housing units at an average density of 94.0/sq mi (36.3/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 67.73% African American, 31.28% White, 1.03% Hispanic or Latino, 0.33% Asian, 0.27% 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...
, 0.22% from two or more races, 0.15% Native American, and 0.03% Pacific Islander.
There were 379 households out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% 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, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 3.2% under the age of 18, 15.9% from 18 to 24, 62.5% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 2.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 499.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 539.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $48,000, and the median income for a family was $55,139. Males had a median income of $26,003 versus $24,950 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 $19,052. About 5.0% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The Federal Bureau of PrisonsFederal Bureau of Prisons
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is a federal law enforcement agency subdivision of the United States Department of Justice and is responsible for the administration of the federal prison system. The system also handles prisoners who committed acts considered felonies under the District of Columbia's...
operates the Mid-Atlantic Region Office in Jessup and in Anne Arundel County.