Taneytown, Maryland

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Taneytown, Maryland
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Taneytown, Maryland


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Maryland
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Carroll
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = James L McCarron Jr.
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 7.5
area_land_km2 = 7.5
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 2.9
area_land_sq_mi = 2.9
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 5128
population_density_km2 = 687.7
population_density_sq_mi = 1781.1

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 154
elevation_ft = 505
latd = 39 |latm = 39 |lats = 26 |latNS = N
longd = 77 |longm = 10 |longs = 14 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 21787
area_code = 410
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 24-76725
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0587687
website =
footnotes =

Taneytown "(TAW-nee-town)" is a city in Carroll County, Maryland, United States. The population was 5,128 at the 2000 census. [http://www.ci.taneytown.md.us/ Taneytown] was founded in 1754. Of the town George Washington once wrote "Tan-nee town is but a small place with only the Street through wch. the road passes, built on. The buildings are principally of wood".

Geography

Taneytown is located at coor dms|39|39|26|N|77|10|14|W|city (39.657099, -77.170627)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,128 people, 1,786 households, and 1,387 families residing in the city. 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/sq mi (247.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city 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.

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. 17.6% 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 city 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 city 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 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.

Taneytown was home to Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin during the late 1700s.

Taneytown is the first city in Maryland to make English the official language.

Taneytown is the birthplace of Augustus (Gus) Bowman, recording artist, guitarist, and edgeman.

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

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

External links

[http://www.taneytown.org/beta/default.aspx/ City of Taneytown website]