Indian Head, Maryland

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Indian Head, Maryland
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Indian Head, Maryland


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Maryland
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Charles
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 3.2
area_land_km2 = 3.2
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 1.2
area_land_sq_mi = 1.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 3422
population_density_km2 = 1078.3
population_density_sq_mi = 2792.7

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 32
elevation_ft = 105
latd = 38 |latm = 35 |lats = 52 |latNS = N
longd = 77 |longm = 9 |longs = 25 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 20640
area_code = 301
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 24-41500
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0590532
website =
footnotes =

Indian Head is a town in Charles County, Maryland, United States. The population was 3,422 at the 2000 census. It has been the site of a naval base specializing in gun and rocket propellants since 1890. [cite web
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9406E4DC1630E033A25756C1A9629C94659ED7CF
title=Indian Head Proving Ground; Where Uncle Sam Tests His Big Guns and Armor Plate
publisher=The New York Times
date=April 15, 1894
accessdate=2008-01-20] The name of the base has varied over the years from Naval Powder Factory, to Naval Propellant Plant, to Naval Ordnance Station, to the present Naval Support Facility Indian Head. The facility's main tenant activity is the Indian Head Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC/IH). Advanced research in energetic systems takes place at NSWC/IH. NSWC/IH absorbed the function of the closed Naval Ordnance Laboratory, formerly in White Oak, MD. 3,700 employees currently work at the base.

History

The city of Indian Head was incorporated in 1920. One source cites that its name came from a legend relating to the Algonquin Indian tribe. Another story claims that the town was named Indian Head because it resembles an Indian’s head from the air. But the simplest explanation is that the peninsula, a "head" of land, was occupied by Indians when the first white settlers arrived - thus "Indian Head" means "Indian Peninsula."

Indian Head was a thriving small town during the WWII years and up until the late 1960s. The construction of St. Charles, a giant planned community south of nearby Waldorf, brought with it retail chains and big-box stores, which attracted Indian Head's shopping dollars and started the demise of local businesses.

Today, Indian Head is rich in history but is lacking many basic retail and service businesses.Fact|date=January 2008 Many remedies for this situation have been attempted, but the desired growth has been slow in coming.Indian Head is bisected by Maryland Route 210, generally known as Indian Head Highway, which dead-ends in the middle of town at the entrance to Indian Head Naval Support Facility. Because of this, the town cannot benefit from through-traffic, but must be a destination in its own right.

Plans to build a massive "Chapman's Landing" housing development a few miles to the north, were thwarted in the 1990s when the state government purchased the land to preserve as green space under its "smart growth" program.

The town recently opened a "black box" stage theater, a new community center building, new ball fields, and is exploring other efforts to revitalize the town. A year-round swimming pool recently opened at the nearby Henry E. Lackey High School.

Geography

Indian Head is located at coor dms|38|35|52|N|77|9|25|W|city (38.597781, -77.156926)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.2 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,422 people, 1,222 households, and 888 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,792.7 people per square mile (1,074.2/km²). There were 1,311 housing units at an average density of 1,069.9/sq mi (411.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 55.64% White, 38.08% African American, 1.78% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 2.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.69% of the population.

There were 1,222 households out of which 44.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 22.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the town the population was spread out with 33.0% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 16.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,702, and the median income for a family was $48,375. Males had a median income of $35,625 versus $31,451 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,778. About 9.9% of families and 11.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

References

*citation
url=http://somdthisisliving.somd.com/vol4num4/indianhead.html
title=Indian Head – Land of Legend and Military Might
last=Warren
first=Kathy
publisher=Southern Maryland "This is Living"
date=Winter 2002
volume=4
accessdate=2008-01-20

External links

* [http://www.cnic.navy.mil/NDW/NDWInstallation/NSASouthPotomac/index.htm Naval Support Activity, South Potomac]
* [http://www.townofindianhead.org/ Town of Indian Head]
*cite web
url=http://www.newsline.umd.edu/justice/specialreports/bases/indianhead042905.htm
title=Town of Indian Head Plans Future With or Without Nearby Base
last= Cullinan
first= Kathleen
date=April 29, 2005
publisher=Maryland Newsline
accessdate=2008-02-03
*cite web
url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-695947.html
title=Indian Head Will Lose Its Only Grocery Store
last=Ginsberg
first=Steven
date=December 31, 1998
publisher=The Washington Post
accessdate=2008-02-03