Solomons, Maryland

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Solomons is a community and census-designated place (CDP) in Calvert County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,536 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Demographics
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Solomons is located at 38°20′11″N, 76°27′51″W (38.336431, -76.464102)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.5 km² (2.1 mi²). 4.6 km² (1.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.9 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (15.96%) is water.

Solomons Island is on the north side of the mouth of Patuxent River, where it meets the Chesapeake Bay. It is just across from the U.S. Patuxent River Naval Air Station (on the south side of the mouth of the Patuxent River).

[edit] History

Solomons takes its name from 19th century Baltimore businessman Isaac Solomon, who established a cannery there shortly after the Civil War. The area has, however, been inhabited since colonial times.

During World War II, U.S. servicemen there practiced amphibious landings prior to the Normandy invasion. Ironically, many of the servicemen who trained at the Solomons Maryland base, were sent to fight at the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Solomons was a rather isolated boat-building town housing the University of Maryland Chesapeake Biological Research Laboratory, until 1977 when the Thomas Johnson Bridge was built. The bridge leads from just off Solomons Island proper to St. Mary's County, MD and the Patuxent Naval Air Station.

The town now welcomes tourists with numerous marinas, seafood restaurants, gift shops, a boardwalk, an upscale gourmet grocery, a sculpture garden, a marine life museum where visitors can climb atop a former lighthouse, harbor cruises, and occasional famous performer concerts outdoors. Solomons also has two major hotels, a U.S. Navy family recreation center, and a church retirement home. A third major hotel is under construction in 2007. On March 15, 2006, a large fire destroyed Bowen's Inn (established in the 1800s), The Lighthouse Restaurant (established in 1984), and a condominium building. The fire caused 5 million dollars in damages and was determined to be caused by a cigarette butt. High winds fueled the fire and distributed smaller fires all over the island as far as the Research Lab.

Solomons is also home to the famous Tiki Bar. Each summer, hundreds of people from all around the world gather for the annual opening of the Tiki Bar, which for many marks the official start of the summer season in Southern Maryland.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,536 people, 689 households, and 378 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 331.3/km² (856.1/mi²). There were 881 housing units at an average density of 190.0/km² (491.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.69% White, 6.64% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 1.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.

There were 689 households out of which 15.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.1% were non-families. 39.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.56.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 13.1% under the age of 18, 3.1% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 41.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 56 years. For every 100 females there were 80.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $48,532, and the median income for a family was $74,318. Males had a median income of $64,833 versus $34,313 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $33,049. About 2.1% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.