View source for Laurel, Maryland

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Laurel, Maryland
| official_name            = City of Laurel
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = "Progressio Per Populum"<br />(English: Progress Through People)
| image_skyline            = LaurelMuseum.jpg
| imagesize                = 250px
| image_caption            = The [[Laurel Museum]] in May<!-- 12,--> 2007
| image_flag               = Laurel md flag.png
| image_shield             = Laurel md seal.jpg
| image_map                = Prince_George's_County_Maryland_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Laurel_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250x200px
| map_caption              = Location of Laurel in Prince George's County and Maryland
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map              = Maryland#USA
| pushpin_label_position   = 
| pushpin_label            = Laurel
| pushpin_map_caption      = Location within the U.S. state of Maryland
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{flagu|United States}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Maryland}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Maryland|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's]]
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name              = Keith Sydnor (2023–present)
| leader_title1            = [[City Council]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cityoflaurel.org/council |title=Office of the City Council |publisher=City of Laurel |access-date=October 22, 2021 }}</ref>
| leader_name1             = Ward 1: James Kole<br />
Ward 1: Carl DeWalt<br />
Ward 2: Kyla Clark<br />
Ward 2: Jeffrey Mills<br />
At Large: Christine Johnston
| established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date         = 1870
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_24.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 26, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 12.53
| area_land_km2            = 12.47
| area_water_km2           = 0.06
| area_total_sq_mi         = 4.84
| area_land_sq_mi          = 4.82
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.02
| area_urban_sq_mi         = 
| area_urban_km2           = 
| area_metro_sq_mi         = 
| area_metro_km2           = <!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est           = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 30060
| population_density_km2   = 2410.60
| population_density_sq_mi = 6242.99
| population_note          = 
| population_metro         = 
| population_urban         = 
| timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset               = &minus;5
| timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST           = &minus;4
| coordinates              = {{coord|39|5|45|N|76|51|35|W|region:US-MD_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m              = 50
| elevation_ft             = 164
| postal_code_type         = ZIP codes
| postal_code              = 20707–20709, 20723–20726
| area_codes                = 240, 301
| website                  = [http://www.cityoflaurel.org/ cityoflaurel.org]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
| blank_info               = 24-45900
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 0597667
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
}}
<!-- FAIR USE of Laurel md flag.png: see image description page at [[File:Laurel md flag.png]] for rationale. This comment is included per the [[WP:NFC]] guideline. -->
'''Laurel''' is a [[city]] in [[Maryland]], United States, located midway between [[Washington, D.C.]], and [[Baltimore]] on the banks of the [[Patuxent River]], in northern [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's County]]. Its population was 30,060 at the 2020 census. Founded as a [[mill town]] in the early 19th century, Laurel expanded local industry and was later able to become an early [[commuter town]] for Washington and Baltimore workers following the arrival of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1835.  Largely residential today, the city maintains a historic district centered on its [[Main Street]].

The [[U.S. Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] has a prominent presence in the Laurel area today, with the [[Fort George G. Meade|Fort Meade]] [[United States Army|Army]] base, the [[National Security Agency|NSA]] and [[Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins']] [[Applied Physics Laboratory]] all located nearby. [[Laurel Park (race track)|Laurel Park]], a [[thoroughbred racing|thoroughbred horse racetrack]], is located just outside the city limits.

==History==

===Natural history===
Many dinosaur fossils from the [[Cretaceous]] Era are preserved in a {{convert|7.5|acre|adj=on}} [[Dinosaur Park (Prince George's County, Maryland)|park in Laurel]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pgparks.com/About-Parks-and-Recreation/HomePage_Read_More/Dinosaur_Park_Officially_Dedicated_and_Opened_To_the_Public.htm |title=Dinosaur Park Officially Dedicated and Opened To the Public |work=pgparks.com |publisher=Prince George's County Department of Parks and Recreation |access-date=October 28, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125115904/http://www.pgparks.com/About-Parks-and-Recreation/HomePage_Read_More/Dinosaur_Park_Officially_Dedicated_and_Opened_To_the_Public.htm |archive-date=November 25, 2009 }}</ref><!---park size differs maybe because one encompasses other stuff besides dinosaurs--> The site, which among other finds has yielded fossilized teeth from [[Astrodon]] and [[Priconodon]] species, has been called the most prolific in the eastern United States.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2009/10/25/where-dinosaurs-once-walked/ |title=Where dinosaurs once walked |last=Roylance |first=Frank D. |date=October 25, 2009 |work=baltimoresun.com |publisher=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=October 28, 2009 }}</ref> From the Late Glacial age in 10,700 B.C. to 8,500 B.C., Laurel's climate warmed and changed from a spruce forest to a hardwood forest. In the [[Archaic period in North America|Late Archaic]] period from 4,000 to 1,000 B.C., Laurel would have been covered primarily with an oak and hickory forest.<ref>{{cite book|title=Human Adaptation to the Fall Line Setting: A Framework for the Archeology of Laurel, Maryland|author=Conrad Jay Bladey, Helen Curtis}}</ref>

===Pre-20th century===
Laurel was formed from land on the [[Atlantic Seaboard fall line|fall line]] of the [[Patuxent River]] patented by the [[Richard Snowden (ironmaster)|Snowden family]] in 1658 as part of the 12,250-acre [[Birmingham Manor (Maryland)|New Birmingham plantation]], which included the later [[Montpelier Mansion (Laurel, Maryland)|Montpelier]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Human Adaptation to the Fall Line Setting: A Framework for the Archeology of Laurel, Maryland|author=Conrad Jay Bladey, Helen Curtis|page=25}}</ref> The Washington Turnpike Road Company built Route 1 between 1796 and 1812, creating a major north–south land route. Milstead's Hotel halfway house was built in town to serve four stage lines a day in 1816.<ref>{{cite web|title=City of Laurel Master Plan |url=http://www.cityoflaurel.org/sites/default/files/u24/2009%20Master%20Plan.pdf |access-date=June 20, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201145617/https://www.cityoflaurel.org/sites/default/files/u24/2009%20Master%20Plan.pdf |archive-date=February 1, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Howard's Roads to the Past |page=65 |author=Barbara Feaga }}</ref> Nicholas Snowden built a [[grist mill]] on the site circa 1811 which grew to a small [[cotton mill]] by the 1820s.<ref name="St. Mary's">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.stmarys.laurel.md.us/index.php?p=history
 |title=St Mary of the Mills Parish History
 |access-date=July 21, 2007
 |last=Compton
 |first=Elizabeth L.
 |author2=Joanne Timchalk
 |author3=Mary Mallonee
 |author4=Lee Jacobs
 |author5=Ron Jacobs
 |author6=J.R. Compton
 |year=1993
 |publisher=St Mary of the Mills Parish
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070920010327/http://www.stmarys.laurel.md.us/index.php?p=history
 |archive-date=September 20, 2007
}}</ref>
In 1828, a detailed survey was conducted to build a canal from Baltimore to Georgetown to connect to the proposed [[Chesapeake and Ohio Canal|C&O canal]]. The route from [[Elkridge Landing]] to Bladensburg would have built a waterway roughly aligning with modern [[U.S. Route 1 in Maryland|U.S. Route 1]] and [[Maryland Route 201|Kenilworth Avenue]], with special consideration not to harm the water power for [[Savage Mill]]. The project did not go forward; the preference was to build a railroad, the [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad|B&O]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Canal—Baltimore to Contemplated Chesapeake & Ohio Canal |year=1828 |url=http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015091128903;view=1up;seq=11 |access-date=November 9, 2013 |publisher=Gales & Seaton }}</ref> Nicholas Snowden died in 1831, and the mill properties transferred to Louisa Snowden and her husband Horace Capon in 1834. In 1835, coinciding with the opening of the [[Capital Subdivision]]
rail line from Baltimore to Washington, the Patuxent Manufacturing Company was chartered by Horace Capon, Edward Snowden, Theodore Jenkins, W.C. Shaw, A.E. Hall, and O.C. Tiffany and the mill expanded greatly with the addition of the Avondale Mill building in 1844.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.anacostiatrails.org/site/media/ATHAnewsletterVol3No2.pdf
 |title=ATHA's Featured Community: the City of Laurel
 |access-date=July 21, 2007
 |last=Mills
 |first=Kristie
 |author2=Elsie Klumpner
 |date=Winter 2006
 |work=ATHA Newsletter, Vol. 3, No. 2
 |publisher=Anacostia Trails Heritage Area
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929184835/http://www.anacostiatrails.org/site/media/ATHAnewsletterVol3No2.pdf
 |archive-date=September 29, 2007
}}</ref> Mill president [[Horace Capron]] with his partners built housing for close to 300 workers, and a bigger cotton mill.<ref name="CHRS">{{cite web
  | first = Robert C
  | last = Chidester
  | title = A Historic Context for the Archaeology of Industrial Labor in the State of Maryland
  | website = Center for Heritage Resource Studies, Department of Anthropology, University of Maryland at College Park
  | url = http://www.heritage.umd.edu/CHRSWeb/AssociatedProjects/chidesterreport/Chapter%20VI.htm#_ftnref218
  | access-date = July 21, 2007
}}</ref> [[Cotton duck]] from the mill was shipped down what would become Laurel's Main Street, then by rail to Baltimore.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.laurelhistory.org/histsoc.html
|title = Laurel Historical Society
|access-date = July 26, 2007
|publisher = The Laurel Historical Society
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070625181443/http://www.laurelhistory.org/histsoc.html
|archive-date = June 25, 2007}}</ref> A substantial dam was built in 1850.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.mdhc.org/resources/ATHAReport_part4of6.pdf
|title = The Changing Face of the Heritage Area in the Nineteenth Century
|access-date = July 21, 2007
|last = Ridgway
|first = Whitman H.
|date = February 13, 2003
|work = Interpretive Plan for the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area
|publisher = Maryland Humanities Council
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070128185638/http://www.mdhc.org/resources/ATHAReport_part4of6.pdf
|archive-date = January 28, 2007 }}</ref> As a mill town, Laurel was somewhat unusual in Prince George's County and was surrounded by agricultural endeavors.<ref name="CHRS" />

The community was originally known as "Laurel Factory", named for its laurel trees,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Laurel-Maryland |title=Laurel, Maryland |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=February 19, 2021 }}</ref> when Edward Snowden became the first postmaster in 1837 and was a true company town, with a school and shops, and many of the mill workers' homes owned until the 1860s by the company.<ref name="CHRS" />  During the 1840s, three historic churches in the community—the [[First United Methodist Church (Laurel, Maryland)|Methodist]] est. 1842,<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://fumcl.org/about/history.php
 |title=Our Church History
 |access-date=July 26, 2007
 |publisher=First United Methodist Church of Laurel
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070716074301/http://fumcl.org/about/history.php
 |archive-date=July 16, 2007
}}</ref> St. Mary of the Mills (Roman Catholic) est. 1845,<ref name="St. Mary's" /> and St. Philip's (Episcopal) est. 1839<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.stphilipslaurel.org/Profile.pdf
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061112091652/http://www.stphilipslaurel.org/Profile.pdf
|url-status = dead
|archive-date = November 12, 2006
|title = St. Philip's Parish History
|access-date = July 26, 2007
|year = 2006
|work = St. Philips Parish Profile
|publisher = St. Philip's Episcopal Church
|pages = 4
}}</ref>—established what are still vigorous congregations.  During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], Laurel Factory, like much of Maryland, was a divided community, but with many Southern sympathizers.  Union soldiers patrolled the railroad, and for a time there was also a Union hospital.  During the latter half of the 19th century, while it still operated its factories, manufacturing played a less important role in the community.  Laurel evolved into an early suburban town.  Many of its residents commuted by rail to jobs in Washington or Baltimore. The town was incorporated in 1870 and reincorporated in 1890 to coincide with a new electric power plant and [[Pavement (material)|paved]] streets and boarded sidewalks. By this time, the town had grown to a population of 2,080, and the city banned livestock from the streets.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Sunday Herald |title=Mayor Cull's Trials |date=September 1, 1890 }}</ref>

In 1870, the Patuxent Bank of Laurel was founded on the corner of Main Street and Washington Avenue.<ref>{{cite book|title=Images of America Howard County|page=76|author=Howard County Historical Society}}</ref> In 1874 a delegation was sent to Annapolis to introduce legislation to make Laurel its own county of 10,000 residents with land from Prince George's, Howard, and Anne Arundel counties.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Evening Star|date=February 25, 1874 |page=4 |title=New County Movement in Maryland. }}</ref> In 1879 Laurel Academy of Music was built along Route 1. The building was converted to a movie theatre in 1915, with a parking garage on the lower floor of the wood structure; it burned in 1917, and Academy Ford built on the same site in the late 20th century.<ref>{{cite book |title=Maryland's Motion Picture Theaters |author=Robert K. Headley |publisher=Arcadia |isbn=978-0-7385-5384-9 |year=2008 |page=74 }}</ref> In 1888 inventor David J. Weems tested an unmanned electric train on a two-mile banked circular track near Laurel Station. The three-ton vehicle reached speeds of up to 120&nbsp;mph for twenty minutes.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Engineering News |title=The Weems Electric Railway |date=September 14, 1889 |url=http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/odweems.html |access-date=September 6, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140125021930/http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/odweems.Html |archive-date=January 25, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Maryland: A Guide to the Old Line State |author=Federal Writers' Project |publisher=[[Work Projects Administration]] |date=August 1940 |isbn=9781623760199 |page=309 |author-link=Federal Writers' Project }}</ref>

In 1890, [[Citizens National Bank (Laurel, Maryland)|Citizens National Bank]] opened its doors on Main Street, as Prince George's County's first nationally chartered bank. [[Charles H. Stanley]] was the bank's first president, and it remained independently managed and with the same name until acquired by [[PNC Financial Services]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite book |title=The National Cyclopædia of American Biography: Being the History |page=301}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | first = Liza
 | last = Gutherrez
 | title = PNC banks on new branches' community ties
 | url = http://www.gazette.net/stories/090607/busiplo154436_32356.shtml
 | newspaper = [[The Gazette (Maryland)|The Laurel Gazette]]
 | pages = A–24&nbsp;– 25
 | date = September 6, 2007
 | access-date = September 9, 2007
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110522180153/http://www.gazette.net/stories/090607/busiplo154436_32356.shtml
 | archive-date = May 22, 2011
 | url-status = dead
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 |first=Gwendolyn
 |last=Glenn
 |title=Display to honor bank's long history
 |url=http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpid=810&show=archivedetails&ArchiveID=1293808&om=1
 |publisher=Laurel Leader
 |date=August 16, 2007
 |access-date=September 9, 2007
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523082928/http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpid=810&show=archivedetails&ArchiveID=1293808&om=1
 |archive-date=May 23, 2008
}}</ref> [[Branch (banking)|Branch]] services are still provided from the original building. Along with those branch services being provided, there have been an additional 5 branches that were implemented.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PNC Bank |url=https://www.pnc.com/en/personal-banking.html |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=PNC |language=en}}</ref>

At the turn of the century, Louis Barret operated a hotel called the "Half Way House", later called the Milstead Hotel, which served as a stop for the four stage lines operating between Baltimore and Washington. In 1898, a stable fire spread to the 100-year-old hotel and burned adjacent buildings along Main Street. With only bucket brigades, Mayor Phelps telegraphed Baltimore to send a special train with fireman, horses, and engine number 10. One fireman was crushed by the rolling fire engine, and returned in a casket saved from the burning mortuary. The resulting losses inspired efforts to bring water and fire apparatus to the town.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Laurel Swept By Fire, Destructive Conflagration in the Pretty Little Town |date=August 28, 1898 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Laurel to Have Water and Lights |date=August 4, 1900 }}</ref> The town was struck again by the great Laurel fire of December 14, 1899, when a twelve-building fire destroyed the Laurel Presbyterian Church (known then as Presbyterian Church at Laurel).<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Christian Observer |date=December 27, 1899 |page=11 |author=Rev C.W. Sommerville }}</ref>

Proposed in 1897, Laurel's seven-term mayor [[Edward Phelps (mayor)|Edward Phelps]] succeeded in constructing the first [[High school (North America)|high school]] in [[Prince George's County]] in 1899, despite several financial obstacles, by personally assuming the financial risks in doing so. The original building built for $5,000, now known as the [[Old Laurel High School|Phelps Community Center]], still stands at the northeast corner of Montgomery and Eighth Streets.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Laurel Asks for a High School|date=July 6, 1897}}</ref> It was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1979.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref>

===20th century===
In 1902, the City and Suburban Railway with the City and Suburban and Washington, Berwyn, and Laurel railway started single line electric trolley service.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=LAUREL LINE OPENED.: Guests of Road Make the First Trip Over the New Route.|date=21 September 1902}}</ref>

[[File:Train Wreck 1922.jpg|thumb|left|A head-on train wreck in Laurel, July 31, 1922]]
The [[Laurel Sanitarium]] was built in 1905 on a {{convert|163|acre|km2|adj=on}} farm that comprised what is now Laurel Lakes. The facility's purpose was to care for people with nervous diseases, alcohol, and drug addiction. Five buildings that were joined to a central administration building included 8-, 14-, 30-, and 36-room facilities for men and women.<ref>{{cite book |title=The institutional care of the insane in the United States and Canada, Volume 2 |first1=Henry Mills |last1=Hurd |first2=William Francis |last2=Drewry |first3=Richard |last3=Dewey |first4=Charles Winfield |last4=Pilgrim |first5=George Adler |last5=Blumer |first6=Thomas Joseph Workmann |last6=Burgess |publisher=American Medico-Psychological Association |pages=579–580 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dC4wAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA579 |year=1916|isbn=9780405052101 }}</ref>

[[Laurel Park Racecourse]], a [[thoroughbred racing|thoroughbred]] racetrack, opened in 1911 and remains in operation. In the book, ''[[Seabiscuit: An American Legend]]'', Laurel is mentioned several times as an important horse racing venue. Laurel also hosted a horse trotter ([[harness racing]]) track named [[Freestate Raceway]] from 1948 to 1990;<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110516195205/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1210279.html "Freestate Raceway Is Sold for Planned Industrial Park"], HighBeam Research Inc., partial text of ''Washington Post'' article from September 6, 1989. ''URL retrieved on November 27, 2006''.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110516195211/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1108090.html "It's Final: Freestate Is No More; Commission Grants Request to Transfer '90 Dates to Rosecroft"], HighBeam Research Inc., partial text of ''Washington Post'' article from January 31, 1990. ''URL retrieved on November 27, 2006''.</ref> it was located in Howard County on the west side of US Route 1, south of [[Savage, Maryland|Savage]] in an area that now includes a [[CarMax]] dealership, [[Weis Markets|Weis]] supermarket, and a [[strip mall]].

In March 1912, the city agreed to take out $35,000 in loans to build its first sewer system with twelve miles of line that terminated by dumping into the [[Patuxent River]].<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Sewerage for Laurel|date=March 1, 1912|page=10}}</ref>

In February 1913, Laurel was a stopping point in the [[Suffrage hike]] led by [[Rosalie Gardiner Jones]]. She was joined by a Laurel-based colored women's suffrage group and sent a parcel with a flag and message ahead to President-elect [[Woodrow Wilson|Wilson]].<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=New York Times|date=February 27, 1913|title=Suffrage Hikers send Wilson a Flag}}</ref>

[[File:Laurel Board Track Race Jul 11 1925.jpg|300px|right |thumb |Board track racing at Laurel, July 11, 1925]]
[[Board track racing]] came to Laurel in 1925 when a {{convert|1.125|mi|km|adj=on}} wood oval track was built by Jack Prince and featured 48-degree banked turns. The Washington-Baltimore automobile speedway was short-lived, with featured races of 16 drivers at a time.<ref>[https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/npc2008007949 Laurel Auto Races, [Laurel, Md.&#93;, July 11, 25<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Despite crowds of up to 30,000, receipts did not cover the $400,000 cost of building the track on the 364-acre Avondale property which fell into receivership in 1926.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=LAUREL SPEEDWAY IN RECEIVERS' HANDS: Action Taken Following Filing Of Bill Of Complaint By Construction Finn OWES $28,250. IS CHARGE Corporation Owning Automobile Racing Truck Alleged To Be Insolvent|date=2 June 1926}}</ref>

[[Natural gas]] service was extended to the community in 1929.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/7625971/City-of-Laurel-Master-Plan-Comprehensive-Amendment |title=Master Plan Comprehensive Amendment |access-date=2009-01-26 |author=Department of Community Planning & Business Services |date=November 26, 2007 |publisher=City of Laurel, Maryland }}</ref>

In 1931, "Angy Gerrin" built a 7,000-seat amphitheater next to the [[Duvall Farm]] between [[Laurel Park (race track)|Laurel Park]] and Route One for an outdoor boxing venue. His company, Mid City Boxing Club Inc, held several events with low turnouts and receipts confiscated by local police. It was sold the same year to C.E. Cornell, who called it "Twin Cities Arena" or "Mid City Arena".<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=DOUBLE BOXING CARD TONIGHT: Brown-Firpo Bout Feature At Carlin's--Twin City Matches|date=14 September 1932}}</ref> The arena was active through 1932 with the entire delegation of the [[World Boxing Association|National Boxing Association]] attending a fight with [[Albert Ritchie|Governor Ritchie]] in attendance.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=N. B. A., Meeting Here, Plans Amateur Boxing Clean-Up: Important Question To Come Before Delegates At Three-Day Convention Which Opens Here This Morning|date=19 September 1932|author=Jesse A. Linthicum}}</ref> After watching the match and calling a fight to be halted in five rounds, the delegation announced efforts to drop junior lightweight and junior welterweight classes to discourage matches between young opponents.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=National Boxing Association Head Flays Exploitation Of Amateurs: CLINNIN URGES QUICK ACTION Tells Convention Mere Boys Are Becoming Punch-Drunk Wrecks SEEKS UNIFORM LAW Recommendation Presented To Drop Junior Title In Two Divisions|date=20 September 1932}}</ref> Operations ceased by the end of the 1933 season in the peak of the depression.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=RING AND RASSLIN' RACKET|author=Jessie A. Linthicum|date=25 June 1933}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Laurel's outdoor boxing arena met mysterious end|author=Kevin Leonard|date=2 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Hunt And Weiner Win Bouts In New Arena At Laurel Before 2,000|date=4 July 1931}}</ref>

[[Prohibition in the United States]] was repealed in 1934. Wasting little time, the Prince Georges Brewing Company planned a $500,000 brewery on 100 acres next to Laurel Park, but did not follow through.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=REALESTiTEDEALS AND BUILDING NEWS Plans For Construction Of Brewery At Laurel Are Announced|date=28 February 1934}}</ref>

In 1954, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory built its campus west of Laurel in Howard County, using a Laurel address.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Johns Hopkins Lets Contract in Md.|date=27 March 1955}}</ref>

By 1960, Laurel anticipated massive growth from Fort Meade and NSA. The town still used the Patuxent River to drain sewage, and filed urban grants for water and sewage infrastructure. 5,000 houses were planned in the adjacent 1,200-acre [[Maryland City, Maryland|Maryland City]] development. City Planner Harry Susini anticipated the National Capitol Planning Commission would use clustered development to prevent tightly massed population in Laurel by the year 2000.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Laurel Prepares For Its New Era: Expected Growth|date=September 5, 1960}}</ref>

In the late 1960s, the county was at the peak of racial tensions. The situation peaked in Laurel in July 1967 when four men and a juvenile, affiliated with the [[KKK]], attempted to burn St. Mark's United Methodist Church and then a private residence in the predominantly [[African-American neighborhood]] of the Grove, prompting protests and police blockades. Due to cross-burning incidents, a Ku Klux Klan march, and several arsons and suspected arsons, temporary police barricades were erected throughout late July to prevent white residents from entering the Grove.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Nightly Blockade of Negro Section In Laurel Is Ordered Discontinued|date=21 July 1967}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Laurel's Negro Community Protected by 8 Barricades|last=Goeller|first=David|date=July 16, 1967|work=The Baltimore Sun}}</ref> In August 1967, it was announced that the city would re-purchase a privately owned swimming pool, which had been sold to a private club in 1949. The pool, which had only been available to white residents, was to be operated as an integrated public facility open to all.<ref>{{Cite news
| last = Pickett
| first = Edward G
| title = Laurel to Buy, Integrate Pool for Public Use
| work = The Sun
| date = August 2, 1967
}}</ref>

On May 15, 1972, Governor [[George Wallace]] of [[Alabama]], running for the presidential nomination of the [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic Party]], was campaigning at a rally in the parking lot of [[Laurel Shopping Center]], near what is today a [[Bank of America]] branch, when he was shot and paralyzed by [[Arthur Bremer]], a disturbed, out-of-work janitor (see ''[[An Assassin's Diary]]'').

On June 22, 1972, Laurel was impacted severely by [[Hurricane Agnes]], which caused the greatest flooding ever recorded in Maryland.<ref>[https://md.water.usgs.gov/publications/wsp-2375/md-dc/md-dc-html.html "USGS Water Supply Paper 2375 National Water Summary, Maryland and the District of Columbia Floods and Droughts"]. ''URL retrieved on November 27, 2006''.</ref> Several bridges were destroyed and the nearby T. Howard Duckett [[Dam]] at [[Rocky Gorge Reservoir]] was at capacity and posed a huge threat.<ref>[http://www.mafsm.org/pdf/06_RegForm.pdf Invitation] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712003229/http://www.mafsm.org/pdf/06_RegForm.pdf |date=2007-07-12 }} to the Maryland Association of Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Second Annual Conference and General Membership Meeting, October 18–19, 2006. ''URL retrieved on November 27, 2006''.</ref> In 1975, the city council passed ordinances to create a historic district around Main Street.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Historic District|author=Sarah K. Krim|date=4 September 1974}}</ref>

In 1982, developer [[Kingdon Gould III]] bought 3,539 acres of Laurel property (539 in [[North Laurel]]) in two deals for $15 million. The largest parcel lies between Laurel and [[Beltsville]] and is being developed under the name [[Konterra]], buoyed by access to major highways via the construction of [[Maryland Route 200]].<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Gould buys 3,539 acres in two deals}}</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=August 2013}}

The [[Elizabeth House]], a nonprofit food pantry and soup kitchen, was founded in 1988 to serve low-income residents of the Laurel area. This later grew to include emergency financial aid and transportation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/laurel/ph-ll-elizabeth-house-renovations-20171012-story.html|title=Property management company 'spruces up' Elizabeth House in Laurel|last=Michaels|first=Andrew|website=[[Laurel Leader]]|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-15|archive-date=April 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415174128/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/laurel/ph-ll-elizabeth-house-renovations-20171012-story.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A former 1840s mill workers' home on the northeast corner of 9th and Main Streets was renovated and opened as the [[Laurel Museum]] on May 1, 1996.  The museum features exhibits that highlight the history of Laurel and its citizens.  A gift shop is available, and museum admission is free.  The museum's [[John Calder Brennan]] Library is open to researchers by appointment.<ref>[http://www.laurelhistory.org/pages/directions.html Directions and Hours] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706115651/http://www.laurelhistory.org/pages/directions.html |date=2009-07-06 }}, Laurel Historical Society. ''URL retrieved on November 28, 2006''.</ref>

===21st century===
On September 24, 2001, a tornado passed [[Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. tornado outbreak of 2001|through Laurel]] and left [[Fujita scale#Parameters|F3]] property damage, including significant roof damage to the [[Laurel High School (Laurel, Maryland)|Laurel High School]] and the historic Harrison-Beard building.<ref>{{cite news
 |url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.laurel26sep26,0,1440758.story?coll=bal-local-utility
 |title=Laurel sustains millions in damages
 |access-date=2007-06-18
 |last=Bykowicz
 |first=Julie
 |author2=Larry Carson
 |date=2001-09-26
 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930041551/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.laurel26sep26%2C0%2C1440758.story?coll=bal-local-utility
 |archive-date=2007-09-30
 |url-status=live
 }}</ref>

On August 29, 2005, Laurel adopted [[Laurel, Mississippi]], as a [[sister city]] to help with [[Hurricane Katrina]] relief and recovery.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.laurel.md.us/citizen_nov2006.htm
 |title=Citizen and Student of the Month
 |access-date=2007-09-08
 |date=November 2006
 |publisher=City Council of Laurel, Maryland
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927023552/http://www.laurel.md.us/citizen_nov2006.htm
 |archive-date=2007-09-27
 |url-status=live
}}</ref> In the two years following adoption, "the government, businesses and residents of Laurel, Md. ... raised more than $20,000 for Laurel, Miss."<ref>{{cite news
 | first = Steve
 | last = Early
 | title = Laurel namesake recovers from Hurricane Katrina
 | url = http://www.gazette.net/stories/090607/laurnew121344_32364.shtml
 | newspaper = [[The Gazette (Maryland)|The Gazette (Laurel edition)]]
 | page = A9
 | date = 2007-09-06
 | access-date = 2007-09-08
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110522180215/http://www.gazette.net/stories/090607/laurnew121344_32364.shtml
 | archive-date = 2011-05-22
 | url-status = dead
 }}</ref>

===Historic sites===
The following is a list of historic sites in Laurel and vicinity identified by the [[Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission]] and / or [[National Register of Historic Places]]:<ref>[http://www.mncppc.org/county/historic_sites.htm M-NCPPC Illustrated Inventory of Historic Sites (Prince George's County, Maryland), 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725020708/http://www.mncppc.org/county/historic_sites.htm |date=2008-07-25 }}.</ref>
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="width:98%"
! {{NRHP color}}|
! width = 25% {{NRHP color}}| '''Site name'''
! width = 8% class="unsortable" {{NRHP color}}| '''Image'''
! {{NRHP color}}|'''Location'''
! class="unsortable" {{NRHP color}}| '''M-NCPPC inventory number'''
! class="unsortable" {{NRHP color}}| '''Comment'''
|--
! {{NRHP color}} | <small>1</small>
| [[Avondale Mill]] (1844–1991)
| [[File:Avondale Mill Site Laurel MD Jan 11.JPG|100px]]
| 21 Avondale St.
| n/a
| Added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]], September 20, 1979; destroyed 1991
|--
! {{NRHP color}} | <small>2</small>
| [[Duvall Bridge (Laurel, Maryland)|Duvall Bridge]]
| <!-- Image goes here -->
| Telegraph Road at Patuxent River, [[Patuxent Wildlife Research Center]]
| 64-002
| [[Pratt truss]] bridge built in 1907 in place of a wooden bridge. Linked Dr. Charles Duvall's (1785–1863) mill plantation "Goodwood", later "Gladswood". Was once on the main route for Baltimore-Washington telegraphs.<ref>{{cite web |title=PG 64-2 Duvall Bridge |url=http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/stagsere/se1/se5/018000/018200/018253/pdf/msa_se5_18253.pdf |access-date=November 2, 2013 |publisher=Maryland State Archives |date=July 1987 }}</ref>
|--
! {{NRHP color}} | <small>3</small>
| [[Old Laurel High School]] (original building) / Phelps Community Center
| [[File:Laurel High School Dec 08.JPG|100px]]
| 700 block of Montgomery St
| n/a
| Added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]], June 27, 1979
|--
! {{NRHP color}} | <small>4</small>
| [[Laurel (MARC station)|Laurel Railroad Station]]
| [[File:Laurel Railroad Station West Side Dec 08.jpg|100px]]
| E. Main St
| n/a
| Designed for the [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad]] by architect [[Ephraim Francis Baldwin|E. Francis Baldwin]], built in 1884.<ref>{{Cite book|title=E. Francis Baldwin, Architect: The B&O, Baltimore, and Beyond|last=Avery|first=Carlos P.|publisher=Baltimore Architecture Foundation|year=2003|isbn=0-9729743-0-X|location=Baltimore, Maryland|pages=33, 128}}</ref> Added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]], March 30, 1973
|--
! {{NRHP color}} | <small>5</small>
| [[Montpelier Mansion (Laurel, Maryland)|Montpelier]]
| [[File:Montpellier Maryland 2.jpg|100px]]
| {{convert|2.1|mi|km|abbr=on}}. S of Laurel on [[Maryland Route 197|MD 197]]
| 62-006
| Added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]], April 17, 1970
|--
! {{NRHP color}} | <small>6</small>
| [[Oaklands (Laurel, Maryland)|Oaklands]]
| <!-- Image goes here -->
| 8314 Contee Road
| 62-003
| <!-- Comment goes here -->
|--
! {{NRHP color}} | <small>7</small>
| [[Snow Hill (Laurel, Maryland)|Snow Hill]]
| [[File:Snow Hill 1936.jpg|100px]]
| S of Laurel off [[Maryland Route 197|MD 197]]
| 62-004
| Added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]], August 13, 1974
|--
! {{NRHP color}} | <small>8</small>
| [[Snowden Hall (Laurel, Maryland)|Snowden Hall]]
| [[File:Snowden Hall 1989.gif|100px]]
| Building 16, [[Patuxent Wildlife Research Center]]
| 64-001
| <!-- Comment goes here -->
|}

==Geography==
Laurel is located at {{coord|39|5|45|N|76|51|35|W|region:US-MD_type:city(20,000)_scale:30000}}. The city is situated on the bank of the [[Patuxent River]], which was the power source for the cotton mills that were the early industry of the town.

The zip codes for the incorporated city of Laurel are 20707, 20708, 20709, 20723, 20724 and 20756. Although served by the Laurel post office, [[Montpelier, Maryland|Montpelier]] is not within the city limits; the same is true of the unincorporated communities of [[Scaggsville, Maryland|Scaggsville]] and [[Whiskey Bottom Road|Whiskey Bottom]] in Howard County, and [[Maryland City, Maryland|Maryland City]] and [[Russett, Maryland|Russett]] in Anne Arundel County.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cityoflaurel.org/content/real-estate-property-taxes |title=Real Estate Property Taxes |access-date=February 27, 2016 |publisher=City of Laurel, Maryland |quote=Properties with a 'Laurel' mailing address may not necessarily be located within the City limits. Properties in 'Laurel 20707 and 20708' may be outside the City limits in Prince George's County.... Properties in 'Laurel 20723' are always outside the City limits in Howard County.... Properties in 'Laurel 20724' are always outside the City limits in Anne Arundel County |date=2014-12-02 }}</ref> A small section of ZIP Code 20707 is located in [[Montgomery County, Maryland|Montgomery County]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://planning.maryland.gov/msdc/Zipcode_map/2010/montzc10.pdf|title=Montgomery County, MD 2010 Zip Code Areas|work=Maryland Department of Planning, Planning Data Services Division}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1986/05/08/the-lost-colony-of-20707/0f6b22e2-233b-4bb2-97d1-d0aba5e76c15/|title=The Lost Colony of 20707|last=Horwitz|first=Sari|date=1986-05-08|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=2017-12-27|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|4.33|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|4.30|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.03|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2013-01-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }}</ref>

===Climate===
As is typical of central Maryland, Laurel lies within the [[humid subtropical climate]] zone, featuring hot humid summers and cool to mild winters with high annual precipitation. Laurel lies within USDA plant hardiness zones 7 and 8.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arborday.org/treeinfo/ZoneInfo.cfm?ZipCode=20707&submit=Look+it+up%21 |title=What is my arborday.org Hardiness Zone? |access-date=December 4, 2011 |publisher=The Arbor Day Foundation }}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Laurel, Maryland
|single line = Y
|Jan high F = 42.4
|Feb high F = 45.8
|Mar high F = 54.7
|Apr high F = 66.2
|May high F = 75.2
|Jun high F = 83.8
|Jul high F = 88.3
|Aug high F = 86.7
|Sep high F = 79.3
|Oct high F = 68.1
|Nov high F = 57.5
|Dec high F = 46.1
|year high F= 66.2
|Jan low F = 24.9
|Feb low F = 26.8
|Mar low F = 34.5
|Apr low F = 44.1
|May low F = 54.8
|Jun low F = 63.8
|Jul low F = 69.0
|Aug low F = 67.5
|Sep low F = 59.6
|Oct low F = 48.2
|Nov low F = 38.0
|Dec low F = 29.4
|year low F= 46.7
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.16
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.03
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.10
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.81
|May precipitation inch = 4.56
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.23
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.05
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.43
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.60
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.98
|Nov precipitation inch = 4.21
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.77
|year precipitation inch=
| Jan snow inch = 2.1
| Feb snow inch = 6.2
| Mar snow inch =  .6
| Apr snow inch =   0
| May snow inch =   0
| Jun snow inch =   0
| Jul snow inch =   0
| Aug snow inch =   0
| Sep snow inch =   0
| Oct snow inch =   0
| Nov snow inch =  .8
| Dec snow inch = 1.3
|year snow inch =11.0
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days =  8.9
| Feb precipitation days =  8.2
| Mar precipitation days =  9.6
| Apr precipitation days =  9.4
| May precipitation days = 10.5
| Jun precipitation days =  9.3
| Jul precipitation days =  9.1
| Aug precipitation days =  7.4
| Sep precipitation days =  8.3
| Oct precipitation days =  7.6
| Nov precipitation days =  8.2
| Dec precipitation days =  8.7
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 1.0
| Feb snow days = 1.0
| Mar snow days =  .3
| Apr snow days =   0
| May snow days =   0
| Jun snow days =   0
| Jul snow days =   0
| Aug snow days =   0
| Sep snow days =   0
| Oct snow days =   0
| Nov snow days =  .1
| Dec snow days =  .4
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name= NOAA>{{Cite FTP |url=ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/1981-2010/products/station/USC00185111.normals.txt |server=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |url-status=dead |title=Station Name: MD LAUREL 3W |access-date=2013-06-18}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 1148
|1880= 1206
|1890= 1984
|1900= 2079
|1910= 2415
|1920= 2239
|1930= 2532
|1940= 2823
|1950= 4482
|1960= 8503
|1970= 10525
|1980= 12103
|1990= 19438
|2000= 19960
|2010= 25115
|2020= 30060
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
For [[statistics|statistical]] reporting, the Census Bureau identifies four adjacent unincorporated [[Census-designated place|area]]s:
* [[West Laurel, Maryland|West Laurel]] (upper west)
* [[North Laurel, Maryland|North Laurel]]
* [[Maryland City, Maryland|Maryland City]] (to the east)
* [[South Laurel, Maryland|South Laurel]]

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Laurel city, Maryland – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Laurel city, Maryland |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US2445900&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Laurel city, Maryland |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2445900&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Laurel city, Maryland |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2445900&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|9,894
|6,116
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,943
|49.57%
|24.35%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |16.44%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|6,783
|12,009
|style='background: #ffffe6; |14,846
|33.98%
|47.82%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |49.39%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|63
|73
|style='background: #ffffe6; |70
|0.32%
|0.29%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.23%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|1,373
|2,290
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,458
|6.88%
|9.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.18%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|31
|14
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12
|0.16%
|0.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|40
|92
|style='background: #ffffe6; |279
|0.20%
|0.37%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.93%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|531
|635
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,143
|2.66%
|2.53%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.80%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,245
|3,886
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,309
|6.24%
|15.47%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |20.99%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''19,960'''
|'''25,115'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''30,060'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010 census===
As of the census<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2013-01-25}}</ref> of 2010, there were 25,115 people, 10,498 households, and 5,695 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|5840.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 11,397 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2650.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 30.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 48.9% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 9.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 7.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 15.5% of the population.

There were 10,498 households, of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.8% were non-families. 37.6% 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 2.37 and the average family size was 3.19.

The median age in the city was 33.7 years. 22.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 37.2% were from 25 to 44; 23.8% were from 45 to 64; and 7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

===2000 census===
As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 19,960 people, 8,931 [[households]], and 4,635 [[family|families]] residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|5,280.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 9,506 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,514.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 52.24% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 34.50% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.38% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 6.89% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.21% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.30% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 3.47% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] people of any race were 6.24% of the population.

There were 8,931 households, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18, 33.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.3% had a [[female]] householder with no husband present, and 48.1% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the [[population]] was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 42.9% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 [[male]]s. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

The [[median household income|median income]] for a household in the city was $49,415, and the median income for a family was $58,552. Males had a median income of $37,966 versus $35,614 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $26,717. About 4.3% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Transportation==
===Roads and highways===
[[File:2019-06-03 11 07 38 View north along Interstate 95 just north of Exit 33 in Laurel, Prince George's County, Maryland.jpg|thumb|right|I-95 northbound in Laurel]]
The most prominent highway serving Laurel is [[Interstate 95 in Maryland|Interstate 95]], which skims the western edge of the city. Access from I-95 to Laurel is provided by [[Maryland Route 198]], which also intersects [[U.S. Route 1 in Maryland|U.S. Route 1]] in the center of the city, [[Maryland Route 197]] just east of downtown, and the [[Baltimore-Washington Parkway]] just east of the city limits.

Other major state roads in Laurel are [[Maryland Route 216|MD 216]], which connects the city with southern Howard County, and [[Maryland Route 206|MD 206]]. The eastern terminus of [[Maryland Route 200|MD 200]] (the Intercounty Connector) lies just south of the city limits along U.S. Route 1 and connects Laurel with [[Gaithersburg, Maryland|Gaithersburg]].

===Public transport===
[[File:Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Station (3695955086).jpg|thumb|left|Laurel Railroad Station]]
Two [[MARC Train|MARC train]] stations on the [[Camden Line]] to Baltimore and Washington, D.C. are located in Laurel: [[Laurel (MARC station)|Laurel Station]] and [[Laurel Race Track (MARC station)|Laurel Racetrack Station]], the latter with minimal service. Laurel Station is a particularly notable example of the stations designed by [[Ephraim Francis Baldwin|E. Francis Baldwin]] for the [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad]].

The [[Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]] (WMATA) [[Metrobus (Washington, D.C.)|Metrobus]] service provides four routes (87,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/upload/87-88.pdf |title=87 Laurel Express Line|publisher=WMATA|access-date=May 4, 2020}}</ref> 89, 89M,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/upload/89,89M_171217.pdf |title=89, 89M Laurel Line|publisher=WMATA|access-date=May 4, 2020}}</ref> and [[Laurel–Burtonsville Express Line|Z7]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/upload/Z7_170625.pdf |title=Z7 Laurel – Burtonsville Express Line|publisher=WMATA|access-date=May 4, 2020}}</ref>) into Laurel, and local [[Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland|RTA]] bus service is available.  Several taxicab and shuttle services also support the region.

===Air transportation===
[[Suburban Airport]] was located on Brock Bridge Road, just over the Anne Arundel County border. For decades the airport provided [[general aviation]] access for medivac helicopters, flight training, business travelers, and served as a relief airport for light traffic into and out of the two major regional airports. This airport closed in 2017.

The major airports currently serving the Laurel area are [[Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport]] in adjacent [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel County]], and [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]] in [[Crystal City, Virginia]] near downtown [[Washington, D.C.]]

==Emergency services==
[[File:Laurel Vol Fire Department Engine103.jpg|thumb|right|Laurel Volunteer Fire Department Engine 103]]
[[File:Laurel Volunteer Fire Department.jpg|thumb|Laurel Volunteer Fire Department]]

The [[Laurel Police Department (Maryland)|Laurel Police Department]] and the [[Prince George's County Police Department]] are the principal providers of the region's police officers. The [[Maryland State Police]] patrol US 1, MD 198, and [[Interstate 95 in Maryland|Interstate 95]], which pass through the area, and the [[United States Park Police]] patrol the [[Baltimore-Washington Parkway]] and its connectors.

PG County Police Department District 6 Station in [[Beltsville, Maryland|Beltsville CDP]] serves unincorporated areas near Laurel, and the City of Laurel itself is within the station's beat map.<ref>"[https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/District-6-Station-Beltsville-6 District 6 Station – Beltsville] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909112529/https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/District-6-Station-Beltsville-6 |date=September 9, 2018 }}." [[Prince George's County Police Department]]. Retrieved on September 9, 2018. "4321 Sellman Road Beltsville, MD 20704 ". [https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2673/District-6-Beat-Map-PDF?bidId= Beat map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909070251/https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2673/District-6-Beat-Map-PDF?bidId= |date=September 9, 2018 }}. See [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2406400_beltsville/DC10BLK_P2406400_000.pdf 2010 U.S. Census index map of Beltsville CDP]: area with police station is [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2406400_beltsville/DC10BLK_P2406400_003.pdf page 3].</ref>

The primary emergency services providers for the City of Laurel and surrounding parts of Prince George's County are the Laurel Volunteer Fire Department (Company 10) and the Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad (Company 49). Both companies are part of the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department.

The Laurel Volunteer Fire Department was formed in 1902. Today the department is located at 7411 Cherry Lane. Volunteer staffing is supplemented by four career personnel from 7:00am to 3:00pm Monday through Friday excluding holidays. The company operates three fire engines (Engine 101, Engine 103, and Engine 104); and an aerial tower (Tower 10). Ambulance service began December 11, 2006. A [[paramedic]] unit staffed by two career personnel is also assigned to Company 10.

The Laurel Volunteer [[Rescue Squad]] was formed in 1952. Today the department is located at 14910 Bowie Road. Volunteer staffing is supplemented by four career personnel from 7:00am to 3:00pm Monday through Friday excluding holidays. The company operates one heavy rescue squad, one rescue-engine, three basic life support ambulances, and a [[swiftwater rescue]] team.

The [[University of Maryland Laurel Medical Center]], built in 1978 as the Greater Laurel-Beltsville Hospital, and now managed by the [[University of Maryland Medical System]], is located on Van Dusen Road. While it transitions to a full medical center to be built on the same campus, this facility currently provides emergency and outpatient services, wound care, hyperbaric medicine, primary care, and pain management, among other services.

==Government==
===Municipal===
{{see also|List of mayors of Laurel, Maryland}}
Laurel is governed by a five-member city council and a [[mayor]]. There are two political [[Wards of the United States|ward]]s in the city. The first ward is generally the area north of Maryland Route 198 and the second ward is to the south.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.laurel.md.us/voteward.htm
 |title=Laurel Voting Wards
 |access-date=2007-07-15
 |publisher=City of Laurel, Maryland
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070415203558/http://www.laurel.md.us/voteward.htm
 |archive-date=2007-04-15
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laurel.md.us/sites/default/files/votingwards.pdf |title=Laurel Voting Ward Map |access-date=2011-04-28 |publisher=City of Laurel, Maryland}}</ref> Two council members are elected from each ward, and a council member is elected at large by residents of both wards.  City Council candidates must reside in Laurel a year before their election and during their full term of office.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://library.municode.com/md/laurel/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH_ART300GO_S310CICO |title=Laurel Charter/Code, Article 300 (Government), Section 310 (City Council) |access-date=2018-09-11 |website=municode }}</ref> Similarly, mayoral candidates must reside in the city for at least two years prior to their election.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://library.municode.com/md/laurel/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH_ART300GO_S350MA |title=Laurel Charter/Code, Article 300, Section 350 (Mayor) |access-date=2018-09-11 |website=municode }}</ref>

Nonpartisan citywide elections are held every two years on the first Tuesday in November of each odd year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laurel.md.us/content/elections-and-voter-registration |title=Elections and Voter Registration |access-date=2011-04-28 |publisher=City of Laurel, Maryland}}</ref>  Phelps Senior Center on the corner of Montgomery Street and 8th Street/St. Mary's Place<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laurel.md.us/cc.htm |title=City Council of Laurel, Maryland |access-date=2008-04-22 |publisher=City of Laurel, Maryland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208122546/http://www.laurel.md.us/cc.htm |archive-date=2008-02-08 |url-status=live }}</ref> is the polling place for Ward 1, and the Robert J. DiPietro Community Center on Cypress Road is the polling place for Ward 2 voters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laurel.md.us/content/laurel-voting-wards |title=Laurel Voting Ward Map |access-date=2011-04-28 |publisher=City of Laurel, Maryland}}</ref>  The next election, to select <!--a mayor and--> city council members, will be held in November 2025 with elected individuals to take office at the second regular City Council meeting that follows.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://library.municode.com/md/laurel/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH_ART600REEL_S602ELMACO |title=Laurel Charter/Code, Article 600 (Registration and Elections), Section 605 (Election of Mayor and Councilmembers) |access-date=2018-09-11 |website=municode }}</ref>  Regular meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cityoflaurel.org/clerk/meetings/about-mayor%C2%A0and-city-council-meetings-and-work-sessions |title=About Mayor and City Council Meetings and Work Sessions |access-date=2018-09-11 |publisher=City of Laurel, Maryland|date=2016-03-22 }}</ref>

The council elects one of its members to serve as [[President (government title)#Sub-national|president]]. The president of the city council presides over council meetings and can act in a limited capacity as mayor if the mayor is unavailable. Council members serve for two years each [[term of office|term]]; the mayor serves for four years.

===Federal===
The [[U.S. Postal Service]] operates the following post offices in the city limits: Laurel,<ref>"[https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorDetailsAction!input.action?locationTypeQ=all&address=Laurel%2C+MD&radius=20&locationType=po&locationID=1369949&locationName=LAUREL&address2=&address1=324+MAIN+ST&city=LAUREL&state=MD&zip5=20707&zip4=9995&tollFree=800-ASK-USPS%26reg%3B%26nbsp%3B%28800-275-8777%29&fax=301-483-0929&tAddress=&tAddress1Ams=&tAddress2Ams=&tCityAms=&tStateAms=&tZipAms=&tCarrierRouteAms=&latitude=39.104375&longitude=-76.8453849&sWithin=20&&&&&&&&& Laurel]." [[U.S. Postal Service]]. Retrieved on September 11, 2018. "324 Main St Laurel, MD 20707-9995"</ref> Laurel Carrier Annex,<ref>"[https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorDetailsAction!input.action?locationTypeQ=all&address=Laurel%2C+MD&radius=20&locationType=po&locationID=1369937&locationName=LAUREL+CARRIER+ANNEX&address2=&address1=123+WASHINGTON+BLVD+S&city=LAUREL&state=MD&zip5=20707&zip4=9997&tollFree=800-ASK-USPS%26reg%3B%26nbsp%3B%28800-275-8777%29&fax=301-483-0929&tAddress=&tAddress1Ams=&tAddress2Ams=&tCityAms=&tStateAms=&tZipAms=&tCarrierRouteAms=&latitude=39.104399&longitude=-76.8454309&sWithin=20&&&&&&&&& Laurel Carrier Annex]." [[U.S. Postal Service]]. Retrieved on September 11, 2018. "123 Washington Blvd S Laurel, MD 20707-9997"</ref> and Laurel Commons (at [[Towne Centre at Laurel]]).<ref>"[https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorDetailsAction!input.action?locationTypeQ=all&address=Laurel%2C+MD&radius=20&locationType=po&locationID=1492895&locationName=LAUREL+COMMONS&address2=&address1=14720+BALTIMORE+AVE+UNIT+111&city=LAUREL&state=MD&zip5=20707&zip4=4898&tollFree=800-ASK-USPS%26reg%3B%26nbsp%3B%28800-275-8777%29&fax=&tAddress=&tAddress1Ams=&tAddress2Ams=&tCityAms=&tStateAms=&tZipAms=&tCarrierRouteAms=&latitude=39.093879&longitude=-76.8562409&sWithin=20&&&&&&&&& Laurel Commons]." [[U.S. Postal Service]]. Retrieved on September 11, 2018. "14720 Baltimore Ave Unit 111 Laurel, MD 20707-4898"</ref> Montpelier Post Office is in nearby [[South Laurel, Maryland|South Laurel CDP]].<ref>"[https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorDetailsAction!input.action?locationTypeQ=all&address=Laurel%2C+MD&radius=20&locationType=po&locationID=1434432&locationName=MONTPELIER&address2=&address1=12625+LAUREL+BOWIE+RD&city=LAUREL&state=MD&zip5=20708&zip4=9998&tollFree=800-ASK-USPS%26reg%3B%26nbsp%3B%28800-275-8777%29&fax=301-617-9761&tAddress=&tAddress1Ams=&tAddress2Ams=&tCityAms=&tStateAms=&tZipAms=&tCarrierRouteAms=&latitude=39.063659&longitude=-76.8380549&sWithin=20&&&&&&&&& MONTPELIER]." [[U.S. Postal Service]]. Retrieved on September 11, 2018. "12625 Laurel Bowie Rd Laurel, MD 20708-9998" – See also: "[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2473650_south_laurel/DC10BLK_P2473650_000.pdf 2010 Census – Census Block Map (Index): South Laurel CDP, MD]." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on August 26, 2018. Pages: [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2473650_south_laurel/DC10BLK_P2473650_001.pdf 1], [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2473650_south_laurel/DC10BLK_P2473650_002.pdf 2], and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2473650_south_laurel/DC10BLK_P2473650_003.pdf 3].</ref>

==Media and culture==

===Media===
Television arrived in Laurel with the establishment of the first TV broadcast stations in Washington in 1946. For decades, Laurel has been served by the [[VHF]] TV channels 4 ([[WRC-TV]] / [[NBC]]), 5 ([[WTTG]] / [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]]), 7 ([[WJLA-TV]] / [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]), and 9 ([[WUSA (TV)|WUSA]] / [[CBS]]) from Washington; channels 2 ([[WMAR-TV]] / [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]), 11 ([[WBAL-TV]] / [[NBC]]), 13 ([[WJZ-TV]] / [[CBS]]), and 45 ([[WBFF]] / [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX]]) from Baltimore; plus [[Maryland Public Television]] from Annapolis and Baltimore. In addition, there are dozens of [[UHF]] TV stations from Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis. From these three cities, scores of AM and [[FM broadcasting|FM]] radio stations reach Laurel.

Laurel has one local newspaper, the ''[[Laurel Leader]]'', and one [[mediumwave]] [[AM broadcasting|AM radio]] station, [[WACA (AM)|WACA]] 900, with an [[adult contemporary music|adult contemporary]] format.

With its location between Washington and Baltimore, Laurel is also served by their daily newspapers ''[[The Washington Post]]'', ''[[The Washington Times]]'' and  ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]''. Many Laurel residents also read a free [[newspaper]], the ''[[Washington Examiner]]''.

===Arts===
[[File:LaurelMSF.jpg|thumb|Laurel Main Street Festival, 2007]]
Local performing arts outlets include the [[Venus Theatre]], Laurel Mill Playhouse, [[Central Maryland Chorale]] (formerly Laurel Oratorio Society) and Montpelier Arts Center, which also features an [[art gallery]].  Another local exhibitor is the WSSC Art Gallery.

===Events===
The city government supports an annual LakeFest in May and [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] celebration each July.  Since 1981, the Laurel [[Chamber of commerce|Board of Trade]] has sponsored a Main Street Festival (held on Saturday of [[Mother's Day (United States)|Mother's Day]] weekend) each May, and since 1995 a RiverFest each October.  The Montpelier Mansion grounds have hosted an annual festival the first weekend in May since 1971, updated in 2007 to focus on an "herb, tea and arts" theme.<ref>Garnes, Kathy. "Montpelier herb, tea and art fest moves to May". ''Laurel Leader''. Patuxent Publishing Co. April 19, 2007.</ref>

==Education==

===Primary and secondary schools===

====Public schools within and serving the city limits====
[[Prince George's County Public Schools]] serves residents within Laurel's city limits.<ref>"[https://www.cityoflaurel.org/system/files/files/cityoflaurelzoningmap2017.pdf City of Laurel Zoning Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515005239/https://www.cityoflaurel.org/system/files/files/cityoflaurelzoningmap2017.pdf |date=2018-05-15 }}." City of Laurel. Retrieved on August 26, 2018. See also: [https://www.cityoflaurel.org/system/files/files/city-laurel-map-2017.pdf City map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515005145/https://www.cityoflaurel.org/system/files/files/city-laurel-map-2017.pdf |date=2018-05-15 }}.</ref>

Many city residents are zoned to Laurel Elementary School or Scotchtown Hills Elementary School, both within the city limits. There are also residential portions of the city zoned to schools outside the city limits: Bond Mill Elementary School in [[West Laurel, Maryland|West Laurel CDP]], Deerfield Run Elementary School in [[South Laurel, Maryland|South Laurel CDP]], Oaklands Elementary School in South Laurel, and Vansville Elementary School in an [[unincorporated area]] near [[Beltsville, Maryland|Beltsville]].<ref>"[https://gis.pgcps.org/mapgallery/Maps/Boundaries%20-%20Elementary.pdf NEIGHBORHOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND BOUNDARIES SCHOOL YEAR 2018-2019]." [[Prince George's County Public Schools]]. Retrieved on August 26, 2018.</ref> Two public middle schools, Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School in South Laurel CDP and Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in Beltsville CDP serve the actual city of Laurel.<ref>"[https://gis.pgcps.org/mapgallery/Maps/Boundaries%20-%20Middle.pdf NEIGHBORHOOD MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND BOUNDARIES SCHOOL YEAR 2018-2019]." [[Prince George's County Public Schools]]. Retrieved on August 26, 2018.</ref> [[Laurel High School (Maryland)|Laurel High School]] in the city limits serves the city of Laurel.<ref>"[https://gis.pgcps.org/mapgallery/Maps/Boundaries%20-%20High.pdf NEIGHBORHOOD HIGH SCHOOLS AND BOUNDARIES SCHOOL YEAR 2018-2019]." [[Prince George's County Public Schools]]. Retrieved on August 26, 2018.</ref>

During the era of legally-required racial [[school segregation in the United States|segregation of schools]], black students from Laurel attended [[Lakeland High School (Maryland)|Lakeland High School]] in [[College Park, Maryland|College Park]] in the period 1928–1950,<ref name=MarylandCapitalp63>''[https://issuu.com/mncppc/docs/aapgc African-American Historic and Cultural Resources in Prince George's County, Maryland]''. [[Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission]], February 2012. p. 63 (document page 67). Retrieved on September 6, 2018.</ref><ref name=LakelandAframPT37>Lakeland Community Heritage Project Inc. ''Lakeland: African Americans in College Park''. [[Arcadia Publishing]], September 18, 2012. {{ISBN|1439622744}}, 9781439622742. [[Google Books]] [https://books.google.com/books?id=cjXs-pFuXboC&pg=PT37 PT37].</ref> and [[Fairmont Heights High School]], then near [[Fairmount Heights, Maryland|Fairmount Heights]], from 1950 to 1964; around 1964, legally-required racial segregation of schools ended.<ref name=FairmontHeightshistoryasof2005>{{cite web|url=http://www.pgcps.org:80/~fmhts/history.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051004001621/http://www.pgcps.org/~fmhts/history.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2005-10-04|title=Fairmont Heights High School History|publisher=Fairmont Heights High School|date=2018-09-04|access-date=2018-09-04}}</ref>

====Public schools nearby====
Nearby elementary schools serving areas outside of the Laurel city limits include Bond Mill, Deerfield Run, James H. Harrison, Montpelier, Oaklands, and Scotchtown Hills Elementary Schools in Prince George's County; Brock Bridge and Maryland City Elementary Schools in Anne Arundel County; Burtonsville Elementary School in Montgomery County, and Forest Ridge, Gorman Crossing, [[Hammond Elementary School|Hammond]], and [[Laurel Woods Elementary School|Laurel Woods Elementary]] Schools in Howard County.

Areas near Laurel in adjacent counties are served by MacArthur and Meade Middle Schools in Anne Arundel County, Benjamin Banneker Middle School in Montgomery County, and Hammond, Patuxent Valley, and Murray Hill Middle Schools in Howard County.

Other public high schools which serve the adjacent areas outside Prince George's County include [[Meade Senior High School|Meade High School]] in Anne Arundel County, [[Paint Branch High School]] in Montgomery County, and [[Atholton High School|Atholton]], [[Guilford Park High School|Guilford Park]], [[Hammond High School (Columbia, Maryland)|Hammond]], and [[Reservoir High School]]s in Howard County. A notable [[magnet school]] in Prince George's County is [[Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Greenbelt, MD)|Eleanor Roosevelt High School]].

====District of Columbia alternative school====
[[District of Columbia Public Schools]] operates an alternative middle and high school near Laurel named [[Maya Angelou Academy]].

====Private schools====
* Augsburg Academy&nbsp;– Christian Day School; age 4 through grade 9<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.augsburgacademy.net/whoweare.html |title=Who We Are |work=augsburgacademy.net |publisher=Augsburg Academy |access-date=November 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719011105/http://www.augsburgacademy.net/whoweare.html |archive-date=July 19, 2011 }}</ref>
* Faith Baptist Christian School&nbsp;– [[Pre-K]] through grade 8
* First Baptist School of Laurel&nbsp;– Pre-K through grade 8
* Julia Brown [[Montessori method|Montesorri]] School&nbsp;– Pre-K through grade 3
* [[Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care|Kiddie Academy of Laurel]]&nbsp;– for ages 6 weeks through 12 years
* Kiddies Kollege Christian Center&nbsp;– for ages 2 years through 5 years
* Laurel Baptist Academy&nbsp;– [[kindergarten]] through grade 12
* Pallotti Day Care Center&nbsp;– [[Catholic]] kindergarten
* St. Mary of the Mills School&nbsp;– Catholic kindergarten through grade 8
* [[St. Vincent Pallotti High School]]&nbsp;– Catholic high school

===Colleges, universities, and trade schools===
[[Prince George's Community College]] and [[Howard Community College]] share a campus in Laurel called the Laurel College Center.<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.laurelcollegecenter.org/
|title = Laurel College Center Home Page
|access-date = 2007-07-20
|publisher = Laurel College Center
}}</ref>

[[Capitol Technology University]] is located south of Laurel.

The Anne Arundel County section of Laurel hosts the Woodland [[Job Corps]] Center.

===Public libraries===
[[File:Laurel Public Library.jpg|thumb|[[Laurel Branch Library]]]]
[[Prince George's County Memorial Library System]] operates the [[Laurel Branch Library]] at the intersection of Seventh Street and Talbott Avenue.<ref>"[https://www.pgcmls.info/website/branch/location/Laurel Laurel Branch]." [[Prince George's County Memorial Library System]]. Retrieved on August 29, 2018.</ref>  The "Maryland City at Russett" branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library and the Savage branch of the [[Howard County Public Library]] System are also available to Laurel area residents.

==Sports and recreation==
Laurel's Department of Parks & Recreation sponsors seasonal sports leagues for adults, with youth leagues in the area offered by Laurel Little League, Greater Laurel United Soccer Club (GLUSC), Laurel Soccer Club (LSC),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laurelsoccerclub.org/ |title=Laurel Soccer Club |access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref> and the Laurel [[Boys & Girls Clubs of America|Boys and Girls Club]].<ref>[http://laurel.md.us/sportsprog.htm "Sports Programs"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111065555/http://laurel.md.us/sportsprog.htm |date=2010-01-11 }}, Department of Parks & Recreation, City of Laurel. ''URL retrieved on December 22, 2006''.</ref>  Events are held among eleven city parks, three athletic fields, and three community centers. The city also operates a municipal swimming pool and tennis courts.<ref>[http://laurel.md.us/prfac.htm "Parks & Facilities Tour"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209004246/http://www.laurel.md.us/prfac.htm |date=2006-12-09 }}, Department of Parks & Recreation, City of Laurel. ''URL retrieved on December 22, 2006''.</ref> Four indoor facilities and seven outdoor facilities are available for private rental.<ref>[http://laurel.md.us/prfees.htm "Facility Rentals"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209004539/http://www.laurel.md.us/prfees.htm |date=2006-12-09 }}, Department of Parks & Recreation, City of Laurel. ''URL retrieved on December 22, 2006''.</ref>

The Fairland Sports and Athletic Complex on the grounds of the Fairland Regional Park, southwest of the city limits, is operated by the [[Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission]].  These facilities offer a broad variety of activities including swimming, gymnastics, tennis, racquetball, weight training, child sitting, and massage therapy.<ref>[http://www.pgparks.com/places/sportsfac/specialized.html "M-NCPPC Specialized Sports Facilities"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016044153/http://www.pgparks.com/places/sportsfac/specialized.html |date=2006-10-16 }}, Department of Parks & Recreation, Prince George's County Maryland. ''URL retrieved on December 22, 2006''.</ref>

Also located within Fairland Regional Park, [[The Gardens Ice House]] skating facility offers three ice rinks for ice skating lessons, public skating, figure skating, hockey, speed skating, and curling.  Recent additional activities include basketball and [[lacrosse]].<ref>[https://www.thegardensicehouse.com/ The Gardens Ice House], Laurel, Maryland. ''URL retrieved on December 22, 2006''.</ref> The Gardens Ice House is also home to the [[Washington Jr. Nationals]] [[junior ice hockey|Tier III Junior A]] ice hockey team, playing in the [[Atlantic Junior Hockey League]] and the Tri-City Eagles<ref>{{Cite web|title=Association Information – MYHockey|url=https://myhockeyrankings.com/association_info.php?a=368|access-date=2021-03-30|website=myhockeyrankings.com}}</ref> that play for the Chesapeake Bay Hockey League<ref>{{Cite web|title=League Information – MYHockey|url=https://myhockeyrankings.com/league_info.php?l=126|access-date=2021-03-30|website=myhockeyrankings.com}}</ref> as well as the [[Maryland Reapers]], an indoor football franchise of the [[American Indoor Football]] League.

The Laurel Roller Skating Center, just north of the city limits, provides a location for public roller skating.<ref>Lane, Raymond M. [http://washingtontimes.com/weekend/20040224-102240-4100r.htm "Getting up to speed on roller skating fun"] ''The Washington Times'', February 26, 2004.  ''URL retrieved on December 22, 2006''.</ref>

==Notable people==
{{see also|Category:People from Laurel, Maryland|l1=People from Laurel, Maryland}}
*[[Simon Cho]]&nbsp;– Olympic short track speed skater<ref name="NBCbio">{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=2481/bio/index.html|title=Simon Cho&nbsp;– Biography|publisher=NBC Universal|access-date=19 January 2010}}</ref>
*[[Jim Clash]]&nbsp;– participatory adventure journalist<ref>{{cite news |last1=Leonard |first1=Kevin |title=Jim Clash: Laurel's own George Plimpton continues legacy of participatory journalism |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/laurel/cng-ll-history-clash-0718-20190718-3crbrirrjzcbfkgb6jc7d6ngyi-story.html |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=18 July 2019}}</ref>
*[[R. Orin Cornett]]&nbsp;– physicist, university professor, and administrator; inventor of a literacy system for the deaf known as [[Cued speech]]
*[[Edith DeVoe]]&nbsp;– first black nurse admitted to the regular U.S. Navy; died from lung cancer at the Cherry Lane Nursing Center in Laurel<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2000/11/23/obituaries/960c22f0-9bae-49b9-a0dd-0fcabae83b8a/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407181641/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2000/11/23/obituaries/960c22f0-9bae-49b9-a0dd-0fcabae83b8a/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-04-07|title=Obituaries – The Washington Post|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=2018-04-07|access-date=2018-04-10}}</ref>
*Future president [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] and his wife [[Mamie Eisenhower]]&nbsp;– lived at [[Eisenhower House (Laurel, Maryland)|Mrs. Ray's Boarding House]] at 327 Montgomery Street in June 1919 during the couple's third year of marriage<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msa.md.gov/megafile/msa/stagsere/se1/se5/018000/018100/018167/pdf/msa_se5_18167.pdf |title=Eisenhower House (Mrs. Ray's Boarding House) |work=www.msa.md.gov |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=November 24, 2011 }}</ref>
*[[Christopher Emery]]&nbsp;– Chief Enterprise Architect of the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] and former [[White House]] Usher<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/07/21/council-official-to-testify-in-fbi-file-probe-panel-seeks-story-of-white-house-usher-fired-by-first-lady/|title=Council official to testify in FBI file probe Panel seeks story of White House usher fired by first lady|last=Timberg|first=Craig|date=1996-07-21|work=Baltimore Sun|access-date=2017-10-25|language=en}}</ref>
*[[Marty Friedman (guitarist)|Marty Friedman]]&nbsp;– former [[Megadeth]] lead guitarist; attended Laurel High School in the 1970s<ref>[https://www.martyfriedman.com/fans_faq_content.php?id=584 "West Laurel barn razing"]. October 2002. Fan Questions and Answers. Marty Friedman Official Website. ''URL retrieved on December 20, 2006''.</ref>
*[[Kathleen Hanna]]&nbsp;– former [[Bikini Kill]] and current [[Le Tigre]] band member; attended O.W. Phair Elementary School in Laurel<ref name="LeTigre">{{cite web |url=http://www.letigreworld.com/sweepstakes/flash_site/fact/fact.html |title=Facts |access-date=March 7, 2014 |quote=In 4th grade ... I ended up being the co-lead in O.W. Phair elementary's production |publisher=Le Tigre |archive-date=January 17, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040117022938/http://letigreworld.com/sweepstakes/flash_site/fact/fact.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[Ernest Lyon]]&nbsp;– former [[United States Ambassador to Liberia]], professor at [[Morgan State University]], and founder of the [[Maryland Industrial and Agricultural Institute for Colored Youths]] in Laurel<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://aomol.msa.maryland.gov/000001/000499/pdf/am499--98.pdf|title=Biography}}</ref>
*[[Biz Markie]]&nbsp;– [[Rap music|rap]] artist<ref>Morris, Mary. [http://remixmag.com/mag/remix_biz_markie/ ''Biz Markie''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108100202/http://remixmag.com/mag/remix_biz_markie |date=2009-01-08 }}. Remix. February 1, 2004. ''URL retrieved on January 9, 2007''.</ref>
*[[Andrew Maynard (boxer)|Andrew Maynard]]&nbsp;– boxer; won the light heavyweight gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics; born in Laurel
*[[Greg Merson]]&nbsp;– [[2012 World Series of Poker]] Main Event winner
*[[Yvonne Orji]]&nbsp;– actor and comedian
*[[Visanthe Shiancoe]]&nbsp;– former [[National Football League]] tight end
*[[Ron Turcotte]]&nbsp;– Hall of Fame race horse [[jockey]] who trained at Laurel Park race course in the late 1960s
*[[DeWanda Wise]]&nbsp;– actor

==See also==
* [[Laurel Mall (Maryland)|Laurel Mall]]
* [[Oseh Shalom Synagogue]]
*[[A.M. Kroop and Sons, Inc.]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book
| publisher = Gateway Press
| last = Bucklee
| first = Sally Mitchell
| title = A church and its village: St. Philip's Episcopal Church, Laurel, Maryland
| location = Baltimore, Md.
| oclc = 48085398
| year = 2001
}} Describes local history.

==External links==
{{commons category|Laurel, Maryland}}
{{Wikivoyage|Laurel (Maryland)}}
* [http://www.laurel.md.us/ Official website: City of Laurel, Maryland]
* [https://www.cityoflaurel.org/comm/visitor-information/about-laurel-and-its-history History of the City of Laurel, Maryland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003235636/https://www.cityoflaurel.org/comm/visitor-information/about-laurel-and-its-history |date=October 3, 2023 }}

{{Laurel, Maryland}}
{{Geographic location
| Center    = Laurel
| North     = [[Savage, Maryland|Savage]], [[Baltimore]], [[North Laurel, Maryland|North Laurel]]<br/>[[File:US 1.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 1 in Maryland|US 1 North]]
| Northeast = [[Annapolis Junction, Maryland|Annapolis Junction]]<br/>[[File:MD Route 32.svg|20px]] [[Maryland Route 32|MD 32 East]]
| East      = [[Fort Meade, Maryland|Fort Meade]]<br/>[[File:MD Route 198.svg|20px]] [[Maryland Route 198|MD 198 East]]
| Southeast = [[South Laurel, Maryland|South Laurel]]<br/>[[File:MD Route 197.svg|20px]] [[Maryland Route 197|MD 197 East]]
| Southwest = [[Calverton, Maryland|Calverton]]<br/>[[File:MD Route 212.svg|20px]] [[Maryland Route 212|MD 212 West]]
| South     = [[Beltsville, Maryland|Beltsville]], [[Washington, D.C.]]<br/>[[File:US 1.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 1 in Maryland|US 1 South]]
| West      = [[Burtonsville, Maryland|Burtonsville]]<br/>[[File:MD Route 198.svg|20px]] [[Maryland Route 198|MD 198 West]]
| Northwest = [[Fulton, Maryland|Fulton]]<br/>[[File:MD Route 216.svg|20px]] [[Maryland Route 216|MD 216 West]]
}}
{{Prince George's County, Maryland}}
{{Maryland}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Laurel, Maryland| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Prince George's County, Maryland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1870]]
[[Category:1870 establishments in Maryland]]
[[Category:Cities in Maryland]]
[[Category:Cities in the Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area]]