View source for Princess Anne, Maryland

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Princess Anne, Maryland
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|image_skyline            = File:Somerset County Courthouse, Princess Anne.jpg
|image_caption            = Somerset County Courthouse in Princess Anne
|image_map = Somerset_County_Maryland_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Princess_Anne_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in Somerset County and the state of Maryland
|image_flag               = Flag of Princess Anne, Maryland.png
|image_seal               = Seal of Princess Anne, Maryland.png
| pushpin_map             = Maryland#USA
| pushpin_label           = Princess Anne
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location within the 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 = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Somerset County, Maryland.svg|size=23px}} [[Somerset County, Maryland|Somerset]]
|government_type          =

|established_title        = [[city charter|Founded]]
|established_date         = 1733
|established_title1        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1        = 1867<ref>{{cite web|title=Princess Anne|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/37mun/princess/html/p.html|website=Maryland Manual|access-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref>

|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|accessdate=April 26, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 4.37
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.69
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.67
|area_land_km2            = 4.33
|area_water_km2           = 0.04
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 3446
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 2063.47
|population_density_km2   = 796.76
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
|utc_offset               = &minus;5
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
|utc_offset_DST           = &minus;4
|coordinates              = {{coord|38|12|35|N|75|41|42|W|type:city_region:US-MD|display=it}}
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.02
|elevation_m              = 5
|elevation_ft             = 18
|website                  = {{URL|http://www.townofprincessanne.org/}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 21853
|area_code                = [[Area code 410|410]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 24-64000
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0591074
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
}}
'''Princess Anne''' is a town in [[Somerset County, Maryland|Somerset County]], [[Maryland]], United States, that also serves as its [[county seat]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Its population was 3,290 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]]. It is included in the [[Salisbury metropolitan area|Salisbury, Maryland–Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. It is home to the [[University of Maryland Eastern Shore]] and the [[Teackle Mansion]].

==History==
[[File:Maryland - Point of Rocks through Salisbury - NARA - 23941201 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Aerial view of Princess Anne, 1932]]
The [[town]] at the head of the [[Manokin River]] was named for [[Princess Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange|Princess Anne of Great Britain]], daughter of King [[George II of Great Britain|George II]]. Established in 1733, it serves as the county seat for Somerset County, the southernmost county in [[Maryland]].

In the mid-18th century, the town became a market center based on the river trade and development of tobacco plantations in the area. Enslaved African Americans were used to cultivate and process this labor-intensive crop, in addition to other farming. The town's trade was augmented by the southward extension of the [[Eastern Shore Railroad]] on [[Maryland Eastern Shore|Maryland's Eastern Shore]]. At that time, the Manokin River was navigable as far as the bridge at Princess Anne.

Much of the town's architectural heritage has been preserved. About 150 acres (0.6&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of the old town, with about 300 structures, is entered on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] as the [[Princess Anne Historic District]].

In addition, the [[Adams Farm (Princess Anne, Maryland)|Adams Farm]], [[Beckford (Princess Anne, Maryland)|Beckford]], [[Beverly (Princess Anne, Maryland)|Beverly]], [[Catalpa Farm]], [[Glebe House (Princess Anne, Maryland)|Glebe House]], [[Harrington (Princess Anne, Maryland)|Harrington]], [[Manokin Historic District]], [[Manokin Presbyterian Church]], [[Mt. Zion Memorial Church]], [[Dr. William B. Pritchard House]], [[Somerset Academy Archaeological Site]], [[Teackle Mansion]], [[University of Maryland Eastern Shore]], [[Waddy House]], [[Waterloo (Princess Anne, Maryland)|Waterloo]], and [[White Hall (Princess Anne, Maryland)|White Hall]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

Princess Anne has the ignoble distinction of being the site of the last [[Lynching in the United States|lynching]] in Maryland history. In 1933, a black man named [[Lynching of George Armwood|George Armwood]] was accused of assaulting an elderly white woman. He was removed from the Princess Anne jail by a white mob, dragged around town behind a truck, and eventually hanged. After his death, the rope that formed the noose was cut up and distributed as souvenirs.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=October 28, 1933|title=Conspiracy of Silence in Md. Lynching Orgy|journal=The Pittsburgh Courier}}</ref>

=== Connection to Napoleon ===
After the defeat of the [[First French Empire|French Empire]] at the hands of the [[Hundred Days|Seventh Coalition]] in July 1815, emperor [[Napoleon|Napoleon I]] sought to flee to the United States to escape imprisonment. According to local legends, Napoleon's brother, [[Jérôme Bonaparte|Jerome Bonaparte]], had previously married [[Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte|Elizabeth Patterson]], an American socialite from Baltimore, and through her the Bonapartes had connections to the American gentry, such as the King family in Beverly. According to the 1944 book 'Rivers of the Eastern Shore' by Hulbert Footner, [[Nicholas Girod]], former [[Mayor of New Orleans|Mayor]] of [[New Orleans]], attempted to rescue Napoleon from his exile in British Saint Helena in 1821, the plan being to hide Napoleon in [[Beverly (Princess Anne, Maryland)|Beverly House]] in Princess Anne before transporting him to [[Napoleon House]] in New Orleans once the hunt for him subsided.<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://msuweb.montclair.edu/~lebelp/napoleonsomerset19780716r.pdf}}</ref> However, Napoleon died before the plot could go ahead.

==Geography==
Princess Anne is located at {{Coord|38|12|N|75|42|W|type:city}} (38.204, –75.695).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|1.69|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.67|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.02|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=January 25, 2013|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=January 25, 2012}}</ref>

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Princess Anne has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. Princess Anne's climate is characterized by hot and humid stretches of weather in summer, but they are often broken up by cold fronts from the north offering several days of mild temperatures and lower humidity. Winters are relatively mild compared to areas to the north and northwest, but cold spells send temperatures well below freezing. Due to the impact of the Atlantic Ocean nearby, average snowfall amounts only range from 5 to 10 inches; however, this varies considerably from year to year and occasional nor'easters can produce significant snowfalls over one foot. The Blizzard of 2018, for example, produced 10-15 inches of snow, temperatures in teens, and winds gusting over 40 miles per hour. Tropical storms occasionally impact the region during summer and fall.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=33781&cityname=Princess+Anne%2C+Maryland%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Princess Anne, Maryland]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 805
|1880= 751
|1890= 865
|1900= 854
|1910= 1006
|1920= 968
|1930= 975
|1940= 942
|1950= 1407
|1960= 1351
|1970= 975
|1980= 1499
|1990= 1666
|2000= 2313
|2010= 3290
|2020= 3446
|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>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Princess Anne town, 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 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) – Princess Anne town, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2464000&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</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) – Princess Anne town, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US2464000&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|834
|style='background: #ffffe6; |811
|25.35%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |23.53%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|2,234
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,273
|67.90%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |65.96%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|5
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10
|0.15%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.29%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|45
|style='background: #ffffe6; |44
|1.37%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.28%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|8
|style='background: #ffffe6; |20
|0.24%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.58%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|69
|style='background: #ffffe6; |122
|2.10%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.54%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|94
|style='background: #ffffe6; |166
|2.86%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.82%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''3,290'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''3,446'''
|'''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=January 25, 2013}}</ref> of 2010, there were 3,290 people, 1,276 households, and 652 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1970.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,500 housing units at an average density of {{convert|898.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 68.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 27.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.9% of the population.

There were 1,276 households, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 22.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 48.9% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the town was 24.7 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 29% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.6% were from 25 to 44; 17.7% were from 45 to 64; and 8.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 40.1% male and 59.9% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,313 people, 992 households, and 498 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,843.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,117 housing units at an average density of {{convert|890.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 34.59% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 62.86% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.56% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.78% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.48% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.69% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.69% of the population.

There were 992 households, out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 21.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.7% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 20.2% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 17.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $20,066, and the median income for a family was $26,351. Males had a median income of $19,492 versus $22,857 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $10,944. About 30.1% of families and 39.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 53.8% of those under age 18 and 21.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Colleges and universities==
* [[University of Maryland Eastern Shore]]

==Notable people==
{{More citations needed section |date=January 2015}}
* [[George Armwood]], lynched in Princess Anne, Maryland on October 18, 1933.<ref name=MSA>{{cite web|title=George Armwood (b. 1911 - d. 1933)|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/013700/013750/html/13750bio.html|website=Biographical Series|publisher=[[Archives of Maryland]]|access-date=January 17, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Perry H. Carson]], African-American political leader born in Princess Anne
* [[Samuel Chase]], signer of the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]] and [[Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court associate justice]]
* [[Charles Chaillé-Long|Charles Chaille-Long]], Soldier and explorer
* [[Phillips Lee Goldsborough]], [[Governor of Maryland]] and [[United States Senate|U.S. senator]] from Maryland

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline|Princess Anne, Maryland}}
*{{wikivoyage inline|Princess Anne}}

{{Geographic Location
 | Center    = Princess Anne
 | North     = [[Salisbury, Maryland|Salisbury]]<br/>[[File:US 13.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 13 in Maryland|U.S. Route 13 North]]
 | Northeast = 
 | East      = [[Whiteburg, Maryland|Whiteburg]]<br/>West Post Office Road
 | Southeast = [[Pocomoke City, Maryland|Pocomoke City]]<br/>[[File:US 13.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 13 in Maryland|U.S. Route 13 South]]
 | Southwest = ''[[Manokin River]]''
 | South     = [[Crisfield, Maryland|Crisfield]]<br/>[[File:MD Route 413.svg|25px]] [[Maryland Route 413|MD 413 South]]
 | West      = [[Deal Island, Maryland|Deal Island]]<br/>[[File:MD Route 363.svg|25px]] [[Maryland Route 363|MD 363 West]]
 | Northwest =[[Mount Vernon, Maryland|Mount Vernon]]<br/>[[File:MD Route 362.svg|25px]] [[Maryland Route 362|MD 362 West]]
}}
{{Maryland}}
{{Somerset County, Maryland}}
{{County Seats of Maryland}}
{{Salisbury metropolitan area}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Princess Anne, Maryland| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Maryland]]
[[Category:Towns in Somerset County, Maryland]]
[[Category:County seats in Maryland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1733]]
[[Category:Salisbury metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1733 establishments in Maryland]]