Origin: The exact date and legal origin
of Dorchester County are unknown, but it was in
existence by February 16, 1668/69, when a writ
was issued to the county sheriff by the Lord
Proprietary. The County was named for the Earl
of Dorset, a family friend of the Calverts.
County Seat: Cambridge, MD 21613 |
 |
Dorchester County is one of
about 3,141 counties and county equivalents in
the United States. It has 557.5 sq. miles in
land area and a population density of 56.3 per
square mile. In the last three decades of the
1900s its population grew by 4.3%. On the 2000
census form, 99.1% of the population reported
only one race, with 28.4% of these reporting
African-American. The population of this county
is 1.3% Hispanic (of any race). The average
household size is 2.36 persons compared to an
average family size of 2.86 persons.
In 2005 manufacturing was the largest of 20
major sectors. It had an average wage per job of
$32,991. Per capita income grew by 19.1% between
1994 and 2004 (adjusted for inflation). |
People & Income
Overview
(By Place of Residence) |
Value |
Industry
Overview (2005)
(By Place of Work) |
Value |
| Population (2005) |
31,401 |
Covered Employment |
12,028 |
| Growth (%) since
1990 |
3.9% |
Average wage per job |
$30,417 |
| Households (2000) |
12,706 |
Manufacturing - %
all jobs in County |
23.7% |
| Labor Force
(persons) (2005) |
17,328 |
Average wage per job |
$32,991 |
| Unemployment Rate
(2005) |
5.3 |
Transportation &
Warehousing - % all jobs in County |
3.4% |
| Per Capita Personal
Income (2004) |
$27,290 |
Average wage per job |
$30,416 |
| Median Household
Income (2003) |
$34,642 |
Health Care, Social
Assist. - % all jobs in County |
D |
| Poverty Rate (2003) |
13.6 |
Average wage per job |
D |
| H.S. Diploma or
More - % of Adults 25+ (2000) |
74.2 |
Finance and
Insurance - % all jobs in County |
2.7% |
| Bachelor's Deg. or
More - % of Adults 25+ (2000) |
12.0 |
Average wage per job |
$41,344 |
Chesapeake College: www.chesapeake.edu
Circuit Court: www.courts.state.md.us/dorchester.html
Commissioner Districts: www.docogonet.com/maps.html
County Government: www.docogonet.com/2.html
District Court:
www.courts.state.md.us/district/directories/courtmap.html#dorchester
Dorchester County: www.docogonet.com
Economic Development Dept.: www.dorchestereconomic.com
Health Dept.: www.dorchesterhealth.org
Job Service: www.dllr.state.md.us/county/dor/
Library: www.dorchesterlibrary.org
Public Defender:
www.opd.state.md.us/locations/dorchester.htm
Public Schools: www.dcps.k12.md.us
Register of Wills:
www.registers.state.md.us/county/do/html/dorchester.html
Social Services Dept.:
www.dhr.state.md.us/dorchester.htm
Tourism Dept.: www.tourdorchester.org |
