Laurel, MD

Laurel, Maryland

Introduction to Laurel, Maryland

Located in Prince Georges county, Laurel, Maryland, is 10 miles NW of Bowie, Maryland (center to center) and 16 miles NE of Washington, District of Columbia. The city has a population of 19,960 residents.

Laurel History

The city of Laurel was formed by carving out lands from the fall zone (the meeting point of an upland region and a coastal plain) of the Patuxent River. The first white settler, Richard Snowden, arrived in this area in 1658. Since then, the Snowden family have owned the land around Laurel. In 1824, Nicholas Snowden set up a cotton mill, which expanded in 1835 with the formation of the Patuxent Cotton Manufacturing Company. Soon the territory evolved as an industrial town and became known as Laurel Factory. The city was officially incorporated on April 4, 1870. It was renamed Laurel on June 14, 1875. On August 29, 2005, the city adopted Laurel in Mississippi as a sister city in order to help it recover from the devastating damages caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Laurel and nearby Attractions

• Montpelier Mansion
• Laurel Museum
• Cabin John Regional Park
• Laurel Golf Center
• Anacostia Park

Things To Do In Laurel

The Laurel Museum is filled with information about the city's history. The historic Montpelier Mansion is nearby. The Laurel Golf Center, Gunpowder Golf Club, and Patuxent Greens Country Club are the closets golf courses in the area. Laurel Park, Anacostia Park, and Cabin John Regional Park provide various recreational opportunities. In addition, the city hosts a number of festivals such as the Herb, Arts and Tea Festival in May, and the Riverfest in October.

Laurel Transportation

Baltimore-Washington International Airport is the closest airport to the city.

Laurel Higher Education

Higher education is available at The Capitol College, Howard Community College, and Bowie State University.

High Points

Laurel strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Maryland):

Category	Trophy
Well-Paid Single Women (vs. Peers)	Top 5%
Racial Diversity (vs. Peers)	Top 8%
Well-Paid Single Men (vs. Peers)	Top 9%
Public Transportation Use (vs. Peers)	Top 10%

Comparative Profile of Laurel, MD

Comparing Laurel to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Maryland (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Well-Paid Single Women
Racial Diversity
Well-Paid Single Men
Children Under 5 Years Old
Male Share of the Population
Female Share of the Population
Age of the Population
Senior Citizens

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Average Household Size
Portion of People Married

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
College Educated Adults
People in Middle Class or Better
Median Family Income
People Above Poverty

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Public Transportation Use
Working at Home
Walking and Biking to Work
Short Commute Times

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
People Living Alone
Housing Recently Built
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Affordability of Property Taxes
Affordability of Rents

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Property Crime
Low Violent Crime

Laurel Almanac

Laurel Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Laurel Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Laurel, its neighborhoods, and/or surrounding areas are also referred to as:

Note that not all alternate names are acceptable for use in US Post Office addresses.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Laurel Hospitals

LAUREL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
(Voluntary non-profit - Private)
7300 VAN DUSEN ROAD
(301) 725-4300
Emergency Service: Yes

Starbucks in Laurel

Wal-Mart in Laurel

Laurel High Schools (2004)

LAUREL HIGH
8000 CHERRY LN
301-497-2050
Serves 2,208 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 18.4

Laurel Colleges

Click school name for a detailed profile.

Capitol College

Tai Sophia Institute

(List of All Maryland Colleges)

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