Emmitsburg, Maryland

Emmitsburg was founded in 1785 and is in Frederick County, Maryland, United States, just south of the Mason-Dixon line separating Maryland from Pennsylvania.

The population as of the 2010 U.S Census was 2,814. It is the home of Mount St. Mary's University. The National Emergency Training Center, National Fallen Firefighters Memorial and Emergency Management Institute are also located in Emmitsburg on the former campus of St. Joseph's College. The town is also a Catholic pilgrimage site. It is the location of the Basilica and National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first U.S. born saint, and where the saint's relics are entombed. The current mayor of Emmitsburg is Don Briggs. The current commissioners are Glenn Blanchard, Pat Joy, Tim O'Donnell, Chris Staiger and Cliff Sweeney.

History
Emmitsburg was the site the Union had originally fortified to stop the Confederate invasion of the Union territory in June 1863 during the American Civil War. Half the town was burned to the ground in a mysterious fire on the night of June 23. Folklore has it that 'The Great Fire,' as it was known, was started by a Union sympathizer to prevent advancing Confederates from taking supplies from the town. However fate spared the town a battle between the opposing forces, which instead took place 12 miles north of it in Pennsylvania near the town of Gettysburg. The town was briefly held by the retreating Confederates on July 4.

Geography
Emmitsburg is located at 39.70472°N, -77.32528°W (39.704697, -77.325294).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.52 sqmi, all of it land.

Climate
Emmitsburg is situated in the transition between the humid subtropical climate zone and the humid continental climate zone (Köppen Dfa), with hot, humid summers and moderately cold winters. It is known for being located near the base of Catoctin Mountain.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,814 people, 997 households, and 670 families residing in the town. The population density was 1851.3 PD/sqmi. There were 1,070 housing units at an average density of 703.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 95.0% White, 2.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

There were 997 households of which 38.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.22.

The median age in the town was 39.5 years. 26% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.1% were from 45 to 64; and 16.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.3% male and 52.7% female..

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,290 people, 811 households, and 553 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,992.9 people per square mile (768.8/km²). There were 862 housing units at an average density of 750.2 per square mile (289.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.16% White, 0.87% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.04% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.44% of the population.

There were 811 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 76.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,710, and the median income for a family was $46,328. Males had a median income of $32,578 versus $23,235 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,216. About 4.2% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 44.4% of those age 65 or over.

Media
Emmitsburg was featured on the FoodNetwork TV Series Throwdown with Bobby Flay in September 2009. Flay challenged Fr. Leo Patalinghug, a professor and priest at Mount St. Mary's Seminary. Patalinghug is credited with a new wave of TV cooking, inspiring families to come together around the dinner table with his website, Grace Before Meals.

The town has two newspapers, the Emmitsburg News-Journal, and Catoctin Banner Newspaper, both published monthly.