Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Upper Marlboro was established in 1706 as "Marlborough Town", after John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, whose heraldic arms is depicted on town insignia. In 1744, the town was renamed to "Upper Marlborough". In the late 19th century, the town's name changed from Upper Marlborough to Upper Marlboro. The name change is linked to a postal clerk who felt that the last three letters, "ugh", did not properly fit on the rubber stamps being used at the time. By 1893, postal guides were referring to the town as Upper Marlboro, though it took several more decades for the new spelling to become widely accepted among residents. Even as late as 1925, the old spelling still saw widespread unofficial usage. Despite a proposed ballot to have it formally changed back in 1968, the new name stuck, and by 1971, the old spelling, while not completely vanquished, had become severely depreciated.{{Cite book|url=https://oldalsbooks.com/products/a-history-of-upper-marlboro-prince-georges-county-maryland-1971-james-shreve?variant=43906326593731|title=A History of Upper Marlboro, Prince George's County, Maryland|date=May 8, 1971|page=4|first=James|last=Shreve|publisher=Baker Printing Company|location=107 N 6th Street, Denton, Maryland, 21629|access-date=February 8, 2025|quote=Today it is called Marlboro by some of the inhabitants, and Marlborough by others. Until about 1925 it was universally called Marlborough, after the 1st Duke of Marlborough.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250208172733/https://www.oldalsbooks.com/products/a-history-of-upper-marlboro-prince-georges-county-maryland-1971-james-shreve?variant=43906326593731|archive-date=February 8, 2025}}

File:PGcourthouse3.JPG courthouse in December 2008]]

File:PGcourthouse2.JPG

The area of Upper Marlboro was first settled around 1695. It was named after John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, an ancestor of Winston Churchill. The land, which was to become the town, was part of several estates known as Grove Landing, Meadows, and Darnall's Chance, owned by the Brooke, Beall, and Darnall families, respectively.

Darnall's Chance, also known as the Buck House, Buck-Wardrop House, or James Wardrop House, is a historic home located at 14800 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, in Upper Marlboro. It is named after Colonel Henry Darnall, a wealthy Roman Catholic planter, who was the Proprietary Agent of Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore and who served for a time as Deputy Governor of the Province. The house itself was built c. 1742 by a merchant named James Wardrop, after he bought some of the land from Eleanor Darnall Carroll and her husband. Today, Darnall's Chance houses the Darnall's Chance House Museum, an historic house museum that opened to the public in 1988.

In 1706, Marlborough Town was established as a port town by the Act for the Advancement of Trade and Erecting Ports and Towns.{{Cite web |last=United States Department of the Interior -National Park Service |date=October 28, 2012 |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/b6a1a225-2486-4d8e-af00-f36b36d63bdb |access-date=February 18, 2024 |website=Town of Upper Marlboro Residential Area}} It was declared that the town would be constructed, "at the upper landing on the Western Branch, commonly called Colonel Belt's landing." County surveyor Thomas Truman Greenfield conducted a survey of {{convert|100|acre|km2}} of the three estates from which the town would be formed. Streets, alleys, a meetinghouse, lots for small businesses, and 100 lots to be used for homes were laid out. The earliest plans showed the town being laid out in a grid pattern with an L shape.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} In 1718 residents asked the county government's general assembly, then based in Charles Town, via petition to move the county seat to Upper Marlboro. The county seat has been there since that time.{{cite news|author=Hernández, Arelis R.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/baker-wants-to-move-government-headquarters-to-largo-lawmakers-say/2015/07/22/3f5fa562-271e-11e5-b77f-eb13a215f593_story.html|title=Baker wants to move government headquarters to Largo, lawmakers say|newspaper=Washington Post|date=July 22, 2015|access-date=September 11, 2018}}

Residents of the area were not happy with Greenfield's initial layout and petitioned the General Assembly to have the town replatted. In 1744, the new survey was approved and the town was given a new name, Upper Marlborough. Upper was added to distinguish the town from the community of Marlboro (now known as Lower Marlboro) in Calvert County.

Early in its life, when the western branch of the Patuxent River was still navigable, the town served as a port town for tobacco ships. The town blossomed into an agricultural, social, and political hot spot. Farms, many of which raised tobacco, dominated the surrounding areas.

In 1721, a courthouse was constructed in the town. The county seat was then moved from Charles Town, on the banks of the Patuxent, to Upper Marlborough. The courthouse was built with money from a 12-pound tobacco tax imposed on county inhabitants. One of the first laws passed at the courthouse was the Public School Act, which established a public school system.

In 1814, Upper Marlboro was seized by British forces under the command of Major-General Robert Ross and Rear Admiral George Cockburn during the campaign leading up to the Battle of Bladensburg and the Burning of Washington.Latimer, John 1812: War with America (Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University, 2007), 311.

During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, many prominent merchants, lawyers, and politicians lived and worked in the area. Horse racing came to the town around the mid-18th century and attracted many people from the surrounding areas. The Maryland Jockey Club sponsored spring and summer races at the race track south of town, and racing continued there until 1972, when they were moved to the Bowie Race Track. The race track is now part of the Equestrian Center owned by Prince George's County.

In 1870, the town was incorporated by the Maryland General Assembly. A volunteer fire department was organized in 1886, and the Marlborough Fire Association was incorporated the following year.

In 1878, Michael Green, an African-American man accused of assaulting a white woman, was taken from the country jail and hanged from a tree outside of town.{{cite news|title=Lynching at Upper Marlboro|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/013700/013788/images/18780907kn_mike_green_lynching.pdf|access-date=May 13, 2015|publisher=The Kent News|date=September 7, 1878}} An "iron bridge just between the town and the railroad depot" was the site of two more lynchings. Joseph Vermillion was killed there in 1889 and Stephen Williams met the same fate in 1894.{{cite news|title=State of Maryland: Lynching of Stephen Williams, Colored, in Prince George's County |url=http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/013700/013742/images/sun22oct1894.pdf |access-date=May 12, 2015|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|date=October 22, 1894}}{{cite web|title=Joe Vermilion Lynched in Upper Marlboro, December 3, 1889 |url=http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/013700/013738/html/13738bio.html |website=Biographical Series|publisher=Maryland State Archives|access-date=May 12, 2015|pages=MSA SC 3520–13738|date=December 11, 2013}}

Since its initial conception, the town has changed quite a bit. It initially boomed as a port town for tobacco trade, but the clearing and cultivation of land for farming would lead to erosion in the area. Over the years this erosion caused sedimentation, leading the Western Branch to become unnavigable. The fields of tobacco that once dominated the area have been converted over to residential developments, with the number of farms dwindling each year.

As it is Prince George's county seat, located within the town are the Prince George's County Courthouse, County Administration Building, the Board of Education, and the headquarters of the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office. The town's atmosphere is remarkably different, depending on the time of day.{{cite web |website=www.uppermarlboromd.gov |lang=en |url=http://www.uppermarlboromd.gov/about/history/pppf.pdf |access-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207012503/http://www.uppermarlboromd.gov/about/history/pppf.pdf |archive-date=February 7, 2009 |title=Proud Past {{ndash}} Promising Future}}

The courthouse has been a critical part of the town since it became the county seat in 1721. Since then, the courthouse in Upper Marlboro has seen many changes. Between 1798 and 1801, a new courthouse was constructed on the site of the old one. The courthouse was again rebuilt in the 1880s.

In 1939, the courthouse was substantially expanded and rebuilt. During this time, the building gained its famous stone Ionic columns. According to county historian Susan Pearl, "They wanted the neo-classic Georgian university campus building, and that's what they got." The total cost of the revision was $178,000.

Small additions were made in 1947 and 1969.

In the early 1990s, a new courthouse was erected behind the existing courthouse. The new courthouse, composed of the Marbury and Bourne wing, was completed in 1991. The new building occupies {{convert|360000|sqft|m2}} of space and cost $80 million. The old courthouse was then designated as the Duvall Wing and was attached to the new section by walkways.

In May 2003, the old courthouse was closed for a $25 million renovation. On November 3, 2004, two months before the building was scheduled to reopen, a fire broke out and destroyed much of the {{convert|151000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} building. The fire left only a charred skeleton of the cupola, which had overlooked Main Street for 64 years.{{citation

|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A21681-2004Nov3?language=printer

|newspaper=The Washington Post

|title=Fire Ravages Historic Courthouse

|last1=Ruane

|first1=Michael E.

|last2=Stockwell

|first2=Jamie

|date=November 4, 2004

|page=B01

|access-date=August 11, 2008

}}{{Dead link|date=July 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In January 2007, the courthouse briefly caught fire again when sparks from a construction worker's welding tool ignited building materials on the roof. Firefighters quickly contained the blaze, and the renovations continued.{{citation

|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/20/AR2007062001281.html

|title=New Cupola at Courthouse

|last=Berger

|first=Judson

|newspaper=The Washington Post

|date=June 21, 2007

|page=T05

|access-date=August 11, 2008

}}

On March 12, 2009, the Duvall Wing of the Prince George's County Courthouse reopened after being closed in 2001 for renovations.{{citation

|url=http://www.gazette.net/stories/03122009/prinnew170042_32473.shtml

|title=Centuries-old courthouse reopens today.

|publisher=Gazette

|date=March 12, 2009

|access-date=May 20, 2009

}}

Since the 1990s, the Prince George's County government has been purchasing land in Largo, Maryland, due to its convenient location near the Washington Metro and interstate highways. In 2015, County Executive Rushern Baker recommended the move of the county's seat from Upper Marlboro to Largo so that residents could be better served.{{cite web | url=http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/27571/prince-georges-could-move-its-government-closer-to-more-residents/ | title=Prince George's County could move its government closer to more residents }}

Upper Marlboro is located at {{coord|38|48|59|N|76|45|12|W|type:city}} (38.816488, −76.753454).{{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}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|0.43|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.40|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.03|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.{{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/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=January 12, 2012}}

Upper Marlboro is the county seat of Prince George's County,{{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}} a large urban and suburban area of some 850,000 people adjacent to Washington. U.S. Route 301 and Maryland Route 4 intersect at the edge of town. The northern terminus of the [http://www.mdcrimevictims.org/stephanie-roper-highway/ Stephanie Roper Highway] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224131940/http://www.mdcrimevictims.org/stephanie-roper-highway/ |date=December 24, 2014 }} (Maryland Route 4) is in Upper Marlboro at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Water Street. Major features of the town include the courthouse, jail, county office building, board of education, and a lake with a walking path. Just to the south of town is the Prince George's Equestrian Center which is the location of the annual county fair, a major annual antiques show and The Show Place Arena on the former Marlboro racetrack grounds. This arena is used for events such as hockey games, circuses, rodeos, conventions, trade shows, and graduation ceremonies of many regional high schools, as well as daily overflow parking for county governmental employees, jurors, and visitors.

Although the surrounding area has many rural, pastoral features, including horse farms, housing developments are increasingly prevalent. The Town of Upper Marlboro is quite small and often confused with the large surrounding unincorporated area known as Greater Upper Marlboro. Greater Upper Marlboro has a population of nearly 20,000 in an area of {{convert|77|sqmi}}, as designated by the post office.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Upper Marlboro has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=70981&cityname=Upper+Marlboro,+Maryland,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Upper Marlboro, Maryland Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=February 27, 2018}}

{{Weather box

|location = Upper Marlboro, Maryland (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1956–present)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 75

|Feb record high F = 80

|Mar record high F = 89

|Apr record high F = 95

|May record high F = 97

|Jun record high F = 104

|Jul record high F = 105

|Aug record high F = 102

|Sep record high F = 99

|Oct record high F = 93

|Nov record high F = 85

|Dec record high F = 80

|Jan avg record high F = 67

|Feb avg record high F = 68

|Mar avg record high F = 77

|Apr avg record high F = 87

|May avg record high F = 90

|Jun avg record high F = 95

|Jul avg record high F = 97

|Aug avg record high F = 95

|Sep avg record high F = 91

|Oct avg record high F = 84

|Nov avg record high F = 76

|Dec avg record high F = 67

|year avg record high F= 98

|Jan high F = 43.9

|Feb high F = 46.8

|Mar high F = 54.7

|Apr high F = 66.5

|May high F = 74.8

|Jun high F = 83.5

|Jul high F = 88.0

|Aug high F = 86.3

|Sep high F = 79.9

|Oct high F = 68.8

|Nov high F = 58.0

|Dec high F = 48.0

|year high F=

|Jan mean F = 34.3

|Feb mean F = 36.4

|Mar mean F = 43.8

|Apr mean F = 55.0

|May mean F = 64.1

|Jun mean F = 73.1

|Jul mean F = 77.7

|Aug mean F = 75.8

|Sep mean F = 69.0

|Oct mean F = 57.2

|Nov mean F = 46.7

|Dec mean F = 38.4

|year mean F=

|Jan low F = 24.7

|Feb low F = 25.9

|Mar low F = 32.8

|Apr low F = 43.5

|May low F = 53.5

|Jun low F = 62.7

|Jul low F = 67.3

|Aug low F = 65.3

|Sep low F = 58.2

|Oct low F = 45.6

|Nov low F = 35.5

|Dec low F = 28.8

|year low F=

|Jan avg record low F = 8

|Feb avg record low F = 11

|Mar avg record low F = 17

|Apr avg record low F = 29

|May avg record low F = 38

|Jun avg record low F = 50

|Jul avg record low F = 57

|Aug avg record low F = 55

|Sep avg record low F = 44

|Oct avg record low F = 31

|Nov avg record low F = 22

|Dec avg record low F = 15

|year avg record low F= 6

|Jan record low F = -12

|Feb record low F = -8

|Mar record low F = 2

|Apr record low F = 18

|May record low F = 28

|Jun record low F = 39

|Jul record low F = 43

|Aug record low F = 39

|Sep record low F = 30

|Oct record low F = 20

|Nov record low F = 13

|Dec record low F = 1

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 2.96

|Feb precipitation inch = 2.66

|Mar precipitation inch = 3.92

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.38

|May precipitation inch = 4.11

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.20

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.22

|Aug precipitation inch = 4.12

|Sep precipitation inch = 4.51

|Oct precipitation inch = 4.13

|Nov precipitation inch = 3.25

|Dec precipitation inch = 3.55

|year precipitation inch= 45.01

|Jan snow inch = 5.7

|Feb snow inch = 6.3

|Mar snow inch = 1.7

|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 = 0

|Dec snow inch = 2.2

|year snow inch= 15.9

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan precipitation days = 10

|Feb precipitation days = 9

|Mar precipitation days = 10

|Apr precipitation days = 10

|May precipitation days = 10

|Jun precipitation days = 10

|Jul precipitation days = 10

|Aug precipitation days = 9

|Sep precipitation days = 8

|Oct precipitation days = 8

|Nov precipitation days = 8

|Dec precipitation days = 10

|year precipitation days= 112

|Jan snow days = 3

|Feb snow days = 3

|Mar snow days = 1

|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 = 0

|Dec snow days = 1

|year snow days= 8

|Jan snow depth inch = 5

|Feb snow depth inch = 5

|Mar snow depth inch = 2

|Apr snow depth inch = 0

|May snow depth inch = 0

|Jun snow depth inch = 0

|Jul snow depth inch = 0

|Aug snow depth inch = 0

|Sep snow depth inch = 0

|Oct snow depth inch = 0

|Nov snow depth inch = 0

|Dec snow depth inch = 2

|year snow depth inch= 7

|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web |url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=box |title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = May 28, 2022}}

}}

Inside of the city of Upper Marlboro, there are three bodies of water: Federal Spring Branch, Western Branch Patuxent River, and School House Pond. Federal Spring Branch flows into the Western Branch Patuxent River nearby Main Street, Upper Marlboro. School House Pond is to the south of the other two bodies.

The branch is approximately two miles long and starts approximately one mile to the west of Upper Marlboro. It splits into four unnamed steams, that join later on. The only bridge over the branch is Old Marlboro Pike, or Maryland Route 725.{{cite web|url=https://www.topozone.com/maryland/prince-georges-md/stream/federal-spring-branch/|title=Federal Spring Branch Topo Map, Prince George's County MD (Bristol Area)|website=topozone.com|access-date=May 15, 2018}}

School House Pond is a small pond north of Main Street, yet south of Federal Spring Branch. The pond is 12 acres in size, with a 0.75-mile boardwalk around the edge. There is also a walking trail through the small forested area north of the pond. The largest attraction at the pond is fishing. The pond is restocked with 800 trout a year.

The Western Branch Patuxent River is one of the largest tributaries of the Patuxent River. Its flow starts in Woodmore, Maryland, and enters the Patuxent River just a few miles south of Upper Marlboro. The river's largest tributary south of Upper Marlboro is Collington Branch, which flows into the Western Branch Patuxent River just before entering the Patuxent.

{{US Census population

|1870= 42

|1880= 541

|1890= 439

|1900= 449

|1910= 361

|1920= 385

|1930= 420

|1940= 565

|1950= 702

|1960= 673

|1970= 646

|1980= 828

|1990= 745

|2000= 648

|2010= 631

|2020= 652

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=}}
2010 2020

}}

{{Asof|2015}} about 6,000 people work in the town, with employees of the Prince George's County government making up the majority.

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 25, 2013}} of 2010, there were 631 people, 290 households, and 157 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1577.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 310 housing units at an average density of {{convert|775.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 33.8% White, 57.8% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 2.9% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.1% of the population.

There were 290 households, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.1% were married couples living together, 17.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.9% were non-families. 36.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the town was 39.5 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 32.1% were from 25 to 44; 30% were from 45 to 64; and 9.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.4% male and 52.6% female.

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 648 people, 292 households, and 165 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,586.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 309 housing units at an average density of {{convert|756.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 51.54% White, 45.06% African American, 0.46% Native American, 1.08% Asian, 0.15% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.

There were 292 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.5% were married couples living together, 22.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 36.3% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 72.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $52,813, and the median income for a family was $58,542. Males had a median income of $42,639 versus $39,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,892. About 1.3% of families and 1.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

Upper Marlboro's economy consists of small businesses, with a majority of employment opportunities in the city in the courthouse. There are 26 shops and restaurants in Upper Marlboro, 22 of which are small businesses. The courthouse makes up a large amount of revenue for the city.{{Cite web |url=https://uppermarlboromd.gov/town/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2017_Business-Directory.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=March 15, 2018 |archive-date=December 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228190621/http://uppermarlboromd.gov/town/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2017_Business-Directory.jpg |url-status=dead }} The Enquirer-Gazette is the city's weekly newspaper.

The town has three departments:

• General Government: M. David Williams was hired as the Town Clerk in February 2007.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}}
• Public Safety: consists of the Upper Marlboro Police Department (UMPD), which is the primary law enforcement agency serving the municipality of Upper Marlboro. The current chief of police is David A. Burse. The UMPD is also aided by the Prince George's County Police and Sheriff's Office as directed by authority.{{cite web|url=http://www.usacops.com/md/p20773/index.html|title=Upper Marlboro Police Department|website=www.usacops.com|access-date=February 27, 2018}}
• Public Works: Darnell Bond III is the new Public Works Superintendent. The department has traditionally been divided into Highways and Streets and Sanitation.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}}

Prince George's County Police Department District 2 Station in Brock Hall CDP, with a Bowie postal address, serves the community."[https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/District-2-Station-Bowie-2 District 2 Station - Bowie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909112105/https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/District-2-Station-Bowie-2 |date=September 9, 2018 }}." Prince George's County Police Department. Retrieved on September 9, 2018. "District 2 Station - Bowie 601 SW Crain Highway Bowie, MD 20715 ". [https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2652/District-2-Beat-Map-PDF?bidId= Beat map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909062828/https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2652/District-2-Beat-Map-PDF?bidId= |date=September 9, 2018 }}. [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2410150_brock_hall/DC10BLK_P2410150_000.pdf 2010 U.S. Census Bureau index map of Brock Hall CDP] as well as the detail on [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2410150_brock_hall/DC10BLK_P2410150_000.pdf Page 1]. The area immediately to the south is served by District 5 Station in Clinton CDP."[https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/District-5-Station-Clinton-5 District 5 Station - Clinton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909112547/https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/District-5-Station-Clinton-5 |date=September 9, 2018 }}." Prince George's County Police Department. Retrieved on September 9, 2018. " 6707 Groveton Drive Clinton, MD 20735". [https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2671/District-5-Beat-Map-PDF?bidId= Beat map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909065101/https://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2671/District-5-Beat-Map-PDF?bidId= |date=September 9, 2018 }} (which shows the area just south of the Upper Marlboro city limits, but not Upper Marlboro itself). See [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2432350_glassmanor/DC10BLK_P2432350_001.pdf 2010 U.S. Census index map of Clinton CDP]: area with police station is on the edge of [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2417900_clinton/DC10BLK_P2417900_006.pdf page 6] with surroundings on [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2417900_clinton/DC10BLK_P2417900_005.pdf page 5].

The U.S. Postal Service operates the Upper Marlboro Post Office."[https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorDetailsAction!input.action?locationTypeQ=all&address=Upper+Marlboro%2C+MD&radius=20&locationType=po&locationID=1385534&locationName=UPPER+MARLBORO&address2=&address1=14605+ELM+ST&city=UPPER+MARLBORO&state=MD&zip5=20772&zip4=9998&tollFree=800-ASK-USPS%26reg%3B%26nbsp%3B%28800-275-8777%29&fax=301-627-0021&tAddress=&tAddress1Ams=&tAddress2Ams=&tCityAms=&tStateAms=&tZipAms=&tCarrierRouteAms=&latitude=38.816615&longitude=-76.7520619&sWithin=20&&&&&&&&& UPPER MARLBORO]." U.S. Postal Service. Retrieved on September 11, 2018. "14605 ELM ST UPPER MARLBORO, MD 20772-9998"

Residents are zoned to schools in the Prince George's County Public Schools system.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st24_md/schooldistrict_maps/c24033_prince_georges/DC20SD_C24033.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Prince George's County, MD|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=February 5, 2024}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st24_md/schooldistrict_maps/c24033_prince_georges/DC20SD_C24033_SD2MS.txt Text list] The following schools serve the Upper Marlboro town limits:"[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2479875_upper_marlboro/DC10BLK_P2479875_001.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Upper Marlboro town, MD]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on August 27, 2018. Barack Obama Elementary School,"[http://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. James Madison Middle School,"[http://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. and Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School."[http://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. Wise High, located in the Westphalia census-designated place near Upper Marlboro,[https://www1.pgcps.org/drhenrywisejr/ Home] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617031808/https://www1.pgcps.org/drhenrywisejr/ |date=June 17, 2019 }}. Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School. Retrieved on August 27, 2018. "12650 Brooke Lane, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772""[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2483290_westphalia/DC10BLK_P2483290_000.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Westphalia CDP, MD]." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on August 27, 2018. Pages: [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2483290_westphalia/DC10BLK_P2483290_001.pdf 1], [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2483290_westphalia/DC10BLK_P2483290_002.pdf 2], [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2483290_westphalia/DC10BLK_P2483290_003.pdf 3], and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2483290_westphalia/DC10BLK_P2483290_004.pdf 4]. opened in 2006.{{cite news|author=Anderson, Nick|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/16/AR2006081600875.html|title=A Brand-New Start at Wise High|newspaper=Washington Post|date=September 16, 2006|page=[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/16/AR2006081600875.html 1]|access-date=September 4, 2018}} Obama Elementary, also in Westphalia CDP,[https://www.pgcps.org/barackobama/ Home]. Barack Obama Elementary School. Retrieved on August 28, 2018. "Barack Obama Elementary 12700 Brooke Lane Upper Marlboro, MD 20772" was the first school in the Washington, D.C., area that was named after the former president.{{cite news|author=Dickson, Akeya|title=Much hope at dedication of Barack Obama Elementary School in Upper Marlboro|newspaper=Washington Post|date=October 21, 2010|page=[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/20/AR2010102002358.html 1]}} It opened in 2010,{{cite news|author=Dickson, Akeya|title=Much hope at dedication of Barack Obama Elementary School in Upper Marlboro|newspaper=Washington Post|date=October 21, 2010|page=[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/20/AR2010102002358_2.html 2]}} next to Wise High.{{cite news |author=King, Megan |url=http://www.gazette.net/stories/06262009/prinnew100601_32526.shtml |title=School board approves Barack Obama Elementary name |date=June 26, 2009 |newspaper=The Gazette |access-date=September 6, 2018 |archive-date=June 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629193847/http://www.gazette.net/stories/06262009/prinnew100601_32526.shtml |url-status=dead }}

Public schools in the nearby area include:

• Barack Obama Elementary School
• Kettering Elementary School
• Mattaponi Elementary School
• Marlton Elementary School
• Melwood Elementary School
• Perrywood Elementary School
• Patuxent Elementary School
• Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School
• Frederick Douglass High School
• Largo High School

Private schools in the nearby area include:

• Riverdale Baptist
• Fairhaven School
• Excellence Christian School
• Rock Creek Christian Academy

Upper Marlboro is served by the Upper Marlboro Branch of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System."[https://www.pgcmls.info/website/branch/location/UpperMarlboro Upper Marlboro Branch]." Prince George's County Memorial Library System. Retrieved on August 29, 2018. "Upper Marlboro Branch 14730 Main St Upper Marlboro, MD 20772"

In the era of Jim Crow laws and legalized racial segregation of schools, before the mid-20th century Civil Rights Movement, white and black students attended separate schools. Beginning around 1868 the Upper Marlboro area had a school for African-American children. In the Upper Marlboro area, white students attended Upper Marlboro High School after it was built in 1921.{{cite news |author=Meyer, Eugene L. |date=September 28, 2000 |title=Douglass High: A School of Their Own |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2000/09/28/douglass-high-a-school-of-their-own/66aa9055-3006-47d4-8c3e-b0ee8d1fcc96/?noredirect=on |access-date=September 6, 2018}} Prior to 1923 area black high school students traveled to Baltimore or Washington, D.C., to go to high school."[https://web.archive.org/web/20111012052913/http://www1.pgcps.org/douglass/index.aspx?id=35680 About Us > The History of Frederick Douglass High School]." Frederick Douglass High School. October 12, 2011. Retrieved on September 6, 2018. From 1923 to 1935, Black students attended Marlboro Colored High School in Upper Marboro. After Marlboro Colored High School closed in 1935, and Frederick Douglass High School was opened on a new campus.

The Chesapeake Icebreakers of the East Coast Hockey League played two seasons in Upper Marlboro from 1997 to 1999 at The Show Place Arena, just outside town, before moving to Jackson, Mississippi.

The Chesapeake Tide of the Continental Indoor Football League started play at The Show Place Arena, just outside town, in 2007. Beginning in 2009, they will be known as the Maryland Maniacs and play in the Indoor Football League.

File:2018-10-17 13 40 48 View east along Maryland State Route 725 (Old Marlboro Pike) at Main Street in Upper Marlboro, Prince George's County, Maryland.jpg

Upper Marlboro is currently directly served by two state highways. Maryland Route 725 follows Main Street through downtown and connects the town to U.S. Route 301. MD 725 is the old alignment of Maryland Route 4, which currently bypasses the town just to the south. Maryland Route 717 connects MD 725 in downtown to MD 4 via Water Street. US 301 passes just east of the town.

• Bryon Allen (born 1992), basketball player for Hapoel Eilat of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Kay Banjo (born 1992), soccer player{{Cite web |date=January 15, 2015 |title=Whitecaps FC select striker Kay Banjo in second round of 2015 MLS SuperDraft |url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/whitecaps-fc-select-striker-kay-banjo-second-round-2015-mls-superdraft |access-date=January 4, 2025 |website=Vancouver Whitecaps FC}}
• Jonathan Boucher, a loyalist English clergyman, teacher, preacher, and philologist at St. Barnabas Church, Upper Marlboro, Maryland{{cite book

| last =Virta

| first =Alan

| title =Prince George's County: A Pictorial History

| publisher =The Donning Company

| year =1984

| location =Norfolk, Virginia

| page =68}}

• Thomas Fielder Bowie (1808–1869), U.S. congressman{{CongBio|B000696|date=March 30, 2010|inline= yes }}
• John Carroll, S.J. (1735–1815), first Roman Catholic bishop and archbishop in the United States and founder of Georgetown University
• Thomas J. Clagett (1742–1816), first Episcopal bishop consecrated in the United States{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}
• William H. Clagett (1838–1901), U.S. Congressman from the Montana Territory, born in Upper Marlboro{{CongBio|C000400| date=November 20, 2011|inline= yes}}
• Jeff Dowtin Professional basketball player for the NBA.
• Markelle Fultz (born 1998), basketball player, first player selected in the 2017 NBA draft; born in Upper Marlboro
• Michael Green, an African-American man lynched after being forcibly removed from the jail in Upper Marlboro, September 1, 1878
• Khyree Jackson, footballer, born and died in Upper Marlboro
• Charles Clagett Marbury, judge, Maryland Court of Appeals; Maryland State Senator; Maryland House of Delegates{{cite news|title=Charles Marbury, retired judge dies|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1991/07/21/charles-marbury-retired-judge-diesservices-for-retired/|access-date=November 20, 2011|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|date=July 21, 1991}}
• Victor Oladipo (born 1992), basketball player
• Lamont Roach Jr. (born 1995), Professional boxer
• Lansdale Ghiselin Sasscer, U.S. Congressman for Maryland's 5th District, born in Upper Marlboro in 1893{{CongBio|S000067|date=November 20, 2011||inline= yes}}
• Lansdale Ghiselin Sasscer, Jr. former member of the Maryland House of Delegates{{cite news|last=Valentine|first=Daniel|title=Former delegate was witness to county's transformation|url=http://ww2.gazette.net/stories/06112009/prinnew183809_32521.shtml|access-date=January 18, 2013|newspaper=Prince George's Gazette|date=June 11, 2009|archive-date=August 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820110820/http://ww2.gazette.net/stories/06112009/prinnew183809_32521.shtml|url-status=dead}}
• Marcus Thornton (basketball, born 1993)
• Melo Trimble (born 1995), basketball player for the Iowa Wolves
• Joseph Vermillion, a white man, lynched in Upper Marlboro on December 3, 1889{{cite web|title=Joe Vermilion Lynched in Upper Marlboro, December 3, 1889|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/013700/013738/html/13738bio.html|website=Biographical Series|publisher=Maryland State Archives|access-date=May 12, 2015|pages=MSA SC 3520–13738|date=December 11, 2013}}
• Stephen Williams, an African-American man, lynched in Upper Marlboro on October 20, 1894{{cite web|title=Stephen Williams Lynched in Upper Marlboro, October 20, 1894|website=Biographical Series|publisher=Maryland State Archives|pages=MSA SC 3520–13742|date=November 13, 2007}}
• Chase Young (born 1999), American football player{{cite web |last1=Fendrich |first1=Howard |title='Best player in this draft:' Redskins pick Young 2nd overall |url=https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/ap/best-player-in-this-draft-redskins-pick-young-2nd-overall/article_2c71e834-3ebe-50d6-912f-6e51a5eb5a11.html |website=Richmond.com |publisher=Associated Press}}

{{Portal|Maryland}}

• Greater Upper Marlboro, Maryland

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Upper Marlboro, Maryland}}

• {{Official website|http://www.uppermarlboromd.gov/}}
• [http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/37mun/upper/html/u.html Maryland State Archives Upper Marlboro site]

{{Geographic Location

| Center = Upper Marlboro

| North = Bowie
25px US 301 North

| Northeast = Lothian
25px MD 408

| East = Waysons Corner, Deale
25px MD 258 East

| Southeast = Prince Frederick
25px MD 4 South

| Southwest = Rosaryville

| South = Brandywine
25px US 301 South

| West = Washington, D.C.
25px MD 4 West

| Northwest =Largo
25px MD 202 West

}}

{{Prince George's County, Maryland}}

{{Prince George's County, Maryland topics}}

{{County Seats of Maryland}}

{{Maryland}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1706 establishments in Maryland

Category:County seats in Maryland

Category:Towns in Prince George's County, Maryland

Category:Towns in Maryland

Category:Washington metropolitan area