New census data reveals how Maryland has changed over the past 10 years, from increased racial diversity to growth in the suburbs. Here are some highlights from the data released on Thursday.
Maryland is no longer a majority-white state
Maryland’s population of white people who do not identify as Hispanic was 47% in the 2020 census count. That’s down from 55% in the 2010 census.
Though Maryland’s white population is no longer the majority, it still is the largest racial group. The next largest group is Black Marylanders, who made up 29% of the state population, the same as the 2010 census.
There was growth in the share of residents who identify as Asian, Hispanic or more than one race.
Baltimore City continues to lose population
As many expected, Baltimore’s population shrunk again, down to 585,708. That’s a 5.7% population loss compared to 2010, when the city had 620,961 residents in the census count.
It’s the first time in more than a century that the city’s population was less than 600,000, noted Mayor Brandon Scott.
The other parts of the state that lost population are all in rural areas: Allegany County (9.3% loss), Somerset County (7.0% loss), Kent County (4.9% loss), Garrett County (4.3% loss), Talbot County (0.7% loss) and Dorchester County (0.3% loss).
Baltimore City loses rank to Anne Arundel County — for now
Baltimore’s population loss means it falls from being the state’s fourth-largest jurisdiction to its fifth-largest.
Anne Arundel County, with a count of 588,261, is now slightly more populous than Baltimore City, with its count of 585,708 residents.
That could change, however, at least as far as the state is concerned. The U.S. census counts people who are incarcerated at the location where they are imprisoned.
But Maryland then takes those individuals and reassigns them to the jurisdiction where they lived before they were sentenced. Those reassignments are used in drawing the maps for the political districts for state lawmakers and members of Congress.
Maryland Policy & Politics
Anne Arundel, which is home to a large prison complex in Jessup, could lose population, while other areas, including Baltimore, may gain.
Baltimore’s Hispanic and Latino population grew significantly
While Baltimore’s population shrunk overall, more of those who are living in the city identify as Hispanic.
The new census count shows about 46,000 Hispanic residents in the city, a number that’s increased almost 77% since 2010. Hispanic residents now make up about 7.8% of the city’s population.
Every jurisdiction in the state saw growth in their Hispanic population. Baltimore County, which encircles the city, had an 82.3% increase in its Hispanic population.
Much of the past decade’s growth has been around the nation’s capital
Every county that’s close to Washington, D.C. or that has many workers commuting there saw growth: Montgomery (9.3%), Prince George’s (12%), Frederick (16.4%), Howard (15.8%). Montgomery County remains the state’s largest county, followed by Prince George’s.
Charles County, which is rapidly suburbanizing like its neighbor, Prince George’s, experienced 13.7% growth.
Maryland’s population overall grew by 7% since 2010 to a total of nearly 6.2 million people.