Jefferson is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. As of the 2020 census the town had a population of 2,235 (which includes the widespread area of the town's zip code, not Jefferson proper). Jefferson was established in 1774 and incorporated as a town in 1831. However, a year later, in 1832, the citizens of the town decided that municipal government was unnecessary, and dis-incorporated the town, which has been unincorporated since then.

History

thumb|An 1858 Frederick County detail map of Jefferson from Isaac Bond

According to archaeologist Mary F. Barse, Jefferson was initially laid out in 1774 on a tract owned by Mrs. Eleanor Medley, which was ultimately called "New Town". It contained 40 rectangular lots – 20 aligned on each side of what is now MD 180 – stretching between what are now Lander Road and Old Middletown Road. In 1795, 22 additional lots were platted by Elias Delashmutt on the western end of the original section, and called "New Freedom". In 1831 both sections were incorporated as "Jefferson" by the Maryland Legislature.

Jefferson's growth in the 19th century was due largely to its location on the main road between Frederick and Harpers Ferry, which is today's Maryland Route 180. Along this thoroughfare, wagon traffic and livestock drives were frequent. Concomitantly, commercial development intensified to serve the surrounding farms as well as travelers.

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2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Jefferson had a population of 2,697. The median age was 44.8 years. 19.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.5 males age 18 and over.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,013 households in Jefferson, of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 64.6% were married-couple households, 11.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 19.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. A park and ride lot is located on Lander Rd and is accessible via exit 8 on U.S. Route 340. The park-and-ride sees bus service from the Brunswick / Jefferson Shuttle.

Notable people

  • Debbie Ricker (born 1965), reproductive biologist and academic administrator

References

  • Jefferson community website