Maryland

Charles

166,617

2020 population

1790

first census record

census records

About Charles

Charles, Maryland, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 20,613. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 166,617.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 9 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Piscataway Conflict (Maryland 1622), Piscataway War Maryland 1622, Susquehannock Siege of Piscataway Fort Maryland 1675, and 42 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	166,617
2010	146,551
2000	120,546
1990	101,154
1980	72,751
1970	47,678
1960	32,572
1950	23,415
1940	17,612
1930	16,166
1920	17,705
1910	16,386
1900	17,662
1890	15,191
1880	18,548
1870	15,738
1860	16,517
1850	16,162
1840	16,023
1830	17,769
1820	16,500
1810	20,245
1800	19,172
1790	20,613

Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Charles

Military engagements that took place in Charles, Maryland.

Piscataway Conflict (Maryland 1622)

1622

Piscataway War Maryland 1622

1622

Susquehannock Siege of Piscataway Fort Maryland 1675

1675

British Landing at Benedict MD

1814

Battle of Mathias Point (Potomac River)

1861

Engagement at Mathias Point on the Potomac

1861

Port Tobacco MD Smuggling Operations (1861–1865)

1862

Cockpit Point Confederate Battery Engagement 1862

1862

Bryantown MD — Confederate Signal Corps Operations (1864)

1864

Historic places in Charles

National Register of Historic Places listings in Charles, Maryland.

Habre-de-Venture; Thomas Stone National Historic Site

Port Tobacco Historic District

Browse all Marylandhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Maryland

Explore census history and historic records for more Maryland counties.

Calvert Caroline Carroll Cecil Dorchester Frederick Garrett Harford Howard Kent Montgomery Prince George's Queen Anne's Somerset St. Mary's Talbot Washington Wicomico Worcester Allegany

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Everything a full report reveals about Charles County, Maryland

This page charts the census history of Charles County, Maryland. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Frequently asked about Charles

When does Charles first appear in the US census?

Charles, Maryland first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 20,613.

What is the population of Charles?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Charles had a recorded population of 166,617.

Were any battles fought in Charles?

9 documented military engagements took place in Charles, including Piscataway Conflict (Maryland 1622), Piscataway War Maryland 1622, Susquehannock Siege of Piscataway Fort Maryland 1675.

How many historic places are in Charles?

42 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Charles, Maryland.

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