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Vienna, Maryland
Center of Vienna
Center of Vienna
Motto(s): 
"Gateway to the Nanticoke"
Location of Vienna, Maryland
Location of Vienna, Maryland
Country  United States
State  Maryland
County Dorchester
Founded 1706
Incorporated 1833
Area
 • Total 0.77 sq mi (1.98 km2)
 • Land 0.77 sq mi (1.98 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
10 ft (3 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 270
 • Density 352.94/sq mi (136.32/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
21869
Area code(s) 410
FIPS code 24-80600
GNIS feature ID 0591474
Website Town of Vienna, Maryland

Vienna is a town in Dorchester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 271 at the 2010 census.

History

Prior to European colonization, a Nanticoke town called "Chicacone" existed where Vienna is now located. The Nanticokes are an Algonquian people. Chicacone was the largest Nanticoke settlement at the time of John Smith's exploration of the Chesapeake Bay in 1608. By 1742, ongoing violations of Indian reservation rights by English colonizers caused the Nanticoke people to abandon Chicacone. In 1768–69, the Colony of Maryland dissolved the Nanticoke reservation. Many of the Nanticokes of Chicacone migrated north to Pennsylvania, New York, and Canada, while others stayed and assimilated into the white or black communities of lower Dorchester and Wicomico counties.

Vienna was founded in 1706. It thrived on trade, shipbuilding and tobacco farming. The wreck of a 45-foot cargo ship that was likely built at a small shipyard or plantation in Maryland was found in 2015 under the US 50 Bridge over the Nanticoke River. Charring suggests it was torched by British sympathizers in the 1780s. The British raided the town repeatedly during the American Revolutionary War, and again during the War of 1812. This led to the building of a wall across the city's waterfront on the Nanticoke River. This wall is in ruins today. Handsell was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

Vienna was incorporated in 1833.

Geography

Vienna is located at 38°29′7″N 75°49′37″W / 38.48528°N 75.82694°W / 38.48528; -75.82694 (38.485152, -75.827020).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.19 square miles (0.49 km2), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1890 424
1910 332
1920 257 −22.6%
1930 311 21.0%
1940 385 23.8%
1950 414 7.5%
1960 420 1.4%
1970 358 −14.8%
1980 300 −16.2%
1990 264 −12.0%
2000 280 6.1%
2010 271 −3.2%
2020 270 −0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 271 people, 115 households, and 71 families living in the town. The population density was 1,426.3 inhabitants per square mile (550.7/km2). There were 143 housing units at an average density of 752.6 per square mile (290.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 90.8% White, 7.0% African American, 0.7% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 115 households, of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.3% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.87.

The median age in the town was 46.9 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 28.7% were from 45 to 64; and 23.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

Infrastructure

Major highways

Vienna is traversed by several Delmarva highways:

  • Maryland Route 731 leads straight into the center of town, meeting a dead end where the old drawbridge span over the Nanticoke River was located. The road is also known as Old Route 50, as it was once US 50.
  • Maryland Route 331 (Rhodesdale-Vienna Road) travels north out of the town, bound for Rhodesdale. It starts at Old US 50 and travels north through the middle of town, interchanging with US 50.
  • U.S. Route 50 bypasses Vienna to the northeast on a small, four-lane freeway section completed in 1991. This section also incorporates the Nanticoke Memorial Bridge, which replaced the original drawbridge span.

Navigable rivers

Vienna is on the north bank of the Nanticoke River.

Public transportation

Vienna is accessible by the Delmarva Community Transit commuter bus service.

Notable people

  • Josiah Kerr, Republican Congressman from Maryland representing Maryland's 1st congressional district, 1900–1901.
  • Thomas Holliday Hicks, governor of the State of Maryland during the American Civil War.
  • James M. Cain, author of "The Postman Always Rings Twice".

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Vienna (Maryland) para niños

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