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'Havre de Grace' ('HDG') is a city in Harford County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,331 at the 2000 census. Havre de Grace is named after the port city of Le Havre, France, and it is the home of WXCY radio. Its name in French means "Gracious Harbor," or, more literally, "Harbor of Grace."
Havre de Grace is a small city but has in recent years expanded through the process of annexing land. Housing development is moderate but steady and includes the complete re-building of blighted areas into middle class homes. Havre de Grace is poised to prosper in the next few years as activities of the Department of Defense relocate from various bases to Aberdeen Proving Grounds, a few miles away. This will enhance the population with additional skilled and professional employed residents. Havre de Grace also claims a re-vitalized seaplane port. There are four public schools.
Havre de Grace's location on the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay and the outlet of the Susquehanna River makes it popular for recreation. There are marinas and service operators dotting the shore line. There is also a city yacht basin and park where various events are held each year; it is a focal point of community life during the summer. A promenade and boardwalk that runs the length of the shore from the Concord Point Lighthouse to the yacht basin was devastated by Hurricane Isabel and was recently rebuilt.

Contents

Geography

Demographics

History

Pronunciation

Notable people from Havre de Grace

External links

Geography

Havre de Grace is located at (39.548412, -76.097554) at the mouth of the Susquehanna River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.0 km² (5.4 mi²). 10.4 km² (4.0 mi²) of it is land and 3.5 km² (1.4 mi²) of it (25.23%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,331 people, 4,557 households, and 2,870 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,085.6/km² (2,815.1/mi²). There were 4,904 housing units at an average density of 469.8/km² (1,218.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.24% White, 16.15% African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.80% from other races, and 2.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.13% of the population.
There were 4,557 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,218, and the median income for a family was $53,838. Males had a median income of $37,985 versus $27,173 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,176. About 7.5% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

History

During the Revolutionary War the small hamlet known as Harmer's Town was visited several times by General Lafayette, who commented that the area reminded him of the French seaport of Le Havre, which had originally been named ''Le Havre-de-Grâce''. Inspired by Lafayette's comments, the town was incorporated as ''Havre de Grace'' in 1785.
On May 13, 1814, during the War of 1812, Havre de Grace was under siege by the British, after they had burned Washington and been held at bay by the defenders of Baltimore in the siege of Fort McHenry and the Battle of North Point. Lieutenant John O'Neill single-handedly defended the city of Havre de Grace by firing a cannon at the British fleet as they approached on the Susquehanna River. He was wounded, captured by the British, and eventually released. The city of Havre de Grace was sacked and burned, with only two houses and a church spared destruction. Havre de Grace was rebuilt, and in 1878 the town became a city with the establishment of its own government. Around that time, Havre de Grace had a number of citizens who honorably participated in the activities of the Underground Railroad in the forwarding of former slaves to safe haven.
The early industry of Havre de Grace included oyster and crab harvesting and fruit orchards. It was also the southern terminus for the Proprietors of the Susquehanna Canal and later the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal which carried freight up the Susquehanna River to destinations inland. The Lock Keepers house and remnants of the canal exist today as a museum. Havre de Grace was also known for duck hunting and its hotels were full of hunters who used local guides to escort them on hunting trips. A strong cottage industry of decoy making soon sprang up.
Havre de Grace was known as '"The Graw'" from 1912 through the 1950s, and prospered as a stop off for travelers. These included gangsters and gamblers en route to New York City from the south following the pony routes. Havre de Grace had a horse track into the late 50s. Alphonse Capone was reported to have spent some time at the former "Crazy Swede" (now known as "Ken's Steak and Rib House").

Pronunciation

Despite the French origin of the name, it is locally pronounced "HAV-ur dee GRACE".[1]

Notable people from Havre de Grace

★ David R. Craig, born June 12, 1949. Harford County Executive, 2005-present.

★ Barry Glassman, born March 24, 1962. Maryland Delegate, 1999-present.

★ Millard Tydings, born April 6, 1890. U.S. Senator 1927 - 1951.

★ Cal Ripken, born August 24, 1960. Major League Baseball Player and Hall of Famer for the Baltimore Orioles.

★ Billy Ripken, born December 16, 1964. Major League Baseball Player for the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers. Also, he is the brother of Cal Ripken.

★ Fred Hatem, Prominent Havre De Grace Lawyer.

★ Ultra Naté, born November 2, 1968. American House music singer, song writer, and record producer.
(Because the primary hospital in eastern Harford County is Harford Memorial in Havre de Grace, the town is the birthplace of many people who never actually lived there. For example, the Ripken family lived in nearby Aberdeen, Maryland, but because Cal and Billy were born in the hospital Havre de Grace is listed as their town of birth.)

External links

★ Chamber of Commerce website

★ Havre De Grace Tourism website

★ Susquehanna Museum