# Croom, Maryland

Croom is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Southern Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 2,720. Croom largely consists of former tobacco farms and forests converted to Washington bedroom subdivisions such as nearby Marlton. The main part of Patuxent River Park (Jug Bay Natural Area) is located in Croom.

## History

The community was patented in 1671 as Croome by Christopher Rousby; it was named for the manor of Croom, near Sledmere in the East Riding of Yorkshire. In August 1814, British forces marched through Croom on their way to the Burning of Washington in the War of 1812.
St. Thomas' Episcopal Church dates to colonial times and was listed on the NRHP in 2000. Other buildings on the National Register of Historic Places located at Croom are the John W. Coffren House and Store, Bellefields, Brookefield of the Berrys, Mattaponi (John Bowie Jr. House), St. Thomas' Episcopal Parish Historic District, and Waverly.
The Columbia Air Center was located in Croom from 1941-1956. It was among the first African-American owned airports in the United States.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Croom has a total area of 35.4 square miles (91.7 km$^2$), of which 34.2 square miles (88.6 km$^2$) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km$^2$), or 3.43%, is water.

## Demographics

Croom first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. Census formed out of part of deleted Greater Upper Marlboro CDP and additional area.

### 2020 census

Croom CDP, Maryland – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. :
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 1,321 | 1,089 | 50.21% | 40.04% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,068 | 1,126 | 40.59% | 41.40% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 16 | 11 | 0.61% | 0.40% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 35 | 30 | 1.33% | 1.10% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 1 | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 16 | 29 | 0.61% | 1.07% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 64 | 160 | 2.43% | 5.88% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 110 | 274 | 4.18% | 10.07% |
| Total | 2,631 | 2,720 | 100.00% | 100.00% |

## Government

Prince George's County Police Department District 5 Station in Clinton CDP serves the community.

## Education

Prince George's County Public Schools operates public schools serving the census-designated place.
Elementary schools serving sections of Croom are Baden, Brandywine, Marlton, Mattaponi, and Patuxent. Most areas are zoned to Gwynn Park Middle School, with some zoned to James Madison Middle School and Kettering Middle School. Most areas are zoned to Frederick Douglass High School in Croom, with some areas to the north zoned to Dr. Henry A Wise, Jr. High School and some to the south zoned to Gwynn Park High School.

## Notable people

* William Duckett Bowie (1803–1873), politician
* Robert Bowie, governor of Maryland (1750–1818)
* William Williams (c. 1793–1814), an escaped slave who enlisted in 38th United States Colored Infantry Regiment and died from his wounds after the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812.