# Clinton, Maryland

Clinton is an unincorporated census-designated place (CDP) in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Clinton was formerly known as Surrattsville until after the time of the Civil War, and Robeystown from 1865 to 1878. The population of Clinton was 38,760 at the 2020 census. Clinton is historically known for its role in the American Civil War concerning the Abraham Lincoln assassination. Clinton is adjacent to Camp Springs, Rosaryville, Melwood, and Andrews Air Force Base.

## History

Clinton was founded in the 1770s. The town, then named Surratt's Villa, was actually a simple crossroads with a few buildings. In the 1800s, it became known as Surrattsville. The main building served as the post office, an inn and tavern, and a polling place. This main residence was one of two properties owned by the widowed Mary Surratt; the second property was in Washington, D.C.
On 14 and 15 April 1865, John Wilkes Booth, who had two hours earlier assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, stopped by the Surrattsville tavern to pick up weapons and supplies. The U.S. government alleged that Mary Surratt had gone there earlier with these supplies, and was in collusion with the conspirators, one of whom was her son, John Surratt. Because she was found guilty of complicity in the Lincoln assassination, Mary Surratt was hanged at the Capitol Prison in Washington D.C., on 7 July 1865. (Her house is now the Surratt House Museum, with a focus on the assassination.) The U.S. Post Office renamed the town Robeystown, due to the notoriety of the Surratt name, and in keeping with naming towns after the postmaster. In 1879, Robeystown was renamed Clinton. The local high school, however, retains the name of Surrattsville.
The Wyoming house, a historic frame house built in three phases between the 18th and early 19th centuries, is also a part of Clinton's history. The house consists of a main block with gambrel roof (late 18th century), kitchen (c. 1800), and connecting block (c. 1850). The Wyoming house is listed in the Maryland Inventory of Historical Properties and the Historic American Buildings Survey.
In 1913, Blossie Keubeth Miller founded a general store at the town's main intersection. The current commercial property, built in the 1950s, houses a liquor store and is still owned by the Miller family.
Yuri Nosenko, a KGB defector, was confined and interrogated at a safehouse in Clinton from April 4, 1964 to August 13, 1965.
Clinton is also associated with the 2002 Beltway sniper attacks. A survivor of the attacks was shot in Clinton, while Mildred Muhammad, ex-wife of sniper John Allen Muhammad, was a Clinton resident.

## Geography

Clinton is located at 38°45′49″N 76°53′44″W﻿ / ﻿38.76361°N 76.89556°W﻿ / 38.76361; -76.89556 (38.763711, −76.895458). According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 25.1 square miles (64.9 km$^2$), of which 25.0 square miles (64.7 km$^2$) is land and 0.077 square miles (0.2 km$^2$), or 0.31%, is water.

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Clinton 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) | 3,508 | 2,286 | 9.75% | 5.90% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 28,784 | 29,916 | 80.02% | 77.18% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 103 | 99 | 0.29% | 0.26% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 903 | 958 | 2.51% | 2.47% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 11 | 9 | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 57 | 259 | 0.16% | 0.67% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 739 | 1,258 | 2.05% | 3.25% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,865 | 3,975 | 5.18% | 10.26% |
| Total | 35,970 | 38,760 | 100.00% | 100.00% |

### 2000 Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,064 people, 8,605 households, and 6,772 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,208.6 inhabitants per square mile (852.7/km$^2$). There were 8,962 housing units at an average density of 759.4 per square mile (293.2/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the CDP was 20.56% white, 73.69% black, 0.47% Native American, 2.47% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 2.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.90% of the population (but have likely increased since 2000).
There were 8,605 households, out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.8% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.32.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $71,139, and the median income for a family was $75,036 (these figures had risen to $90,285 and $97,640 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $41,736 versus $39,545 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,949. About 2.4% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.5% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

## Government and infrastructure

Prince George's County Police Department District 5 Station in Clinton CDP serves the community.
The U.S. Postal Service operates the Clinton Post Office.

## Education

In the 2016 budget, Clinton schools spent approximately $14,000 per student.
By average, there are 18 pupils per teacher, 789 students per librarian, and 431 children per counselor in Clinton (zip 20735), MD schools.

### Primary and secondary schools

Prince George's County Public Schools operates public schools serving Clinton. The community is served by the following schools:
Elementary:
* Clinton Grove Elementary School - in the Clinton CDP
* James Ryder Randall Elementary School - in the Clinton CDP
* Waldon Woods Elementary School - in the Clinton CDP
* Francis T. Evans Elementary School - Adjacent to the Clinton CDP in the Andrews AFB CDP
* Melwood Elementary School
* Rose Valley Elementary School
* Tayac Elementary School
Middle:
* Stephen Decatur Middle School - in the Clinton CDP
* James Madison Middle School
* Gwynn Park Middle School
* Isaac J. Gourdine Middle School
High:
* Surrattsville High School - in the Clinton CDP
* Frederick Douglass High School
* Gwynn Park High School
* Dr. Henry A. Wise High School
* Friendly High School
Other:
* Tanglewood Regional

#### Private schools

* Clinton Christian School
* Grace Brethren Christian Church and School
* Henson Valley Academy
* Independent Baptist Academy
* Jabez Christian Academy
* Outreach Christian Center Academy
* St. John the Evangelist School
* St. Mary's of Piscataway Catholic School and Church

### Public libraries

The Prince George's County Memorial Library System operates the Surratts-Clinton Branch in Clinton.

## Notable people

* Lindsay Allen, WNBA player
* Luke Barnett, actor known for his Funny or Die episodes
* Tray Chaney, actor in The Wire as "Poot"
* Dante Cunningham, basketball player, power forward for New Orleans Pelicans
* Joe Haden, NFL defensive back
* Marcia Gay Harden, Academy Award-winning actress
* Taraji P. Henson, Golden Globe-winning and Academy Award-nominated actress
* Ty Lawson, basketball player
* Rodney McLeod, NFL defensive back
* Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., Maryland State Senate President
* Yuri Nosenko, KGB defector
* Patrick O’Connell, 3-Star Michelin Chef and owner of The Inn at Little Washington
* Beth Bernobich, Lambda Literary Award-winning author
* Chris Rice, CCM singer/songwriter
* Tank, R&B singer
* Delonte West, NBA basketball player
* Brian Westbrook, NFL running back
* Laura Wright, actress
* Trevor Keels, NBA basketball player