Crofton Growth

There are few cities in Maryland who have experienced the rapid growth that the city of Crofton has. From its humble beginnings as a refuge for European settlers in the 1660’s, Crofton has developed into a prominent city with sprawling business centers and a wide array of picture perfect American suburbia. Crofton’s growth is attributed to its reputation as an economically secure and fruitful area to live. Consequently, Crofton’s economic prosperity comes as a result of its location in the heart of Maryland, and its proximity to nearby metropolis’ allow for convenience for jobs. As a result, many people view Crofton as an ideal location to live and raise a family, resulting in a rise in population. However, this rise in population may not be

Ever since the first settlers landed in the region, the area of Crofton allowed for easy travel and provided abundant resources to the community. Beginning in the 1660’s the first settlers found themselves in a “great forest unlike anything seen in the British Isles” with “abundant wildlife, such as wolves, bobcats, deer, elk, bear, beaver, mink, squirrels, raccoons, a large variety of birds and fish and other sea life” (“History of Crofton”). This demonstrates how the land provided advantages and usefulness for the original settlers, and had characteristics and resources unique to the region, as the settlers had not seen anything like it. With these abundant resources, the settlers were able to survive and use them to their advantage. In addition, Crofton’s proximity to the coast allowed for the early settlers to export their crop, tobacco, to England (“History of Crofton”). This export was the settlers main source of income, which would not have been available if Crofton did not have its unique location near the sea. Combined with the land’s bountiful resources which allowed early settlers to survive and thrive on the land, its location allowed the original settlers get economic gain, through its proximity to the coast for trade with

Drawn to Crofton’s abundance of local businesses and strong economy, the population of Crofton has grown every year. With a current population of 27,348 in the 2010 census, the population of Crofton increased by 36.12% since 2000 (USA). This is 4 times the national average of 9.71%. The population density of Crofton is 4,247, as compared to the national average of 88 (“Best Places: Crofton, Maryland”). With the rise in population, there has also been a growth of construction of various forms of infrastructure. As a result of this massive population increase, new homes were built to accommodate the influx of people. Approximately 40% of the housing in Crofton has been built since 1990, and there has been a massive sprawl in the areas where neighborhoods have been built (“Best Places: Crofton,