our
spatial systems associates, inc.
projects
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ST. LOUIS PARISH, MD
St. Louis parish, located in Clarksville, MD, was founded in 1855 as part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The parish has undergone
significant growth since its formation, currently serving approximately 4,200 registered families from the area. The location of the
parish experienced substantial growth from new residential developments since the 1990’s, due in part to its proximity to the DC
metro area. From 1996 to 2005, St. Louis parish saw an increase of 1,400 registered families from 2,800 to 4,200 families. St. Louis
parish is unique in the sense that about two-thirds of the registered parishioners travel from outside of the parish boundary to be
a part of the parish. Accommodating such rapid growth can present many challenges and changes within a parish. Change is inevitable, but having the tools and information to better equip and prepare for impacts of change is essential to the success of any
establishment.
Geographic Information System technology (GIS) creates the opportunity to visualize data in a spatial format and provide answers
to questions that otherwise may be difficult to envision. Use of GIS provides an additional context to statistics and numbers on a
page. Maps provide a real “picture” of trends and changes in a geographic extent. Spatial Systems Associates, Inc., a GIS and FMIS
firm based out of Columbia, MD, was able to assist St. Louis parish in identifying parish and parishioner trends by utilizing our expertise to provide a variety of mapping analyses.
The goal of this project was to provide St. Louis parish a closer look into parishioner trends in the area to assist in becoming more
prepared for future decisions. Utilizing the 2010 Census and American Community Survey data opened up numerous possibilities
for additional mapping analyses to include with the map content. In the spring of 2012, SSA delivered a set of five maps to St. Louis
parish. The map set consisted of:
• Location of Registered Catholic Families
• Median Household Income
• Parish Boundary—location with aerial photography background
• 2000–2010 Population Change
• Location of Registered St. Louis Families
Map 1: Parish Boundary
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The first map in the set is the parish boundary which is underlaid with the
most recent aerial photography. The written version of the parish boundary was translated into a digital format for use by the mapping software.
Included in the map content are the surrounding parish church locations
within the extent of the map. This generalized map is helpful to both diocesan and parish staff in understanding the current land uses within the
geographical boundary of the parish, and for visualizing where new development potential may exist that could affect the services necessary in
the future of the parish.
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Ro ad
St. Louis
(Clarksville)
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§
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70
Resurrection
(Ellicott
City)
Parish Boundaries
an e
40
£
¤
St. Paul
enn
i al L
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St.
Louis
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Legend
Church
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St. John the
Evangelist
(Columbia)
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Cl
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de
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Parish Boundary
County Boundary
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±
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Go
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St. Francis
of Assisi
(Fulton)
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95
0
1
2
Miles
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1
£
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Archdiocese of
Baltimore
Mapping by Spatial Systems Associates, Inc.
April 2012
Map 2: 2000–2010 Population Change
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St. Louis
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Clarksville, MD
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Population Change
2000-2010
Resurrection
(Ellicott City)
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£
¤
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St. Paul
St. Louis
(Clarksville)
Legend
!
St. Louis (Clarksville)
Registered Families
Church
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Parish Boundary
St. Louis (Clarksville) Boundary
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County Boundary
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2000 – 2010 Population Change
St. John the Evangelist
(Columbia)
St.
Louis
1.5% to 128.8%
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1.0% to 1.4%
0.1% to 0.9% (Mean: 0.6%)
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-0.2% to
0%
-0.7% to -0.3%
-37.6% to -0.8%
Zero Population
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St. Francis of
Assisi
(Fulton)
732
T
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1
£
¤
182
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S
±
0
1
2
Miles
Archdiocese of
Baltimore
Mapping by Spatial Systems Associates, Inc.
April 2012
SPATIAL SYSTEMS ASSOCIATES, INC.
»
This map utilizes the 2000-2010 census population change data, thematically displayed underlying the parish boundary and location of registered
families. This map provides insight into population trends throughout the
parish and surrounding parishes.
PROJECTS
Determining where the greatest decrease or increases of populations have
occurred may help in deciding where additional parishioner services are
necessary, or in some cases, where they may no longer be sustainable.
SSA
spatial systems associates, inc.
Map 3: Registered Families
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St. Louis
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Clarksville, MD
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Resurrection
(Ellicott City)
Patuxent
River
State Park
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¤
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St. Paul
St. Louis
(Clarksville)
Patuxent
River
State Park
St. Louis Registered Families
4,250
St. Louis Registered Families within
Parish Boundary: 1,568
St Louis Registered Families outside
Parish Boundary: 2,682
Total Households within Parish Boundary : 11,301
Total Population within Parish Boundary: 35,514
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Centennial
Park
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Registered St. Louis Families
within Parish Boundary: 13.9%
Legend
St. Louis Registered Families
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Church
104
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420
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Rachel
Carson
Conserv Park
Parish Boundary
St. John the Evangelist
(Columbia)
St.
Louis
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T
108
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29
£
¤
582
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County Boundary
Airport area
Airport runway
175
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GIS & FMIS
Military
This map shows the location of the registered St. Louis families represented by the blue circles. The map displays the concentrations of parishioners registered to the parish and demonstrates when parishioners are
being drawn from adjacent parishes. By combining the locations of the
registered parishioners with the 2010 census data and ACS data, we were
able to include analysis describing the following:
Golf Course
• Number of Families Registered within the Parish Boundary
±
• Number of Families Registered outside the Parish Boundary
• Total Number of Households within the Parish Boundary
• Total Population within the Parish Boundary
• Percent of total households within the parish boundary that are registered to the local parish. When combined with an estimate of the regional percent Catholic population, this statistic is useful
in assessing opportunities for evangelization.
National Parks and Forests
State Parks and Forests
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Local Parks
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108
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216
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St. Francis of
Assisi
(Fulton)
2
Miles
732
T
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1
£
¤
182
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115
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1
Archdiocese of
Baltimore
Mapping by Spatial Systems Associates, Inc.
April 2012
Map 4: Registered Catholic Families
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St. Louis
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As a general rule of thumb, the Catholic population throughout the United
States is considered to be about 20–25% of the population. By using diocesan-wide data we were able to determine the percentage of registered
Catholics within the region as a whole compared to the general population. This analysis helps to identify potential opportunities for reaching
out to the community for evangelization. We included in this map the following analyses:
•
•
•
•
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£
¤
Patuxent
River
State Park
Resurrection
(Ellicott
City)
St. Paul
Median Annual
Household Income
Legend
St. Louis Registered Families
Church
Parish Boundary
St . Lo uis
(Cla rksvi lle )
St. Louis Clarksville Boundary
County Boundary
St. John the
Evangelist
(Columbia)
St.
Louis
Average Median Household
Income (2010) for
St. Louis (Clarksville): $113,402
Total Income for St. Louis
Registered Families: $ 615,438,751
Total Household Income within
Parish Boundary: $ 1,937,649,000
Median Household Income
$5,669 - $50,000
$50,001 - $75,000
$75,001 - $100,000
$100,001 - $140,000
$140,001 - $180,000
St. Francis
of Assisi
(Fulton)
±
$180,001 - $250,001
0
1
2
Miles
Archdiocese of
Baltimore
Mapping by Spatial Systems Associates, Inc.
April 2012
Resurrection
(Ellicott
City)
St. Louis
(Clarksville)
Patuxent
River
State Park
Total Households (within map extent): 120,000
St.
Paul
Percent Registered Catholic Households
(within map extent): 12.5%
Registerd Catholic Households within
St. Louis Parish Boundary: 2,686
Percent Registered Catholic Households within
St. Louis Parish Boundary: 23.8%
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Centennial
Park
Legend
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St. Louis Registered Families
All Other Registered Families
29
£
¤
420
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Rachel
Carson
Conserv Park
Church
St. John the
Evangelist
(Columbia)
St.
Louis
582
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100
S
T
108
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Parish Boundary
County Boundary
175
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650
T
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Airport area
Airport runway
Military
Golf Course
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Clarksville, MD
Archdiocese of Baltimore
Registered Families (within map extent)
14,987
40
Number of Registered Families in the map extent
Total Number of Households within the map extent
Percent Registered Catholic Households within the map extent
Number of Registered Catholic Households within the St. Louis Parish Boundary
• Percent Registered Catholic Households within St. Louis Parish Boundary
St. Louis
Clarksville, MD
§
¨
¦
National Parks and Forests
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State Parks and Forests
Local Parks
108
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97
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182
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±
216
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St. Francis of Assisi
(Fulton)
1
£
¤
§
¨
¦
95
29
£
¤
732
T
S
0
1
2
Miles
Archdiocese of
Baltimore
Mapping by Spatial Systems Associates, Inc.
April 2012
Map 5: Median Annual Household Income
Identifying areas to focus financial campaign efforts was accomplished
by combining the location of the registered parishioners with the Median
Household Income data from the American Community Survey. We were
able to determine the potential income for the parish by using the census
population data, Median Household Income data, and registered parishioner data. The Median Household Income data was displayed thematically providing a look into the household income distribution among the
parishioner locations. By completing some spatial analyses, we were able
to determine the:
•
•
•
Average median household income for the parish
Total Household Income for registered families
Total Household Income within the Parish Boundary
These and other analyses can be conveniently completed and graphically/geographically shown at a parish or diocesan level
through the use of GIS technology.
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