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Living
in Southern Maryland
Lord
Baltimore had the right idea when he began his colony in 1634 in St.
Mary's City. The first settlement founded by British
Catholics on religious tolerance, Maryland's "St. Mary's City" flourished
as the state's capital until 1695. An agrarian society supported by waves
of immigrants, St. Mary's City's people withstood disease, attacks, revolution,
invasion, and civil war. Today, St. Mary's City is recognized as a National
Historic Landmark and Maryland's western shore is the focus of intense
archaeological
study. The seat for St.
Mary’s County Government remained in St. Mary's
City until 1654. From that time, county court was conducted in the homes
of various gentlemen in the Leonardtown area, then called "Newtown." In
1708, the original log courthouse was constructed in Leonardtown, which
was used until 1736 when a brick courthouse was constructed and used exclusively
until 1999. Currently, there is a complete Governmental
Center in the heart of Leonardtown housing an
even newer courthouse facility. For more information on the history of
St. Mary’s County, visit the website of the Historical
Society.
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Located just across the Gov. Thomas
Johnson Bridge, Calvert
County is bounded by the Chesapeake Bay on the
east and the Patuxent River on the west. Calvert County contains about
219 square miles of land and is only nine miles wide at its broadest point.
The extensive beachfront makes Calvert County an excellent place for fossil
hunters seeking the remains of sea creatures that inhabited the region
millions of years ago. Fossilized scallop shells and shark's teeth are
still commonly found.
Although its first identified settlers
were members of the Piscataway Nation, Cecil Calvert received the royal
charter from Charles I for establishment of a settlement in 1632. The
colonists from England began arriving in 1634. Led by Cecil's brother,
Leonard Calvert, the English gentry were followed to Calvert County by
the Puritans, Huguenots, Quakers and Scots.
Charles
County was established in 1658, although it was
not the first County in Maryland to bear the name. An earlier Charles
County named in 1650 only lasted until 1653, when the Province's lines
were redrawn. Named for Charles Calvert, son of Cecil Calvert, the County's
first settlement was at Port
Tobacco, which served as the county seat and was
a major commercial center until well into the 1800's. A silt-choked waterway
and a new railroad spur built through a relatively new town led the citizens
to move the County seat to its present day location of La
Plata. Historians will find a wealth of resources
here. Charles County boasts an almost complete set of land and probate
records dating from colonial times to present. Like the rest of Southern
Maryland, Charles County history includes prehistoric
fossils, Native American settlements and Colonial
plantations as well as events surrounding the Revolution, the War
of 1812, and the Civil War.
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The region known as "Southern
Maryland" includes Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's
counties. Southern Maryland is currently the fastest-growing geographic
region in the state of Maryland. The area's strong population and economic
growth is due, in part, to area dynamics and the close proximity to the
Nation's Capitol. Calvert and St. Mary's counties are among the leaders
in growth in the region with a combined projected population increase
of 81% over the next two decades due to the Department of Defense's efforts
to consolidate military activities at Patuxent
River Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD). The
1991 and 1993 decisions of the federal defense Base Realignment and Closure
Commission changed the face of Southern Maryland forever. Thousands of
new administrative, engineering, and high-technology research and development
jobs representing several hundred million dollars worth of programs were
reassigned to Patuxent River, nearby Dahlgren, and Indian Head naval installations.
These decisions made in the early 90’s, are expected to continue impacting
Southern Maryland well into the twenty-first century.
The tremendous appeal of our region
is partially due to the area's dynamics. Our residents enjoy the scenic
landscape of a rural atmosphere that is strong in its tobacco, corn, and
soybean industries. Any visitor to St. Mary's County will be enchanted
to see the horse-drawn carriages and traditional dress of the members
of the resident Amish
community, who migrated here from Pennsylvania.
Hearkening back our roots, the Amish shun telephones, electricity, refrigeration
and most other modern conveniences, while promoting self-reliance and
community cooperation as an expression of faith. Amish-made furnishings
are known for their affordability and craftsmanship. Pesticide and chemical-free
Amish-grown produce and home baked goods are abundantly available at roadside
stands.
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Recreation
and Leisure
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With hundred of miles of scenic waterways,
our area is known for its boating, sailing, and fishing. The Chesapeake
Bay and its tributaries abound with our famous Chesapeake Bay oysters,
Rock fish, and Maryland blue crabs. Our Maryland
State Parks and county recreation areas offer
natural environments for camping, hunting, hiking, picnicking, as well
as sporting activities and special events. The best source of information
on Maryland’s outdoor activities is the Maryland
Department of Natural Resources. Several challenging
golf courses reside in Southern Maryland as well; the Air Station’s Officer’s
Club facility being one of the area’s finest, as are the White
Plains golf course in Charles County or the Chesapeake
Hills Club in Calvert.
The
St. Mary's County Department of Recreation and Parks,
Calvert
County Department of Parks and Recreation and
Charles
County Department of Public Facilities provide
an ever-changing calendar of year round activities for both adults and
children. Youth classes in art, music, drama, crafts, dance and sports
are provided at school community centers throughout the area. Adult education
and recreation classes such as aerobics, cake decorating, dog obedience,
painting, woodworking and yoga offer a varied program for adults. Roller
skating rinks are located in Northern Calvert County and in Waldorf. For
more passive entertainment, Lexington
Park houses a 6- screen Loews Cineplex. In Waldorf,
Loews also has a large, multiscreen theater, and
Prince
Frederick offers a large Apex Theater. Enjoy live
theatrical performances in La Plata at the Port
Tobacco Players Theater. The local acting troop
stages shows and popular plays year round.
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For more information on St. Mary's
County history or activities, we recommend contacting the Historic St.
Mary's Commission at P.O.Box 39, St. Mary's City, MD 20686; 301-862-0990
and the St.
Mary's County Chamber of Commerce at 6260 Waldorf
Leonardtown Road, Mechanicsville, MD 20659; 301-884-5555. For more detailed
information on Calvert County, contact the Calvert
County Chamber of Commerce at 410-535-2577.
The Charles County
Chamber of Commerce may be reached at 301-870-3089.
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Shopping
and Dining
The region’s largest shopping mall
is located in neighboring Charles
County within a comfortable 30-minute drive of
most locations in Southern Maryland. As the home of the 1.2 million square
foot St.
Charles Towne Center mall and more than 20 other
shopping centers, Charles County has become known as the "Shopping Capital
of Southern Maryland." The mall is anchored by Sears, J.C. Penney, Kohl's,
and The Hecht Co., which has expanded to hold two anchor positions. Inside,
there are 120 specialty stores. Outside and nearby, shoppers will find
a T.J. Maxx, Pier One Imports, Value City Furniture, Toys 'R' Us, and
a nine-screen Cineplex Odeon Theater. BJ's Wholesale Club opened on a
large pad behind St. Charles Towne Plaza and, the latest addition to the
area is a 117,000 square foot Target Store.
Several small shopping centers and stand alone shops serve St. Mary’s
County with the Lexington Park area having the greatest concentration
of facilities. Belk, Peebles, Wal-Mart, Ames, K-Mart and Target all operate
stores in the county with PetSmart and Staples. Currently, there are several
quality grocery stores such as Superfresh, Food Lion, Giant and McKay’s.
Additionally, Woodburn’s Groceries, known for their quality butcher shop,
is just across the bridge in Solomons with a newly opened section featuring
an extensive gourmet food selections.
In Calvert, the major shopping hub is located in the central town of Prince
Frederick , where Peebles, Wal-Mart , K-Mart and Giant Foods operate amid
a larger number local shops, In Dunkirk, to the north, you'll find an
expanding retail environment as well.
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Most locals and tourists visit Solomons
Island for evening recreation, boat charters,
and for interesting day trips. The appeal of Solomons is the simplicity
of a small 128-year old fishing village, settled comfortably around a
deep, protected harbor rimmed with busy marinas. Bordered by the Riverwalk
on one side, visitors can wander down the main street lined with small
white and gray houses of weathered wood, casual restaurants, pot-pourri-scented
gift shops, and a general store that offers bait, tackle, hot coffee,
ice and rental boats. At Christmas time, residents look forward to the
Solomons Island Christmas Walk where all the shops, bars, and restaurants
host a combined open house over the course of a weekend.
In the spring time,
Island businesses participate in the annual "Spring Launch" festivities
beginning with the opening of the Tiki Bar and continuing throughout the
weekend with special festivities on the Island. This
Solomons Business Association sponsored event
is usually attended by more than 8,000 locals and tourists alike. Additionally,
Solomons Island offers several museums, including the Calvert
Marine Museum home to the relocated historic Drum
Point Lighthouse, and an interesting collection
of locally found marine fossils and War of 1812 relics.
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Maryland is for crabs, and Southern
Maryland has a long tradition of enjoying delicious fresh seafood. Whether
it's Captain Billy's in Pope's Creek, Evan's Seafood on St George Island,
Stoney's in Broome's Island or any of the many other fine seafood restaurants
in the area, you're sure to find more than one place to tempt your palette.
Several fine restaurants have recently opened in Solomons, but that’s
not the only place in Calvert County to go for an enjoyable meal. Between
Solomons and Dunkirk there are several well-known places to dine that
are slightly off the beaten path. Check out the Old Field Inn, located
in Prince Frederick, or Mamma Lucia's in Dunkirk or bay front dining at
the Rod 'N' Reel in Chesapeake Beach. St. Mary’s also has many restaurants,
some offering "fine dining." A couple of the more historic and interesting
restaurants in the county include The Roost in Lexington Park. Nearby
in Waldorf, Charles County has many "chain" restaurants" such as Red Lobster,
Olive Garden, Outback, Ruby Tuesday’s, Pizzeria Uno’s, Chili’s, and Chuck
E. Cheese for the kids. Charles County also offers a variety of local
restaurants specializing in international cuisine. Enjoy Chinese food
at Hunan Star in La Plata, Japanese food at the Sakura Steak and Seafood
House in Waldorf, Greek dining at the Athenian Cafe, or eat Mexican-style
at Loredo's in White Plains. But don't limit yourself to just these! The
region hosts many local eateries that offer delightful dining experiences
just waiting to be discovered.
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Regional
Attractions
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In addition to our local historic
sites like St.
Mary's City, Port
Tobacco, Calvert
Cliffs, and the beautiful Sotterly
Plantation, unlimited "big city" leisure opportunities
abound within an easy commute of Southern Maryland. Families can take
in the grandeur of Washington
D.C., our nation's capitol, from atop the Washington
Monument and visit all the traditional places,
the Smithsonian Institution
and other famous museums such as the Freer
Gallery, the National
Air and Space Museum, or the National
Gallery of Art. The National Mall, the White
House the Capitol
Building, the Jefferson
and Lincoln Memorials
are close by. Be sure to visit the National
Archives, which houses original copies of the
Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The young and the young
at heart enjoy the National
Zoo, home for a pair of rare Giant Pandas. The
Kennedy Center hosts the greatest performers from
our nation and from around the world and is home to the National
Symphony Orchestra. Washington has several great
theaters
with a full season of shows available for your entertainment.
Wonderful family memories can be
created during outings in Historic
Annapolis, Old
Town Alexandria, and Baltimore's
Inner Harbor, where the good ship Constitution,
also known as "Old Ironsides" is moored. The Inner Harbor is also home
to the National Aquarium,
and as long as you're there, why not take in the Walters
Art Gallery, which is a twenty minute walk north,
and well worth the trip. Don't forget to take in Fort McHenry, whose
stubborn defenders inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled
Banner. Historically a center for the performing arts, Baltimore is the
site for the Baltimore
Symphony, and several very highly-regarded theaters.
The area is a rich environment for the sports enthusiast.
Local softball
leagues are very popular and are available for
almost any age level. Ski
slopes are a few hour's drive away in Western
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Bowling leagues, soccer,
baseball, football, rugby, golf, cycling, running, and almost every sport
in between are organized and available in the region. Racing fans will
want to check out the Maryland
International Raceway in Charles County, and the
area has recently gained popularity as a site for professional bass fishing
tournaments. Professional sports fans will enjoy the close proximity to
pro teams based in both Washington and Baltimore. The Redskins,
Ravens,
Wizards,
Orioles,
and Capitals
all play home games close by, and college-level teams featuring schools
such as Georgetown
and the University of
Maryland are readily accessible. Double
and Triple A baseball teams are based within easy
reach, and local sports arenas host a varied schedule of entertainment,
from figure skating to music concerts, all year long.
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Copy of original work provided courtesy of Rose Crowley with significant
additions, updates and corrections made by the Southern Maryland
Association of Realtors.
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