|
|
 
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.
 |
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 at Calvert Cliffs along with native and colonial artifacts at Jefferson Patterson Park.
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.
 |
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.
[return to top]
Recreation
and Leisure
 |
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.
 |
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.
[return to top]
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.
 |
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.
 |
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.
[return to top]
Regional
Attractions
 |
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, football, and bowling 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. Soccer, archery,
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 extensive chartered fishing opportunities and 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,
Nationals 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.
[return to top]
Business
Environment
 |
St. Mary's County is the home of
over 1,575 businesses that employ in excess of 20,119 people. The major
employers include DynCorp, Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Allied-Signal, C-Cubed,
Compliance Corp., Eagan McAllister Assoc., Eagle Systems, Information
Spectrum, Lockhead Martine, Lundeberg
School of Seamanship, MACI, Mantech, St.
Mary's Hospital, Sabre Systems, PRB, Marconi,
Veridian, and the NAWCAD,
which employs over 12,000 military and other federal service employees.
The Maryland
Department of Business and Economic Development is
an excellent source of state and regional information as is the Census
Office. St. Mary's County's business environment
information contact the St.
Mary's County Chamber of Commerce.
Of Calvert County's 75,000 people,
more than 18 percent hold college degrees. Calvert offers access to one
of the largest, most divers, and highly skilled pools of professional,
management, and technical labor in the nation. In excess of 50% of the
county's workforce, however, commutes outside the county for employment.
Among the largest employers in Calvert County are Baltimore Gas & Electric,
Calvert Memorial Hospital, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, DynCorp and
Direct Mail Management. For more information on business in Calvert County,
Contact the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce at 410-535-2577 or the
Calvert County
Department of Economic Development at 800-331-9771.
Charles County supports over 2,500 businesses and employs in excess of
29,000 workers. Just 15 miles from the Capital Beltway, the county is
ideally situated to act as a gateway between the Washington metropolitan
area and the rest of Southern Maryland. The largest employers include
Besche Oil, Chaney Enterprises, Civista Medical Center, Applied Ordinance
Technology, Automated Graphics Systems, and the Southern
Maryland Oil Company, however, more than 35 businesses
have payrolls surpassing 100 workers. Home to over 125,000 people, most
workers commute to jobs outside of the Southern Maryland area. Much of
the workforce is located in the St. Charles planned community in the north,
while the southern and western portions have largely retained their agricultural/pastoral
character. The Charles County Chamber of Commerce can provide more information.
[return to top]
The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division
(NAWCAD), Patuxent River
 |
The
Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD)
is a land, sea, and air test laboratory complex responsible for evaluating
naval aviation's advanced weapons systems. Originally established in St.
Mary's County as the Patuxent River Naval Air Station in 1943, the station
quickly grew with the addition of the Naval Air Test Center in 1945, and
the evolution of the Navy Test Pilot School in 1948. Today, the NAWCAD,
the Flight Test and Engineering Group, and approximately fifty tenant
activities are responsible for most of St. Mary's County job growth.
[return to top]
Government
Both St.
Mary's and Calvert
Counties are governed by an elected five-member Board of County Commissioners.
The entire voting population in their respective counties elects all Commissioners
for four-year terms. The "commissioner" form of government charges these
elected offices to be responsible for the establishment of all County
policies, the enactment of new ordinances, the review and approval of
annual budgets and work plans for all departments and agencies receiving
County funds as well as the appointment of all department heads, and members
of boards, commissions, and committees. The commissioners conduct public
hearings and make decisions on land use matters including zoning, water
and sewer categories, and appeals for the Planning Commission. Additionally,
they are responsible for purchasing and
 |
maintaining County property, approving
road construction and maintenance, and representing our county in state
and federal matters effecting our communities. In the 2002 elections,
Charles
County decided to adopt Code
Home Rule, one of two forms of home rule permitted
under state law. The new form of government went into effect in 2003,
and retained many of the characteristics of Commissioner Rule. It will
allow the local Commissioners to create impact fees, along with enacting
certain types of local legislation without awaiting approval from Annapolis.
Visit Southern Maryland's Link
to Government Information for information on Southern
Maryland’s state and federal governmental representation.
[return to top]
Public Education
Both St. Mary's and Calvert County
Public Schools are governed by a five-member Board of Education. In the
St. Mary's County
public school system, there are currently 16 elementary
schools, 5 middle schools, 3 high schools, special education schools,
and 1 vocational-technical school. Kindergarten is mandatory for all five-year
olds on a half-day basis. In addition, there is a half-day, four-year-old
program for students in selected schools. In Calvert
County, there are 11 elementary schools, 6 middle
schools and 3 high schools, a vocational tech school, a special environmental
training program called "CHESPAX,"
and the Arthur
Storer Planetarium. Located at Calvert High School,
the planetarium is available students and the community as a unique cultural
facility that enables students and visitors to explore their world and
our cosmos in ways not possible in an ordinary classroom. Charles
County students are served by 19 public elementary
schools, 7 public middle schools, and 5 public high schools. Facilities
exist for vocational and technical training, adult education, and special
education. Children and adults facing
developmental challenges will find expert assistance at the Melwood
centers throughout the region. For test scores
and other public school information call Charles County Public Schools
at (301) 870-3814. St.
Mary’s County Public Schools may be reached by
calling 301-475-4230. For information on Calvert County schools, call
the Calvert
County Public Schools at 410-535-1700.
[return to top]
Non-Public
and Parochial Schools
Currently, there are several non-public and
parochial schools in Southern Maryland that serve students from the kindergarten
level through high school. Click here for the names and phone numbers
of St.
Mary’s County private schools, or here for Calvert
County private schools, or here for Charles
County private schools.
[return to top]
Universities
and Colleges
 |
The
College of Southern Maryland (CSM), formerly Charles
County Community College, is a regionally accredited institution that
prides itself on delivering quality higher education programs and services
to more than 60 percent of the tri-county residents who attend higher
education institutions. CSM also offers programs in Europe to Department
of Defense (DOD) personnel stationed there through the "Maryland in Europe"
program with the University of Maryland University College.
CSM offers an array of associate's
degree programs and brokers four-year degree programs locally through
partnerships with colleges and universities such as University of Maryland University College (UMUC), Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Towson University,
and Capitol College. The college also offers job and career training opportunities,
wellness and fitness activities, theater and fine arts programs, and personal
enrichment courses, and serves the business community through programs
offered by the Economic and Community Development Institute. CSM prepares
its students for transfer to four-year colleges and provides them with
the tools and resources necessary to succeed in a competitive workplace.
The college also focuses on workforce development with the participation
of local businesses interested in growing and maintaining a healthy economy
and community.
 |
The College of Southern Maryland
is now one institution serving all of Southern Maryland. It operates four
campuses in the tri-county area, offering programs in Europe as well.
The La Plata Campus, nestled on 173 wooded acres off of Mitchell Road
and the Waldorf Center at Old Washington Road, are both located in Charles
County. The Calvert County Campus is located in Prince Frederick and the
St. Mary's County Campus is situated in Leonardtown.
St. Mary's College
of Maryland, founded in 1840, is a public honors
college offering the academic excellence of private education with the
openness and affordability of public schools. St. Mary's graduates have
gained recognition as being among the finest students in Maryland higher
education. The average SAT scores of entering freshmen are the highest
of any college in the state. The capstone of the St. Mary's experience,
the St. Mary's Project, engages seniors in a program of independent research
of the kind found only in a few prominent colleges. In 1999, these distinctions
led St. Mary's College of Maryland to be ranked by U.S. News and World
Report as the number one public liberal arts college in the nation. For
more information on St. Mary's College , check out the website or call
301-862-0380
The Southern Maryland Higher
Education Center is a multi-purpose, multi-instructional,
and multi-institutional higher education facility located in St. Mary's
County. Created to serve the expanding needs of all of Southern Maryland,
nine universities participate, including George Washington University,
Strayer College, Towson State University, Bowie State University, the
University of Maryland, and Johns Hopkins University. Twenty-three masters
and upper division programs are offered. These educational opportunities
will serve the needs of the technical population at the NAWCAD and our
quickly growing local community. For more information on the Southern
Maryland Higher Education Center, call 301-737-2500.
For those wishing graduate degrees, several higher education institutions
are located at or near NAWCAD, and throughout the region via the University
of Maryland's University College, among others.
Graduate programs currently offered in the area include: MA and MS degrees
in Aerospace Technology, Computer Systems, Computer Science, Contract
Management, Electrical Engineering, and Human Resource Management.
[return to top]
Health Care & Emergency Services
Located in Leonardtown, St.
Mary’s Hospital serves county residents with state-of-the-art
health-care offering the latest surgical, diagnostic and treatment procedures.
The members of our Medical Staff are among the most specialized in the
area.
The Calvert
Memorial Hospital in Prince Frederick is a private,
community-based hospital. Certified as a 141-bed acute care facility with
an additional 16 skilled bed rehabilitative Transitional Care Unit, the
hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations, licensed by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene. For information, call (410) 535-4000.
Charles County is served by the Civista
Medical Center, previously known as Physician's
Memorial Hospital. Civista consists of a series of regional facilities
operating on a not- for- profit basis. The center offers 24-hour emergency
care, same-day surgery, intensive care, diagnostic and laboratory services,
obstetrics, pediatrics, rehabilitation, cardiopulmonary services, antenatal
testing, and a community cancer program.
A rescue helicopter
operated by the Maryland State Police is permanently
stationed at St. Mary’s airport transporting critically injured people
to regional trauma centers such as Children’s Hospital, Johns Hopkins,
the Southern Maryland Hospital Center, Prince George’s Hospital Center
and many others.
In addition to medical transport, the Maryland State Police provide airborne
delivery of law enforcement, and search and rescue services to the citizens
of Southern Maryland. There are currently 8 stations around the state
like the one at St. Mary’s Airport. Our local Trooper
7 spends over 400 hours a year airborne conducting
over 350 medivacs and 700 law enforcement/search and rescue missions each
year.
Calvert
Control is part of a wider Public Safety program which provides assistance to citizens in Calvert
County needing emergency services. The
volunteer fire department has 7 company locations throughout Calvert County,
Advanced Life Support teams and Rescue Dive teams. The
Sheriff's Department is located in the main Courthouse
in Prince Frederick. They respond to emergencies, citizen's requests and/or
complaints, provide traffic control, assist at functions needing law enforcement,
and provide many other needed services to Calvert County residents and
visitors.
 |
The
St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department has been
the primary law enforcement agency of the County for the past five centuries.
Established in 1637 to serve and protect the citizens of the Mother County
of Maryland, the modern day Sheriff’s manages approximately 100 Deputies,
65 Correctional Officers, 35 civilian employees and more than 45 volunteers.
St. Mary's County has 7 Volunteer Fire Departments 6 Volunteer Rescue
Squads. Together, they provide law enforcement and fire prevention services
to the county’s 85,000 permanent residents and the additional 15,000 people
who commute to the county for work and for recreation.
Charles County is also well-served by 17 mostly volunteer
Emergency
Medical Services (EMS) units. The county's
Department of Emergency Services coordinates the
activities of the fire and rescue units as well as providing animal control
and emergency preparedness services. The Fire/EMS fleet consists of at
least 26 ambulances, 26 engines,4 ladder trucks, 4 advanced life support
units, 24 bush trucks, 5 fire/rescue boats, and 2 dive teams. Most Law
enforcement coverage is handled by the Charles
County Sheriff's Office, or the Maryland
State Police, with the incorporated Town
of La Plata providing its own La Plata Police
Department.
[return to top]
Housing
Southern Maryland offers a great
selection of location, style, age, and price range to anyone seeking a
home. Old established neighborhoods, historic victorian-era homes, farms,
town homes, and newly constructed subdivisions are all available to accommodate
the sudden popularity of Lord Baltimore's little colony. Waterfront cottages,
single family homes, town homes, and condominium apartments are available
for sale or rent in in Southern Maryland. Lot sizes range from less than
a quarter acre to over 100 acres in the more rural areas. Let your horses
roam across the rolling pastures of a farmette. Select from home sites
that are heavily wooded and private, or cleared and ready for swing sets.
With miles and miles of shoreline, an abundance of prime waterfront homes
await you. Watch bald eagles soar above peaceful waterfront lots available
along the county's various rivers, creeks and tributaries. Sit back amid
the autumn colors and listen to migrating geese calling as they pass by,
or take in a spectacular Southern Maryland sunset. Boating and fishing
enthusiasts will enjoy boat slips, piers and beaches that may be included
with Chesapeake Bay front or river front homes overlooking the scenic
Patuxent, Wicomico, or Potomac Rivers.
 |
Commuters who work in Northern Virginia
and Washington, D.C. find a "better quality of life" in the rural atmosphere
of Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's Counties. Families are able to get
larger homes and more land for their dollar than they can in the Washington,
D.C. metropolitan area or heavily congested Dulles corridor.
According to the 2005 year end records of the Southern Maryland Association
of REALTORS® , the median home sales price in Calvert County was $325,000,
while Charles County's median was $314,900 and in St. Mary's County
it was $295,000. Although all three represent increases over the prior
year's numbers, all are still significantly lower than the average home
price in the metro area--the perfect opportunity to buy. One to two bedroom
condominium apartments are available in the $290,000's and $300,000's
while our newer homes on larger home sites may average $494,000. Waterfront
homes are reasonably priced compared to many other waterfront areas. Home
purchasers can expect to pay in excess of $590,000 for water frontage.
Southern Maryland homes come in many
styles, but most following traditional architectural
styles, such as ramblers/ranchers, two stories, or cape cods. Contemporary
style and custom built homes are also obtainable. All residential areas
are convenient to schools, parks, shopping centers, libraries, and health
care facilities. From "starter" homes to retirement communities, Southern
Maryland has something to offer everyone. Southern Maryland Realtors can
lead the way as you search to find the perfect home for you and your family.
Portions of our MLS database of available residential properties may be
accessed by the public via our website, or prospective buyers may choose
to contact a Southern Maryland Realtor to obtain greater detail about
a home. We also have Realtors ready to help you take advantage of commercial
properties, farms, and undeveloped residential lots.
 |
The best way to get
to know Southern Maryland, of course, is not to read about it, but to
come and experience it for yourself. Whether relocating to the area
to take a position at the Navy facilities, or to satisfy a desire to
move further from densely populated urban areas, you and your family
will need assistance in finding a new home. When you're ready
to consider living in Southern Maryland, Southern Maryland REALTORS®
will be ready to help you begin experiencing our community from your
own front porch!
Copy of original work provided courtesy of Rose Crowley with significant
additions, updates and corrections made by the Southern Maryland
Association of REALTORS®.
[return to top]
|
 |
