St Marys County
St Marys County
Southern Maryland..... A Broad Overview
Lord Baltimore had the right idea when he began his colony in 1634 in St. Mary's City. The first settlement was founded by British Catholics who were seeking religious tolerance, Maryland's "St. Maries City" flourished as the state's capital until 1695. Supported by waves of immigrants and farming activities, St. Maries City settlers withstood attacks by revolutionary Protestants in the Civil War. Today, St. Mary's City is recognized as a National Historic Landmark and Maryland's western shore is the focus of intensive historic and archeological study. The county seat remained in St. Mary's City until 1654. From that time, county court was then called "Newtown." In 1708, the original log courthouse was constructed in Leonardtown, which as used until 1736 when the current brick courthouse was constructed.
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 Capital. 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 will consolidate thousands of new administrative, engineering, and high-technology research and development jobs representing several hundred million dollars worth of programs at Patuxent River, and nearby Dahlgren, and Indian Head naval installations. This growth is expected to continue into the 21st century.
As mentioned, the tremendous appeal of our region is partially due to the area's dynamics. Our residents enjoy the scenic landscape of a rural atmosphere which is strong in tobacco, corn, and soybean industries. Any visitor to St. Mary's County will be enchanted to see the horse-drawn buggies and traditional dress of the members of the resident Amish community. To harken back to their roots, the Amish shun telephones, electricity, refrigeration, and most other modern conveniences. Amish-made furnishings are known for the affordability and craftsmanship. Pesticide and chemical-free Amish-grown produce is abundantly available at road-side stands. But, in addition to its "home town" feel, Southern Maryland has much more to offer.
With hundreds of miles of scenic waterways, our area is known for its boating, sailing, and fishing. The Chesapeake Bay and it tributaries about with our famous Chesapeake Bay oysters and the Maryland blue crab. Our state and county parks offer natural areas for camping, hunting, hiking, picnicking, as well as numerous sports and special events.
For more information on St. Mary's County history of activities, I recommend contacting:
Historic St. Mary's Commission
PO Box 39
St. Mary's City, MD
20686
(301)862-0990
St. Mary's County Chamber of Commerce
6260 Waldorf-Leonardtown Rd
Mechanicsville, MD 20659
(301)884-5555.
Regional Attractions
In addition to local activities, facilities, and cultural attractions - such as county fairs, Calvert Marine Museum and Historic St. Mary's City - there are unlimited "big city" leisure opportunities within easy commute of Southern Maryland. The largest regional shopping mall is located in nearby Charles County and is accessible within 40 minutes of anywhere in Southern Maryland. Many residents frequently enjoy daytrips to our Nations Capital, where they take-in the grandeur from atop the monuments, and government buildings. Both the young and the young at heart enjoy the National Zoo. Wonderful family memories can be made during outings in historic Annapolis, Old Town Alexandria, and Baltimore's Inner Harbor, which is now home to the National Aquarium.
Business Environment
St. Mary's County is the home to over 1,417 businesses that employ in excess of 16,500 people. The major employers include the Board of Education, DynCorp, St. Mary's College, Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Allied-Signal Technical Services Corp., Compliance Corp., Eagen, McAllister Assoc., Inc., Lundenberg School of Seamanship, Mantech., St. Mary's Hospital, Tracor, VEDA, and the NAWCAD which employs over 12,000 military and federal service employees. For more detailed information, please contact:
St. Mary's Chamber of Commerce
6260 Waldorf-Leonardtown Rd
Mechanicsville, MD
20659
(301)884-5555.
The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Patuxent River, is a land, sea, and air test laboratory complex responsible for the evaluation of naval aviation's advanced weapons systems. Originally established 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 50 tenant activities are responsible for most of St. Mary's County job growth.
County Government
St. Mary's County is governed by an elected 5-member Board of County Commissioners. All Commissioners are elected for 4-year terms by the entire voting population. They are responsible for the establishment of all County policies, the enactment of new ordinances, the review and approval of annual budgets and workplans 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 community.
Housing
Southern Maryland offers a wide variety of home to select from in location, style, age, and price range. There are old established neighborhoods near the military base in and in the county seat of Leonardtown. From the county's northern most location of Charlotte Hall to as far south as Point Lookout there are new homes and new subdivisions appearing.
Public Education
The St. Mary's County Public Schools are governed by an elected Board of Education. In the public school system, there are currently 16 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, 3 high schools, special education schools, and 1 vocational-technical school. Kindergarten is mandatory for all 5-year olds on a half-day basis. In addition, there is a half-day, 4-year old program for students in selected schools. For test score and other public school information, you may write to:
St. Mary's County Public Schools
PO Box 641
Leonardtown, MD
20650
(301)475-4230.
For information on which of the 24 public schools a child would attend call the Department of Transportation at 301-475-4256 ext 2
School Population
Chopticon High School
|
1,626
|
Great Mills High School
|
1,619
|
Leonardtown High School
|
1,603
|
Leonardtown Middle School
|
1,019
|
Margaret Brent Middle School
|
923
|
Spring Ridge Middle School
|
908
|
Esperanza Middle School
|
894
|
Green Holly Elementary School
|
681
|
Hollywood Elementary School
|
671
|
Benjamin Banneker Elementary
|
654
|
Total number of students in St Mary's Public Schools 16,263
Figures based on September 2003 enrollment
Non-Public and Parochial Schools
Currently there are several non-public and parochial schools in St. Mary's County that serve students from the kindergarten level through high school. For further information contact the schools below:
Father Andrew White
|
K-8
|
Leonardtown
|
301-475-9795
|
Holy Angels - Sacred Heart
|
K-8
|
Avenue
|
301-769-3389
|
Leonard Hall Jr. Naval Academy
|
4-12
|
Leonardtown
|
301-475-8029
|
Lexington Park Christian
|
K-8
|
Lexington Park
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301-862-4355
|
Little Flower
|
K-8
|
Great Mills
|
301-994-0404
|
Mother Catherine Spaulding
|
K-8
|
Helen
|
301-884-3165
|
St. John's
|
K-8
|
Hollywood
|
301-373-2142
|
St. Mary's Ryken High School
|
9-12
|
Leonardtown
|
301-475-2814
|
St. Michaels School
|
K-8
|
Ridge
|
301-872-5454
|
Victory Baptist Academy
|
K-12
|
Charlotte Hall
|
|
Universities and Colleges
Undergraduate level classes are offered through the Charles County Community College (CCCC) at the main campus in nearby La Plata, and campuses in St. Mary's and Northern Calvert Counties. CCC operates the Community College at St. Mary's County where credit courses are also offered in technical and academic transfer programs, which lead to either a certificate of an Associates in Arts degree.The school offers many occupational programs leading to state-approved certificates. For more information on the Community College, contact the CCCC at 301-863-6681.
St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public honors college of 1500+ students that has consistently brought national recognition to the state and to Southern Maryland. St. Mary's College is a state sponsored, publicly supported, and fervently nonsectarian college. It is separately administered by an independently Board of Trustees and devoted to providing an affordable liberal arts education. Recently, the college has attracted a great deal of attention by being among the top regional liberal arts colleges in the North, and in 1992, it was named the number one school in the region. Money magazine has included St. Mary's College on its "Top 10" value list, raking it third in the nation among small liberal arts colleges. For more information on St. Mary's College, write:
St. Mary's College of Maryland
St. Mary's City, MD
20686
301-862-0380.
For those wishing graduate degrees, several higher education institutions are located near NAWCAD. Some graduate programs currently offered include: MA and MS degrees in Aerospace Technology, Computer Systems, Computer Science, Contract Management, Electrical Engineering, and Human Resource Management.
Facilities have been constructed at the Wildewood Technology Park for the Southern Maryland High Education Center. The Center is a multi-purpose, multi-instructional, and multi-institutional high education facility created to serve the expanding needs of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties. Notre Dame offers graduate degrees in engineering and education technology at the center. Additional colleges and universities including Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Institute of Technology, George Washington University, John Hopkins University, Peabody Conservatory of Music, and Loyola College are also planning courses. These educational opportunities will serve the needs of the technical population at the NAWCAD and out quickly growing local community. For more information on the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, please call (301)737-2500
Healthcare
St Mary's Hospital is a full service acute-care hospital located in Leonardtown and offers a full complement of health services, including ambulatory surgery, cardiology, case management, diagnostic imaging, Health Connections, laboratory, maternal and women's health, behavioral heatlh, neurolory (including EEG and a sleep lab), nutrition therapy, oncology, pain management, rehabilitation medicine and pulmanory care. For more information on the hospital's medical services cal l 301-475-8981
Historic Landmarks
St George Episcopal Church is in the parish of William & Mary, Valley lee, and is one of the oldest churches in Maryland, The original structure was built in 1638 and the current structure was built in 1799.
St Ignatius Roman Catholic Church in St Inigoes is a small brick church with the bricks laid out in Flemish bond style. The present structure was built in 1785, with a smaller belfry added in 1933, replacing a larger earlier belfry.
Tudar Hall in Leonardtown was built in the late 18th century and is now the home of the Leonardtown local government. Is is the oldest structure in Leonardtown and was the home of Henry Key, a relative of Francis Scott Key.
Sotterly in Hollywood was built in the early 1700's. The house overlooks the Patuxent River and was the home of George Plater, Maryland's governor from 1790 to 1791.
The Piney Point Lighthouse dates back to 1836, Located at the end of Lighthouse Road, the lighthouse was the first lighthouse on the Potomac River and operated for 128 years. Museum on the site is open from noon until 4 PM Friday, Saturday and Sundays from May until October.
St Clement's Island-River Museum. Located at Colton's Point offers a watertaxi ride to the island where Maryland's first settlers landed in March 1634. The museum is open from 9AM to 5 PM weekdays and Noon to 5 PM weekends March thru October
Links to Important Services:
For More info Call:
Mechanicsville Office: 301-290-5205
Toll Free: 877-290-5205
Fax: 301-290-5209
Lusby Office: 410-394-3925
Toll Free: 866-394-3925
Fax: 410-394-3929