Editing La Plata, Maryland (section)

==Attractions==
La Plata is largely a residential community. Some residents work for the Charles County government, while others commute to [[Waldorf, Maryland|Waldorf]] or the [[Washington, D.C.]] and [[Baltimore]] areas for work, including to [[Andrews Air Force Base]] and [[Naval Air Station Patuxent River]].  The town is experiencing a transformation into a thriving business and commercial center, thanks to the development of office buildings and the town's recent reconstruction.

[[Mount Carmel Monastery]] (1790), a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] convent, is just outside La Plata, near the main campus of the [[College of Southern Maryland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carmelofporttobacco.com/page2.html|title=Carmel of Port Tobacco|access-date=July 20, 2016}}</ref>

La Plata has county offices, the [[University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center]], the main campus of the [[College of Southern Maryland]], a community theater (Port Tobacco Players), a large outdoor athletic complex, two nursing homes, and a host of stores, churches, and restaurants, in addition to a twice-weekly [[farmers' market]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.local-farmers-markets.com/market/2259/plata/plata-farmers-market|title=La Plata Farmers Market - La Plata, MD - Local-Farmers-Markets.Com|access-date=July 20, 2016}}</ref> At the north edge of town are [[Walmart]] and [[Target Corporation|Target]] department stores, three supermarkets, a [[Lowe's]] home-improvement store, and many other shops.<ref>{{cite news
 |url         = http://www.somdnews.com/stories/04162008/indybus193219_32212.shtml
 |title       = La Plata's retail boom continues with eateries
 |last        = McConaty
 |first       = Nancy Bromley
 |newspaper   = The Independent
 |date        = April 16, 2008
|access-date  = April 17, 2008
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20130202230233/http://www.somdnews.com/stories/04162008/indybus193219_32212.shtml
 |archive-date = February 2, 2013
}}</ref> Rosewick Road is connected with [[St. Charles Parkway]] to adjacent Waldorf, providing drivers an alternative to using [[U.S. Route 301 in Maryland|U.S. Route 301]].

Public schools in La Plata include [[La Plata High School]], Milton Somers Middle School, Walter Mitchell Elementary, and Mary Matula Elementary.  The portion of town west of Route 301 is zoned for James Craik Elementary and [[Maurice J. McDonough High School]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Map of Charles County, Maryland High School Attendance Zones |url=https://www.zipdatamaps.com/schools/maryland/county/map-of-charles-county-md-high-school-attendance-zones |website=ZipDataMaps |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref> La Plata is within the [[Charles County Public Schools]] school district.

There is also the La Plata Train Station Museum.<ref>{{cite web |title=LA PLATA TRAIN STATION MUSEUM |url=https://www.visitmaryland.org/listing/arts-culture/la-plata-train-station-museum |website=Maryland Office of Tourism |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref>