Editing La Plata, Maryland

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = La Plata, Maryland
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = File:La Plata, Maryland (8146322119).jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Charles County Courthouse
|image_flag               = Flag of La Plata, Maryland.png
|image_seal               = Seal of La Plata, Maryland.png

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map = Charles_County_Maryland_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_La_Plata_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location of La Plata, Maryland
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 =  
|map_caption1             = 
| pushpin_map             = Maryland#USA
| pushpin_label  = La Plata
| pushpin_map_alt         = 
| pushpin_map_caption     = 
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Maryland]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Maryland|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Charles County, Maryland|Charles]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = 1888<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/37mun/laplata/html/l.html|website=Maryland Manual|access-date=June 25, 2017|title=La Plata, Charles County, Maryland}}</ref>
|founder                  = Colonel Samuel Chapman
|named_for                = [[Río de la Plata]]

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_24.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=April 26, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 19.25
|area_land_km2            = 19.18
|area_water_km2           = 0.07
|area_total_sq_mi         = 7.43
|area_land_sq_mi          = 7.40
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.03

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 10159
|population_density_km2   = 529.79
|population_density_sq_mi = 1372.10

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 58
|elevation_ft             = 190
|coordinates              = {{coord|38|32|3|N|76|58|24|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 20646
|area_code                = [[Area codes 301 and 240|301, 240]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 24-45750
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0585340
|website                  = {{URL|www.townoflaplata.org}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}
'''La Plata''' ({{IPAc-en|l|ə|ˈ|p|l|eɪ|t|ə}} {{respell|lə|PLAY|tə}})<ref>Pronounced unlike the [[Río de la Plata|river]] in Argentina</ref> is a town in [[Charles County, Maryland|Charles County]], [[Maryland]], United States. The population was 10,159 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2020 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): La Plata town, Maryland| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=August 3, 2012}}</ref> It is the [[county seat]] of Charles County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

==History==
According to an unconfirmed local story, the town was named by one [[Colonel Samuel Chapman]], whose family owned {{convert|6,000|acre|km2}} of land in [[Charles County]].  The Colonel traveled to [[South America]] with his son George, who had contracted [[tuberculosis]], in search of a cure.  In his travels, the Colonel had apparently encountered the [[Río de la Plata]], which flows through [[Argentina]] and [[Uruguay]], thus naming a portion of his property "La Plata".<ref>{{cite news 
  | last = Winkler
  | first = Wayne
  | title = How La Plata Got Its Name
  | publisher = Town Notes: News from La Plata Town Hall
  | date = February–March 2007
  | url = http://www.townoflaplata.org/vertical/Sites/{C5944482-8A4A-48D0-B56C-BE347B799FF3}/uploads/{9811B3A4-5434-428B-88D9-07C5D61B95B0}.PDF
  | access-date = February 2, 2007 }}</ref>

In the 1870s, a section of the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] had been constructed through the town of La Plata, leading to its 1888 incorporation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to the Town of La Plata|url=http://townoflaplata.org/|publisher=The Town of La Plata|access-date=September 20, 2017|language=en}}</ref>

The [[La Plata courthouse]] had been built soon after the 1819 [[Port Tobacco courthouse]] caught fire in 1895 under suspicious circumstances.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Meyer|first1=Eugene L.|title=Port Tobacco: Where a Visitor Is a Crowd|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/realestate/2003/09/06/port-tobacco-where-a-visitor-is-a-crowd/fc51042e-48a4-4cc3-988c-14faf549ce0b/|access-date=September 20, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|date=September 6, 2003}}</ref> In 1904, the historic Christ Episcopal Church in Port Tobacco, which dates to 1683 and was reconstructed in 1884, was dismantled and its stones were then transported by oxen and cart to its current lot in La Plata.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://christchurchlaplata.org/about/history/|website=christchurchlaplata.org|publisher=Christ Church of La Plata|access-date=September 20, 2017}}</ref>

In 1940, the opening of the then Potomac River Bridge (later, the [[Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge]]), which carries [[U.S. Route 301 in Maryland|U.S. Route 301]] over the [[Potomac River]], provided a link to [[King George, Virginia]] and brought long-distance [[East Coast of the United States|east coast]] traffic through the town as an alternative to [[U.S. Route 1 in Maryland|U.S. 1]] and, later, [[Interstate 95 in Maryland|Interstate 95]].  The bridge was replaced and widened in 2021.

===Tornadoes===
Despite being well outside the climatologically favored area for significant [[tornado]]es, La Plata has been impacted by several throughout its history. The most recent tornado to strike the town was an [[Enhanced Fujita scale|EF1]] on [[Tornadoes of 2017#February 25|February 25th, 2017]].<ref>Storm Reports ([https://www.spc.noaa.gov/exper/archive/event.php?date=20170225 February 25, 2017]) | [[Storm Prediction Center]]</ref>

'''1926'''

On November 9, 1926, an unusual [[Fujita scale|F4]] tornado killed 17 people. 14 of them where from the La Plata Elementary School, which was totally destroyed.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Tornado in Southern Maryland, November 3, 1926|author=Thomas R. Brooks|journal=Monthly Weather Review|publisher=American Meteorological Society|pages=462|volume=54, 11|date=November 1926|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1926)54<462:TTISMN>2.0.CO;2|issn=1520-0493|issue=11|bibcode=1926MWRv...54..462B|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Gazulis|first=Thomas P.|title=Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. A Chronology and Analysis of Events|year=1993|publisher=Environmental Films|location=St. Johnsbury, Vermont|isbn=1-879362-03-1|page=804}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tornado Downgraded from Most Powerful |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-md.tornado08may08-story.html |publisher=Baltimore Sun |access-date=December 27, 2018 |date=May 8, 2002}}</ref> This is also the deadliest tornado in Maryland's history.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}

'''1994'''

On July 27, 1994, the town was struck by two nonfatal tornadoes, occurring just 11 minutes apart. The initial tornado was rated [[Fujita scale|F2]] on the Fujita scale, which is already uncommon for the region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Washington Post, tornadoes in La Plata |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2002/04/30/not-la-platas-first-or-worst/63f19869-bd28-4934-8ab3-356c5dfa6562/}}</ref>

'''2002'''

''{{main|2002 La Plata tornado}}''

On [[Midwest to Mid-Atlantic United States tornado outbreak of 2002|April 28, 2002]], an extremely powerful and fast-moving F4 tornado cut a {{convert|78|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} swath through southeastern Maryland, with areas around La Plata being damaged most severely.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Wilkes |first=Jen Narramore-Nick |date=25 April 2020 |title=La Plata, MD F4 Tornado – April 28, 2002 – Tornado Talk |url=https://www.tornadotalk.com/la-plata-md-f4-tornado-april-28-2002/ |access-date=2022-04-15 |language=en-US}}</ref> This tornado caused five deaths and at least $115 million in damages.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Puzzilla |first1=Anthony G. |title=Hope Triumphs over Chaos: The la Plata Tornado of April 28, 2002 |date=2 April 2022 |publisher=Anthony Puzzilla |isbn=978-1734550443}}</ref>

Local officials credited federal- and state-assisted new construction efforts with helping them to remodel the downtown area following the tornado,<ref name="umd-newsline">{{cite web| url=http://www.newsline.umd.edu/politics/laplata/page5.htm| title=Rebuilding La Plata after the storm| year=2002| publisher=University of Maryland College of Journalism| access-date=June 30, 2009}}</ref> as several new public buildings replaced some of those damaged there. A new La Plata Town Hall, for example, became Southern Maryland's first [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]]-certified building,<ref>{{cite news
   |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/15/AR2007081500046.html
   |title=La Plata Town Hall Is First 'Green' Building in S.Md.
   |last=Rucker
   |first=Philip
   |newspaper=The Washington Post
   |date=August 16, 2007
|page=SM01
   |access-date=May 2, 2008
}}</ref> and an old building considered historic by local residents, which housed a [[CVS Pharmacy]] store at the time of the tornado, was rebuilt in a new location after the storm. In the days after the tornado, help was provided by twenty-seven different jurisdictions, as well as the nearby Amish community in St. Mary's County.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.townoflaplata.org/vertical/Sites/%7BC5944482-8A4A-48D0-B56C-BE347B799FF3%7D/uploads/AFTER_THE_STORM_PASSED_BY.pdf|title=After the Storm Passed By|last=Eckman|first=William|website=Town of La Plata}}</ref>

==Geography==
La Plata is located at {{coord|38|32|3|N|76|58|24|W|type:city}} (38.534258, -76.973377).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>
On February 24, 2020, The Mayor and Town's Council unanimously adopted the Purple Martin as the official Town bird.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}}

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|7.45|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|7.40|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.05|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012 }}</ref>

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, La Plata has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=80581&cityname=La%20Plata,%20Maryland,%20United%20States%20of%20America&units=|title=La Plata, Maryland Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|access-date=July 20, 2016}}</ref>

[[File:2019-05-22 15 59 38 View south along U.S. Route 301 (Crain Highway) just south of Maryland State Route 6 (Port Tobacco Road-Charles Street) in La Plata, Charles County, Maryland.jpg|thumb|left|US 301 southbound just south of MD 6 in La Plata]]

==Transportation==
The primary method of travel to and from La Plata is by road, and four state highways serve the town. The most significant of these is [[U.S. Route 301 in Maryland|U.S. Route 301]], which follows Crain Highway through the town. From La Plata, US 301 heads south across the [[Potomac River]] into [[Virginia]], eventually reaching [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]]. To the north, US 301 passes through [[Waldorf, Maryland|Waldorf]] before intersecting [[Interstate 495 in Maryland|Interstate 495]] and [[U.S. Route 50 in Maryland|U.S. Route 50]] near [[Bowie, Maryland|Bowie]]. From there, US 301 joins I-495 and US 50 east past [[Annapolis, Maryland|Annapolis]] and crosses the [[Chesapeake Bay Bridge]] to the [[Eastern Shore of Maryland]]. [[Maryland Route 6]] is the main east-west highway serving La Plata, following Port Tobacco Road and Charles Street through town. From La Plata, MD 6 heads west to [[Port Tobacco Village, Maryland|Port Tobacco]] and continues east to [[Charlotte Hall, Maryland|Charlotte Hall]]. [[Maryland Route 225]] follows Hawthorne Road westward from US 301 in La Plata, eventually reaching [[Maryland Route 210]] near [[Indian Head, Maryland|Indian Head]]. Finally, [[Maryland Route 488]] follows La Plata Road northeast from MD 6 to [[Maryland Route 5]] near [[Bryantown, Maryland|Bryantown]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 116
|1910= 269
|1920= 300
|1930= 332
|1940= 488
|1950= 780
|1960= 1214
|1970= 1561
|1980= 2484
|1990= 5841
|2000= 6551
|2010= 8753
|2020= 10159
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
The median income for a household in the town was $56,490, and the median income for a family was $66,288. Males had a median income of $42,492 versus $32,125 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $24,669. About 8.3% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 25, 2013}}</ref> of 2010, there were 8,753 people, 3,062 households, and 2,091 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1182.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,234 housing units at an average density of {{convert|437.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 66.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 26.7% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.7% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.2% of the population.

There were 3,062 households, of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.17.

The median age in the town was 38.4 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 13.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

==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>

==Mayors==

1963–1967 Lowell E. Hawthorne

1967–1973 Raymond T. Tighlman

1973–1983 Victor B. Bowling, Jr.

1983–2005 William F. Eckman

2005–2008 Eugene Ambrogio

2008–2017 Roy G. Hale

2017–present Jeannine E. James<ref>{{cite web |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/37mun/laplata/html/lmayors.html |title=La Plata Mayors, Charles County, Maryland |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=May 12, 2022 }}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Adrian Posey]], La Plata benefactor<ref>{{cite web |title=Obituary for ADRIAN POSEY (Aged 57) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-obituary-for-adrian-po/63107823/ |website=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Tim Drummond (baseball)|Tim Drummond]], former [[Major League Baseball]] player<ref>{{cite web |title=Tim Drummond #54 |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/tim-drummond-113579 |website=MLB.com |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Steve Farr]], former Major League Baseball player<ref>{{cite news |last1=Feinstien |first1=John |title=Farr Finds Home in Kansas City |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1985/10/16/farr-finds-home-in-kansas-city/0527e8a5-d8e9-4ade-94be-c0917a0c5270/ |access-date=January 28, 2024 |agency=[[Washington Post]] |date=October 16, 1985}}</ref>
* [[Ryan Hackett]], [[NASCAR]] driver<ref>{{cite web |title=RYAN HACKETT |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver/?id=hackery01 |website=www.racing-reference.info |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Shane Halter]], former Major League Baseball player<ref>{{cite web |title=Shane Halter |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/haltesh01.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Larry Johnson (running back)|Larry Johnson]], [[NFL]] former football player<ref>{{cite web |title=Larry Johnson |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnLa00.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Joel Madden|Joel]] and [[Benji Madden]], founders of pop/punk band [[Good Charlotte]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hoard |first1=Christian |title=Good Charlotte: The Polite Punks |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/good-charlotte-the-polite-punks-231821/ |access-date=January 28, 2024 |agency=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=May 1, 2003}}</ref>
* [[Don Money]], former Major League Baseball player<ref>{{cite web |title=Don Money |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/moneydo01.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Sydney E. Mudd I]] and [[Sydney Emanuel Mudd II]], noted politicians 
* [[Buzz Nutter]], former NFL football player<ref>{{cite web |title=Buzz Nutter, former Baltimore Colt, dies at 77 |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/buzz-nutter-former-baltimore-colt-dies-at-77-09000d5d807c1f4b |website=NFL |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Daryl Thompson]], Major League Baseball player<ref>{{cite web |title=Daryl Thompson |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thompda02.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|La Plata, Maryland}}
{{wikivoyage|La Plata (Maryland)|La Plata, Maryland}}
*[http://www.townoflaplata.org Town of La Plata official website]

{{Geographic Location
 | Center    = La Plata
 | North     = [[Waldorf, Maryland|Waldorf]]<br/>[[File:US 301.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 301 in Maryland|US 301 North]]
 | Northeast = [[Bryantown, Maryland|Bryantown]]<br/>[[File:MD Route 488.svg|25px]] [[Maryland Route 488|MD 488]]
 | East      = [[Charlotte Hall, Maryland|Charlotte Hall]]<br/>[[File:MD Route 6.svg|25px]] [[Maryland Route 6|MD 6 East]]
 | Southeast = [[Chaptico, Maryland|Chaptico]], [[Leonardtown, Maryland|Leonardtown]]<br/>[[File:MD Route 234.svg|20px]] [[Maryland Route 234|MD 234 South]]
 | Southwest = ''[[Port Tobacco River]]''
 | South     = [[Bel Alton, Maryland|Bel Alton]], [[King George, Virginia|King George]]<br/>[[File:US 301.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 301 in Maryland|US 301 South]]
 | West      = [[Port Tobacco, Maryland|Port Tobacco]]<br/>[[File:MD Route 6.svg|25px]] [[Maryland Route 6|MD 6 West]]
 | Northwest =[[Indian Head, Maryland|Indian Head]]<br/>[[File:MD Route 225.svg|25px]] [[Maryland Route 225|MD 225 West]]
}}

{{Maryland}}
{{Charles County, Maryland}}
{{DCMetroArea}}
{{County Seats of Maryland}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Maryland]]
[[Category:Towns in Charles County, Maryland]]
[[Category:County seats in Maryland]]
[[Category:1888 establishments in Maryland]]