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52-522: Stone was born into a prominent family at Poynton Manor in Charles County, Maryland . He was the second son in the large family of David (1709–1773) and Elizabeth Jenifer Stone. His brothers, Michael Jenifer Stone and John Hoskins Stone , were also prominent in politics. His uncle was Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer . Thomas read law at the office of Thomas Johnson in Annapolis , was admitted to

104-624: A Naval ordnance test ground (at Indian Head ), electric power plants (at Aquasco and Morgantown) and an oil terminal (at Piney Point ). The towns of Solomons Island and Chesapeake Beach are tourist resorts. The Maryland International Raceway and Budds Creek Raceway near Chaptico attract many auto and motocross racing enthusiasts. Military installations in Southern Maryland include: Suburban areas of Southern Maryland also have many Washington-area military related commuters. The Southern Maryland National Heritage Area

156-555: A tornado ripped through the county leaving 17 dead (including 13 schoolchildren). On April 28, 2002 , another tornado (rated an F-4) destroyed much of downtown La Plata killing 3 and injuring over 100 people. The county has numerous properties on the National Register of Historic Places . Among them are Green Park and Pleasant Hill , home of the Green and Spalding Families. On December 4, 2004, an arson took place in

208-520: A "broken heart". Stone was buried at his plantation home, which still stands. After his death, the plantation remained in the family for five generations until 1936 when it sold privately. In 1977 the main structure was severely damaged by fire. The National Park Service purchased the property and restored it to its original plans. Habredeventure today is the centerpiece of the Thomas Stone National Historic Site and

260-464: A declaration of independence, in spite of restrictions from the Maryland convention that prevented their delegates from supporting it. In June the restriction was lifted, so Maryland's delegates were free to vote for Independence. Previously, Stone had been in favor of opening diplomatic relations with Great Britain and not going to war, as he was not only a pacifist but a conservative reluctant to start

312-538: A gruesome war. That same year Stone was assigned to the committee that drafted the Articles of Confederation, and he was struck with a personal tragedy. His wife Margaret visited him in Philadelphia, which was in the midst of a smallpox epidemic. She was inoculated for the disease, but an adverse reaction to the treatment made her ill. Her health continued to decline for the rest of her life. After Stone signed

364-457: A household in the county was $ 62,199, and the median income for a family was $ 67,602 (these figures had risen to $ 80,573 and $ 89,358 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $ 43,371 versus $ 34,231 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 24,285. About 3.70% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line , including 6.70% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over. As of 2010,

416-609: A mandate of religious tolerance in a time when England was anything but religiously tolerant. This was due to the colony's charter, which did not prohibit non- protestant churches. In 1649, the Maryland Colonial Assembly passed of one of the earliest laws requiring religious tolerance, known as the Maryland Toleration Act of 1649 . After 61 years as Maryland's capital an uprising of Protestants put an end to religious tolerance, overthrowing

468-983: A median household income of $ 103,678, Charles County is the 39th-wealthiest county in the United States as of 2020, and the highest-income county in the United States with a Black-majority population. Charles County was created in 1658 by an Order in Council . There was also an earlier Charles County from 1650 to 1654, sometimes referred to in historic documents as Old Charles County , which consisted largely of lands within today's borders but "included parts of St. Mary’s, Calvert, present-day Charles, and Prince George’s County". John Tayloe I purchased land around Nanjemoy Creek after 1710 from which to mine iron and ship to his furnaces at Bristol Iron Works , Neabsco Iron Works and later Occoquan Ironworks. In April 1865, John Wilkes Booth made his escape through Charles County after shooting President Abraham Lincoln . He

520-808: A referendum on gambling which would have put the decision directly in the hands of voters. He continued nevertheless lobbying on behalf of the Southern Maryland region and sitting on development boards and continued to have a major influence on economic development in the region for the rest of his life. Since the 1980s, the region experienced suburban development as the Washington suburbs expanded southward. This expansion took place primarily in Prince George's County , and around Waldorf (a regional shopping hub) and St. Charles (a planned community in Charles County ), Lexington Park ( St. Mary's County ) and Prince Frederick ( Calvert County ). Much of

572-606: A whole during the slavery era . The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade brought African slaves by the boatloads, with 100,000 slaves disembarking in Maryland during the century before the American Revolution . From the late 1600s to early 1700s, about half of Maryland's enslaved population lived in Calvert , St Mary's , Prince George's , and Charles counties. By 1755, one third of Maryland's population were enslaved Africans. Slavery proved vital to Maryland's economy, with

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624-459: Is contained within Maryland's 5th congressional district , which has been represented by Rep. Steny Hoyer since 1981. Maryland's two U.S. senators are Chris van Hollen (junior) and Ben Cardin (senior). Oysters are still widely available although they were once fished from the bay and its tidal tributaries in greater numbers, and are served either fried, raw, or stuffed. " Rockfish ",

676-445: Is governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland. There are five commissioners. As of 2022 , they are: Charles County is entirely within the 5th Congressional District , which also includes Calvert, St. Mary's, and parts of Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties. The current representative is former Democratic House Majority Leader and former House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer . According to

728-659: Is operated as a museum by the National Park Service . In 1768, Stone married Margaret Brown (1751–1787), the younger sister of Gustavus R. Brown (see Rose Hill ), thought to be the richest man in the county. Soon after, Stone purchased his first 400 acres (1.6 km) and began the construction of his estate named Habre de Venture. The family made their home there, and they had three children: Margaret (1771–1809), Mildred (1773–1837) and Fredrik (1774–1793). Stone's law practice kept him away from home, so he brought in his younger brother Michael to manage development of

780-434: Is served by numerous state highways and one U.S. Highway : The Census Bureau recognizes the following census-designated places in the county: 38°29′N 77°01′W  /  38.48°N 77.01°W  / 38.48; -77.01 Southern Maryland Southern Maryland , also referred to as SoMD , is a geographical, cultural and historic region in Maryland composed of the state's southernmost counties on

832-642: Is the Chesapeake Bay and its southern and western boundary is the Potomac River , Maryland's boundary with Virginia (and through it, the Northern Neck ). The Patuxent River runs through Southern Maryland, separating Calvert County and Anne Arundel County from Charles County, Prince George's County and St. Mary's County. Land features in Southern Maryland include the St. Mary's Peninsula and

884-644: The Battle of Bladensburg . The battle resulted in a British victory. By nightfall on August 24, 1814, British forces entered Washington and burned several government buildings . The British then marched back to Benedict. Similarly to what occurred in the Revolutionary War, enslaved Marylanders fled to British controlled areas to receive freedom. During the American Civil War , wartime sympathies were divided in Maryland and Southern Maryland

936-464: The California - Lexington Park Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 Census , the region had a population of 373,177. The largest community in Southern Maryland is Waldorf , with a population of 81,410 as of the 2020 Census. The first European settlement in Maryland was established in Southern Maryland at St. Mary's City in 1634. This settlement is considered by historians to be

988-905: The Calvert Peninsula . Geologic formations of the Chesapeake Group can be found in Southern Maryland, including the Calvert Formation , the St. Marys Formation , and the Choptank Formation . Many of these formations are present at the Calvert Cliffs State Park in Calvert County. Southern Maryland is within the Atlantic Coastal Plain physiographic region. Southern Maryland was originally inhabited by

1040-549: The Chesapeake Bay and major rivers until the 1930s before the building of highways and the Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge on U.S. Highway 301 . (The latter highway was named after Robert Crain , an attorney who owned the state's largest farm, Mount Victoria , and who campaigned for the road's construction ). Weekend excursion boats also carried Washingtonians to small amusement parks and amusement pavilions at numerous Potomac shore locations. From 1949 (1943 in some places) to 1968,

1092-786: The Thomas Stone National Historic Site , Historic St. Mary's City , and Port Tobacco Village , among others. Museums in the area include the Calvert Marine Museum , and the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum . Waterfront sites along the Chesapeake Bay , the Potomac River , and the Patuxent River are also tourist attractions. These include Mallows Bay , the Mallows Bay–Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary , and Solomon's Island . The entire region

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1144-554: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has an area of 643 square miles (1,670 km ), of which 458 square miles (1,190 km ) is land and 185 square miles (480 km ) (29%) water. In its western wing, along the southernmost bend in Maryland Route 224 , Charles County contains a place due north, east, south, and west of the same state—Virginia. As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 146,551 people, 51,214 households, and 38,614 families residing in

1196-493: The census of 2000, there were 120,546 people, 41,668 households, and 32,292 families residing in the county. The population density was 262 inhabitants per square mile (101/km ). There were 43,903 housing units at an average density of 95 per square mile (37/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 68.51% White , 26.06% Black or African American , 0.75% Native American , 1.82% Asian , 0.06% Pacific Islander , 0.72% from other races , and 2.08% from two or more races. 2.26% of

1248-641: The national capitol , the region was deeply affected by the War of 1812 , with the war severely disrupting the lives of the region's citizens. During August and September 1814, the British launched a campaign in the Chesapeake region . British forces landed in Benedict , Charles County on August 19, 1814. Intent on marching to Washington , the British marched to Upper Marlboro before engaging American troops at

1300-853: The Declaration of Independence, he took his wife home and declined future appointment to the Congress, except for part of 1784, when the meetings were at Annapolis. Stone accepted election to the Maryland Senate from 1779 until 1785, at first in order to promote the Articles of Confederation, which Maryland was the last state to approve. But he gave up the practice of law to care for his wife and children. As her health continued to decline, he gradually withdrew from public life. When Margaret died in 1787, he became depressed and died less than four months later in Alexandria, Virginia , reportedly of

1352-559: The Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay . According to the state of Maryland, the region includes all of Calvert , Charles , and St. Mary's counties and the southern portions of Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties. It is largely coterminous with the region of Maryland that is part of the Washington metropolitan area . Portions of the region are also part of the Baltimore Metropolitan Area and

1404-591: The area and in crossing the river after killing President Abraham Lincoln . Thousands of captured Confederate troops were confined in harsh conditions at Point Lookout Prison Camp at the southern tip of the peninsula. During the war, in November 1863, Maryland ratified a new state Constitution which abolished slavery in the state. Southern Maryland was traditionally a rural , agricultural , oyster fishing and crabbing region; linked by passenger and freight steamboat routes. These steamboat routes operated on

1456-668: The area remains rural, a mixture of forest and farmland, despite suburban growth. This suburban growth has occurred and continued despite concerns from locals and environmental advocates. Many southern Marylanders work for the United States Armed Forces or the United States Federal Government and its related industries. Other smaller industries include a nuclear power plant and a liquified natural gas terminal (both in Lusby ),

1508-601: The bar in 1764, and opened a practice in Frederick, Maryland . The Jenifer family was of Swedish origin. As the American Revolution neared, Stone joined the committee of correspondence for Charles County. From 1774 to 1776, he was a member of Maryland's Annapolis Convention . In 1775, the convention sent Stone as a delegate to the Continental Congress . He was re-elected and attended regularly for several years. On May 15, 1776, he voted in favor of drafting

1560-552: The birthplace of religious freedom in North America. Throughout the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, the area developed an agricultural slave economy, with agriculture maintaining prominence following emancipation . Many historical events occurred in Southern Maryland during the American Revolutionary War , the War of 1812 , and the American Civil War . Much of the area remains rural, however

1612-488: The command of John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore . Dunmore's forces were defeated by local Flying Camp militia led by Captain Rezin Beall , and they left the island on August 9, 1776. During the war, American slaves throughout the Chesapeake region flocked to British lines following Dunmore's Proclamation , which promised freedom for slaves who fought for the British military. Due to Southern Maryland's proximity to

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1664-471: The county population's racial makeup was 48.38% Non-Hispanic whites, 40.96% blacks, 0.65% Native Americans, 2.98% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islanders, 0.17% Non-Hispanics of some other race, 3.20% Non-Hispanics reporting more than one race and 4.27% Hispanic. According to the 2022 publication "Meet Charles County" of the County Department of Economic Development, its top employers are: Charles County

1716-424: The county. The population density was 320.2 inhabitants per square mile (123.6/km ). There were 54,963 housing units at an average density of 120.1 per square mile (46.4/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 50.3% white, 41.0% black or African American, 3.0% Asian, 0.7% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.3% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.3% of

1768-473: The development of Hunters Brooke, a few miles southeast of Indian Head . The Hunters Brooke Arson was the largest residential arson in Maryland history. Owing to the considerable voting power of its large number of freedmen following the Civil War , and later its growth as a suburban area, Charles County was for a long time solidly Republican . The only Democrat to carry Charles County until 1960

1820-641: The indigenous Piscataway people . English explorer Captain John Smith explored the area in 1608 and 1609. Cecilius Calvert was granted a charter to establish a colony meant to be a safe-haven for Catholics in 1632. Expeditions were launched into modern day Maryland, with an expedition reaching St. Clement's Island in 1634. Later that year, the Maryland Colony was established by Leonard Calvert , first Governor of Maryland and brother of Cecilius. The colony's capital, and first settlement,

1872-492: The institution providing the foundation for Maryland's economy and society. The profits from slavery also provided the means for Maryland's gentry to gain power and dominate politics. 272 slaves from across Maryland, including the Southern Maryland counties of Charles, St. Mary's, and Prince George's, were sold during the 1838 Jesuit slave sale to two planters in Louisiana . A notable abolitionist from southern Maryland

1924-458: The old Catholic leadership and putting an end to colonial St. Mary's City itself, moving the colonial capital to Annapolis . St. Mary's City was abandoned as a capital but was slowly consolidated from smaller farms into a large, single slave plantation by the late 1600s. Originally, laborers were Indentured Servants , with African slaves arriving in 1639. Tobacco and (later) also wheat plantations expanded there and in Southern Maryland as

1976-477: The plantation, which utilized slaves for generations. Charles County, Maryland Charles County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland . As of the 2020 census , the population was 166,617. The county seat is La Plata . The county was named for Charles Calvert (1637–1715), third Baron Baltimore . The county is part of the Southern Maryland region of the state. With

2028-451: The political status-quo and lifting the region out of its generations long poverty. The region's isolation was ended by having a series of bridges built and roads expanded into highways. These developments are credited for enabling the development of modern St. Mary's County. Raley was falsely accused of working to end gambling outright in the region, which ended in his defeat and his official political career. In fact he had supported

2080-486: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 11.6% were of German , 10.8% Irish , 10.2% English , 9.3% American and 5.3% Italian ancestry. There were 41,668 households, out of which 41.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 14.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.50% were non-families. 17.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.20% had someone living alone who

2132-447: The population. In terms of ancestry, 12.6% were German , 10.8% were Irish , 8.7% were English , 6.3% were American , and 5.1% were Italian . Of the 51,214 households, 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.6% were non-families, and 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size

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2184-630: The region saw suburban growth in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as Washington's suburbs expanded southward. In 2023, the region was designated as the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area. Counties located in Southern Maryland include Calvert County , Charles County , St. Mary's County , and the southern portions of Prince George's County and Anne Arundel County . The region's northern boundary passes through Prince George's County and Anne Arundel County, east of Washington . Its eastern boundary

2236-455: The region was known for its poverty and its slot machine gambling. Poverty was common in St. Mary's County in the 1960s, and gambling in the region came to be seen as a blight and was outlawed by Governor J. Millard Tawes and the state legislature. A local political figure, St. Mary's County politician J. Frank Raley Jr. organized a slate of local candidates with the platform of challenging

2288-522: Was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, although Alf Landon and Wendell Willkie defeated Roosevelt in the next two elections by a combined margin of just 50 votes. Since the turn of the millennium, Charles County has become reliably Democratic, although not as overwhelmingly so as other parts of Maryland's Washington, D.C. suburbs. Charles County is one of only two counties in the nation to have voted for Al Gore in 2000 after voting for Bob Dole in 1996, along with Orange County, Florida . Charles County

2340-531: Was Josiah Henson , a slave who was born in Charles County before escaping to Canada . Henson wrote an autobiography that inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin . Slavery ended in Maryland in November 1864 during the American Civil War , when Maryland ratified a new Constitution that abolished slavery. During the American Revolutionary War , British forces landed on St. George Island in St. Mary's County on July 15, 1776, under

2392-464: Was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.24. The median age was 37.4 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 88,825 and the median income for a family was $ 98,560. Males had a median income of $ 62,210 versus $ 52,477 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 35,780. About 3.7% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over. As of

2444-457: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.21. In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.70% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 33.20% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 7.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males. The median income for

2496-503: Was drafted by Democratic state delegate (lower house) Walter Digges and co-sponsored by state senator (upper house) William J. Frere , both from Charles County, Maryland. In Maryland's unrestricted general election of 1911, the Digges Amendment was defeated with 46,220 votes for and 83,920 votes against the proposal. Nationally Maryland citizens achieved the most notable rejection of a black-disfranchising amendment. In 1926,

2548-684: Was established in the National Heritage Area Act in 2022. The National Heritage Area helps preserve and promote destinations in four counties. The National Heritage Area was officially designated in 2023. It is also one of thirteen state heritage areas and is administered by the Maryland Historical Trust through the Maryland Heritage Areas Program. Tourist Attractions in Southern Maryland include historical sites, such as

2600-591: Was on his way to Virginia . He stopped briefly in Waldorf (then called Beantown) and had his broken leg set by local Doctor Samuel Mudd , who was later sent to prison for helping him. Booth then proceeded to hide in the Zekiah Swamp in Charles County, avoiding search parties for over a week until he and his accomplice were able to successfully cross the Potomac River . The 1911 Digges Amendment , which attempted to disenfranchise African Americans in Maryland,

2652-503: Was sympathetic to the Confederates next to Maryland's Eastern Shore . From the war's beginning, however, large numbers of Union occupying troops and patrolling river gunboats prevented the state's secession, although frequent nighttime smuggling across the Potomac River with Virginia took place, including of Maryland men volunteering for Confederate service . John Wilkes Booth was helped by several people in his escape through

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2704-444: Was the newly established St. Mary's City . The colony originally focused on tobacco farming and was very successful although disease was a problem and many settlers died until immunities built up in the population. Religious tensions and also periods of open conflict also continued to be a major challenge. St. Mary's City is widely considered to be the birthplace of religious freedom in North America. The colony there started under

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