Southern Maryland

Southern Maryland
A map of the counties of Southern Maryland. According to the state of Maryland, the region includes all of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties (red) and the southern portions of Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties (light red)[3]
A map of the counties of Southern Maryland. According to the state of Maryland, the region includes all of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties (red) and the southern portions of Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties (light red)[3]
CountryUnited States
StateMaryland
Largest CommunityWaldorf[1][2]
Counties
List
Population
 (2020 Census)[4][5][6][7]
 • Total
373,177
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)

Southern Maryland, also referred to as SoMD, is a geographical, cultural and historic region in Maryland composed of the state's southernmost counties on 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.[3] It is largely coterminous with the region of Maryland that is part of the Washington metropolitan area.[8] Portions of the region are also part of the Baltimore Metropolitan Area[9] and the California-Lexington Park Metropolitan Statistical Area.[10] As of the 2020 Census, the region had a population of 373,177.[4][5][7][6] The largest community in Southern Maryland is Waldorf, with a population of 81,410 as of the 2020 Census.[1][2]

The first European settlement in Maryland was established in Southern Maryland at St. Mary's City in 1634.[11] This settlement is considered by historians to be the birthplace of religious freedom in North America.[12] Throughout the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, the area developed an agricultural slave economy,[13][14] with agriculture maintaining prominence following emancipation.[15] Many historical events occurred in Southern Maryland during the American Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the American Civil War.[16][17][18] Much of the area remains rural, however the region saw suburban growth in the late 20th and early 21st centuries as Washington's suburbs expanded southward.[8][19]

In 2023, the region was designated as the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area.[20]

  1. ^ a b Boch, Robin. "10 Largest Cities in Maryland by Population". La Vida Nomad. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Waldorf CDP, Maryland". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "Legislative Election Districts: Southern Maryland". Maryland Manual Online. Maryland State Archives, State of Maryland. 14 March 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022. Southern Maryland: Calvert, Charles & St. Mary's Counties & parts of Anne Arundel & Prince George's Counties
  4. ^ a b Roberts, Tony (13 August 2021). "2020 Census: SOMD Region Sees Second-Highest Population Growth In Maryland". thebaynet.com. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b "QuickFacts Charles County, Maryland". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b "QuickFacts St. Mary's County, Maryland". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  7. ^ a b "QuickFacts Calvert County, Maryland". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  8. ^ a b Miller, Mark (11 March 2012). "Metropolitan Sprawl Puts Urban in Suburban". Southern Maryland Online. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  9. ^ "About the Region". Baltimore Metropolitan Council. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  10. ^ "California-Lexington Park, MD Metro Area". Census Reporter. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference MDColony was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Greenwell, Megan (21 August 2008). "Religious Freedom Byway Would Recognize Maryland's Historic Role". Washington Post, Metro Section. Nash Holdings. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference NPS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference MSA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ "AGRICULTURE - Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission". Tri County Council for Southern Maryland. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mudd was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference SomdWar was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference PL2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ "Southern Maryland". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  20. ^ "Governor Moore Celebrates Designation of Southern Maryland National Heritage Area". The Office of Governor Wes Moore. Retrieved 27 June 2024.


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