St. Mary's City, Maryland

St. Mary's City, Maryland
Name	St. Mary's City, Maryland
Settlement type	Unincorporated area and census-designated place
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	Maryland
Subdivision type2	County
Subdivision name2	St. Mary's County

St. Mary's City, Maryland. St. Mary's City is a census-designated place and the site of a major historical archaeological site located in St. Mary's County, Maryland. It was the founding site and first capital of the Province of Maryland, established in 1634, and is renowned today as an outdoor living history museum and a center for historical and archaeological research. The area is home to the St. Mary's College of Maryland and the Historic St. Mary's City museum, which preserves and interprets the remains of the original 17th-century settlement.

History

The settlement was founded in March 1634 by English colonists led by Leonard Calvert aboard the ships Ark and Dove, who were acting on a charter granted by Charles I of England to Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. It served as the capital of the Province of Maryland for 61 years, a period marked by the passage of the Maryland Toleration Act of 1649, an early law promoting religious freedom. The capital was moved to Annapolis in 1695, leading to the town's decline. The site lay largely fallow for centuries, allowing for exceptional archaeological preservation. Major excavations began in the 1970s, uncovering foundations of key structures like the original State House and leading to its designation as a National Historic Landmark.

Geography

St. Mary's City is situated on the western shore of the St. Mary's River, near its confluence with the Potomac River and the expansive Chesapeake Bay. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.3 square miles, of which 5.6 square miles is land and 0.7 square miles is water. The terrain is characterized by gently rolling fields, wooded areas, and over four miles of shoreline. The climate is classified as humid subtropical, typical of the Mid-Atlantic states.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, the population of the St. Mary's City CDP was 933 residents. The population is closely intertwined with the student body of St. Mary's College of Maryland, a public liberal arts college. The demographic profile is predominantly young adults, with a significant portion of the population aged 18 to 24. The racial makeup is majority White, with smaller populations of African American, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino residents. The median household income for the area is above the average for Maryland.

Economy

The economy is dominated by education, historical tourism, and research. St. Mary's College of Maryland is a major employer and economic driver. Historic St. Mary's City operates as a major museum and tourist attraction, drawing visitors for its reconstructed buildings, living history programs, and archaeological exhibits. Additional employment is found in support services for the college and museum, local retail, and connections to the broader technology and defense sectors centered around Naval Air Station Patuxent River and other installations in Southern Maryland.

Culture and recreation

Cultural life is centered on the living history programs at Historic St. Mary's City, which include the reconstructed State House, the Godiah Spray Tobacco Plantation, and the replica square-rigged ship Dove. The institution frequently hosts events like the St. Mary's City Grand Militia Muster. The campus of St. Mary's College of Maryland offers theatrical productions at the Bruce Davis Theater, concerts, and art exhibitions. Outdoor recreation is abundant, with opportunities for boating, fishing, and kayaking on the St. Mary's River and hiking on trails through the historic landscape.

Government

As an unincorporated community, St. Mary's City has no municipal government of its own. It receives most county-level services from St. Mary's County, governed by a Board of County Commissioners. Land use and preservation are significantly influenced by the presence of the state-owned Historic St. Mary's City museum and the public St. Mary's College of Maryland, which work in partnership with county and state agencies like the Maryland Historical Trust. The area falls within Maryland's 29th district for representation in the Maryland Senate and Maryland House of Delegates.

Category:Census-designated places in Maryland Category:St. Mary's County, Maryland Category:Populated places established in 1634 Category:Former colonial capitals in the United States Category:National Historic Landmarks in Maryland