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This is a sub project of Maryland counties, cities and towns
Please add profiles of those who were born, lived or died in St. Mary's County, Maryland.
Official Website
The settlement of Lord Baltimore's Maryland began with the arrival of passengers from England at St. Clement's Island in the Potomac River in what is now southwestern St. Mary's County on March 25, 1634, and the annual anniversary of this landing is celebrated as Maryland Day. The passengers arrived in two vessels, the Ark and the Dove that had set sail from the Isle of Wight on November 22, 1633. The county is the site of the first Catholic Mass celebrated in one of the original thirteen colonies (after they had become English colonies). Earlier dates of masses being said were during 1526–1527 at San Miguel de Gualdape.
Due to the small size of the island and its lack of resources, there was no intention to make a permanent settlement on the island. Instead St. Clement's was used as a base for the settlers while scouting for a more suitable site. This was how a bluff overlooking the nearby St. Mary's River was chosen for numerous reasons, and became the site of the first permanent settlement. It would soon be named, "St. Mary's City".
St. Mary's City, Maryland is the site of the first Maryland Capitol and remained so for more than 50 years, until 1695, when the state capital was moved to Annapolis.
Today Historic St. Mary's City is a major attraction in Maryland with four museums, a reconstructed colonial village, and the reconstructed Maryland Dove settlers ship. It also has become one of the top archeological research sites in North America.
St. Mary's County was the first county established in Maryland, in 1637, probably by an order of the governor.
In 1649, Lord Baltimore, with the Maryland General Assembly, passed the Maryland Toleration Act, which provided religious freedom for any (Christian) sect and which was the first law of its kind in the New World. There is a statue in St. Mary's City commemorating this event, along with extensive museums, a reconstructed Colonial town, living history actors, and a replica of the Maryland Dove.
Adjacent Counties
- Calvert County
- Charles County
- Westmoreland County, Virginia
- Dorchester County
- Somerset County
- Westmoreland County, Virginia
Towns & Communities
Abell | Avenue | Beachville-St. Inigoes | Beauvue | Bushville | California | Callaway | Chaptico | Charlotte Hall | Clements | Coltons Point | Compton | Dameron | Drayden | Golden Beach | Great Mills | Helen | Hollywood | Hopewell | Huntersville | Hurry | Leonardtown (County Seat) | Lexington Park | Loveville | Maddox | Mechanicsville | Morganza | Oakley | Oakville | Oraville | Piney Point | Ridge | St. George Island | St. Mary's City | Scotland | Spencers Wharf | Tall Timbers | Valley Lee | Wildewood
Links
Naval Air Station Patuxent River
Point Lookout Lighthouse & Civil War Museum