St. Mary's Parish
in St. Mary's County, Maryland
St. Mary's County Demographics
St. Mary's County is essentially rural. The shopping area nearest to Trinity
Church is about eight miles northeast of St. Mary's City in Lexington Park,
a thriving commercial and residential center adjacent to the U.S.
Naval Air Warfare Center - Aircraft Division at Patuxent River.
The Navy base and its support contractors are the county's principal employer.
Following in order of economic importance are agriculture (tobacco and
other farming) and fishing for fin fish and shellfish. These industries,
together with tourism, form the county's economic base. St. Mary's County
has a population of 71,500, concentrated at Lexington Park and at Leonardtown,
the county seat. The population is a mix of farmers, watermen, military
personnel (both active and retired), government workers, teachers and other
professionals, small business owners and employees.
The county has a new well-equipped and staffed hospital. County physicians
in private practice include a number of specialists. The Psychiatric Institute
of Washington recently opened a crisis counseling and referral center in
the county, and there are a small number of psychiatrists and psychologists
who also provide mental health services to county residents. There is a
Senior Citizens housing complex as well as two Senior Day Care Centers.
The county is well served by several dedicated and highly skilled volunteer
fire departments and rescue squads. A Med-Evac helicopter is on duty, manned
by state police personnel.
There are both public and private elementary
schools (pre kindergarten through fifth grade), four middle
schools (grades six through eight), three public and one parochial high school
(grades nine through twelve), a technical
training center, two special
education schools and a very active adult education program. Area
colleges include the four-year liberal arts college at St. Mary's City
and a local branch of the Charles County Community College, as well as,
extension courses offered by a number of universities.
St. Mary's County has its own airport, many marinas and yachting facilities,
and a variety of recreational areas and attractions. Boating (sail and
power), sport fishing, water sports, golf, tennis, softball, and horseback
riding are popular forms of entertainment and relaxation.
For the most up-to-date information about St. Mary's County and her
sister counties in southern Maryland, why not go "live" to Southern
Maryland Online
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