La Plata, Maryland: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox settlement |
{{Infobox settlement |
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|official_name = La Plata, Maryland |
|official_name = La Plata, Maryland |
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|settlement_type = [[Town]] |
|settlement_type = [[Town]] |
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|nickname = |
|nickname = |
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|motto = |
|motto = |
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|image_caption = Charles County Courthouse |
|image_caption = Charles County Courthouse |
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|image_flag = |
|image_flag = Flag of La Plata, Maryland.png |
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|image_seal = |
|image_seal = Seal of La Plata, Maryland.png |
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|leader_name1 = |
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|established_title = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]] |
|established_title = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]] |
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|established_date = 1888<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/37mun/laplata/html/l.html|website=Maryland Manual|access-date= |
|established_date = 1888<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/37mun/laplata/html/l.html|website=Maryland Manual|access-date=June 25, 2017|title=La Plata, Charles County, Maryland}}</ref> |
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|founder = Colonel Samuel Chapman |
|founder = Colonel Samuel Chapman |
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|named_for = [[Río de la Plata]] |
|named_for = [[Río de la Plata]] |
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'''La Plata''' {{IPAc-en|l|ə|ˈ|p|l|eɪ|t|ə}}<ref>Pronounced unlike the [[Río de la Plata|river]] in Argentina</ref> is a town in [[Charles County, Maryland|Charles County]], [[Maryland]], United States. The population was 10,159 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2020 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): La Plata town, Maryland| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=August 3, 2012}}</ref> It is the [[county seat]] of Charles County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011 |
'''La Plata''' ({{IPAc-en|l|ə|ˈ|p|l|eɪ|t|ə}} {{respell|lə|PLAY|tə}})<ref>Pronounced unlike the [[Río de la Plata|river]] in Argentina</ref> is a town in [[Charles County, Maryland|Charles County]], [[Maryland]], United States. The population was 10,159 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2020 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): La Plata town, Maryland| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=August 3, 2012}}</ref> It is the [[county seat]] of Charles County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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| date = February–March 2007 |
| date = February–March 2007 |
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| url = http://www.townoflaplata.org/vertical/Sites/{C5944482-8A4A-48D0-B56C-BE347B799FF3}/uploads/{9811B3A4-5434-428B-88D9-07C5D61B95B0}.PDF |
| url = http://www.townoflaplata.org/vertical/Sites/{C5944482-8A4A-48D0-B56C-BE347B799FF3}/uploads/{9811B3A4-5434-428B-88D9-07C5D61B95B0}.PDF |
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| access-date = 2007 |
| access-date = February 2, 2007 }}</ref> |
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In the 1870s, a section of the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] had been constructed through the town of La Plata, leading to its 1888 incorporation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to the Town of La Plata|url=http://townoflaplata.org/|publisher=The Town of La Plata|access-date= |
In the 1870s, a section of the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]] had been constructed through the town of La Plata, leading to its 1888 incorporation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome to the Town of La Plata|url=http://townoflaplata.org/|publisher=The Town of La Plata|access-date=September 20, 2017|language=en}}</ref> |
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The [[La Plata courthouse]] had been built soon after the 1819 [[Port Tobacco courthouse]] caught fire in 1895 under suspicious circumstances.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Meyer|first1=Eugene L.|title=Port Tobacco: Where a Visitor Is a Crowd|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/realestate/2003/09/06/port-tobacco-where-a-visitor-is-a-crowd/fc51042e-48a4-4cc3-988c-14faf549ce0b/|access-date= |
The [[La Plata courthouse]] had been built soon after the 1819 [[Port Tobacco courthouse]] caught fire in 1895 under suspicious circumstances.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Meyer|first1=Eugene L.|title=Port Tobacco: Where a Visitor Is a Crowd|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/realestate/2003/09/06/port-tobacco-where-a-visitor-is-a-crowd/fc51042e-48a4-4cc3-988c-14faf549ce0b/|access-date=September 20, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|date=September 6, 2003}}</ref> In 1904, the historic Christ Episcopal Church in Port Tobacco, which dates to 1683 and was reconstructed in 1884, was dismantled and its stones were then transported by oxen and cart to its current lot in La Plata.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://christchurchlaplata.org/about/history/|website=christchurchlaplata.org|publisher=Christ Church of La Plata|access-date=September 20, 2017}}</ref> |
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In 1940, the opening of the then Potomac River Bridge (later, the [[Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge]]), which carries [[U.S. Route 301 in Maryland|U.S. Route 301]] over the [[Potomac River]], provided a link to [[King George, Virginia]] and brought long-distance [[East Coast of the United States|east coast]] traffic through the town as an alternative to [[U.S. Route 1 in Maryland|U.S. 1]] and, later, [[Interstate 95 in Maryland|Interstate 95]]. |
In 1940, the opening of the then Potomac River Bridge (later, the [[Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge]]), which carries [[U.S. Route 301 in Maryland|U.S. Route 301]] over the [[Potomac River]], provided a link to [[King George, Virginia]] and brought long-distance [[East Coast of the United States|east coast]] traffic through the town as an alternative to [[U.S. Route 1 in Maryland|U.S. 1]] and, later, [[Interstate 95 in Maryland|Interstate 95]]. The bridge was replaced and widened in 2021. |
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===Tornadoes=== |
===Tornadoes=== |
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La Plata has been affected by |
La Plata has been affected by multiple significant [[tornado]]es in its history. |
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'''1926''' |
'''1926''' |
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On November 9, 1926, an [[Fujita scale|F4]] tornado killed 17 people, 14 of them in the La Plata Elementary School, which was destroyed.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Tornado in Southern Maryland, November 3, 1926|author=Thomas R. Brooks|journal=Monthly Weather Review|publisher=American Meteorological Society|pages=462|volume=54, 11|date=November 1926|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1926)54<462:TTISMN>2.0.CO;2|issn=1520-0493|issue=11|bibcode=1926MWRv...54..462B|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Gazulis|first=Thomas P.|title=Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. A Chronology and Analysis of Events|year=1993|publisher=Environmental Films|location=St. Johnsbury, Vermont|isbn=1-879362-03-1|page=804}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tornado Downgraded from Most Powerful |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-md.tornado08may08-story.html |publisher=Baltimore Sun |access-date= |
On November 9, 1926, an [[Fujita scale|F4]] tornado killed 17 people, 14 of them in the La Plata Elementary School, which was destroyed.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Tornado in Southern Maryland, November 3, 1926|author=Thomas R. Brooks|journal=Monthly Weather Review|publisher=American Meteorological Society|pages=462|volume=54, 11|date=November 1926|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1926)54<462:TTISMN>2.0.CO;2|issn=1520-0493|issue=11|bibcode=1926MWRv...54..462B|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Gazulis|first=Thomas P.|title=Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. A Chronology and Analysis of Events|year=1993|publisher=Environmental Films|location=St. Johnsbury, Vermont|isbn=1-879362-03-1|page=804}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tornado Downgraded from Most Powerful |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-md.tornado08may08-story.html |publisher=Baltimore Sun |access-date=December 27, 2018 |date=May 8, 2002}}</ref> |
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'''1994''' |
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⚫ | |||
On July 27, 1994, two nonfatal twisters, that came only 11 minutes apart, went through the area. The first of them was rated [[Fujita scale|F2]] on the Fujita scale, which is already uncommon for Maryland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Washington Post, tornadoes in La Plata |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2002/04/30/not-la-platas-first-or-worst/63f19869-bd28-4934-8ab3-356c5dfa6562/}}</ref> |
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'''2002'''''{{main|2002 La Plata tornado}}'' |
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⚫ | On [[Midwest to Mid-Atlantic United States tornado outbreak of 2002|April 28, 2002]], another F4 tornado cut a {{convert|24|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} swath through Charles County, with areas around La Plata damaged most severely. This tornado caused five deaths. Local officials credited federal- and state-assisted new construction efforts with helping them to remodel the downtown area following the tornado,<ref name="umd-newsline">{{cite web| url=http://www.newsline.umd.edu/politics/laplata/page5.htm| title=Rebuilding La Plata after the storm| year=2002| publisher=University of Maryland College of Journalism| access-date=June 30, 2009}}</ref> as several new public buildings replaced some of those damaged there. A new La Plata Town Hall, for example, became Southern Maryland's first [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]]-certified building,<ref>{{cite news |
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|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/15/AR2007081500046.html |
|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/15/AR2007081500046.html |
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|title=La Plata Town Hall Is First 'Green' Building in S.Md. |
|title=La Plata Town Hall Is First 'Green' Building in S.Md. |
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|newspaper=The Washington Post |
|newspaper=The Washington Post |
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|date=August 16, 2007 |
|date=August 16, 2007 |
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|page=SM01 |
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|access-date=2008 |
|access-date=May 2, 2008 |
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}}</ref> and an old building considered historic by local residents, which housed a [[CVS Pharmacy]] store at the time of the tornado, was rebuilt in a new location after the storm. In the days after the tornado, help was provided by twenty-seven different jurisdictions, as well as the nearby Amish community in St. Mary's County.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.townoflaplata.org/vertical/Sites/%7BC5944482-8A4A-48D0-B56C-BE347B799FF3%7D/uploads/AFTER_THE_STORM_PASSED_BY.pdf|title=After the Storm Passed By|last=Eckman|first=William|website=Town of La Plata}}</ref> |
}}</ref> and an old building considered historic by local residents, which housed a [[CVS Pharmacy]] store at the time of the tornado, was rebuilt in a new location after the storm. In the days after the tornado, help was provided by twenty-seven different jurisdictions, as well as the nearby Amish community in St. Mary's County.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.townoflaplata.org/vertical/Sites/%7BC5944482-8A4A-48D0-B56C-BE347B799FF3%7D/uploads/AFTER_THE_STORM_PASSED_BY.pdf|title=After the Storm Passed By|last=Eckman|first=William|website=Town of La Plata}}</ref> |
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==Geography== |
==Geography== |
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La Plata is located at {{coord|38|32|3|N|76|58|24|W|type:city}} (38.534258, -76.973377).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date= |
La Plata is located at {{coord|38|32|3|N|76|58|24|W|type:city}} (38.534258, -76.973377).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> |
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On February 24, 2020, The Mayor and Town's Council unanimously adopted the Purple Martin as the official Town bird.{{ |
On February 24, 2020, The Mayor and Town's Council unanimously adopted the Purple Martin as the official Town bird.{{citation needed|date=March 2020}} |
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According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|7.45|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|7.40|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.05|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= |
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|7.45|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|7.40|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.05|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 25, 2012 }}</ref> |
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===Climate=== |
===Climate=== |
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The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, La Plata has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=80581&cityname=La%20Plata,%20Maryland,%20United%20States%20of%20America&units=|title=La Plata, Maryland Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|access-date= |
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, La Plata has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=80581&cityname=La%20Plata,%20Maryland,%20United%20States%20of%20America&units=|title=La Plata, Maryland Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|access-date=July 20, 2016}}</ref> |
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[[File:2019-05-22 15 59 38 View south along U.S. Route 301 (Crain Highway) just south of Maryland State Route 6 (Port Tobacco Road-Charles Street) in La Plata, Charles County, Maryland.jpg|thumb|left|US 301 southbound just south of MD 6 in La Plata]] |
[[File:2019-05-22 15 59 38 View south along U.S. Route 301 (Crain Highway) just south of Maryland State Route 6 (Port Tobacco Road-Charles Street) in La Plata, Charles County, Maryland.jpg|thumb|left|US 301 southbound just south of MD 6 in La Plata]] |
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===2010 census=== |
===2010 census=== |
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As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date= |
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 25, 2013}}</ref> of 2010, there were 8,753 people, 3,062 households, and 2,091 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1182.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,234 housing units at an average density of {{convert|437.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 66.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 26.7% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.7% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 3.0% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.2% of the population. |
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There were 3,062 households, of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.17. |
There were 3,062 households, of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.17. |
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La Plata is largely a residential community. Some residents work for the Charles County government, while others commute to [[Waldorf, Maryland|Waldorf]] or the [[Washington, D.C.]] and [[Baltimore]] areas for work, including to [[Andrews Air Force Base]] and [[Naval Air Station Patuxent River]]. The town is experiencing a transformation into a thriving business and commercial center, thanks to the development of office buildings and the town's recent reconstruction. |
La Plata is largely a residential community. Some residents work for the Charles County government, while others commute to [[Waldorf, Maryland|Waldorf]] or the [[Washington, D.C.]] and [[Baltimore]] areas for work, including to [[Andrews Air Force Base]] and [[Naval Air Station Patuxent River]]. The town is experiencing a transformation into a thriving business and commercial center, thanks to the development of office buildings and the town's recent reconstruction. |
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[[Mount Carmel Monastery]] (1790), a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] convent, is just outside La Plata, near the main campus of the [[College of Southern Maryland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carmelofporttobacco.com/page2.html|title=Carmel of Port Tobacco|access-date= |
[[Mount Carmel Monastery]] (1790), a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] convent, is just outside La Plata, near the main campus of the [[College of Southern Maryland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carmelofporttobacco.com/page2.html|title=Carmel of Port Tobacco|access-date=July 20, 2016}}</ref> |
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La Plata has county offices, the [[University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center]], the main campus of the [[College of Southern Maryland]], a community theater (Port Tobacco Players), a large outdoor athletic complex, two nursing homes, and a host of stores, churches, and restaurants, in addition to a twice-weekly [[farmers' market]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.local-farmers-markets.com/market/2259/plata/plata-farmers-market|title=La Plata Farmers Market - La Plata, MD - Local-Farmers-Markets.Com|access-date= |
La Plata has county offices, the [[University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center]], the main campus of the [[College of Southern Maryland]], a community theater (Port Tobacco Players), a large outdoor athletic complex, two nursing homes, and a host of stores, churches, and restaurants, in addition to a twice-weekly [[farmers' market]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.local-farmers-markets.com/market/2259/plata/plata-farmers-market|title=La Plata Farmers Market - La Plata, MD - Local-Farmers-Markets.Com|access-date=July 20, 2016}}</ref> At the north edge of town are [[Walmart]] and [[Target Corporation|Target]] department stores, three supermarkets, a [[Lowe's]] home-improvement store, and many other shops.<ref>{{cite news |
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|url = http://www.somdnews.com/stories/04162008/indybus193219_32212.shtml |
|url = http://www.somdnews.com/stories/04162008/indybus193219_32212.shtml |
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|title = La Plata's retail boom continues with eateries |
|title = La Plata's retail boom continues with eateries |
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|newspaper = The Independent |
|newspaper = The Independent |
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|date = April 16, 2008 |
|date = April 16, 2008 |
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|access-date = April 17, 2008 |
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|url-status = dead |
|url-status = dead |
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|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130202230233/http://www.somdnews.com/stories/04162008/indybus193219_32212.shtml |
|archive-url = https://archive.today/20130202230233/http://www.somdnews.com/stories/04162008/indybus193219_32212.shtml |
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}}</ref> Rosewick Road is connected with [[St. Charles Parkway]] to adjacent Waldorf, providing drivers an alternative to using [[U.S. Route 301 in Maryland|U.S. Route 301]]. |
}}</ref> Rosewick Road is connected with [[St. Charles Parkway]] to adjacent Waldorf, providing drivers an alternative to using [[U.S. Route 301 in Maryland|U.S. Route 301]]. |
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Public schools in La Plata include [[La Plata High School]], Milton Somers Middle School, Walter Mitchell Elementary, and Mary Matula Elementary. The portion of town west of Route 301 is zoned for James Craik and Maurice J. McDonough schools. |
Public schools in La Plata include [[La Plata High School]], Milton Somers Middle School, Walter Mitchell Elementary, and Mary Matula Elementary. The portion of town west of Route 301 is zoned for James Craik Elementary and [[Maurice J. McDonough High School]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Map of Charles County, Maryland High School Attendance Zones |url=https://www.zipdatamaps.com/schools/maryland/county/map-of-charles-county-md-high-school-attendance-zones |website=ZipDataMaps |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref> La Plata is within the [[Charles County Public Schools]] school district. |
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There is also La Plata Train Station Museum.<ref>{{ |
There is also the La Plata Train Station Museum.<ref>{{cite web |title=LA PLATA TRAIN STATION MUSEUM |url=https://www.visitmaryland.org/listing/arts-culture/la-plata-train-station-museum |website=Maryland Office of Tourism |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref> |
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==Mayors== |
==Mayors== |
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==Notable people== |
==Notable people== |
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* [[Adrian Posey]], La Plata benefactor<ref>{{cite web |title=Obituary for ADRIAN POSEY (Aged 57) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-obituary-for-adrian-po/63107823/ |website=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref> |
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* [[Adrian Posey]], La Plata benefactor |
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* [[Tim Drummond (baseball)|Tim Drummond]], former [[Major League Baseball]] player |
* [[Tim Drummond (baseball)|Tim Drummond]], former [[Major League Baseball]] player<ref>{{cite web |title=Tim Drummond #54 |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/tim-drummond-113579 |website=MLB.com |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref> |
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* [[Steve Farr]], former Major League Baseball player<ref>{{cite news |last1=Feinstien |first1=John |title=Farr Finds Home in Kansas City |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1985/10/16/farr-finds-home-in-kansas-city/0527e8a5-d8e9-4ade-94be-c0917a0c5270/ |access-date=January 28, 2024 |agency=[[Washington Post]] |date=October 16, 1985}}</ref> |
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* [[Steve Farr]], former Major League Baseball player |
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* [[Ryan Hackett]], [[NASCAR]] driver<ref>{{cite web |title=RYAN HACKETT |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver/?id=hackery01 |website=www.racing-reference.info |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref> |
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* [[Ryan Hackett]], [[NASCAR]] driver |
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* [[Shane Halter]], former Major League Baseball player |
* [[Shane Halter]], former Major League Baseball player<ref>{{cite web |title=Shane Halter |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/haltesh01.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref> |
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* [[Larry Johnson (running back)|Larry Johnson]], [[NFL]] former football player |
* [[Larry Johnson (running back)|Larry Johnson]], [[NFL]] former football player<ref>{{cite web |title=Larry Johnson |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JohnLa00.htm |website=Pro Football Reference |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref> |
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* [[Joel Madden|Joel]] and [[Benji Madden]], founders of pop/punk band [[Good Charlotte]] |
* [[Joel Madden|Joel]] and [[Benji Madden]], founders of pop/punk band [[Good Charlotte]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hoard |first1=Christian |title=Good Charlotte: The Polite Punks |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/good-charlotte-the-polite-punks-231821/ |access-date=January 28, 2024 |agency=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=May 1, 2003}}</ref> |
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* [[Don Money]], former Major League Baseball player |
* [[Don Money]], former Major League Baseball player<ref>{{cite web |title=Don Money |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/moneydo01.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref> |
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* [[Sydney E. Mudd I]] and [[Sydney Emanuel Mudd II]], noted politicians |
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* [[Buzz Nutter]], former NFL football player |
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* [[Buzz Nutter]], former NFL football player<ref>{{cite web |title=Buzz Nutter, former Baltimore Colt, dies at 77 |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/buzz-nutter-former-baltimore-colt-dies-at-77-09000d5d807c1f4b |website=NFL |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref> |
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* [[Daryl Thompson]], Major League Baseball player |
|||
* [[Daryl Thompson]], Major League Baseball player<ref>{{cite web |title=Daryl Thompson |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thompda02.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=January 28, 2024}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
Latest revision as of 15:03, 26 September 2024
La Plata, Maryland | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 38°32′3″N 76°58′24″W / 38.53417°N 76.97333°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Maryland |
County | Charles |
Incorporated | 1888[1] |
Founded by | Colonel Samuel Chapman |
Named for | Río de la Plata |
Area | |
• Total | 7.43 sq mi (19.25 km2) |
• Land | 7.40 sq mi (19.18 km2) |
• Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2) |
Elevation | 190 ft (58 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 10,159 |
• Density | 1,372.10/sq mi (529.79/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
ZIP code | 20646 |
Area code(s) | 301, 240 |
FIPS code | 24-45750 |
GNIS feature ID | 0585340 |
Website | www |
La Plata (/ləˈpleɪtə/ lə-PLAY-tə)[3] is a town in Charles County, Maryland, United States. The population was 10,159 at the 2020 census.[4] It is the county seat of Charles County.[5]
History
[edit]According to an unconfirmed local story, the town was named by one Colonel Samuel Chapman, whose family owned 6,000 acres (24 km2) of land in Charles County. The Colonel traveled to South America with his son George, who had contracted tuberculosis, in search of a cure. In his travels, the Colonel had apparently encountered the Río de la Plata, which flows through Argentina and Uruguay, thus naming a portion of his property "La Plata".[6]
In the 1870s, a section of the Pennsylvania Railroad had been constructed through the town of La Plata, leading to its 1888 incorporation.[7]
The La Plata courthouse had been built soon after the 1819 Port Tobacco courthouse caught fire in 1895 under suspicious circumstances.[8] In 1904, the historic Christ Episcopal Church in Port Tobacco, which dates to 1683 and was reconstructed in 1884, was dismantled and its stones were then transported by oxen and cart to its current lot in La Plata.[9]
In 1940, the opening of the then Potomac River Bridge (later, the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge), which carries U.S. Route 301 over the Potomac River, provided a link to King George, Virginia and brought long-distance east coast traffic through the town as an alternative to U.S. 1 and, later, Interstate 95. The bridge was replaced and widened in 2021.
Tornadoes
[edit]La Plata has been affected by multiple significant tornadoes in its history.
1926
On November 9, 1926, an F4 tornado killed 17 people, 14 of them in the La Plata Elementary School, which was destroyed.[10][11][12]
1994
On July 27, 1994, two nonfatal twisters, that came only 11 minutes apart, went through the area. The first of them was rated F2 on the Fujita scale, which is already uncommon for Maryland.[13]
2002
On April 28, 2002, another F4 tornado cut a 24-mile-long (39 km) swath through Charles County, with areas around La Plata damaged most severely. This tornado caused five deaths. Local officials credited federal- and state-assisted new construction efforts with helping them to remodel the downtown area following the tornado,[14] as several new public buildings replaced some of those damaged there. A new La Plata Town Hall, for example, became Southern Maryland's first LEED-certified building,[15] and an old building considered historic by local residents, which housed a CVS Pharmacy store at the time of the tornado, was rebuilt in a new location after the storm. In the days after the tornado, help was provided by twenty-seven different jurisdictions, as well as the nearby Amish community in St. Mary's County.[16]
Geography
[edit]La Plata is located at 38°32′3″N 76°58′24″W / 38.53417°N 76.97333°W (38.534258, -76.973377).[17] On February 24, 2020, The Mayor and Town's Council unanimously adopted the Purple Martin as the official Town bird.[citation needed]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.45 square miles (19.30 km2), of which 7.40 square miles (19.17 km2) is land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2) is water.[18]
Climate
[edit]The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, La Plata has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[19]
Transportation
[edit]The primary method of travel to and from La Plata is by road, and four state highways serve the town. The most significant of these is U.S. Route 301, which follows Crain Highway through the town. From La Plata, US 301 heads south across the Potomac River into Virginia, eventually reaching Richmond. To the north, US 301 passes through Waldorf before intersecting Interstate 495 and U.S. Route 50 near Bowie. From there, US 301 joins I-495 and US 50 east past Annapolis and crosses the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Maryland Route 6 is the main east-west highway serving La Plata, following Port Tobacco Road and Charles Street through town. From La Plata, MD 6 heads west to Port Tobacco and continues east to Charlotte Hall. Maryland Route 225 follows Hawthorne Road westward from US 301 in La Plata, eventually reaching Maryland Route 210 near Indian Head. Finally, Maryland Route 488 follows La Plata Road northeast from MD 6 to Maryland Route 5 near Bryantown.
Demographics
[edit]Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1890 | 116 | — | |
1910 | 269 | — | |
1920 | 300 | 11.5% | |
1930 | 332 | 10.7% | |
1940 | 488 | 47.0% | |
1950 | 780 | 59.8% | |
1960 | 1,214 | 55.6% | |
1970 | 1,561 | 28.6% | |
1980 | 2,484 | 59.1% | |
1990 | 5,841 | 135.1% | |
2000 | 6,551 | 12.2% | |
2010 | 8,753 | 33.6% | |
2020 | 10,159 | 16.1% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[20] |
The median income for a household in the town was $56,490, and the median income for a family was $66,288. Males had a median income of $42,492 versus $32,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,669. About 8.3% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
[edit]As of the census[21] of 2010, there were 8,753 people, 3,062 households, and 2,091 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,182.8 inhabitants per square mile (456.7/km2). There were 3,234 housing units at an average density of 437.0 per square mile (168.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 66.3% White, 26.7% African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.2% of the population.
There were 3,062 households, of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.7% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.17.
The median age in the town was 38.4 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 13.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.
Attractions
[edit]La Plata is largely a residential community. Some residents work for the Charles County government, while others commute to Waldorf or the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore areas for work, including to Andrews Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Patuxent River. The town is experiencing a transformation into a thriving business and commercial center, thanks to the development of office buildings and the town's recent reconstruction.
Mount Carmel Monastery (1790), a Catholic convent, is just outside La Plata, near the main campus of the College of Southern Maryland.[22]
La Plata has county offices, the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center, the main campus of the College of Southern Maryland, a community theater (Port Tobacco Players), a large outdoor athletic complex, two nursing homes, and a host of stores, churches, and restaurants, in addition to a twice-weekly farmers' market.[23] At the north edge of town are Walmart and Target department stores, three supermarkets, a Lowe's home-improvement store, and many other shops.[24] Rosewick Road is connected with St. Charles Parkway to adjacent Waldorf, providing drivers an alternative to using U.S. Route 301.
Public schools in La Plata include La Plata High School, Milton Somers Middle School, Walter Mitchell Elementary, and Mary Matula Elementary. The portion of town west of Route 301 is zoned for James Craik Elementary and Maurice J. McDonough High School.[25] La Plata is within the Charles County Public Schools school district.
There is also the La Plata Train Station Museum.[26]
Mayors
[edit]1963–1967 Lowell E. Hawthorne
1967–1973 Raymond T. Tighlman
1973–1983 Victor B. Bowling, Jr.
1983–2005 William F. Eckman
2005–2008 Eugene Ambrogio
2008–2017 Roy G. Hale
2017–present Jeannine E. James[27]
Notable people
[edit]- Adrian Posey, La Plata benefactor[28]
- Tim Drummond, former Major League Baseball player[29]
- Steve Farr, former Major League Baseball player[30]
- Ryan Hackett, NASCAR driver[31]
- Shane Halter, former Major League Baseball player[32]
- Larry Johnson, NFL former football player[33]
- Joel and Benji Madden, founders of pop/punk band Good Charlotte[34]
- Don Money, former Major League Baseball player[35]
- Sydney E. Mudd I and Sydney Emanuel Mudd II, noted politicians
- Buzz Nutter, former NFL football player[36]
- Daryl Thompson, Major League Baseball player[37]
References
[edit]- ^ "La Plata, Charles County, Maryland". Maryland Manual. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
- ^ Pronounced unlike the river in Argentina
- ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2020 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): La Plata town, Maryland". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Winkler, Wayne (February–March 2007). "How La Plata Got Its Name" (PDF). Town Notes: News from La Plata Town Hall. Retrieved February 2, 2007.
- ^ "Welcome to the Town of La Plata". The Town of La Plata. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
- ^ Meyer, Eugene L. (September 6, 2003). "Port Tobacco: Where a Visitor Is a Crowd". Washington Post. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
- ^ "History". christchurchlaplata.org. Christ Church of La Plata. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
- ^ Thomas R. Brooks (November 1926). "The Tornado in Southern Maryland, November 3, 1926". Monthly Weather Review. 54, 11 (11). American Meteorological Society: 462. Bibcode:1926MWRv...54..462B. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1926)54<462:TTISMN>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1520-0493.
- ^ Gazulis, Thomas P. (1993). Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, Vermont: Environmental Films. p. 804. ISBN 1-879362-03-1.
- ^ "Tornado Downgraded from Most Powerful". Baltimore Sun. May 8, 2002. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
- ^ "The Washington Post, tornadoes in La Plata".
- ^ "Rebuilding La Plata after the storm". University of Maryland College of Journalism. 2002. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
- ^ Rucker, Philip (August 16, 2007). "La Plata Town Hall Is First 'Green' Building in S.Md". The Washington Post. p. SM01. Retrieved May 2, 2008.
- ^ Eckman, William. "After the Storm Passed By" (PDF). Town of La Plata.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
- ^ "La Plata, Maryland Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Retrieved July 20, 2016.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
- ^ "Carmel of Port Tobacco". Retrieved July 20, 2016.
- ^ "La Plata Farmers Market - La Plata, MD - Local-Farmers-Markets.Com". Retrieved July 20, 2016.
- ^ McConaty, Nancy Bromley (April 16, 2008). "La Plata's retail boom continues with eateries". The Independent. Archived from the original on February 2, 2013. Retrieved April 17, 2008.
- ^ "Map of Charles County, Maryland High School Attendance Zones". ZipDataMaps. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "LA PLATA TRAIN STATION MUSEUM". Maryland Office of Tourism. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "La Plata Mayors, Charles County, Maryland". Maryland State Archives. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- ^ "Obituary for ADRIAN POSEY (Aged 57)". Newspapers.com. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "Tim Drummond #54". MLB.com. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ Feinstien, John (October 16, 1985). "Farr Finds Home in Kansas City". Washington Post. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "RYAN HACKETT". www.racing-reference.info. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "Shane Halter". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "Larry Johnson". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ Hoard, Christian (May 1, 2003). "Good Charlotte: The Polite Punks". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "Don Money". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "Buzz Nutter, former Baltimore Colt, dies at 77". NFL. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "Daryl Thompson". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 28, 2024.