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Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., P.A.
8808 Old Branch Avenue
P.O. Box 219
Clinton, MD 20735
Phone: (301) 856-3030
Fax: (301) 856-4029
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Charles
County, MD
Charles
County, MD holds as its
motto: "The wild side of the Potomac... Where
eagles soar." Within its huge acreage
of natural forest land and 150 miles of pristine
shoreline, a dense population of our precious Bald
Eagles do indeed both nest and soar here.
Situated less than
an hour from the hustle and bustle of Washington
D.C. and
Annapolis,
Maryland, Charles County is an oasis in an urban
desert for nature lovers. Historians also
find the county to be a rich haven historic sites
that date back from the 1600's, the War of 1812,
and the Civil War. Both Native
American and African American Cultural
Centers and Museums are preserved and held dear by
Charles County.
Charles County lies
in southern Maryland, with Washington D.C. only 23
miles to the north. Baltimore,
MD is just 54 miles and Richmond,
VA is 89 miles away. According to
the 2000 census, over 120,000 residents call
Charles County home, with almost one third of
those being minorities. The population has
increased almost 20% since 1990.
The average summer
temperature is a mild 74.1 degrees and the average
winter temperature is 36 degrees; annual snowfall
is 16 inches, with rainfall averaging 42 inches.
The climate of Charles County is moderate and
enjoyable.
The Charles
County Public school system is made up of 32
schools and centers covering pre-kindergarten
through grade 12. For the past four
consecutive years, county students have outscored
both state and national averages on SAT and other
standardized testing. Due to being situated
in the midst of the booming technological corridor
of the country, Charles County schools place a
large emphasis on preparing its students for careers
in technology and industry.
The North Point High
School for Science, Technology and Industry will
open in 2005, offering classes in engineering and
biotechnology as well as carpentry, automotive
mechanics and printing. It will be one of
the first counties to offer these types of career
courses along with conventional high school
curriculum all under one roof. Other
Maryland counties separate the two types of
schools, causing students to spend valuable
learning time riding buses. Says the
superintendent, “We’re doing our part to try
to stay on the cutting edge of technology and
train a well-qualified workforce. We’ve been
planning this school for four years. The governor
and our legislators are excited about it. There
will be no other school in the country like
this.” A program is under development now
with
Cisco
Systems, Inc, which will facilitate technology
education and distance learning throughout the
county, which, when completed, will make CCPS the
first Cisco Breakaway School System in the nation.
Along with the
progressive thinking and looking to the future of
Charles County's civic leaders, the region proudly
maintains its small town charm and rural
atmosphere.
La
Plata is the county
seat. La Plata began its existence as a town
in 1869, when the La Plata Station became an
important railroad stop. The station still
stands, along with the historic courthouse and
Christ Church, built in Victorian Gothic style
with a bell tower and wonderful stained glass.
The Afro-American Heritage Society & Cultural
Center is located there also, honoring part of
Charles County's rich ethnic mix of population.
Nanjemoy
is the home of The
Nature Conservancy, where one of the largest
colonies of great
blue herons return each year to nest.
Nanjemoy Creek is a joy to kayakers and
canoeists that can quietly paddle its length and
see ospreys and bald eagles as well.
The town
of Indian Head lies nestled on the banks
of the Potomac River, a quaint, family oriented
water-front community. Being only 25 minutes
away from Alexandria,
VA and Washington
D.C. Indian Head residents feel
they have the best of all worlds, the quiet
serenity of their small town, and the close
proximity of their neighboring urban giants.
The port of
Benedict is another water-front community.
Situated on the Patuxent
River, it was the landing site in 1814 for
4,500 British soldiers, who marched from there to
burn the nation's Capitol.
In the Civil War, the town was used as a training
camp for the Union
Black infantrymen. Today it offers fine
seafood restaurants, antique markets and fresh
farm stands.
Waldorf, MD is the
home to the Piscataway
Indian museum and many tribe members.
An annual festival and pow-wow is held each year
at the American Indian Cultural Center located
here. Also located in Waldorf is the
historic Dr.
Samuel A. Mudd House where Dr. Mudd set the broken leg of John
Wilkes Booth after Booth had assassinated
President Lincoln.
Cobb
Island wild lies at
the junction of the Potomac and Wicomico Rivers,
and is home to some of the best Southern Maryland
crab houses and local family-owned restaurants.
A short drive away is the Swan Point Yacht and
Country Club, an 18-hole championship golf course
where golfers can putt in view of eagles, osprey
and deer.
Additional
prominent cities and towns in Charles County
include Waldorf, Hughesville, LaPlata, White
Plains and Port Tobacco.
Charles County, the
'wild side of the Potomac' does indeed have much
to offer its residents and visitors in outdoor
adventure. The Chicamuxen
Wildlife Management Area is paradise for
bird-watchers and hunters alike. Many trails
wind through this mix of marshland and forest,
giving opportunity to glimpse young bald eagles
along with multitudes of other bird species, and a
variety of wildflowers and plants.
Some of the most scenic
bike routes in Maryland wind through
historic and beautiful Charles County.
Fossil hunters flock to Purse
State Park while game hunters have over
2000 acres of public land to enjoy their
brand of hunting in.
Those that hunt with a camera lens only will find
the entire region a veritable goldmine for
photography.
Charles County, MD,
with its rich mix of nature and
history,
ethnic diversity and blend of urban and rural
living, is a true gem of a place to live, work, or
simply visit. Charles County is indeed the
'wild side of the Potomac.' A place where
eagles, along with human spirits, can truly still
soar.
Check out the
following links to further explore this exciting
county.
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