Charles County is a great place to live. We enjoy more than 300 years of history and tradition with dozens of historic landmarks dotting our countryside. There are many contrasts in Charles County living ranging from our small city and town areas with shopping, restaurants and health care amenities to our many rural communities and farms, over 10,000 acres of public parkland where wildlife abounds and 150+ miles of shoreline for recreational activities including swimming, boating, fishing and crabbing.
Charles County is in the heart of Southern Maryland. It is bordered by Prince George's County to the north, St. Mary's County to the south, Calvert County to the east and the Potomac River to the west. We are only 18 miles from Washington, D.C. so it is convenient for sightseeing in our beautiful Nation's Capitol and the opportunity to enjoy all of the amenities the Washington/Metro area offers.
Cecil Calvert originally created Charles County on October 3, 1650. On May 10, 1658 the present boundaries were established in honor of Charles Calvert, Third Lord Baltimore. The original county seat was Port Tobacco and the site of the first county court house constructed in 1729. In 1895 the county seat was moved to La Plata.
Charles County has an estimated population in excess of 123,000. The most populated areas of the county are La Plata, Waldorf (including St. Charles) and Indian Head, which provide restaurants, shopping and health care facilities. Yet, we also enjoy rural open space with may acres of protected parkland, farmland, rolling countryside and over 150 miles of shoreline. Charles County is rich in history, but is leading our region into the future.
Just 15 miles south of the Washington Capital Beltway, Charles County is the gateway to Southern Maryland.It is one of five Maryland counties which are part of the Washington DC-MD-VA-WV metropolitan area.The northern part of the County is the “development district ” where commercial,residential and business growth is focused,allowing the remainder of the County to retain its pastoral character. Waldorf, White Plains and the planned community of St.Charles are located here. Incorporated towns include La Plata, the County seat, and Indian Head ,home to the Naval Surface Warfare Center.
Charles County ’s 2,530 businesses employ 29,800 workers; an estimated 34 of these businesses have 100 or more workers. Including government sector employment, close to 28,000 people work in Charles County. Major employers include Applied Ordnance Technology, Automated Graphics
Systems, Besche Oil, Chaney Enterprises, Civista Medical Center, the College of Southern Maryland, Facchina Construction, the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Indian Head, and Southern Maryland Oil.
Charles County unemployment rate in 2005 was 3.7%
LOCATION
Driving distance from Waldorf: (in miles) (in kilometers)Atlanta,GA 606 975
Baltimore,MD 53 85
Boston,MA 444 714
Chicago,IL 710 1,142
New York,NY 237 381
Philadelphia,PA 148 238
Pittsburgh,PA 253 407
Richmond,VA 92 148
Washington,DC 25 40
CLIMATE
Yearly Precipitation (inches) 44.0
Yearly Snowfall (inches) 17.2
Summer Temperature 73.9F
Winter Temperature 37.6F
Duration of Freeze-Free Period 187 days
Note:Temperature and precipitation data based on 30 year averages.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Maryland State Office of Climatology.
TAXES
Property Taxes
|
(Fiscal 1995 - Per $100)
|
Charles County
|
Maryland
|
Real Property Tax Rage
|
$2.44
|
$0.21
|
Effective Rate (assessed at 40%)
|
$0.976
|
$0.084
|
Business Personal Property Tax Rate
(taxed on depreciated value)
|
$2.44
|
$0.00
|
Manufacturers machinery, tools and equipment)
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Exempt
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$0.00
|
Manufacturers inventory
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Exempt
|
$0.00
|
Warehousing inventories
|
Exempt
|
$0.00
|
Income
Median household income (Census 2000) for Charles County surpasses the state's median household income by 18 percent, and ranks the county as the fourth highest in the state. Median household income during Census 2000 was recorded at $62,199, representing a 3.25 percent increase over the 1990 Census figure.
State Corporate Income Tax
7% on net income attributable to business transacted within Maryland. No county tax.
State Individual Income Tax
Graduated tax rate peaking at 5% of taxable income in excess of $3,000.
County Personal Income Surtax
2.9% of the state Taxable Income.
Sales and Use
State
5% on tangible personal property sold at retail or used in Maryland. This tax does not apply to sales for resale. It does not apply to a manufacturer's purchase of raw materials nor manufacturing machinery and equipment. Tax exemptions for research and development firms include purchases of materials and equipment used in R&D and testing of finished products, and purchases of computer programs for reproduction of incorporation into another computer program for resale.
County
None.
Links to Important Services:
For More info call:
Office: 410-394-3925
Toll Free: 866-394-3925
Cell: 301-751-5375
Fax: 410-394-3929
