Perceptions of the impact of growth on quality of life: A survey of residents in southern Maryland

In 1633, English settlers set sail on the Ark and the Dove from the Isle of Wight. On March 25, 1634, they landed at St. Clements Island in the Potomac River. Maryland's first county was named in the honor of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and was to be a birthplace of religious freedom. Saint Mary's county started as 30 square miles of land bought from the Conoy Indians. The first reference to St. Mary's as a county dates back to 1637. The county is located roughly 35 miles south of Washington, DC; it is mainly comprised of sand, clay, and gravel and is surrounded by rivers and creeks. The Southern Maryland Region, consisting of Calvert, Charles and Saint Mary's counties, has experienced the fastest rate of growth in the state, expanding by 3.3% from 2001 to 2002, and by 2.7% rate the previous year. Of the 9,500 new citizens, in the region, 2478 settled in Saint Mary's County. Saint Mary's had the most significant increase in population compared to the previous year, which represents the second largest increase in the last 12 years. Saint Mary's County consists of 361.3 square miles of land area with a population density of 249.2 per square mile. The population in 2002 was listed at 90,044 with a growth rate of 18.5% since 1990.