Leonardtown, Maryland
Population: 1,896
Located in Saint Marys County
Leonardtown is the kind of American small town most people think no longer exists-an optimistic, cohesive, and congenial community with a thriving downtown and big plans for the future. It's a town where the residents seem to buy everything they need from local merchants, ranging from Bell Motor Company ("second oldest Chevy dealer in the world") to Good Earth Natural Foods, all clustered around one of Maryland's last remaining town squares. Shopping downtown Leonardtown proceeds at a relaxed pace, each transaction a leisurely exchange of news and gossip and opinions.
Leonardtown is perhaps most famous for the national oyster-shucking championship that occurs annually at the County fairgrounds. The population hovers around 2,000-the same as for the last fifty years-and housing costs are still affordable for young families and retirees. Principal employers include state and county government, St. Mary's Hospital, and the College of Southern Maryland.
Social life centers on the town square, its serenity preserved by the Route 5 bypass that spares it from 10,000 cars a day. The square's two war memorial monuments, the World War I Memorial and he Deceased Veterans Memorial, were dedicated exactly eighty years apart on Veterans Day.
The upscale Breton Bay development is just outside of town, notable for both its country club golf course and pool. Leonardtown's population is growing due to the town's proximity to Patuxent River Naval Air Base, as well as from migration out of the Washington, DC area. Several new ethnic restaurants, and an upscale supermarket opened in 2006-07. An old order Mennonite farming area is a few miles to the northwest, whose members sell furniture, crafts, produce and gardening products.
The Town is experiencing a renaissance of its downtown as witnesses by recent openings of several new restaurants and businesses, some of which are located in historic buildings. Plans are underway to revitalize and transform the Leonardtown Wharf at the foot of Washington Street into a public waterfront park along wit a mix of retail shops, office space, and residential units. Facilities for boating, kayaking and canoeing are also planned.
In addition to the many "in town" neighborhoods that are within walking distance to the Town Square, Leonardtown features several planned developments, such as Singletree, located on Route 5. Just outside of the Leonardtown limits are Avenmar at Breton Bay, Villages of Leonardtown, and Chestnut Hills.
New development has been proposed for Tudor Hall Farms, which has water frontage on Breton Bay and McIntosh Run. The proposal includes 593 dwelling units, a hotel/conference center, restaurant, marina, office park, and signature golf course.
Quality Built Homes is working on a concept plan of single family homes on the Lindsey Farm, off of Route 245. Marrick Homes will be developing the Clark Farm property located on Route 5. Leonardtown Landing, located at Leonardtown Wharf, has begun construction of 26 luxury town homes.
Source: leonardtown.somd.com and wikipedia.org
Find homes for sale in Leonardtown Maryland
|
|
