Chesapeake Ranch Estates, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chesapeake Ranch Estates, Maryland
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 Chesapeake Ranch Estates, Maryland
Location in Maryland
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maryland |
| County | Calvert |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.51 sq mi (11.69 km2) |
| • Land | 4.32 sq mi (11.19 km2) |
| • Water | 0.19 sq mi (0.50 km2) |
| Elevation | 108 ft (33 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,308 |
| • Density | 2,386.66/sq mi (921.49/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
20657
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| Area code(s) | 410, 443, and 667 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1676560 |
The Chesapeake Ranch Estates (CRE), also known as the Ranch Club, is a community in Lusby, Maryland, United States. It is located in southern Calvert County. CRE was started in 1958. It is managed by a group called the "Property Owner's Association of the Chesapeake Ranch Estates" (POACRE). Today, over 4,000 homes are part of CRE.
This community is counted as a census-designated place. This means it's an area that the government uses for population statistics. In 2010, about 10,519 people lived here.
Contents
Population Facts
The population of Chesapeake Ranch Estates is counted by the U.S. Census.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 10,308 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Fun Things to Do
Chesapeake Ranch Estates is close to many interesting places. It is near Solomons Island, which is a popular spot. It is also close to Naval Air Station Patuxent River. This is a large naval base. There are several public schools nearby for students.
Beaches and Lake
The community has two private Chesapeake Bay beaches. These are called Driftwood Beach and Seahorse Beach. There is also a manmade lake named Lake Lariat. These areas are usually only for people who live in the community.
Other Community Spots
CRE has a small airfield for planes. There is also a horseshoes field for games. You can find a duck pond and a camp ground here too.
Calvert Cliffs State Park
A part of the famous Calvert Cliffs is in CRE. These cliffs are made of sand and clay. You can see different layers in them. Over 600 types of fossils have been found at Calvert Cliffs. These fossils show us what life was like long ago. The cliffs are easy to reach from Seahorse Beach. However, it is not safe to go on the cliffs because they can collapse.
How the Community Works
Chesapeake Ranch Estates is an unincorporated community. This means it is not a city or town with its own local government. Security guards protect the community all day and night. While the beaches and other special places are for residents, the roads are open to everyone.
Community Challenges
Like any community, CRE faces some challenges.
Road Repairs
POACRE, the group that manages the community, has approved a plan to fix the roads. They plan to become a special tax district. This would help raise money for road repairs. The estimated amount needed is about $5,750,000.
Lake Lariat Clean-up
Lake Lariat has had problems with pollution. This includes dirty runoff and too much algae. There have also been concerns about mercury in the lake. Efforts are being made to clean the lake. For example, freshwater clams have been added to help. Since 2002, there has been a warning about eating fish from the lake. This is because of high levels of mercury found in the fish.
Community Management Discussions
Some people in the community want to change how POACRE works. They think the original plan for the homeowners' association might not be right for the growing community. There have been talks about making it a public subdivision. This could help solve some of the problems. Also, the campgrounds have been opened for public camping.
