Davidsonville, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Davidsonville, Maryland
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The Anne Arundel Free School, constructed sometime between 1724 and 1746, is located in Davidsonville in the community of Lavall
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 Davidsonville, Maryland
Location in Maryland
Davidsonville, Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maryland |
| County |  Anne Arundel |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
21035
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Davidsonville is a small, spread-out community in central Anne Arundel County, Maryland, in the United States. It's a quiet, mostly rural area with farms and some newer neighborhoods. You could call it an "exurb," which means it's a community outside a city, but still connected to it.
Davidsonville doesn't have many big stores or tall apartment buildings. Most homes here use their own water wells and septic systems instead of public water and sewer. The main part of Davidsonville is where two roads, Davidsonville Road and Central Avenue, meet. The Davidsonville Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 because of its important history.
Contents
What's Davidsonville Like?
People and Community
In 2010, about 7,815 people lived in the Davidsonville area (ZIP code 21035). Most people who live here own their homes. The community is known for its peaceful, country feel, even though it's not far from bigger cities.
A Glimpse into Davidsonville's Past
Early Native American Life
Long before European settlers arrived, the land that is now Davidsonville was home to Algonquian-speaking Native American tribes. These tribes lived off the land, hunting and farming. Over time, some tribes may have moved away due to conflicts with other groups like the Susquehannock tribe.
Settling in the 1700s and 1800s
European settlers began to build farms and large estates in the Davidsonville area during the 17th and 18th centuries. Many old buildings from this time are still standing today.
The Anne Arundel Free School
One important historical building is the Anne Arundel Free School. In 1723, the Maryland Colonial Assembly passed a law to create free public schools in each county. This was one of the first laws in colonial America to support public education! The Free School of Anne Arundel County was built in Davidsonville between 1724 and 1746. It was one of the first schools of its kind. The original building, which has been fixed up, is still there today. You can even visit it for tours!
Historic Plantations and Homes
Other old places also tell Davidsonville's story. For example, Major William Brogden, a soldier from the American Revolution, built the Roedown plantation in the late 1700s. It was once famous for its horse races. Even George Washington is said to have visited the house in 1760!
Another very old place is the Middle Plantation. This land was first given to a French immigrant named Mareen Duvall in 1664. The main house at Middle Plantation, located on Davidsonville Road, has parts that date back to 1790.
How Davidsonville Got Its Name
Davidsonville started to become a small community where roads met in the mid-1800s. In 1839, Thomas Davidson married Jane Welch. They built a home at what is now the corner of Davidsonville Road and Central Avenue, and it's still there! Thomas Davidson was a strong Methodist and helped start the Davidsonville United Methodist Church. The community was named after his family.
The Davidsonville Historic District is important because it shows what rural communities in Anne Arundel County were like in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It has kept its historic look, even with new buildings around it.
Learning in Davidsonville
Davidsonville has its own school, Davidsonville Elementary School. It teaches about 700 students from kindergarten to fifth grade. The area is also served by other schools, including:
- The Free School of Anne Arundel County (a historic school)
- Central Middle School in Edgewater, Maryland
- Crofton Woods Elementary School in Crofton, Maryland
- Crofton Middle School in Gambrills, Maryland
- Crofton High School in Gambrills, Maryland
- South River High School in Edgewater, Maryland
Famous People from Davidsonville
- Mareen Duvall (1625–1699): A French settler who built the Middle Plantation in Davidsonville.
- Travis Pastrana: A professional motocross racer and NASCAR driver.
- Pat Spencer: A professional basketball player who won the Tewaaraton Award in 2019 for lacrosse.
