La Plata, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La Plata, Maryland
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Charles County Courthouse
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Location of La Plata, Maryland
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 La Plata, Maryland
Location in Maryland
La Plata, Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Maryland | ||
| County | Charles | ||
| Incorporated | 1888 | ||
| Founded by | Colonel Samuel Chapman | ||
| Named for | Río de la Plata | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 7.43 sq mi (19.25 km2) | ||
| • Land | 7.40 sq mi (19.18 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 190 ft (58 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,159 | ||
| • Density | 1,372.10/sq mi (529.79/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
20646
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| Area code(s) | 301, 240 | ||
| FIPS code | 24-45750 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0585340 | ||
La Plata is a town in Charles County, Maryland, in the United States. In 2020, about 10,159 people lived there. La Plata is the county seat of Charles County. This means it is the main town where the county government offices are located.
Contents
History of La Plata
How La Plata Got Its Name
There's a local story about how La Plata got its name. It's said that a man named Colonel Samuel Chapman owned a lot of land in Charles County. He traveled to South America with his son, George, who was sick. While there, the Colonel saw the Río de la Plata, a big river that flows through Argentina and Uruguay. He liked the name so much that he called a part of his land "La Plata."
In the 1870s, a train track was built through the area. This helped the town grow, and La Plata officially became a town in 1888.
Important Buildings and Bridges
The La Plata courthouse was built after the old courthouse in Port Tobacco burned down in 1895. Later, in 1904, a historic church called Christ Episcopal Church was moved stone by stone from Port Tobacco to its new spot in La Plata.
In 1940, the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge opened. This bridge carries U.S. Route 301 over the Potomac River. It connected La Plata to King George, Virginia. This made La Plata a busy stop for travelers going along the east coast. The bridge was made wider and newer in 2021.
Tornadoes in La Plata
La Plata has been hit by strong tornadoes several times.
The 1926 Tornado
On November 9, 1926, a very strong tornado, rated F4, hit La Plata. It sadly killed 17 people. Fourteen of them were students at the La Plata Elementary School, which was destroyed.
The 1994 Tornadoes
On July 27, 1994, two tornadoes hit the area just 11 minutes apart. No one was killed. The first one was an F2 tornado, which is quite rare for Maryland.
The 2002 Tornado
On April 28, 2002, another F4 tornado ripped through Charles County. It caused a lot of damage around La Plata and five people died. After this tornado, the town worked hard to rebuild. New public buildings were constructed, and some old ones were repaired or moved. For example, the new La Plata Town Hall was built to be very energy-efficient. An old building that housed a CVS Pharmacy was also rebuilt in a new spot. Many different groups, including the nearby Amish community, helped the town recover.
Geography and Climate
La Plata is located at 38°32′3″N 76°58′24″W / 38.53417°N 76.97333°W. On February 24, 2020, the town officially chose the Purple Martin as its town bird.
The town covers about 7.45 square miles (19.25 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Climate in La Plata
La Plata has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and winters that are usually mild to cool.
_just_south_of_Maryland_State_Route_6_(Port_Tobacco_Road-Charles_Street)_in_La_Plata,_Charles_County,_Maryland.jpg)
Getting Around La Plata
Most people travel to and from La Plata by car. Four main state highways serve the town.
The most important road is U.S. Route 301, also known as Crain Highway. If you go south on US 301 from La Plata, you'll cross the Potomac River into Virginia. If you go north, you'll pass through Waldorf and eventually reach major highways like Interstate 495 and U.S. Route 50.
Maryland Route 6 is another important road that goes east and west through La Plata. It connects to places like Port Tobacco and Charlotte Hall. Other state roads like Maryland Route 225 and Maryland Route 488 also help people get around the area.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 116 | — | |
| 1910 | 269 | — | |
| 1920 | 300 | 11.5% | |
| 1930 | 332 | 10.7% | |
| 1940 | 488 | 47.0% | |
| 1950 | 780 | 59.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,214 | 55.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,561 | 28.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,484 | 59.1% | |
| 1990 | 5,841 | 135.1% | |
| 2000 | 6,551 | 12.2% | |
| 2010 | 8,753 | 33.6% | |
| 2020 | 10,159 | 16.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 8,753 people living in La Plata. The town had 3,062 households. About 38% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in La Plata was about 38.4 years old.
Most of the people living in La Plata were White (66.3%) or African American (26.7%). There were also smaller groups of Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander residents. About 3.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Things to See and Do
La Plata is mostly a place where people live, but it's also becoming a busy business area. Many people who live here work for the Charles County government or travel to nearby cities like Waldorf, Washington, D.C., or Baltimore for work.
Just outside La Plata, you can find the Mount Carmel Monastery (built in 1790), which is a Catholic convent. It's near the main campus of the College of Southern Maryland.
In La Plata, you'll find county offices, the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center, and the main campus of the College of Southern Maryland. There's also a community theater called Port Tobacco Players, a large outdoor sports complex, and many stores, churches, and restaurants. You can also visit a farmers' market twice a week.
On the north side of town, there are big stores like Walmart and Target, several supermarkets, and a Lowe's home-improvement store. You can also visit the La Plata Train Station Museum.
Schools in La Plata
Public schools in La Plata include La Plata High School, Milton Somers Middle School, Walter Mitchell Elementary, and Mary Matula Elementary. Some parts of town are zoned for James Craik Elementary and Maurice J. McDonough High School. All these schools are part of the Charles County Public Schools district.
Mayors of La Plata
Here are some of the people who have served as mayor of La Plata:
- 1963–1967 Lowell E. Hawthorne
- 1967–1973 Raymond T. Tighlman
- 1973–1983 Victor B. Bowling, Jr.
- 1983–2005 William F. Eckman
- 2005–2008 Eugene Ambrogio
- 2008–2017 Roy G. Hale
- 2017–present Jeannine E. James
Famous People From La Plata
- Adrian Posey, a helper of La Plata
- Tim Drummond, former baseball player
- Steve Farr, former baseball player
- Ryan Hackett, NASCAR race car driver
- Shane Halter, former baseball player
- Larry Johnson, former NFL football player
- Joel and Benji Madden, founders of the band Good Charlotte
- Don Money, former baseball player
- Sydney E. Mudd I and Sydney Emanuel Mudd II, well-known politicians
- Buzz Nutter, former NFL football player
- Daryl Thompson, baseball player
See also
In Spanish: La Plata (Maryland) para niños
