Mechanicsville, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mechanicsville, Maryland
Census-designated place
Amish horse and buggy parking space, July 2016.
Mechanicsville, Maryland Location in Maryland Show map of Maryland Mechanicsville, Maryland Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	St. Mary's
Area
• Total	5.20 sq mi (13.46 km2)
• Land	5.19 sq mi (13.44 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	157 ft (48 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,673
• Density	322.35/sq mi (124.46/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	20659
Area code(s)	301, 240
GNIS feature ID	594822

Mechanicsville is a small community in St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. It's a place where people live and work, but it's not officially a city or town. It's right next to Charlotte Hall, which is known for its farms, Amish people, and a big farmers' market.

Mechanicsville has many local businesses and restaurants along its main roads, Maryland Route 5 and Maryland Route 235. The schools here are part of the St. Mary's County Public Schools, including Chopticon High School. In 2010, about 1,528 people lived in Mechanicsville.

The Amish community in the Mechanicsville area has about 1,000 people. They first came here in 1940. There's also an Old Order Mennonite community nearby. In recent years, more buildings and homes have been built, which has changed the area for the Amish community.

History of Mechanicsville

Early Settlement and Name Origin

People first settled in this area in the 1660s. They were early colonists in Maryland who grew tobacco on farms near the Patuxent River. Later, in 1819, a large farm called Cremona Farm was built here.

Around 1850, a small village called "Mechanicsville Village" was started. It was located on the old Three Notch Trail. The name "Mechanicsville" likely came from the word "Mechanic." Back then, a "Mechanic" was a skilled person who worked with their hands, like a blacksmith. This area became a hub for these skilled workers.

The Old Railway

An old railway used to run through Mechanicsville. In 1918, local people and others in St. Mary's County bought the railway to save it from being taken apart. Farmers used the trains to move their goods. People could also ride the train until about 1928. After that, county roads got better, and the railway was used less and less.

Amish Community in Mechanicsville

The Amish community came to Mechanicsville in 1940. They moved from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. They left Pennsylvania because of a disagreement about schools. The Amish wanted to keep their own one-room schoolhouses and a school year that fit their farming schedule. But Pennsylvania wanted them to join the state school system.

Maryland offered a place where the Lancaster Amish could avoid these problems. They wanted to protect their religious way of life. Many Amish families moved at that time, and a large group came to Mechanicsville, Maryland. Today, the Amish settlement in Mechanicsville is one of the biggest "daughter communities" of the Lancaster Amish.

People and Population

Traditional local food, a crabcake sandwich and garlic mashed potatoes at the Foxy Fish restaurant in Mechanicsville in 2014.

A tobacco farm in Mechanicsville in 1942.

Engine 5 of the Washington, Brandywine and Point Lookout Railroad, pictured in Mechanicsville in 1934.

Cremona Farm in Mechanicsville, built in 1819.

Population in 2020

In 2020, Mechanicsville had a population of 1,673 people living in 628 homes.

Population by Race

• White: 1,433 people
• Two or More Races: 111 people
• Black or African American: 98 people
• Hispanic or Latino: 58 people

Education and Income

• The average household income was $99,041.
• About 40.9% of adults had a high school degree.
• About 31.9% of adults had a Bachelor's Degree or higher.

Famous People from Mechanicsville

• Jerome Adams: He used to be the Surgeon General of the United States, which is the nation's top doctor.
• Henry J. Fowler: A businessman and a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, which is part of Maryland's state government.
• Rep. Steny Hoyer: A very important member of the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives. He was once the House Majority Leader.
• Daryl Thompson: A professional Major League Baseball pitcher.
• Norton Dodge: He owned Cremona Farm in Mechanicsville. He was an economist who collected thousands of secret Soviet-era artworks. He smuggled them out of communist Russia and stored them at his farm.

Weather and Climate

Mechanicsville has a climate with hot, humid summers and cool to cold winters. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.

Storms and Tornadoes

In the spring and summer, Mechanicsville often gets thunderstorms. Some of these storms can be very strong. Sometimes, even tornadoes can happen. For example, between June 2021 and June 2022, the area had 41 severe thunderstorm warnings.

2022 Tornado

On June 8, 2022, a strong thunderstorm created a tornado that touched down in Mechanicsville. It damaged farm buildings and a house. It also knocked down some trees and broke others.

Monthly Weather Averages

See also

In Spanish: Mechanicsville (Maryland) para niños