SOUTHERN MARYLAND – A recent discussion on The BayNet’s Facebook page sparked a lively debate among locals about the boundaries of Southern Maryland. The term “Southern Maryland” has long been a subject of discussion, with varying opinions on which areas truly belong to this region.
We ran a poll that posed the question “Which counties are considered Southern Maryland?” Out of 460 total votes, a staggering 432 votes stated only Calvert, St. Mary’s, and Charles. Only 21 votes included Anne Arundel and Prince George’s.
As Kathy Lynn-Hayghe Mendoza puts it, “Where was it ever more than Calvert, St Mary’s, and Charles?” This sentiment was echoed by Kathleen Quade, who emphatically stated, “There are only three counties considered Southern Maryland – Charles, St. Mary’s, and Calvert – period!”
While the three counties are widely accepted as the heart of Southern Maryland, some residents believe the region extends beyond these borders. Mike Callahan shared his view, stating, “Most people only include Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s! But I’ve always included southern Prince Georges and Anne Arundel counties in it as well because geographically they are southern Maryland.” Similarly, Michael McKenzie noted, “Anything south of Upper Marlboro in PG and all of Calvert, Charles, and St Marys.”
For some, the definition of Southern Maryland is rooted in historical and cultural contexts. Phillip Nelson reflected on this perspective: “It’s a touchy issue. I once referred to a wider area of Southern Maryland but was told by people who had lived here for generations that it was only Charles, Calvert, and St Mary’s Counties.” The historical association of Upper Marlboro with tobacco farming also came up, with Thomas Fowler mentioning, “I thought Upper Marlboro would have been considered Southern Maryland because it was a big-time tobacco country.”
Several commenters pointed out that the term “Southern Maryland” is often confused with the tri-county area of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s. Julie Winstead articulated this well, saying, “All of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s. Like others have said, I would consider Brandywine the ONLY part of PG that might be considered part of Southern Maryland. No part of Anne Arundel is Southern Maryland IMO.”
This engaging discussion highlights the diverse perspectives among locals about what constitutes Southern Maryland. The conversation shows a mix of strong opinions and nuanced views, reflecting both the historical context and personal connections to the area.
We invite our readers to continue this discussion. Do you agree with the traditional view, or do you see Southern Maryland extending beyond the tri-county area? Share your thoughts with us on social media or in the comments.
By exploring and acknowledging these varied perspectives, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of our region’s identity. Stay tuned for more articles and polls as we delve further into what makes Southern Maryland unique.
Contact our news desk at news@thebaynet.com
The demarcation lines of Southern Maryland have been well defined since its inception. Those lines are the county lines of Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary’s Counties. Anything above these County lines would be considered part of Central Maryland.
There isn’t anything Southern in Maryland since they cancelled the state song Maryland my Maryland in my opinion and the the tri county area is just the outer burbs of the DMV .
Being not from here, I consider Southern MD a way of life, the type of living, not location. I would NOT include Charles County in any way shape or form being Southern MD.. most of St Mary’s (if not all) and I wouldn’t consider Upper Marlboro Southern MD .
Southern MD is laid back, casual.. outdoorsy.
Now, speak to DEEP Southern MD.. you aren’t getting there until you reach gate 3 if PAX heading South, and some would say Deep Southern MD start at St James Deli.. or MAYBE the old Charlie’s.
30+ years ago, I remember watching the news on one of the DC stations. Southern Maryland was mentioned and one of the news anchors literally said, “Where’s that?” Not a question that would have been asked if PG county was considered part of southern Maryland.
doesn’t it make sense for Charles to be included, since it borders on VA? Why is this being discussed? Its the countys that border VA + the countys that border it, yes?
Southern Maryland is without question Calvert, Charles County, and St. Mary’s County. Those who don’t believe Charles County belong is only saying that because of Waldorf. By and large, it’s the only “metro” area in the tri-county. But make no mistake about it most of Charles County is still suburban and even rural.