View source for Calvert County, Maryland

{{Short description|County in Maryland, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Calvert County
 | state                = Maryland
 | type                 = [[County (United States)|County]]
 | official_name        = 
 | seal                 = Seal of Calvert County, Maryland.png
 | flag                 = Flag of Calvert County, Maryland.svg
 | founded year         = 1654
 | founded date         = 
 | seat wl              = Prince Frederick
 | largest city wl      = Chesapeake Beach
 | coordinates          = {{Coord|38.53|-76.53|type:adm2nd_region:US-MD_source:UScensus1990|display=title,inline}}
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 345
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 213
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 132
 | area percentage      = 38
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 92783
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2025
 | population_est       = 94484 {{increase}}
 | density_sq_mi        = 435.60
 | web                  = https://www.calvertcountymd.gov
 | district             = 5th
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | named for            = [[Baron Baltimore|Calvert family]]
 | ex image             = Drum Point Light, wide (21611643621).jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Drum Point Light]] }}

'''Calvert County''' is a [[Counties of the United States|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Maryland]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], its population was 92,783.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Calvert County, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Calvert_County,_Maryland?g=0500000US24009|access-date=December 22, 2022|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Prince Frederick, Maryland|Prince Frederick]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> The county's name is derived from the family name of the [[Baron Baltimore|Barons of Baltimore]], the proprietors of the English [[Province of Maryland|Colony of Maryland]]. Calvert County is included in the [[Washington metropolitan area|Washington–Arlington–Alexandria metropolitan statistical area]]. It occupies the [[Calvert Peninsula]], which is bordered on the east by [[Chesapeake Bay]] and on the west by the [[Patuxent River]]. The county has one of the highest median household incomes in the United States.<ref>[[Highest-income counties in the United States#Counties with populations 65,000-250,000]]</ref> It is one of the older counties in Maryland, after [[St. Mary's County, Maryland|St. Mary's]], [[Kent County, Maryland|Kent]], and [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel]] counties. The county is part of the [[Southern Maryland]] region of the state.

==History==
===Early history===
In 1608, [[John Smith (explorer)|Captain John Smith]] was the first European to sail past what is now Calvert County while exploring the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. On his map, he accurately represented the Patuxent River, as well as several Native-American villages. The area was described as wooded and had been occupied by the [[Patuxent people]], who were overall peaceful to the early Europeans. Their diet was composed of fish from the river and corn cultivated in man-made clearings with a supplement of game from the forests. These clearings were very desirable, and conflict occurred when the settlers attempted to seize these areas from the Native Americans. [[Leonard Calvert]], the first governor of Maryland, organized troops of armed men in 1639 to protect the settlers.<ref name="History Stein">Stein Charles Francis. 1977-1976. A History of Calvert County Maryland. 3d ed. Baltimore Md: Published by the author in cooperation with the Calvert County Historical Society</ref>

The first written mention of European settlers on the northern shore of the Patuxent River is found in the records of the Maryland Assembly in 1642. A Henry Bishop "stood up in the Assembly and exhibited himself as a [[Burgess (title)|Burgess]] of St. Leonard's and pleaded that it be acknowledged as a [[Hundred (county division)|Hundred]]" near St. Leonard's Creek. This shows that European settlement along the river and its tributaries had been taking place for several years already.<ref name="History Stein" />

By 1646, the colonists had spread all along the Patuxent River and along the bay side of Calvert County. Most of the transportation of goods and people took place on the water, as the land was occupied by dense forests. Large creeks were navigated by sailing boats, and plantations used their wharves to ship goods. Ferry services were set up to cross the river and the bay, with rates fixed by law.<ref name="History Stein" />

===Creation of Charles County===
The county was originally named '''Charles County''' (much larger and unrelated to the present-day [[Charles County, Maryland|Charles County]])<ref name="arnett">Arnett, pp 92, discusses role of [[Robert Brooke, Sr.]]</ref> in 1650 when [[Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore]] established it with [[Robert Brooke Sr.|Robert Brooke]] as its "commander". It was named after [[Charles I of England]]. At the time, the new county included the current area of Calvert County, as well as the southern and western shores of the Patuxent River up to its headwaters. The county seat was called Calverton (sometimes called Battle Town) and was located on the north shore at the mouth of Battle Creek until 1725.<ref name="African-Americans Calvert">African-Americans in Calvert County - A Brief History https://www.calvertcountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6107/African-American-History?bidId=</ref> In 1658, the county was renamed Calvert County.<ref>Maryland Online Encyclopedia ''Calvert County''</ref> It also included all of [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's County]] and parts of [[Montgomery County, Maryland|Montgomery County]].<ref name="History Stein" />

Puritans coming from Virginia had settled in [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel County]] and overflowed into Calvert County. All new settlers in Maryland were required to take an oath of allegiance to Lord Baltimore per the "Conditions of Plantation". This was a major point of tension between the Puritan settlers and Lord Baltimore. The [[Wars of the Three Kingdoms|civil war]] was ongoing in Britain, where the Puritans had gained control. [[Oliver Cromwell]] dismissed Parliament there and assumed the role of Lord Protector. In 1652, he sent a force of 750 men to subdue the plantations of the Chesapeake Bay under the new government. Virginia and Maryland surrendered to the Puritans and Robert Brooke cooperated with the Puritans.<ref name="History Stein" />

On July 3, 1654, Lord Baltimore abolished Charles County and removed all authority from Brooke. He re-established the county as Calvert County with the same territory, but the Puritan Assembly was in power and changed the name to Patuxent County on October 20, 1654, after the Patuxent River and to remove any connection with the Calvert family. The county kept this name under the Puritan regime until 1658, when the name of Calvert County was restored.<ref name="History Stein" />

According to the local "Trail of Souls Project",<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trail of Souls Project {{!}} Middleham and St. Peter's Parish |url=http://www.middlehamandstpeters.org/about-us/our-history/trail-of-souls-project/ |access-date=January 9, 2024 |website=www.middlehamandstpeters.org}}</ref> in 1860, 4,609 enslaved people and 1,841 free people of color lived there, with a total county population around 10,000 people.<ref name="Trail of Souls Project">Trail of Souls at Middleham and St. Peters: Uncovering the History of Slavery in Southern Calvert County http://ccd7fae51be7d3e9b11f-7a238febfb6dc77c392de145b8e7a053.r7.cf2.rackcdn.com/uploaded/t/0e4716290_1449286479_trail-of-souls-full-story.pdf#page=5</ref>

Once made up primarily of farms and tobacco fields, the county's agriculture transformed in the mid-1990s. The prices for tobacco were declining. The State of Maryland instituted a tobacco buyout program, which offered farmers to transition to different crops and away from tobacco; 195 contracts were signed between Calvert County farmers and property owners and the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission. The funds were used for infrastructure and equipment upgrades. Today, the county produces fruits, vegetables, and meat, as well as other crops.<ref>Calvert County Agriculture - https://www.calvertag.com/3153/Agriculture</ref>

The county has become a fast-growing [[exurb]]an neighbor of [[Washington, D.C.]] Many home prices have nearly quadrupled in the past decade,{{Which|date=December 2025}} with many four-bedroom homes in the northern half of the county costing over $1,000,000. The popular weekend resort towns of [[Solomons, Maryland|Solomons]], [[Chesapeake Beach, Maryland|Chesapeake Beach]], and [[North Beach, Maryland|North Beach]] are notable.

The county has numerous properties on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Calvert County, Maryland|National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref>

==Politics and government==
===County government===
Calvert County is governed by a board composed of five elected county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland. They meet in Prince Frederick, the county seat.<ref>Calvert County website - Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) https://www.calvertcountymd.gov/137/Board-of-County-Commissioners-BOCC</ref>

{| class=wikitable
|+Board of County Commissioners
|-
! colspan=2 align=center valign=bottom | Position
! style="text-align:center;" | Name
! valign=bottom | Affiliation
! valign=bottom align=center | District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| President
| [[Earl F. Hance|Earl "Buddy" Hance]]
| style="text-align:center;" | Republican
| style="text-align:center;" | At-large
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Vice President
|Mike Hart
| style="text-align:center;" | Republican
| style="text-align:center;" | 1
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Commissioner
| Catherine Grasso
| style="text-align:center;" | Republican
| style="text-align:center;" | 3
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Commissioner
| Todd Ireland
| style="text-align:center;" | Republican
| style="text-align:center;" | At-large
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Commissioner
| Mark Cox
| style="text-align:center;" | Republican
| style="text-align:center;" | 2
|}

===Emergency services===
Calvert County fire, rescue, and EMS stations include:

* Co. 1 - North Beach Volunteer Fire Department
* Co. 2 - Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department
* Co. 3 - Solomons Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire Department
* Co. 4 - Prince Frederick Volunteer Rescue Squad
* Co.5 - Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad
* Co. 6 - Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad
* Co. 7 - St. Leonard Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad
* Co. 10 - Calvert Advanced Life Support
* Co. 12 - Calvert Rescue Dive Team<ref>{{Cite web |title=Calvert County Fire-Rescue-EMS {{!}} Calvert County, Maryland |url=https://www.calvertfirerescueems.com/content/stations/ |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=www.calvertfirerescueems.com}}</ref>

Until 2018, Calvert County was the only county in Maryland that still had a 100% all-volunteer fire, rescue, and EMS service. On January 20, 2018, the Calvert County Board of County Commissioners approved a phased-in approach of hiring [[paramedic]]s, starting in [[fiscal year]] 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.somdnews.com/recorder/spotlight/the-end-of-an-era-calvert-to-hire-first-paid/artilce_28f375af-5c19-5000-9805-15a5466b1332.html|title=The end of an era: Calvert to hire first paid EMS personnel|last=Ward|first=Tamara|work=Southern Maryland News|access-date=February 20, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

The county also maintains a [[Calvert County Sheriff's Office|sheriff's office]]. The Calvert County Sheriff's Office was established in 1654, and is the primary law enforcement agency for Calvert County. The current sheriff is Ricky Cox. The agency is supported by the [[Maryland State Police]] and [[Maryland Natural Resources Police]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=General Information {{!}} Calvert County, MD - Official Website |url=https://www.calvertcountymd.gov/373/Agency-Information |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=www.calvertcountymd.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sheriff's Office {{!}} Calvert County, MD - Official Website |url=https://www.calvertcountymd.gov/368/Sheriffs-Office |access-date=2025-08-18 |website=www.calvertcountymd.gov}}</ref>

===National politics===
{{PresHead|place=Calvert County, Maryland|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=June 10, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|1,153|942|68|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|1,294|881|58|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,414|865|40|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,030|740|22|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,070|714|29|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1912|Republican|1,035|616|122|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|975|910|72|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,741|1,230|30|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,564|1,242|87|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,085|1,144|33|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|1,838|1,696|43|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|2,082|1,872|25|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,067|2,149|30|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,184|1,549|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,919|1,851|35|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,769|2,209|34|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,764|1,966|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,173|2,535|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,765|3,335|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,946|2,032|1,471|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,024|2,232|88|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,439|4,626|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,440|4,745|685|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|8,303|5,455|82|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|10,956|6,376|65|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|10,026|8,619|4,604|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|11,509|10,008|2,049|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|16,004|12,986|816|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|23,017|15,967|367|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|23,095|20,299|663|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|23,952|20,529|1,037|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|26,176|18,225|3,007|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|25,346|22,587|1,179|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|29,361|23,438|1,392|Maryland}}
{{PresFoot}}

In the early 19th century, in the contests between the Hamiltonian [[Federalist Party|Federalist]] and Jeffersonian [[Democratic-Republican Party|Democratic-Republican]] parties of the [[First Party System]], it backed the Federalists four out of seven times, only going for the Democratic-Republicans in their greatest landslides of [[1804 United States presidential election|1804]] and [[1816 United States presidential election|1816]], as well as the [[1820 United States presidential election|1820]] election in which President [[James Monroe]] ran effectively unopposed.<ref>{{Cite web|title=County Project (WIP)|url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1qW_PF3ONwrR0pp6tZpxvcin0GN5O2VOZfBrtJNhjv3Y/edit?usp=sharing&usp=embed_facebook|access-date=September 1, 2021|website=Google Docs|language=en-US}}</ref>

In the [[1824 United States presidential election|1824 election]], which began the second party system, the people of Calvert County voted for [[John Quincy Adams]] over [[Andrew Jackson]], who went on to help found the Democratic Party before the [[1828 United States presidential election|1828]] election. Until the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], Calvert County voted only for the candidates of the [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig Party]], the Democrat's primary opposition. After that party's dissolution in the early 1850s, it supported the Nativist [[Know Nothing|Know-Nothing]] party in [[1856 United States presidential election|1856]] and the largely Whiggish [[Constitutional Union Party (United States)|Constitutional Union]] party in [[1860 United States presidential election|1860]].

In the Civil War election of [[1864 United States presidential election|1864]], Calvert swung sharply along with the rest of southern Maryland to give over 90% of the vote to Democratic challenger [[George B. McClellan|George McClellan]], and again to the Democratic standard-bearer [[Horatio Seymour]] four years later. The brief Democratic era was likely due to strong Confederate sympathy in southern Maryland.<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 1, 2016|title=Maryland in the Civil War|url=https://www.civilwarmed.org/maryland/|access-date=September 1, 2021|publisher=National Museum of Civil War Medicine}}</ref>

In presidential elections, Calvert County has historically and at present leaned strongly towards the Republican Party. It was won by that party in every election from 1884 to 1936 – with the sequence broken in 1940 due to local support for [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]]'s efforts at helping Britain in [[World War II]]<ref>Menendez, Albert J.; ''The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868–2004'', pp. 67–68 {{ISBN|0786422173}}</ref> – and in modern times, no Democratic presidential nominee has won Calvert County since [[Jimmy Carter]] did so in 1976.

Since then, Calvert County has remained mostly aligned with the Republican Party. It briefly turned in favor of the Democrats in the [[Dealignment|dealigned]] 1960s and 70s, after which it became a Republican stronghold in the 1980s. In modern elections, it leans Republican though Democrats have gained votes. President [[Joe Biden]] came only 5% from winning the county in [[2020 United States presidential election|2020]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Election Results |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2020/results/general/gen_results_2020_4_by_county_05-1.html |access-date=January 9, 2024 |website=elections.maryland.gov}}</ref> the closest any Democrat has come since Jimmy Carter carried it in 1976.

It is part of the [[Maryland's 5th congressional district|5th Congressional District]], along with much of southern Maryland. The current representative is Democratic former House Majority Leader [[Steny Hoyer]].

{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024<ref name="MDBOE">{{cite web |title=Maryland Board of Elections Voter Registration Activity Report March 2024 |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/pdf/vrar/2024_03.pdf |website=Maryland Board of Elections |access-date=April 9, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 28049}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |28049 |69,133 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 23477}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |23477 |69,133 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Unaffiliated
| align = center | {{formatnum: 16404}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |16404 |69,133 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 460}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |460 |69,133 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|None}}
| [[Third party (U.S. politics)|Other parties]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 743}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |743 |69,133 |2}}
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | {{formatnum: 69,133}}
! align = center | {{Percentage |100}}
|}

==Geography==
{{Location map+ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
| caption =[[Washington metropolitan area|Washington–Arlington–Alexandria metropolitan statistical area]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/migration/metxmet/a47900.html|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=April 12, 2017}}</ref>
|width=380
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{{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
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| label_size=80
| marksize=2
| position =top
| lat_deg =38.53
| lon_deg =-76.53
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{{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
| label =[[Charles County, Maryland|Charles]]
| label_size=80
| marksize=2
| position =top
| lat_deg =38.48
| lon_deg =-77.01
}}
  {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Frederick County, Maryland|Frederick]]
    | label_size=80
    | marksize=2
    | position =top
    | lat_deg =39.47
    | lon_deg =-77.4
    }}
  {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Montgomery County, Maryland|Montgomery]]
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    | marksize=2
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    | lat_deg =39.14
    | lon_deg =-77.2
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  {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince&nbsp;George's]]
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    | marksize=2
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    | lat_deg =38.83
    | lon_deg =-76.85
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 {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]]
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    | lat_deg =38.804722
    | lon_deg =-77.047222
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 {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Arlington County, Virginia|Arlington]]
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    | lon_deg =-77.172196
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  {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Clarke County, Virginia|Clarke]]
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    | lat_deg =39.12
    | lon_deg =-78
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  {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Fairfax, Virginia|Fairfax]]
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    | lat_deg =38.87
    | lon_deg =-77.304377
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  {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Fairfax County, Virginia|Fairfax&nbsp;County]]
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    | lat_deg =38.83
    | lon_deg =-77.28
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  {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Falls Church, Virginia|Falls&nbsp;Church]]
    | label_size=80
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    | lat_deg =38.882222
    | lon_deg =-77.171111
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  {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Fauquier County, Virginia|Fauquier]]
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    | lat_deg =38.74
    | lon_deg =-77.81
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  {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Loudoun County, Virginia|Loudoun]]
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    | lon_deg =-77.64
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  {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Manassas, Virginia|Manassas]]
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    | lon_deg =-77.476396
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  {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Manassas Park, Virginia|Manassas&nbsp;Park]]
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  {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Prince William County, Virginia|Prince&nbsp;William]]
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  {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Spotsylvania County, Virginia|Spotsylvania]]
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  {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Stafford County, Virginia|Stafford]]
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  {{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
    | label =[[Fredericksburg, Virginia|Fredericksburg]]
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    | lon_deg =-77.470778
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{{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
| label =[[Warren County, Virginia|Warren]]
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{{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
| label =[[Washington, DC]]
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| lon_deg =-77.016389
}}
{{Location map~ | USA Washington Metropolitan Area
| label =[[Jefferson County, West Virginia|Jefferson]]
| label_size=80
| marksize=2
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| lat_deg =39.31
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}}

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|345|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|132|sqmi}}, or 38%, are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_24.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913171515/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_24.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 13, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 12, 2014 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> It is the smallest county in Maryland by land area and third-smallest by total area. The county also includes [[List of islands of Maryland|five islands]]: [[Solomons, Maryland|Solomons Island]], [[Broomes Island, Maryland|Broomes Island]], Buzzard Island,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Collection: Harwood Family Buzzard Island papers {{!}} Archival Collections|url=https://archives.lib.umd.edu/repositories/2/resources/1284|access-date=September 11, 2020|website=archives.lib.umd.edu}}</ref> Hog Island, and Molly's Leg.

The county's coast along the Chesapeake Bay is a long, relatively smooth [[Bight (geography)|bight]], a feature that is unique in the Chesapeake Bay.

===Geology===
A geological formation spanning across Maryland, [[Virginia]], and [[Delaware]] is named after the county, the [[Calvert Formation]]. It is visible within the [[Calvert Cliffs State Park]], where it is exposed in cliffs. Located on the western shore of the county, the Calvert Cliffs are famous for their fossil deposits and are a popular collecting location of marine vertebrates, shark teeth, and birds, as well as freshwater and marine turtles and tortoises. Some crocodile teeth have also been found, which indicates that they may have been nesting in the sands at the time the formation was created.<ref>Calvert Cliffs Fossils - Maryland Geological Survey http://www.mgs.md.gov/geology/fossils/calvert_cliffs_fs.html</ref>

The county landscape is composed of three platforms – the Talbot Terrace, the Wicomico Terrace, and the Sunderland Terrace (also known as the Ridge). These terraces correspond to three periods where the water level rose and later fell, leaving sand deposits. The oldest was created during the [[Miocene]] age, when the entire county peninsula found itself underwater. Marine deposits, clay, and mud containing seashells and fossils were left behind, leading to the Calvert Cliffs seen today after the sea receded and the waves started eroding the deposit. These three terraces are visible in various parts of the county and are most obvious on the bay side where they rise to a height of {{Convert|100|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name="History Stein" />

===Climate===
Calvert County lies in the [[humid subtropical climate]] zone (''Cfa'') in the [[Köppen climate classification]], with hot, humid summers and mild to chilly winters with plentiful precipitation year-round. In the [[Trewartha climate classification]], the county is classified as [[oceanic climate|oceanic]] (''Do'') except in the extreme south, which is ''Cf''. Its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay has a moderating effect on temperatures compared with locales further inland. Average monthly temperatures in Prince Frederick range from {{Convert|35.9|F}} in January to {{Convert|77.9|F}} in July.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ | title=PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University }}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel County]] (north)
* [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's County]] (northwest)
* [[Charles County, Maryland|Charles County]] (west)
* [[Dorchester County, Maryland|Dorchester County]] (east)
* [[Talbot County, Maryland|Talbot County]] (northeast)
* [[St. Mary's County, Maryland|St. Mary's County]] (south)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 8652
|1800= 8297
|1810= 8005
|1820= 8073
|1830= 8900
|1840= 9229
|1850= 9646
|1860= 10447
|1870= 9865
|1880= 10538
|1890= 9860
|1900= 10223
|1910= 10325
|1920= 9744
|1930= 9528
|1940= 10484
|1950= 12100
|1960= 15826
|1970= 20682
|1980= 34638
|1990= 51372
|2000= 74563
|2010= 88737
|2020= 92783
|estyear=2025
|estimate=94484
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 11, 2026}}</ref> {{increase}}
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 12, 2014}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 12, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/md190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 12, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 12, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2018<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24/24009.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010512114521/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24/24009.html|archive-date=May 12, 2001|access-date=August 20, 2013|publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
| align = right
}}

===Racial and ethnic composition===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Calvert County, Maryland – racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 1980<ref name=1980CensusMD>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Table 16. Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race: 1980 - Maryland|url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_mdABC-02.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007094933/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_mdABC-02.pdf| archive-date=October 7, 2022}}</ref>
!Pop 1990<ref name=1990Censusmd>{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Table 6. Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990 - Maryland |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-22.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251201170600/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-22.pdf| archive-date=December 1, 2025}}</ref>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Calvert County, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US24009&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Calvert County, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US24009&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Calvert County, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US24009&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 1980
!% 1990
!% 2000
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|26,564
|42,450
|61,894
|70,680
|style='background: #ffffe6; |68,760
|76.69%
|82.63%
|83.01%
|79.65%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |74.11%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|7,641
|8,002
|9,728
|11,816
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11,922
|22.06%
|15.58%
|13.05%
|13.32%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12.85%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|45
|122
|214
|280
|style='background: #ffffe6; |207
|0.13%
|0.24%
|0.29%
|0.32%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.22%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|106
|278
|647
|1,246
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,549
|0.31%
|0.54%
|0.87%
|1.40%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.67%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref>
|x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref>
|21
|39
|style='background: #ffffe6; |74
|x
|x
|0.03%
|0.04%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.08%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|22
|18
|73
|105
|style='background: #ffffe6; |406
|0.06%
|0.04%
|0.10%
|0.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.44%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed-race or multiracial]] (NH)
|x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref>
|x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref>
|851
|2,134
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,663
|x
|x
|1.14%
|2.40%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.10%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|260
|502
|1,135
|2,437
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,202
|0.75%
|0.98%
|1.52%
|2.75%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.53%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''34,638'''
|'''51,372'''
|'''74,563'''
|'''88,737'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''92,783 '''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the county had a population of 92,783, a median age of 40.9 years, and 23.6% of residents under the age of 18 while 15.9% were 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A009&in=state%3A24?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A009&in=state%3A24|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=15 December 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

For every 100 females there were 96.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.1 males age 18 and over; 38.1% of residents lived in urban areas while 61.9% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DP"/><ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A009&in=state%3A24?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A009&in=state%3A24|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=15 December 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

The racial makeup of the county was 75.4% White, 13.0% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.3% [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]], 1.7% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.1% [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] and [[Pacific Islander]], 1.4% from some other race, and 8.1% from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] residents of any race comprised 4.5% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A009&in=state%3A24?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A009&in=state%3A24|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=15 December 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 32,754 households in the county, of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 21.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 35,663 housing units, of which 8.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 83.6% were owner-occupied and 16.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.2%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census]], 88,737&nbsp;people, 30,873&nbsp;households, and 23,732&nbsp;families were residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US24009 |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |access-date=January 22, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024742/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US24009 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|416.3|PD/sqmi}}. The 33,780 housing units had an average density of {{convert|158.5|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US24009 |access-date=January 22, 2016 |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213190450/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US24009 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 81.4% White, 13.4% Black or African American, 1.4% Asian, 0.4% American Indian, 0.7% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.7% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 19.6% were [[Germans|German]], 17.6% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 13.9% were [[English people|English]], 8.4% were [[Italians|Italian]], and 7.4% were [[American ancestry|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US24009 |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=January 22, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213013110/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US24009 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Of the 30,873&nbsp;households, 40.4% had children under 18 living with them, 60.6% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 23.1% were not families, and 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.23. The median age was 40.1 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $90,838 and for a family was $102,638. Males had a median income of $66,909 versus $49,337 for females. The per capita income for the county was $36,323. About 2.8% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.3% of those under 18 and 5.3% of those 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US24009 |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=January 22, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213012606/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US24009 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

According to the 2010 census, the racial and ethnic make-up of the Calvert County population was 79.65% non-Hispanic Whites, 13.44% Blacks, 0.37% Native Americans, 1.42% Asians, 0.05% Pacific Islanders, 0.12% non-Hispanics reporting some other race, 2.40% non-Hispanics reporting multiple races, and 2.75% Hispanic.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, 74,563 people, 25,447 households, and 20,154 families resided in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|346|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. The 27,576 housing units had an average density of {{convert|128|/mi2|/km2}}. The [[Race (United States census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 83.93% White, 13.11% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. About 1.52% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. <!-- 15.5% were of [[irish people|Irish]], 15.0% [[german people|German]], 12.0% [[english people|English]], 11.5% [[United States]] or American and 7.1% [[italian people|Italian]] ancestry. -->

There were 25,447 households, out of which 41.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.80% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.80% were non-families. 16.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the county, the age distribution was 29.6% under 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $65,945, and for a family was $71,545 (these figures had risen to $88,989 and $100,229, respectively, as of a 2007 estimate<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=05000US51179&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US51%7C05000US51179&_street=&_county=calvert&_cityTown=calvert&_state=04000US24&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=050&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null:null&_keyword=&_industry= |title=American FactFinder - Community Facts |website=factfinder.census.gov |access-date=January 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200211181018/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=05000US51179&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US51%7C05000US51179&_street=&_county=calvert&_cityTown=calvert&_state=04000US24&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=050&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null:null&_keyword=&_industry= |archive-date=February 11, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>). Males had a median income of $48,664 versus $32,265 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $25,410. About 3.1% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 5.1% of those under 18 and 5.7% of those 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant]] is located on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay at [[Lusby, Maryland|Lusby]], as is the [[Dominion Cove Point LNG|Cove Point LNG Terminal]].

The [[Chesapeake Biological Laboratory]], part of the [[University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]], is located in Solomons.

A branch of the [[United States Naval Research Laboratory]] is located at Chesapeake Beach.

The [[Patuxent River Naval Air Station]] is located immediately to the south of Calvert County, in St. Mary's County.

===Top employers===
According to the county's ''2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report'',<ref name="CAFR">{{Cite web|work=Calvert County, Maryland|date=June 30, 2019|title=Comprehensive Annual Financial Report|url=https://www.calvertcountymd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/30734/FY19-CAFR---Comprehensive-Annual-Financial-Report-PDF|access-date=July 6, 2021}}</ref> the top employers in the county are:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Rank
! Employer
! {{abbr|No.|Number}} of employees
|-
| 1
|[[Calvert County Public Schools]]
| 2,147
|-
| 2
| Calvert County Government
| 1,269
|-
| 3
| [[Calvert Memorial Hospital]]
| 1,225
|-
| 4
| [[Constellation (An Exelon Company)|Constellation]]
| 822
|-
| 5
| [[Walmart]]
| 460
|-
| 6
| [[Giant-Landover|Giant Food]]
| 378
|-
| 7
| [[Arc of the United States|Arc of Southern Maryland]]
| 375
|-
| 8
| Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa
| 239
|-
| 9
| [[Safeway Inc.|Safeway]]
| 231
|}

==Education==
[[File:Huntingtown High School.jpg|thumb|right|The entrance of [[Huntingtown High School]] in Huntingtown]]
Calvert County is served by [[Calvert County Public Schools]]. The county's education system consists of 13 elementary schools, six middle schools, four high schools, a vocational education center, and a variety of other facilities.<ref name="calvertps">{{cite web |title=Overview of Calvert County Public Schools |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/maryland/districts/calvert-county-public-schools-112793 |website=[[U.S. News and World Report]] |access-date=21 March 2026}}</ref>

The [[Calverton School]], a [[private school]] in Huntingtown, provides prekindergarten through grade 12 education.<ref name="calvertonschool">{{cite web |title=The Calverton School |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/maryland/the-calverton-school-313109 |website=[[U.S. News and World Report]] |access-date=21 March 2026}}</ref> Additionally, a private [[Catholic]] prekindergarten through grade 8 school, Cardinal Hickey Academy, is located in Owings.<ref name="hickey">{{cite web |title=Cardinal Hickey Academy |url=https://adwcatholicschools.org/schools/cardinal-hickey-academy/ |website=[[Archdiocese_of_Washington#Education|Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools]] |access-date=21 March 2026}}</ref>

The [[College of Southern Maryland]] operates a campus in Prince Frederick and additional facilities in neighboring counties.<ref name="csmasm">{{cite web |title=College of Southern Maryland |url=https://mdacc.org/the-colleges/college-of-southern-maryland/ |website=Maryland Association of Community Colleges |access-date=21 March 2026}}</ref>

==Transportation==
[[File:2016-07-20 17 33 07 View south along Maryland State Route 2 and Maryland State Route 4 (Solomons Island Road) just south of Southern Maryland Boulevard in Calvert County, Maryland.jpg|thumb|right|MD 2/MD 4 southbound in Calvert County]]
The main artery serving Calvert County is [[Maryland Route 4]] (which begins in Washington, DC, as [[Pennsylvania Avenue (Washington, D.C.)|Pennsylvania Avenue]] before crossing into Prince George's County and Anne Arundel County, Maryland). Route 4 in Calvert County begins at the northern tip of the county at Lyons Creek, about 3 miles north of [[Dunkirk, Maryland|Dunkirk]]. At [[Sunderland, Maryland|Sunderland]], Route 4 meets [[Maryland Route 2]] (traveling south as a two-lane road from [[Annapolis, Maryland|Annapolis]]) and the two roads merge as Maryland Route 2–4. Route 2-4 continues south through [[Prince Frederick, Maryland|Prince Frederick]], [[St. Leonard, Maryland|St. Leonard]], and Lusby. At Solomons, Routes 2 and 4 split again, with Route 2 heading towards downtown Solomons and Route 4 crossing the Patuxent River at the [[Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge]] into St. Mary's County.

Route 2-4 is designated Solomons Island Road throughout much of the county, with the section south of [[Prince Frederick, Maryland|Prince Frederick]] being recently renamed Louis Goldstein Highway in memory of [[Louis L. Goldstein]], the former [[comptroller]] of Maryland and Calvert County resident.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Route 2-4 underwent an extensive expansion project, with the formerly two-lane road becoming a four-lane dual highway. Certain portions of the highway were realigned, with the former roadway becoming [[Maryland Route 765]]. The final portion of the dualized Route 2-4 between St. Leonard and Solomons was completed in 1988. In 2009, a portion of Route 2–4 in Prince Frederick was expanded to three lanes, along with sidewalks added.

Other major roadways in Calvert County include:
* [[Maryland Route 231]], which travels west from Prince Frederick to the Patuxent River, ultimately crossing the river at the [[Benedict Bridge]] into Charles County.
* [[Maryland Route 260]], which starts at an overpass interchange at the Calvert-Anne Arundel border and travels southeast to Chesapeake Beach. A portion of Route 260 is a four-lane dual highway.

==Communities==

===Towns===
* [[Chesapeake Beach, Maryland|Chesapeake Beach]]
* [[North Beach, Maryland|North Beach]]

===Census-designated places===
The Census Bureau recognizes the following [[census-designated place]]s in the county:
{{div col}}
* [[Broomes Island, Maryland|Broomes Island]]
* [[Calvert Beach, Maryland|Calvert Beach]] 
* [[Chesapeake Ranch Estates, Maryland|Chesapeake Ranch Estates]]
* [[Drum Point, Maryland|Drum Point]]
* [[Dunkirk, Maryland|Dunkirk]]
* [[Huntingtown, Maryland|Huntingtown]]
* [[Long Beach, Maryland|Long Beach]]
* [[Lusby, Maryland|Lusby]]
* [[Owings, Maryland|Owings]]
* [[Prince Frederick, Maryland|Prince Frederick]] (county seat)
* [[Saint Leonard, Maryland|St. Leonard]]
* [[Solomons, Maryland|Solomons]]
{{div col end}}

Dunkirk, Huntingtown, Lusby, Owings, Prince Frederick, St. Leonard, and Solomons have all been designated by Calvert County government as being "town centers". The "town center" designation means while these communities may not have incorporated central governments, they do have specified boundaries surrounding the central business and residential areas for [[zoning]] purposes. The reason behind the "town center" designation is to cluster new development within established areas with existing infrastructure, thus discouraging [[urban sprawl]]. The implementation of the "town center" concept in Calvert County over the past two decades has for the most part been successful in preserving rural and agricultural areas outside the designated "town centers", and stands as a key example of the [[smart growth]] planning strategy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecalvert.com/content/business/commercialrealestate/search/zoning_info.asp |title=Zoning Information |publisher=Calvert County Department of Economic Development |access-date=October 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011123941/http://www.ecalvert.com/content/business/commercialrealestate/search/zoning_info.asp |archive-date=October 11, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.co.cal.md.us/assets/Planning_Zoning/Slideshows/March-6-07BOCC-UpdatesToTCMP.pdf|title=Architectural Review in Calvert County|publisher=Calvert County Planning and Zoning|date=March 6, 2007|access-date=October 6, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128033334/http://www.co.cal.md.us/assets/Planning_Zoning/Slideshows/March-6-07BOCC-UpdatesToTCMP.pdf|archive-date=November 28, 2007}}</ref>

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Adelina, Maryland|Adelina]]
* [[Barstow, Maryland|Barstow]]
* [[Bowens, Maryland|Bowens]]
* [[Chaneyville, Maryland|Chaneyville]]
* [[Dares Beach, Maryland|Dares Beach]]
* [[Dowell, Maryland|Dowell]]
* [[Johnstown, Maryland|Johnstown]]
* [[Lower Marlboro, Maryland|Lower Marlboro]]
* [[Mutual, Maryland|Mutual]]
* [[Parran, Maryland|Parran]]
* [[Pleasant Valley, Calvert County, Maryland|Pleasant Valley]]
* [[Port Republic, Maryland|Port Republic]]
* [[Scientists Cliffs, Maryland|Scientists Cliffs]]
* [[Stoakley, Maryland|Stoakley]]
* [[Sunderland, Maryland|Sunderland]]
* [[Wallville, Maryland|Wallville]]
* [[Wilson, Calvert County, Maryland|Wilson]]
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==
* [[Louisa Adams]], [[First Lady of the United States]], wife of President [[John Quincy Adams]]
* [[Charles Ball]], an [[Slavery in the United States|enslaved man]] famous for his epic journey to freedom, his service in the [[War of 1812]], and his [[autobiography]]
* [[Harriet Elizabeth Brown]], Calvert County schoolteacher, catalyst in education in Maryland and throughout the US for equal pay
* [[Judith Catchpole]], an [[indentured servant]] who in 1656 was tried and [[Acquittal|acquitted]] of murdering her unborn child by one of the earliest all-female [[Jury|juries]] in the United States
* [[Brett Cecil]], professional baseball pitcher for the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] and [[St. Louis Cardinals]]
* [[Cupid Childs]], professional baseball player
* [[Tom Clancy]], author
* [[Bernie Fowler]], former [[Maryland Senate|Maryland state senator]] and Patuxent River advocate
* [[Jon Franklin]], two-time Pulitzer winner and author<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.urhome.umd.edu/CPMAG/summer01/franklin.html |title=College Park Magazine &#124; Feature &#124; University of Maryland |access-date=April 16, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204254/http://www.urhome.umd.edu/CPMAG/summer01/franklin.html |archive-date=October 29, 2013}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=April 2013}}
* [[Henry Gantt]], [[Mechanical engineering|mechanical engineer]], popularized the [[Gantt chart]] in the 1910s
* [[Earl F. Hance]], Calvert County commissioner and secretary of the Maryland Department of Agriculture
* [[Doug Hill (meteorologist)|Doug Hill]], [[WJLA-TV]] weatherman
* [[Al Hunt]], [[Bloomberg News]] executive editor
* [[Thomas Johnson (jurist)|Thomas Johnson]], first elected [[governor of Maryland]], [[Continental Congress]] delegate, [[Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States|associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States]]
* [[Joseph Kent]], [[United States Senate|U.S. senator]], governor of Maryland
* [[Cliff Kincaid]], investigative journalist with [[Accuracy in Media]] and American Survival, Inc.
* [[Robert McClain]], pro football player for the Atlanta Falcons
* [[Thomas V. Miller Jr.]], Maryland Senate president
* [[J. C. Price]], football coach
* [[Augustus Rhodes Sollers]], [[United States House of Representatives|congressman]]
* [[Arthur Storer]], first [[astronomer]] in the [[Thirteen Colonies|American colonies]], original namesake for [[Halley's Comet]]
* [[Roger Brooke Taney]], [[chief justice of the United States]], presided over the [[Dred Scott v. Sandford|''Dred Scott'' decision]]
* [[Margaret Taylor]], First Lady of the United States, wife of President [[Zachary Taylor]]
* [[Robert Ulanowicz]], [[Theoretical ecology|theoretical ecologist]]
* [[Wax (rapper)|Wax]], rapper, singer, songwriter, musician, producer, and comedian
* [[Michael Willis (actor)|Michael Willis]], actor
* [[Judy Woodruff]], news anchor and journalist

==In popular culture==
Calvert County has been the setting for several movies and television programs. The opening scene of the 1993 [[Clint Eastwood]] movie ''[[In the Line of Fire]]'' was filmed at Flag Harbor Marina in St. Leonard.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} More recently, the Calvert County Sheriff's Department has been featured on several [[reality television]] programs, including ''[[Speeders (TV program)|Speeders]]'' on the [[truTV]] network, ''[[MTV's Busted]]'',{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} and A&E's ''[[Live PD]]''.
<!-- already cited ==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Calvert County, Maryland]] -->

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/marylandnewguide0000arne|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/marylandnewguide0000arne/page/92 92]|title=Maryland: A New Guide to the Old Line State|last=Arnett|first=Earl|author2=Dr. Robert J Brugger |author3=Edward C. Papenfuse |author3-link=Edward C. Papenfuse |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press|year=1999|access-date=October 6, 2007}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.mdoe.org/calvert_co.html|url-status=dead|title=Calvert County|publisher=Maryland Online Encyclopedia|year=2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719005751/http://www.mdoe.org/calvert_co.html|archive-date=July 19, 2008|access-date=October 6, 2007}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.southern-maryland.info/County%20Guides/Calvert_county/calvert.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030813184719/http://www.southern-maryland.info/County%20Guides/Calvert_county/calvert.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 13, 2003|title=Calvert County Guide|publisher=Southern Maryland Info|year=2007|access-date=October 6, 2007}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Calvert County, Maryland}}
{{AmCyc Poster|Calvert (county)|Calvert County, Maryland}}
* {{official website|http://www.co.cal.md.us/}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961222114633/http://www.co.cal.md.us/ |date=December 22, 1996 |title=Calvert County }}
* {{osmrelation|936322}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Calvert County, Maryland
|North     = [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Dorchester County, Maryland|Dorchester County]] and [[Talbot County, Maryland|Talbot County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[St. Mary's County, Maryland|St. Mary's County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Charles County, Maryland|Charles County]]
|Northwest = [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's County]]
}}
{{Calvert County, Maryland}}
{{Maryland}}
{{DCMetroArea}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Calvert County, Maryland| ]]
[[Category:1654 establishments in Maryland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1654]]
[[Category:Maryland counties on the Chesapeake Bay]]
[[Category:Counties and county equivalents of the Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area]]