Upper Marlboro, MD

Upper Marlboro is a small city with a lot to offer. It has been the county seat of Prince George's County since 1721. The city is located 14 miles to the east of Washington, D.C., and nine miles south of Bowie, Maryland. The area was named after the first Duke of Marlborough, an ancestor of Winston Churchill, and was settled around 1695. Upper Marlboro is on the West Branch of the Patuxent River and was established as a port town for tobacco ships in 1706.

The town has a population of around 700 and is only 0.4 square miles. However, locals generally refer to Upper Marlboro in terms of the greater metropolitan area, which comprises 20 percent of Prince George's County. This larger region has a population of more than 20,000.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

About 67 percent of workers from Greater Upper Marlboro work for companies, 29 percent work for the government and around 1 percent is self-employed. Greater Upper Marlboro is a relatively affluent area and its median household income is well above the national average. The leading industries in Upper Marlboro are public administration, education, health and social services, management, administrative and waste management services.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

With a total area of 0.4 square miles, Upper Marlboro accommodates a little more than 300 houses. Out of these, about 290 are occupied, with owners occupying 230 houses.

Upper Marlboro has a downtown area along Main Street, where the Courthouse and County Administration Building are located. The main residential area is to the west of the downtown on several streets, housing around 650 people.

There are several housing developments in an around Upper Marlboro. These include luxury homes in Rose Hill Estates and The Reserve, as well as the gated community of Meadow Gate Estates. Other developments include Cameron Grove, Oak Creek, Perrywood, Melwood Springs, and Woodyard Estates.

BEST BETS

The effort to preserve Upper Marlboro's history is a significant one. Darnall's Chance House Museum opened to the public in 1988 and is dedicated to preserving the history and culture of 18th-century women and African Americans. Many of the museum's offerings revolve around the life of Lettice Wardrop Thomson Sim, a former Darnall's Chance House resident, who lived in the home prior to the Revolutionary War. The museum also hosts numerous events, among them:

• Colonial Tavern Dinner, featuring period food, wine and musical performances
• Women's History Bus tours
• Highland Tea, which celebrates the Scottish heritage of Darnall's Chance
• The annual Pirate Fest, featuring music, food and pirate-themed activities
• Forest Garden Club of Upper Marlboro Flower Show
• 1814 British Invasion of Prince George's County Bus Tour
• Mayhem in Marlborough Ghost Walk
• Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Show

Other historical sites in the area include:

• The Billingsley House Museum is on roughly 440 acres near the Patuxent River. The plantation house dates back to 1662 and was named for Major John Billingsley, whose family continues to hold the deed to the location.
• The Duvall Tool Museum houses a collection of farm and household items from the 19th century. All of the items featured in the exhibits and demonstrations were once the property of owner W. Henry Duvall.
• The Blacksmith Shop & Farriar and Tack Shop offers a glimpse into a working 19th-century blacksmith operation. The shop is based on a blacksmith shop built around 1880.
• The Tobacco Farming Museum stands as a testament to the importance of the tobacco crop in the city's early economic development. Farm equipment on display includes a 1900-era tobacco press.
• Built around 1880, the Duckett Cabin is one of the few surviving examples of a log house in the area. The cabin was originally located on the Treueman farm in southern Prince George's County, and was moved to its Patuxent River location in 2001. A garden features various plants and vegetables that were prevalent 100 years ago, and open-hearth cooking demonstrations are held in the cabin. Several buildings around Duckett Cabin aim at preserving the area's agricultural history. A privy, a chicken coop and a meat house were salvaged from old farms and moved to the Duckett Cabin site.
• Another interesting historical site to visit is the Sears Roebuck and Company 1923 Simplex Sectional House. The pre-fabricated, mail-order house originally sold for $443. The house has three rooms, all furnished with period pieces.

EVENTS

The site of the former Marlboro racetrack grounds is now the Show Place Arena and Prince George's Equestrian Center. A number of major events are held there, including the Prince George's County Fair, Maryland's oldest fair, dating back to 1842. Other events include:

• Varsity Spirit, American Cheer and Rainforest Rumble Cheer Competitions
• The Southern Maryland Spring Home Show
• Silverado Gun Show
• United Way of Calvert County Mardi Gras
• Maryland Maniacs Indoor Football events
• Eastern Air Force Drill Competition
• Maryland Spring Festival Horse Show
• Southern Maryland Horse Show
• Black Eyed Susan Trio Horse Show Series
• International Barrel Racing Association events
• Special Olympics Horse Show
• Bill Pickett Rodeo
• Capital Challenge Horse Show
• Washington International Local Day
• Annual Beltway Barbeque Showdown

For more than 30 years, the town of Upper Marlboro has held Marlboro Day. The event is held on Main Street and features a parade, clowns, drill teams, fire trucks, dancers, local politicians, and antique cars.

The annual Park Your Arts sidewalk arts and music festival takes place at the Upper Marlboro Library. The event features a used book sale to raise money for the library, along with music and children's activities.

The annual Cruzin' Main Street Car and Street Rod Show features classic cars, food and oldies music.

The Greater Upper Marlboro area is also home to Six Flags America Amusement Park and Adventure World.

FOR VISITORS

Watkins Regional Park is home to the Watkins Nature Center, the Chesapeake Carousel, Old Maryland Farm, a miniature train and a miniature golf course. The park covers more than 850 acres. Ball fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, campsites, a playground and numerous walking and hiking trails are also available. Old Maryland Farm is an educational farm complex with agricultural exhibits, pony and hay rides, livestock and interactive farming gardens.

Patuxent River Park is also located in Upper Marlboro.

There are a number of golf courses within the area, including:

• The Marlborough Country Club
• Lake Presidential Golf Club
• Oak Creek Golf Club

DID YOU KNOW?

Notable Upper Marlboro residents include:

• Georgetown University founder and the first U.S. Roman Catholic Bishop, John Carroll
• The nation's first Episcopalian Bishop, Thomas Claggett
• NFL player Shawne Merriman (San Diego Chargers)