In 1942, during the height of World War II, the Department of Defense acquired land in St. Mary's County near the confluence of the Patuxent River Naval Air Station, a facility that would play a crucial role in testing airplanes used on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. The establishment of the base brought a surge in population and added technical jobs to the traditional agriculture and maritime economy of St. Mary's County. After the war, Patuxent River remained one of the U.S. Navy's premier testing centers for aircraft and was even the training site for the nation's first astronauts. Today, it continues to play a vital role in the testing and development of cutting-edge aircraft and other technologies for the U.S. Navy and remains the county's largest employer.

Photo: Devry Becker Jones

Lexington Park, Maryland · USA