Jones Station was the eighth stop from Annapolis on the Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad and served as both a passenger and freight station. The railroad fueled growth in the Baltimore-Annapolis corridor by providing fast and frequent passenger service through expertly constructed infrastructure. This location was also the site of vital railroad support facilities, most importantly an electrical substation that helped provide reliable propulsion for rail vehicles. World War Two was a lucrative time for the railroad, but after the war automobiles became an attractive travel option and service was replaced by buses after 1950. Service continued on the line only as diesel-powered freight service. During the 1970s, rail operations were truncated to the town of Glen Burnie, a six-mile remnant of the once-vital artery that linked Baltimore and Annapolis. In 1979, Anne Arundel County purchased the entire right of way, ending the line's railroad career. Before rail service was introduced, the eastern shore of the Severn River was largely disconnected and inhabited primarily by rural farmers and families. Many of these Marylanders relocated to homes near railroad stations, enabling them to commute to work in distant urban centers. Residential growth along the new line between Annapolis and Baltimore increased rapidly, new towns and communities emerged from once wooded and pastured lands, and businesses entered the region, with the railroad delivering goods through its freight service.