First I must confess…I never thought much about my hometown until now. So, let’s see if I can capture a few things about my town in this article.
Upper Marlboro, Maryland became my hometown in 1988, although I wasn’t actually raised in the Maryland area. I was drawn to the area because of it’s amazing small town….country charm.
The historic township of Upper Marlborough was established in the early 1700 as a colony port and tobacco farm town. In 1721 due to the towns’ growth and popularity it became the social center and county seat for Prince George’s County. And in 1747 the area became an official tobacco inspection station. As of July 2006 the “core population” for the old township was 676 residents.
The most unusual thing about the town is it’s early morning tobacco smell, especially when the farmers bring their tobacco crop into town to sell at the tobacco barn on Marlboro Pike.
Today, the town spells its name as Upper Marlboro and remains the county seat for Prince George. However, the town is flanked by a large outer rim which is known as Greater Upper Marlboro, Maryland. This area comprises of two zip codes which are as follows: Zip 20772 covers 75.8 sq. miles with a population of 36,621 residents, and Zip 20774 covers 31.5 sq. miles with a population of 34,064. I’m sure other zip codes are being considered as of this writing due to growth.
It’s weird to see that the actual core of the township still displays a quaint country charm. Once you enter the town and find a parking space or get off the community bus which is named “The Bus”…you can actually walk short distances to the local library, two banks, the post office, several restaurants, pubs, shops, business offices, the courthouse, and the pond where you can relax, fish, walk, run or feed the ducks. The town is also known for its well-kept Marlborough Golf Club, elegant dining, popular 18-hole and Par 71 course.
What’s amazing to me is how the town has managed to host its Marlborough Day Festival for the last 31 years….before Mother’s Day! The festival is always kicked off by a parade with clowns, drill teams, fire trucks, dancers, marching bands, local politicians, old time cars and farm tractors, and much more. The township streets are closed and walkways are covered by vendors selling all types of foods, wears, crafts, art work, drinks and other eatables. I look forward to the festival every year because it reminds me of my childhood days in Brunswick, Georgia.
I love my adopted hometown of Upper Marlboro. It offers easy access (10 to 30 minutes) to metropolitan areas to shop, entertainment, sightseeing, work and other activities; but affords me the luxury to live in a small community, surrounded by trees, nearby forests and parks.
Checkout the following snapshots:
Post Office
Lane to Annex
School House Pond
Darnall's Chance House
This Meme is hosted by Robert Hruzek of http://middlezonemusings.com/my-home-town-a-new-meme/
Tags: meme, My Home Town - Meme, Township of Upper Marlboro, Upper Marlboro, Upper Marlboro Township