Soil Conservation District Supervisors
George H. Godfrey, Chairperson. 1990; Charles
R. Patterson III, 1987; C. Frank Boyle, 1989; J.
Tilghman Bishop, 1991; Royden N. Powell III
(County Appointee); Paul L. Gunther, Exten-
sion Agent, Secretary (nonvoting). Thomas Heis-
ler, District Conservationist. Robert Tabisz, Dis-
trict Manager.

ST. MARY'S COUNTY

County Seat: Leonardtown 20650

Origin: Here the passengers on the Ark and the
Dove landed at St. Clement's Island on March
25, 1634. St. Mary's, the first Maryland county,
was established in 1637, probably by an order
of the Governor.

Name: Named in honor of St. Mary, the mother
of Jesus.

Form of Government: County Commissioners

County Code: See Code of St. Mary's County,
State of Maryland (1978) with supplements.

Area: 410.22 sq. miles (372.54 land, 37.68 water)

Population. 1900: 17,182; 1950: 29,111; 1960:
38,915; 1970: 47,388; 1980: 59,895.

Principal Incorporated Places (1980 census):
Leonardtown (1,448)

Principal Unincorporated Places (1980 census):
Lexington Park (10,361), California (5,770),
Golden Beach (2,098)

Voter Registration, Oct. 6, 1986. Democrat:
18,711; Republican: 5,638; Other Parties and
No Party Affiliation: 1,625; Total: 25,974.

Per Capita Income, 1985 (estimated): $11,148

State Parks: Greenwell (607 acres), Point Lookout
(526 acres), St. Clements (1 acre), St. Mary's
River (2,056 acres)

Colleges/Universities: St. Mary's College of
Maryland, St. Mary's City

Museums/Historical Societies: St. Mary's County
Historical Society, 11 Courthouse Dr., Old
Jailhouse Museum, Leonardtown 20650;
Historic St. Mary's City (outdoor history
museum), P.O. Box 24, St. Mary's City 20686;
St. Clements Island—Potomac Museum,
Colton's Point 20626

JUDICIAL OFFICES

Circuit Court
P.O. Box 508
Courthouse
Leonardtown 20650 Telephone: 475-5621,
ext. 505, 506, 507

District Court
P.O. Box 339
Courthouse Dr.
Leonardtown 20650 Telephone: 475-5621,
ext, 500, 501, 502

Court Terms:

Circuit Court—Grand Jury and Petit Jury, third
Monday in March and September.

Orphans' Court Days—Second and fourth
Tuesday of every month.

Circuit Court Resident Judge
John H. Briscoe, 1988

Circuit Court Clerk
Mary R. Bell, 1990

Master of Chancery
Marvin S. Kaminetz

District Court Judge
C. Clarke Raley, 1993.
Dennis T. Fean, Administrative Clerk; Joanne
Bissett, Clerk.

Orphans' Court Judges
John L. Alvey, Chief Judge, 1990; Lawrence R.
Gamer, 1990; Dorothy R. Raley, 1990.

Register of Wills
Norma I. Dawson, 1990