The history of Laurel, MD indicates that it is located at a midpoint between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Laurel, MD was served by a public turnpike toward the end of the 18th century and by 1812 was a major stagecoach stop between the two cities. The stagecoach yielded to the B & O Railroad, which began intercity service in 1835.
Laurel was incorporated as a Maryland municipality in 1870, with a commissioner form of government and five elected representatives. In 1890, Laurel was reincorporated as the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, with the Mayor as chief executive officer and a five-member Council as the City’s legislative body.
During World War I, Fort George G. Meade was established as a training camp and other federal facilities have moved into the area, bringing jobs and businesses. Laurel’s strategic location has generated growth and business activities.
Just under four square miles in size, Laurel is home to a population of a little over 25,000 (as of the 2010 Census) and is located at the northernmost end of Prince George’s County. The city of Laurel supports and actively participates in the Laurel Economic Advancement and development Commission (LEAD), whose mission is to attract new business and industry to the Laurel area and carry out economic development promotional programs. A dynamic, family-oriented community, Laurel and homes for sale in Laurel, MD have long attracted homebuyers looking to live in a suburban community that nonetheless has easy access to city amenities, e.g. theaters, restaurants, recreational activities and now has its own gaming casino located in the Anne Arundel Mill Mall.
Though incorporated only in 1870, the Laurel area had seen European settlement as early as the 17th century and became a bustling mill town in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was during this time that Laurel first experienced a building boom and many of the historic homes for sale in Laurel, MD that still stand today date back to this era.
Growth in Laurel, MD
History of Laurel MD shows that early growth occurred primarily on the flat land to the south of Main Street. In the 1950’s. A 1968 Annexation extended western portions of the City to Interstate-95. Since the 1968 Annexation, over 950 acres have been added, consisting of large areas such as the Patuxent Greens Club, Laurel Lakes, and the Villages of Wellington with a population of 21,000. These days, Laurel is once again seeing something of a construction boom, with the upcoming building of Konterra, a 2,200-acre mixed-used development that’s bisected by Interstate 95 and Highway 200. The community, which is a pedestrian-friendly blend of residential neighborhoods, retail and commercial districts, and a variety of open spaces, is where you’ll find many of today’s most sought-after homes for sale in Laurel, MD.
Whether you want to live in a Victorian-era historic district, a new urbanist community like Contee Crossing II or the Villages of Wellington, a development targeted specifically towards active adults aged 55+ such as Central Parke at Victoria Falls there is a home to suit your lifestyle in this market of houses for sale in Laurel, MD or in the surrounding Howard, Anne Arundel or Montgomery Counties. Please explore this site for more in-depth information on neighborhoods, schools and communities around the Laurel, MD and DMV area or send an email to Adolphus Hawkes Realtors, your local Laurel, MD real estate resource for information.