Aquasco, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Aquasco is an unincorporated area
in southeastern Prince George's County
, Maryland
, United States
, located near Eagle Harbor
and Charles County
. It was home to the Aquasco Speedway
.
It is located at the intersection of Maryland Route 381
, Aquasco Road, and Maryland Route 233, Dr. Bowen Road.
, the community developed as an agricultural center for the production of tobacco. Sparsely settled, the main road connecting widely scattered tobacco
plantations were established in the 18th century and, in the early 19th century, the village of Woodville began to form. It was named after the Wood family, early settlers of Aquasco. By mid-century, the village had a grist mill, several small stores, a tavern, blacksmith, school, post office, and Methodist and Episcopal churches.
Because of the number of plantations, the slave population was relatively high in this section of Prince George's County. The Freedman's Bureau established a school at Woodville in 1867. The Freedman's Bureau school later became home to John Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church. African Americans also worshipped at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, established in 1848 as a mission church of St. Paul's Parish Church
, which later became St. Phillip's Episcopal Church.
The Aquasco area also contains the Chalk Point Generating Station
and the tiny incorporated town of Eagle Harbor
.
:
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in southeastern Prince George's County
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, located near Eagle Harbor
Eagle Harbor, Maryland
Eagle Harbor is a very tiny incorporated town in the far extreme southeast corner of Prince George's County, Maryland, United States and near the rural community of Aquasco. The population was 55 at the 2000 census...
and Charles County
Charles County, Maryland
Charles County is a county in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Maryland.As of 2010, the population was 146,551. Its county seat is La Plata. This county was named for Charles Calvert , third Baron Baltimore....
. It was home to the Aquasco Speedway
Aquasco Speedway
Aquasco Speedway, no longer in operation, was the first quarter-mile dragstrip on the United States East Coast. It was built in the mid-1950s and was home to the President's Cup Nationals, which are now held at Maryland International Raceway...
.
It is located at the intersection of Maryland Route 381
Maryland Route 381
Maryland Route 381 is a state highway in Charles County and Prince George's County. It begins by branching off of MD 231 in eastern Charles County and heads north for before crossing into the south-eastern tip of Prince George's County...
, Aquasco Road, and Maryland Route 233, Dr. Bowen Road.
History
Aquasco is named for a nearby tract first surveyed and patented in 1650. The name is derived from the Native American name "Aquascake." Located between Swanson's Creek and the Patuxent RiverPatuxent River
The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River between...
, the community developed as an agricultural center for the production of tobacco. Sparsely settled, the main road connecting widely scattered tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
plantations were established in the 18th century and, in the early 19th century, the village of Woodville began to form. It was named after the Wood family, early settlers of Aquasco. By mid-century, the village had a grist mill, several small stores, a tavern, blacksmith, school, post office, and Methodist and Episcopal churches.
Because of the number of plantations, the slave population was relatively high in this section of Prince George's County. The Freedman's Bureau established a school at Woodville in 1867. The Freedman's Bureau school later became home to John Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church. African Americans also worshipped at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, established in 1848 as a mission church of St. Paul's Parish Church
St. Paul's Parish Church (Brandywine, Maryland)
St. Paul's Church, also known as St. Paul's Church, Baden, or St. Paul's Parish, Prince George's County, is located at 13500 Baden-Westwood Road, in Baden, a community near Brandywine in Prince George's County, Maryland. It was originally constructed in 1733-1735...
, which later became St. Phillip's Episcopal Church.
The Aquasco area also contains the Chalk Point Generating Station
Chalk Point Generating Station
The Chalk Point Generating Station is a 2,647-MWe electricity-generating plant owned by GenOn which is located near the tiny incorporated town of Eagle Harbor, Maryland, United States, on the Patuxent River.-Individual Units:...
and the tiny incorporated town of Eagle Harbor
Eagle Harbor, Maryland
Eagle Harbor is a very tiny incorporated town in the far extreme southeast corner of Prince George's County, Maryland, United States and near the rural community of Aquasco. The population was 55 at the 2000 census...
.
Historic sites
The following is a list of historic sites in Aquasco identified by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning CommissionMaryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is a bi-county agency that administers parks and planning in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland.-History:...
:
| Site Name | Image | Location | M-NCPPC Inventory Number | Comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adams-Bowen House | 16002 Dr. Bowen Rd. | 87B-036-19 | ||
| 2 | P.A. Bowen Farmstead | 15701 Dr. Bowen Rd. | 87B-036-20 | ||
| 3 | William R. Barker House | 22600 Aquasco Rd. Maryland Route 381 Maryland Route 381 is a state highway in Charles County and Prince George's County. It begins by branching off of MD 231 in eastern Charles County and heads north for before crossing into the south-eastern tip of Prince George's County... |
87B-036-14 | ||
| 4 | Green Hill | 19404 Aquasco Rd. Maryland Route 381 Maryland Route 381 is a state highway in Charles County and Prince George's County. It begins by branching off of MD 231 in eastern Charles County and heads north for before crossing into the south-eastern tip of Prince George's County... |
87A-011 | ||
| 5 | Grimes House | 22609 Aquasco Rd. Maryland Route 381 Maryland Route 381 is a state highway in Charles County and Prince George's County. It begins by branching off of MD 231 in eastern Charles County and heads north for before crossing into the south-eastern tip of Prince George's County... |
87B-036-16 | ||
| 6 | John Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church Site and Cemetery | 22919 Christ Church Road | 87B-33 | Historic church demolished. | |
| 7 | St. Mary's Episcopal Church | 22200 Saint Mary's Church Rd. | 87B-036-37 | ||
| 8 | St. Mary's Rectory St. Mary's Rectory (Aquasco, Maryland) The old St. Mary's Rectory is a gable-front 2-story frame dwelling of three by three bays, built in 1849 and enlarged to twice its size in 1856, and located in Aquasco, Prince George's County, Maryland. The structure is significant for its architecture and for its association with the history of... |
16305 Saint Mary's Church Rd. | 87B-036-08 | Listed on the National Register of Historic Places National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation... , September 10, 1987 |
|
| 9 | St. Phillip's Episcopal Church Site and Cemetery | 16100 St. Phillip's Church Road | 87B-36-12 | Historic church destroyed by fire in 1976. | |
| 10 | Sunnyside Sunnyside (Aquasco, Maryland) Sunnyside is a historic home located in Aquasco, Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. It is a five bay wide two-story frame house with a center hall and north and south parlors, facing east on a brick foundation. The building dates to 1844. The main block of the house is a fine example... |
 |
16005 Dr. Bowen Rd. | 87B-036-21 | Listed on the National Register of Historic Places National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation... , May 29, 1987 |
| 11 | H.B.B. Trueman House | 20218 Aquasco Rd. Maryland Route 381 Maryland Route 381 is a state highway in Charles County and Prince George's County. It begins by branching off of MD 231 in eastern Charles County and heads north for before crossing into the south-eastern tip of Prince George's County... |
87A-022 | ||
| 12 | J.E. Turner House | 16410 St. Mary’s Church Road | 87B-036-05 | ||
| 13 | Villa DeSales Villa DeSales (Aquasco, Maryland) Villa DeSales, built in 1877-1878, is a large five-by-three bay, three-story frame High Victorian Gothic dwelling with a two-story south service wing, located at Aquasco, Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The historic home is significant for its architectural character which includes... |
 |
22410 Aquasco Rd. Maryland Route 381 Maryland Route 381 is a state highway in Charles County and Prince George's County. It begins by branching off of MD 231 in eastern Charles County and heads north for before crossing into the south-eastern tip of Prince George's County... |
87B-036-13 | Listed on the National Register of Historic Places National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation... , July 14, 1988 |
| 14 | Wilson-Rawlings Farmstead | 17109 Milltown Landing Road | 87A-019 | ||
| 15 | Wood House | 22606 Aquasco Rd. Maryland Route 381 Maryland Route 381 is a state highway in Charles County and Prince George's County. It begins by branching off of MD 231 in eastern Charles County and heads north for before crossing into the south-eastern tip of Prince George's County... |
87B-036-15 | ||
| 16 | Woodville School | 21500 Aquasco Road | 87B-34 |