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 (1637–1715), third Baron Baltimore. Charles County is a part of the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Notable residents

  • Jane Herbert Wilkinson Long (1798–1880) is considered to be the “Mother of Texas.”
  • Benjamin Stoddert (1751–1813), first United States Secretary of the Navy
  • Samuel Alexander Mudd (1833–1883)- Born in Charles County, Mudd is the Maryland doctor implicated and imprisoned for aiding John Wilkes Booth in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
  • George Cary (1811–1850), born near Allens Fresh in Charles County, United States Congressman from Georgia[14]
  • James Neale (1615–1684) Born Drury Lane, London, England immigrated 1634, founded Wollaston Manor plantation and Cobb Island.
  • Prominent Revolutionary War statesmen John Hanson, Thomas Stone, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, and General William Smallwood
  • Barnes Compton, US Congressman
  • James Craik Physician General during the American Revolution, and Gustavus Richard Brown were George Washington’s physicians.
  • Josiah Henson (1789–1883) former slave and author.
  • Co-discoverer of the North Pole Matthew Henson (African-American) and Captain Raphael Semmes of the Confederate ship “Alabama” were born near Nanjemoy.
  • Chuck Brown, hip-hop musician, lives in Waldorf
  • Christina Milian, musician, lived in Waldorf
  • Joel and Benji Madden from the band Good Charlotte grew up in Waldorf
  • Robert Stethem, noted terror hijacking victim, grew up in Pinefield, Waldorf
  • Danny Gatton (1945–1994), legendary guitarist, lived in Newburg
  • Larry Johnson, running back for the Washington Redskins is from Pomfret, Maryland.
  • Randy Starks, defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins is from Waldorf.