County · code 24017
Charles CountyMaryland
Charles County, Maryland is located in the state of Maryland with La Plata as its county seat. It was formed on April 13, 1658, and named after Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore.
- Founded1658
- County seatLa Plata
- Named forCharles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore
- Land area458 sq mi + 185 sq mi water
- Population166,617 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped74,474 checked 16 October 2026
Where it is
Charles on the map of Maryland
Maryland has 24 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.
History
Formed in 1658 from St. Marys County
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Charles County was created from St. Marys County in 1658, though its territorial limits were not specified at that time and boundaries are estimated. In 1696, Charles County gained territory from Calvert County but lost area to the creation of Prince Georges County. In 1748, Charles County gained additional territory from Prince Georges County.
- 1658Charles County created Charles created from St. Marys; territorial limits not specified, and boundaries are estimated.from St. Marys· Archives of Md., 1:381, 3:341
- 1696Gained territory Charles gained from Calvert, lost to creation of Prince Georges.from Calvertfrom Prince Georges· Archives of Md., 19:213, 214
- 1748Gained territory Charles gained from Prince Georges.from Prince Georges· Archives of Md., 46:141-142
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Charles
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
-
Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 74,474 parcels. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
edited 13 October 2026 · checked 16 October 2026 -
Address points Missing
No public address points layer found for Charles County yet.
-
Buildings Reference
Roof outlines traced from aerial imagery from FEMA Response Geospatial Office with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Good for seeing what is on a lot; not accurate enough to set a fence from.
checked 18 October 2026
- Official
- from the office that keeps the record
- Good enough
- a reliable statewide or national copy
- Fallback
- a guide only; check the official record
- Missing
- nothing public found yet
People and land
Charles by the Census
Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Rules and offices
Charles County's official site
We have found the county's site but not its offices yet; start there.
County government
- County government
The official website of Charles County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Charles County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.
Questions
Common questions about Charles County
- When was Charles County founded?
- Charles County was founded in 1658, formed from St. Marys County, and named after Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore.
- What is the county seat of Charles County?
- The county seat of Charles County is La Plata.
- Is there an online parcel map for Charles County?
- Yes. A public source publishes a parcel map of 74,474 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Charles County's boundary or name changed?
- Charles County was created in 1658 from St. Marys County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 2 later changes, chiefly involving Prince Georges County and Calvert County.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Charles County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby