Charles County, Maryland

Charles County
Location within the U.S. state of Maryland
Maryland's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°29′N 77°01′W / 38.48°N 77.01°W / 38.48; -77.01
Country United States
State Maryland
FoundedApril 13, 1658
Named afterCharles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore
SeatLa Plata
Largest communityWaldorf
Area
  Total
643 sq mi (1,670 km2)
  Land458 sq mi (1,190 km2)
  Water185 sq mi (480 km2)  29%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
166,617
  Estimate 
(2023)
171,973
  Density363.79/sq mi (140.46/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.charlescountymd.gov

Charles County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 166,617. The county seat is La Plata. The county was named for Charles Calvert (1637–1715), third Baron Baltimore. The county is part of the Southern Maryland region of the state. With a median household income of $103,678, Charles County is the 39th-wealthiest county in the United States as of 2020, and the highest-income county in the United States with a Black-majority population.