Villages of Laurel

Why Laurel (Prince George's), MD Could be Your Next Hometown

Overview of the city

Laurel is a popular city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, known for being the home of the Department of Defense, while the Fort Meade Army base, Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory and the National Security Agency are all located nearby. At the city limits is a thoroughbred horse racetrack, known as the Laurel Park Racecourse.

General Information

Laurel, over the years, has grown to encompass many adjacent unincorporated areas of Howard, Prince George's, Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties. It now has a population of 25,800 people, higher than the 22,000 it had about 13 years ago. The city has a median home cost of $269,000, which is one of the highest in the country. Though it has an unemployment rate of 5%, this is still lower than many cities; in fact, the national average is 6.3%, which means that Laurel is still better than many other states in terms of job availability.

Location and Neighboring Cities

Laurel is located midway between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. and today largely residential, the historic district centered on the Main Street of the city can still be seen, with traces of its industrial past. It has a total area of 4.33 square miles, with land occupying 4.3 and the rest 0.03. Some of the neighboring cities are Mistletoe Springs, Steward Manor, Midway Mobile Home Park, Snow Hill Manor, Settlers Landing, North Laurel Park, Fox Rest, Oak Crest, Briarwood, High Ridge, Town and Country, Barbersville Trailer Park, Pfister Mobile Home Park, Laurel Oaks, Beech Crest Mobile Estates, Northgate Woods, Stonewood and Contee.

What the City is Known For

In addition to Laurel hosting an annual LakeFest in May and Independence Day celebration in July, the city is known as:

· One of the 1 Best Extra Large Metro Areas for Teleworking

· One of the 2 Healthiest Cities

· One of the 11 Most Secure Large Cities in the U.S.

· One of the 14 Most Gender Balanced Cities

· One of the 14 Cities with the Best Airports to Make a Connection

· One of the 5 Most Secure Places to Live

· One of the 7 Cities on the Edge of Greatness

· One of the 9 America's Most Playful Cities

· One of the 9 Most Secure Places to Live in the U.S.

· One of the 14 The Most Single Cities

· One of the 15 Cities with the Most Competitive Private Colleges

· One of the 22 Most Popular Cities for the Holidays

· One of the 19 Cities with the Most Competitive Public Colleges

· One of the 26 Sleepless Cities

· One of the 25 Best Cities for Seniors

· One of the 26 Fiscally Fit Cities

· One of the 29 Most Romantic Cities for Boomers

· One of the 36 Best Baseball Cities

· One of the 40 Best Block Party Places

· One of the 42 Americas Manliest Cites 2011

· One of the 46 America's Best Cities for Dating

· One of the 50 Most Energetic Cities

· One of the 87 Best Green Cities

Laurel Main Transportation System

From the north to the south, Laurel is traversed by U.S. Route 1 (US 1), which links the Canadian border in Maine to Key West, Florida. The city is bordered by Interstate 95 on the west, and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway lies beyond the eastern border. Linking these highways together is the east-west artery of Maryland Route 198 (MD 198), in the heart of Laurel intersecting with US 1. More than 70% of residents use their own cars in traveling to and from work, while carpool is used by 12% and mass transit by 9%.

Two MARC train stations provide public on the Camden Line to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. These stations are Laurel Station and Laurel Racetrack Station. Four lines are provided by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Metrobus service into Laurel, while residents can also make use of local Howard Transit and Connect-a-Ride bus service, and there are many taxicab and shuttle services.

A general aviation airport, Suburban Airport, is located just over the Anne Arundel County border on Brock Bridge Road, with general aviation access provided for medivac helicopters, business travelers, flight training, and also serving as a relief airport for light traffic into and out of the region's 2 major airports.

Laurel Neighborhoods

Laurel has many neighborhoods which provide good accommodations for residents and lots of attractions for visitors. From time to time, seasonal sports leagues are sponsored by the Department of Parks & Recreation for adults, with Laurel Little League, Laurel Soccer Club (LSC), Greater Laurel United Soccer Club (GLUSC), and the Laurel Boys and Girls Club offering the youth leagues. In addition to the city operating a municipal swimming pool and tennis courts, events are also held among three athletic fields, eleven city parks, and three community centers.

Laurel (Prince George's), MD