Europeans and African Americans first settled in the area in the 1600s. Waldorf was originally called Beantown until 1880. Maryland State General Assembly changed the city name to Waldorf in 1880 in honor of William Waldorf Astor (1848–1919). Waldorf (CDP) is the largest community in Charles County. It’s located 23 miles south-southeast of Washington, D.C.
Charles County is the birthplace of Dr. Samuel Mudd. He died in Waldorf on January 10, 1883 at the aged 49. The Dr. Samuel A. Mudd House, also called St. Catharine, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
St. Charles Towne Center draws shoppers and diners from several Maryland counties, Washington, and parts of Virginia. Area families come to Waldorf’s shopping centers of what many describe as “day trips” to Waldorf to shop. This is causing Charles County to be promoted as the “Shopping Capital of Southern Maryland.”
Waldorf’s highly-valued historic area and business-friendly community is opening the door to Charles County’s abundant outdoor and indoor activities like fitness gyms, ice skating, Piscataway Indian Nation operates a museum, a community center, and the Maryland Indian Cultural Center and rock wall climbing.
Waldorf and Charles County local communities embraces cultural equality, diversity, inclusion, equity and has many positive-minded and inspiring people as well as historic business-friendly communities.