List of nature centers in Maryland
Table:
Name

Location

County

Region

Summary

Agricultural History Farm Park
Derwood
Montgomery
Capital
website, operated by the County, 455-acre complex with a historic farm site and a modern farming activity center

Battle Creek Cypress Swamp
Prince Frederick
Calvert
Southern
Nature Conservancy preserve and county park

Bear Branch Nature Center
Westminster
Carroll
Central
Operated by the County. Center located on 320 acres; features live animals, interpretive exhibits, more than five miles of multi-use trails, a planetarium and observatory.

Black Hill Visitors Center
Boyds
Montgomery
Capital
website, operated by the County in Black Hill Regional Park with over 2,000 acres

Carrie Murray Nature Center
Baltimore
Baltimore City
Central
Located in Gwynns Falls Leakin Park, includes rehabilitation center for disabled birds of prey and an insect zoo

Charlotte's Quest Nature Center
Manchester
Carroll
Central
Operated by the Manchester Parks Foundation, located on 60 acres (240,000 m2) of land and features over 4 miles of trails

Clearwater Nature Center
Clinton
Prince George's
Capital
website, operated by the County in Cosca Regional Park

Cromwell Valley Park
Baltimore
Baltimore City
Central
426 acres, features the Willow Grove Nature Education Center, programs about nature, farming, local history and conservation awareness, operated by the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks

Croydon Creek Nature Center
Rockville
Montgomery
Capital
website, operated by the City

Cylburn Arboretum
Baltimore
Baltimore City
Central
City park with arboretum and gardens, features the Cylburn Nature Museum with Maryland natural history exhibits

Deep Creek Lake Discovery Center
Swanton
Garrett
Western
Operated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in the state park

Eden Mill Nature Center
Pylesville
Harford
Central
Independent organization in partnership with Harford County Parks and Recreation, nature center and historic grist mill museum

Fair Hill Nature Center
Elkton
Cecil
Eastern Shore
website, operated by the Fair Hill Environmental Foundation

Fountain Rock Park & Nature Center
Walkersville
Frederick
Western
website, operated by the County

Glen Echo Park Aquarium

Glen Echo

Montgomery

Capital

Aquarium and nature center that focuses on local tributaries and the Chesapeake Bay.

Hard Bargain Farm Environmental Center
Accokeek
Prince George's
Capital
330-acre working farm, operated by the Alice Ferguson Foundation

Harford Glen Environmental Education Center
Bel Air
Harford
Central
Operated by Harford County Public Schools

Howard County Conservancy
Woodstock
Howard
Central
Located on a 300-year-old, 232-acre farm

Irvine Nature Center
Owings Mills
Baltimore
Central
Private organization set on 116 acres (0.47 km2) of land

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary
Bristol
Anne Arundel
Central
Features the McCann Wetlands Study Center with displays about the wetlands, estuaries and the Patuxent River watershed, operated by the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks

Consulting the table together with the context snippets below.

Give the answer to the question: For the city park that contains 4 1⁄2 miles ( 7.2 km ) of hiking trails , who governs the town where the park is located ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Do not introduce information beyond the provided sources.

Derwood is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in east-central Montgomery County , Maryland , United States . It lies just north of Rockville , southeast of Gaithersburg , southwest of Olney , and northwest of the greater Silver Spring area . Derwood , originally Deer Park , then Deer Wood , is home to approximately 15,600 people . Derwood includes the neighborhoods of Derwood Heights , Derwood Station , Mill Creek Towne , Needwood Estates , Muncaster Manor , Muncaster View , Hollybrooke , Granby Woods , Park Overlook , Redland Crossing , Candlewood Park , Cashell Estates , Avery Forest , Avery Lodge , Avery Village , Bowie Mill Estates , Bowie Mill Park , Winters Run , Redland Station , Rolling Knolls , Emory Grove , and Shady Grove Crossing . Between 2009 and 2011 , Maryland Route 200 ( also known as the Intercounty Connector or ICC ) was constructed directly through central Derwood , affecting Cashell Estates and areas near Shady Grove Road .
Montgomery County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Maryland , located adjacent to Washington , D.C. As of the 2010 census , the county 's population was 971,777 , increasing by 8.3% to an estimated 1,052,567 in 2018 . The county seat and largest municipality is Rockville , although the census-designated place of Germantown is the most populous city within the county . Montgomery County is included in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria , DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area , which in turn forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Combined Statistical Area . Most of the county 's residents live in unincorporated locales , of which the most urban are Silver Spring and Bethesda , although the incorporated cities of Rockville and Gaithersburg are also large population centers , as are many smaller but significant places . [ N 1 ] As one of the most affluent counties in the United States , Montgomery County also has the highest percentage ( 29.2% ) of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate degrees . The county has been ranked as one of the wealthiest in the United States . Like other inner-suburban Washington , D.C. counties , Montgomery County contains many major U.S. government offices , scientific research and learning centers , and business campuses , which provide a significant amount of revenue for the county .
Battle Creek Cypress Swamp ( BCCS ) is a forested wetland near Prince Frederick in Calvert County , Maryland , United States . It is one of the northernmost sites of naturally occurring bald cypress ( Taxodium distichum ) trees in North America , and the only large stand of the trees on the western shore of Maryland . In 1965 , the National Park Service designated the BCCS a National Natural Landmark .
Prince Frederick is an unincorporated community and census-designated place ( CDP ) in Calvert County , Maryland , United States . As of the 2010 census , the population of Prince Frederick was 2,538 , up from 1,432 in 2000 . It is the county seat of Calvert County .
Calvert County is located in the U.S. state of Maryland . As of the 2010 census , the population was 88,737 . Its county seat is Prince Frederick . The county 's name is derived from the family name of the Barons of Baltimore , the proprietors of the English Colony of Maryland . Calvert County is included in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria , DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area . It occupies the Calvert Peninsula , which is bordered on the east by Chesapeake Bay and on the west by the Patuxent River . Calvert County is part of the Southern Maryland region . The county has one of the highest median household incomes in the United States .
Southern Maryland in popular usage is composed of the state 's southernmost counties on the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland . This region includes all of Calvert , Charles , and St. Mary 's counties and sometimes the southern portions of Anne Arundel and Prince George 's counties .
The Nature Conservancy ( TNC ) is a charitable environmental organization , headquartered in Arlington , Virginia , United States . Founded in 1951 , The Nature Conservancy has over one million members , and has protected more than 119,000,000 acres ( 48,000,000 ha ) of land and thousands of miles of rivers worldwide . The largest environmental nonprofit by assets and revenue in the Americas , The Nature Conservancy ranks as one of the most trusted national organizations in Harris Interactive polls every year since 2005 . Forbes magazine rated The Nature Conservancy 's fundraising efficiency at 88 percent in its 2005 survey of the largest U.S. charities . The Conservancy received a three-star rating from Charity Navigator in 2016 ( three-star in 2015 ) .
Bear Branch Nature Center is a nature center in Carroll County , Maryland near Westminster . It features interpretive exhibits about local plants and animals , an outdoor water feature and play area , a Discovery Room for children , an observation beehive , live animals including an eagle , hawks , owls , snakes , salamanders , turtles , frogs , and toads , a planetarium and observatory . The center is a facility of Carroll County Recreation & Parks . The nature center is adjacent to Hashawha Environmental Center , a residential facility that is also operated by Carroll County Recreation & Parks . Hashawha Environmental Center is home to Carroll County Public Schools ' Outdoor School , a residential environmental education program open to every sixth grade student in the county . The two facilities are located on approximately 320 acres , with more than five miles of multi-use trails , a restored 19th century cabin , a lake , a pond , and access to both Bear Branch and Big Pipe Creek .
Westminster is a city in northern Maryland , United States . A suburb of Baltimore , it is the seat of Carroll County . The city 's population was 18,590 at the 2010 census . Westminster is an outlying community within the Baltimore-Towson , MD MSA , which is part of a greater Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia , DC-MD-VA-WV CSA .
Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland . As of the 2010 census , the population was 167,134 . Its county seat is Westminster . Carroll County is included in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson , MD Metropolitan Statistical Area , which is also included in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington , DC-MD-VA-WV-PA Combined Statistical Area . While predominantly rural , the county has become increasingly suburban in recent years .
Boyds is an unincorporated community in rural Montgomery County , Maryland , United States , located approximately 27 miles ( 43 km ) north of Washington , D.C. Its ZIP Code is 20841 . According to the United States 2010 Census , the ZIP Code Tabulation Area ( ZCTA ) for Boyds covers an area of about 26 square miles ( 67 km2 ) and has a population of 10,460 . Black Hill Regional Park , Little Seneca Lake , and Seneca Creek State Park are located in Boyds .
Carrie Murray Nature Center ( CMNC ) is operated by Baltimore City Recreation and Parks . CMNC offers environmental education programs for children , families , and adults as Baltimore City 's only nature center . A native live animal collection , outdoor bird aviary , and indoor exhibits support the center 's environmental education programs . School field trips , nature camps , public programs , and community events take place at CMNC in the expansive and historic Gwynns Falls Leakin Park . It was named after Carrie Murray , mother of former Baltimore Orioles star and hall-of-famer Eddie Murray . Wild Haven forest immersion programs are offered for young children ages 3-5 in the Gwynns Falls Leakin Park , which is Wild Haven 's pilot site within the Baltimore City Recreation and Parks . Monica Wiedel-Lubinski , Monica French , and Mepi Neill are the founding directors of Wild Haven .
Baltimore ( /ˈbɔːltɪmɔːr/ BAWL-tim-or , locally : /ˈbɔːlmər/ ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland , as well as the 30th most populous city in the United States , with a population of 602,495 in 2018 and also the largest such independent city in the country . Baltimore was established by the Constitution of Maryland as an independent city in 1729 . As of 2017 , the population of the Baltimore metropolitan area was estimated to be just under 2.802 million , making it the 21st largest metropolitan area in the country . Baltimore is located about 40 miles ( 64 km ) northeast of Washington , D.C. , making it a principal city in the Washington-Baltimore combined statistical area ( CSA ) , the fourth-largest CSA in the nation , with a calculated 2018 population of 9,797,063 . The city 's Inner Harbor was once the second leading port of entry for immigrants to the United States . In addition , Baltimore was a major manufacturing center . After a decline in major manufacturing , heavy industry , and restructuring of the rail industry , Baltimore has shifted to a service-oriented economy . Johns Hopkins Hospital ( founded 1889 ) and Johns Hopkins University ( founded 1876 ) are the city 's top two employers . With hundreds of identified districts , Baltimore has been dubbed a city of neighborhoods . Famous residents have included writers Edgar Allan Poe , Edith Hamilton , Frederick Douglass , W.E.B . Du Bois , Ogden Nash , Gertrude Stein , F. Scott Fitzgerald , Dashiell Hammett , Upton Sinclair , Tom Clancy , Ta-Nehisi Coates , and H. L. Mencken ; musicians James Eubie Blake , Billie Holiday , Cab Calloway , Tori Amos , Frank Zappa , Tupac Shakur , Dan Deacon , Robbie Basho , Bill Frisell , Philip Glass , Cass Elliot , and Ric Ocasek ; actors and filmmakers John Waters , Barry Levinson , Divine , David Hasselhoff , Don Messick , John Kassir , Jada Pinkett Smith , and Mo'Nique ; artist Jeff Koons ; baseball player Babe Ruth ; swimmer Michael Phelps ; radio host Ira Glass ; television host Mike Rowe ; Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall ; Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi ; and United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson . During the War of 1812 , Francis Scott Key wrote The Star-Spangled Banner in Baltimore after the bombardment of Fort McHenry .
The adjoining Gwynns Falls Park and Leakin Park , in Baltimore , Maryland , United States , generally referred to as Gwynns Falls/Leakin Park , covers 1,216 acres ( 492 ha ) of contiguous parkland , forming the most extensive park in the city . Gwynns Falls-Leakin Park situated along the Gwynns Falls stream , through the western side of Baltimore City and suburban Baltimore County , which eventually flows into the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River ( Baltimore Harbor ) , The combined / joint parks are a protected wilderness area , heavily forested and largely left in its natural state , somewhat like Herring Run in the northeast section of the city , but unlike other large urban parks in Baltimore city such as Druid Hill or Patterson Parks , which have some tree cover , with open meadows and mowed lawns in between . Baltimore 's City Department of Recreation and Parks operates Gwynns Falls and Leakin as a single park , beginning at the western edge of the city , following the Gwynns Falls stream from Windsor Mill Road ( northwest ) to Wilkens Avenue ( southeast ) . Franklintown Road serves as the main vehicular route through the park , as a continuation of Dogwood Road from the Baltimore County suburb of Woodlawn . It exits the park near West Lafayette Avenue further into the city . Although surrounded by an urban environment , some areas of the park are so heavily wooded that they give the impression of wilderness . Portions of the 1999 horror film The Blair Witch Project were filmed here . The combination of its many secluded areas and easy vehicular access gave it a reputation , in Baltimore and beyond , as a place of crime in the past . In the early 2010s the park began efforts to improve its public image by barricading many dead-end access roads and publicizing family-friendly events .
Charlotte 's Quest Nature Center is a nature center in Manchester , Maryland . It is operated by the Manchester Parks Foundation and is adjacent to Pine Valley Park and Manchester Elementary School . It is located on 60 acres ( 240,000 m2 ) of land and contains 4 1⁄2 miles ( 7.2 km ) of hiking trails .
Manchester is a small incorporated town in northeastern Carroll County , Maryland , United States , located just south of the Pennsylvania state line and north of Baltimore . The population was 4,808 at the 2010 census . Manchester was incorporated in 1833 and is the second oldest incorporated area in Carroll County after Westminster , which was incorporated in 1818 . The town was originally formed as a part of Baltimore County , before the creation of Carroll County in 1837 . It is governed by an elected mayor and an elected five-person town council . Manchester lies in the humid continental climate region , marked by cold and snowy winters but humid and hot summers . This climate is ideal for growing farmed crops in the summer such as tomatoes , sweet corn and squash , leaving much of the outlying area marked with large tracts of farmland . Manchester is a rural commuting town where residents travel to work in the greater Baltimore Metropolitan Area and the greater Washington Metropolitan Area .
Clinton is an unincorporated census-designated place ( CDP ) in Prince George 's County , Maryland , United States . Clinton was formerly known as Surrattsville until after the time of the Civil War . The population of Clinton was 35,970 at the 2010 census . Clinton is historically known for its role in the American Civil War concerning the Abraham Lincoln assassination . Clinton is adjacent to Camp Springs , Rosaryville , Melwood , and Andrews Air Force Base .
Prince George 's County ( often shortened to PG County ) is located in the U.S. state of Maryland , bordering the eastern portion of Washington , D.C. As of the 2010 U.S. Census , the population was 863,420 , making it the second-most populous county in Maryland , behind Montgomery County . Its county seat is Upper Marlboro . It is one of the richest African American-majority counties in the United States , with five of its communities identified in a 2015 top ten list . Prince George 's County is included in the Washington metropolitan area . The county also hosts many federal governmental facilities , such as Joint Base Andrews and the United States Census Bureau headquarters .
Cromwell Valley Park is a public park just to the north of Baltimore City . The park initially opened in 1993 , on 426 acres ( 172 ha ) of rural farm land . It is primarily open fields , woods , cultivated gardens and orchards . The varied terrain provides an excellent habitat for local wildlife , particularly birds of prey which feed on large populations of mice , rabbits and other small mammals . Healthy populations of white-tailed deer , red fox and local songbirds can also be found throughout the park . Several miles of trails traverse the park making it popular among local hikers , birdwatchers and photographers .
Rockville is a city and the county seat of Montgomery County , Maryland , United States , part of the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area . The 2010 census tabulated Rockville 's population at 61,209 , making it one of the largest communities in Maryland and the third largest location in Montgomery County , after Silver Spring and Germantown . Rockville , along with neighboring Gaithersburg and Bethesda , is at the core of the Interstate 270 Technology Corridor which is home to numerous software and biotechnology companies as well as several federal government institutions . The city also has several upscale regional shopping centers and is one of the major retail hubs in Montgomery County .
Cylburn Arboretum ( 200 acres ) is a city park with arboretum and gardens , located at 4915 Greenspring Avenue , Baltimore , Maryland . It is open daily - excluding Mondays-without charge . The arboretum began as the private estate of businessman Jesse Tyson , who started construction of Cylburn Mansion in 1863 . The house , designed by Baltimore City Hall architect George Aloysius Frederick , was eventually completed in 1888 and remains intact , a stone structure built of gneiss from Tyson 's quarries at Bare Hills , with mansard roof , tower , and an Italianate cupola . It became the Cylburn Wildflower Preserve and Garden Center in 1954 and , in 1982 , was renamed the Cylburn Arboretum Association . The Cylburn Mansion houses a display of watercolor paintings of Maryland wildflowers that is open to the public . Today the arboretum contains an extensive collection of trees and woody shrubs based loosely on the Tysons ' original plantings . Collections include azaleas , bamboo , beeches , boxwoods , chestnuts , conifers , hollies , Japanese maples , magnolias , maples , Maryland oaks , and viburnum . The arboretum also includes a number of flower and vegetable gardens , as well as greenhouses designed and built in the 1960s by Lord & Burnham . The greenhouses grow plants for the city 's parks , and are not open to the general public . The arboretum is included in the Baltimore National Heritage Area .
Deep Creek Lake State Park is a public recreation area occupying more than 1,100 acres ( 450 ha ) on the northeast side of Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County , Maryland , in the United States . The park features water activities , camping facilities , and recreational trails and is located about 18 miles ( 29 km ) south of Interstate 68 on U.S. Route 219 .
Swanton is an unincorporated area and census-designated place ( CDP ) in Garrett County , Maryland , United States . Swanton is close to several recreation areas , such as Deep Creek Lake State Park and Jennings-Randolph Lake . A church and a post office are located in the downtown area . The population was 58 at the 2010 census . Anderson Chapel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 .
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources ( DNR ) is a government agency in the state of Maryland charged with maintaining natural resources including state parks , public lands , state forests , state waterways , wildlife and recreation areas . Its headquarters are in Annapolis .
Eden Mill Nature Center is a nature center in Pylesville , Maryland .
Pylesville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place ( CDP ) in Harford County , Maryland , United States . The population was 693 at the 2010 census . It is part of the Baltimore metropolitan area . Legend says the town was named after Brandon Pyles . Until 1958 , this community was served by the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad at milepost 40.3 .
Harford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland . As of the 2010 census , the population was 244,826 . Its county seat is Bel Air . Harford County is included in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson , MD Metropolitan Statistical Area , which is also included in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington , DC-MD-VA-WV-PA Combined Statistical Area .
Elkton is a town in and the county seat of Cecil County , Maryland , United States . The population was 15,443 at the 2010 census . It was formerly called Head of Elk because it sits at the head of navigation on the Elk River , which flows into the nearby Chesapeake Bay . Elkton was once known as the Gretna Green of the East because of its popularity as a place for eloping couples to marry .
Cecil County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland . As of the 2010 census , the population was 101,108 . The county seat is Elkton . The county was named for Cecil Calvert , 2nd Baron Baltimore ( 1605-1675 ) , the first Proprietary Governor of the Province ( colony ) of Maryland . It is the only Maryland county that is part of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington , PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area . Cecil County has existed since the late 1600s , though it continued to grow in population and town size .
The Eastern Shore of Maryland is a part of the U.S. state of Maryland that lies mostly on the east side of the Chesapeake Bay and consists of nine counties , seven of which have Chesapeake Bay coastlines . The region also contains Maryland 's only coast on the Atlantic Ocean . As of the 2010 census , its population was 449,226 , with just under 8% of Marylanders living in the region . The term Eastern Shore distinguishes a territorial part of the state of Maryland from the Western Shore of Maryland , land west of the Chesapeake Bay . The Eastern Shore is part of the larger Delmarva Peninsula that Maryland shares with Delaware and Virginia . The Eastern Shore is largely rural , with the small city of Salisbury being the largest community . The economy is dominated by three sectors : fishing along the coasts , especially for shellfish such as the blue crab ; farming , especially large-scale chicken farms ; and tourism , especially centered on the Atlantic coast resort of Ocean City .
Walkersville is a town in Frederick County , Maryland , United States . The population was 5,800 at the 2010 census .
Frederick County is located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Maryland . As of the 2010 U.S. Census , the population was 240,336 . The county seat is Frederick . Frederick County is included in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria , DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area . Like other outlying sections of the Washington metropolitan area , Frederick County has experienced a rapid population increase in recent years . It borders the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia . The county is home to Catoctin Mountain Park ( encompassing the presidential retreat Camp David ) and to the U.S. Army 's Fort Detrick . Notable persons from here include Francis Scott Key , Chris Rose , Zach Taylor , Matt Bennett , Thomas Johnson , Roger B. Taney , and Barbara Fritchie .
Western Maryland is the portion of the U.S. state of Maryland that typically consists of Washington , Allegany , and Garrett counties . The region is bounded by the Mason-Dixon line to the north , Preston County , West Virginia to the west , and the Potomac River to the south . Western Maryland is more rural than the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area , where most of the state 's population lives , and is noted for its mountainous terrain . The area is in the central Appalachians . Washington , Allegany , and Garrett counties are part of the Appalachian Regional Commission .
Hard Bargain Farm is the former country estate and working farm of Alice and Henry Ferguson . It is located at 2001 Bryan Point Road in Accokeek , Maryland , overlooking the Potomac River . The property , now a smaller portion of the 330 acres ( 130 ha ) they purchased , was developed by them into a country garden . Alice Ferguson , an artist , produced a significant body of her work here , and oversaw both the operations of the farm they established , and studied the prehistoric archaeological remains found on the property . ( The Accokeek Creek Site , now in Piscataway Park on land donated by the Fergusons , was first studied by her . ) The Fergusons established the Ferguson Foundation in 1954 to manage the property . The foundation operates the property as an educational center focused on land stewardship and historical farming practices in the region . The property includes a heavy timber frame tobacco barn originally constructed between about 1830 and 1850 , and rebuilt in the post-American Civil War era . Popular events include the annual Oktoberfest , and theater in the woods productions . Hard Bargain Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014 .
Accokeek ( /ɑːkˈəkiːk/ ) , at the edge of the hill in Algonquin , is a census-designated place ( CDP ) located in Prince George 's County , Maryland , United States . The CDP is located on the Potomac River , borders Charles County and is approximately 17 miles from Washington . It is a part of the Washington metropolitan area . The population of the CDP , as of the 2010 United States Census was 10,573 , making it the 118th most populous place in the state of Maryland . While the area around Accokeek was occupied by Native Americans since approximately 2,000 BCE , John Smith was the first European to settle the area in 1608 . In 1990 , the United States Census Bureau officially made Accokeek a CDP .
Harford Glen Environmental Education Center is a division of Harford County Public Schools and is involved in environmental and elementary education . The park , which is open to the public during the summer and on weekends is located on Winters Run . Harford Glen was also the host of the 13th annual Maryland Envirothon state level event in 2002 .
The town of Bel Air is the county seat of Harford County , Maryland , United States . According to the 2010 United States Census the population of the town was 10,120 .
Harford County Public Schools is an American public school system serving the residents of Harford County , Maryland .
The center was founded in 1990 as a private land trust with the goal of protecting and preserving farmland and historic sites in Howard County . The conservancy currently manages legal easements on 1,600 acres of land . In 2014 , the conservancy started a second nature center at Belmont Manor .
Woodstock is an unincorporated community which is a suburb of Baltimore , Maryland , United States . The original village of Woodstock is located in Howard County , and also includes portions of Baltimore County and Carroll County .
Howard County is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of Maryland . As of the 2010 census , the population was 287,085 . Its county seat is Ellicott City . Howard County is included in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson , MD Metropolitan Statistical Area , which is also included in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington , DC-MD-VA-WV-PA Combined Statistical Area . However , recent development in the south of the county has led to some realignment towards the Washington , D.C. media and employment markets . The county is home to Columbia , a major planned community of approximately 100,000 founded by developer James Rouse in 1967 . Howard County is frequently cited for its affluence , quality of life , and excellent schools . With an estimated median household income of $ 120,194 in 2016 , Howard County had the second-highest median household income of any U.S. county in 2016 . Many of the most affluent communities in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area , such as Clarksville , Dayton , Glenelg , Glenwood , and West Friendship , are located along the Route 32 corridor in Howard County . The main population center of Columbia/Ellicott City was named second among Money magazine 's 2010 survey of America 's Best Places to Live . In 2010 , the center of population of Maryland was located in the Howard County town of Jessup .
Irvine Nature Center is a nature center in Owings Mills , Maryland . The center , which is set on 210 acres ( 0.85 km2 ) of land in the Caves Valley Historic District , includes a 17,200-square-foot ( 1,600 m2 ) green exhibit hall , classrooms , outdoor classroom , amphitheater and trails . Irvine has 80,000 visitors a year . The center is renowned for holding green weddings . There are also family nature programs , summer camps and the Nature Preschool . Irvine is one of the first in the country to hold a Nature Preschool Conference for educators looking to add nature to their education to the 3-5 year old set .
Owings Mills is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Baltimore County , Maryland , United States . It is a suburb of Baltimore . The population was 30,622 at the 2010 census . Owings Mills is home to the northern terminus of the Baltimore Metro Subway , and housed the Owings Mills Mall until its closure in 2015 . It is also home to the Baltimore Ravens ' headquarters facility . In 2008 , CNNMoney.com named Owings Mills number 49 of the 100 Best Places to Live and Launch .
The Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary is located along the tidal Patuxent River in southern Maryland , United States . It was established in 1985 and is operated by the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks . It includes more than 1,500 acres ( 6.1 km2 ) of tidal freshwater wetlands , forests , meadows and fields . The wetlands , with large stands of aquatic plants including wild rice , are home to many birds , fish , reptiles , and mammals . Miles of trails and boardwalks traverse a variety of habitats and provide glimpses into the rich history of the region . In 1990 , the Sanctuary became a component of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve System . The sanctuary is also recognized as a Nationally Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy and the National Audubon Society . The goals of the sanctuary are to provide environmental education opportunities to the public , to conduct ecological research , and to conserve Jug Bay 's unique ecosystem . Each year about 10,000 visitors enjoy programs for students , families and groups . Several hundred volunteers act as docents and guides to the public and assist with long-term ecological studies . In return , volunteers gain in-depth knowledge of ecology , natural history , and the functions of wetland ecosystems . The sanctuary is located in Bristol , Maryland , 43 miles ( 69 km ) from the mouth of the 115-mile ( 185 km ) long river .
Bristol is an unincorporated community in Anne Arundel County , Maryland , United States . Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary ( a stop on the Patuxent Water Trail ) and the colonial town of Pig Point ( alternately referred to as Bristol Landing and Leon at times ) are on the Patuxent River waterfront portion of Bristol . Pig Point saw War of 1812 action and was the largest steamboat port on the Patuxent in the mid-19th century . Pig Point is a very significant Native American Early Archaic Period archaeological site . The Chesapeake Beach Railway was completed in 1899 through the southern part of Bristol or Pindell ; ruins of the Pindell Station and its general store remain . The James Owens Farm , listed on the National Register of Historic Places , and the southern terminus of the Stephanie Roper Highway portion of Maryland Route 4 are also located in Bristol . In the mid-twentieth century , the segregated Bristol Elementary School was located in the northern part of town , three-quarter mile southeast of Waysons Corner and a half mile south of the crossroad village of Drury . The school in 1953 published a history of Bristol ( largely reprinting a 1927 Bristol town history from the Annapolis Capital newspaper ) . The following year it was enlarged and renovated , growing to 200 students ( and four teachers and a heating and rodent problem ) by 1969 after the county was ordered to desegregate schools in 1966 .
Anne Arundel County ( /əˈrʌndəl/ ) , also notated as AA or A.A. County , is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland . As of the 2010 United States Census , its population was 537,656 , a population increase of just under 10% since 2000 . Its county seat is Annapolis , which is also the capital of the state . The county is named for Lady Anne Arundell ( 1615-1649 ) , a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall , England , and the wife of Cecilius Calvert , 2nd Baron Baltimore ( 1605-1675 ) , founder and first Lord Proprietor of the colony Province of Maryland . Anne Arundel County is included in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson metropolitan statistical area , which is also included in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington combined statistical area .