California, MD

California is a census-designated place in St. Mary's County, named before 1897 after the state of California. The community has grown quickly because of its location near Lexington Park, Patuxent River Naval Air Station, and the southern Maryland technology and defense economy. Employment in the wider area is also tied to St. Mary's College and regional institutions. California feels less like an old town and more like a fast-growing commercial and residential hub, with shopping centers, subdivisions, and naval-related jobs shaping daily life.