3-31-2025 4:20am

DAYTRIPS: 8 TOWNS

8 Bizarrely Named Towns In Maryland

Maryland is not the smallest state in the United States (that distinction belongs to Rhode Island) but is among the top ten smallest states. It comprises about 12,407 square miles and has a geography so diverse that it is affectionately known as “America in Miniature.” Maryland’s bizarrely named towns draw inspiration from a mix of historical events, local legends, early settlers, and natural features. Even the state’s nickname, The Old Line State, is believed to have originated during the American Revolutionary War, honoring the Maryland Line troops. From colonial land grants like Chevy Chase to French influences in Crapo and quirky mistakes such as Accident, these names reflect the state’s rich and varied history.

Chevy Chase

A stone’s thrown away from Bethesda and downtown Washington, D.C., the town of Chevy Chase is not named after the comedic actor best known for his portrayal as bumbling family man Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Its name comes from a tract of land parceled to Colonel Joseph Belt from Lord Baltimore (the 2nd Baron Baltimore who founded Maryland) on Jul 10, 1725. While the town of Chevy Chase is primarily residential, its proximity to an upscale shopping district called The Shops at Wisconsin Heights in the Friendship Heights district makes it a top destination for prominent Washingtonians and politicians.

For nature lovers, a historic Georgian Revival-style Woodend mansion on 40 acres of property was donated to the Audubon Naturalist Society in 1969 as a nature preserve. Today, the sanctuary is known as Woodend Nature Sanctuary. It is a peaceful oasis with walking trails, wildflower meadows, and native plants, where visitors to Capitol Hill, the National Zoo, and the Smithsonian Museum can retreat.