Named for Argentina’s La Plata River, La Plata is the seat of Charles County. It is located 30 miles southeast of Washington, D.C. and is considered by many to be a commuter suburb. The town was founded in the late 1800s, and has since grown into a charming, family-friendly community of almost 10,000 people. Much of the farmland that used to comprise the town has been converted to residential and commercial developments. These include two elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school as well as three private/parochial schools. In addition, La Plata is home to an active and tight-knit community; the town’s residents enjoy attending performances at La Plata’s community theater and perusing the produce at the twice-weekly farmers’ market. This has encouraged many families, and particularly those with school-age children, to relocate to La Plata over the years.