Fort Meade, a growing community located in Anne Arundel County, was named after General George G. Meade, who served in the Union Army during the Civil War. The fort itself remains operational; its 5,067 acres are home to the United States Army Field Band and the Defense Information School, and fort personnel are divided between on-base housing and residences in the nearby communities of Severn, Columbia, Crofton, Ellicott City, Odenton, Piney Orchard, Severna Park, and Arnold.

Fort Meade’s four elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools make the community attractive among families with school-age children. But commuters are also drawn to Fort Meade real estate, thanks to the employment opportunities offered by the fort; those opportunities are only expected to increase with the military’s Base Realignment and Closure process, which is estimated to bring over 5,500 jobs to the community.

Despite the planned growth of the fort, however, the community of Fort Meade is sure to retain its charming, small-town feel and safe, family-friendly appeal. This makes Fort Meade area real estate an ideal investment.