Thinking of relocating to Crofton Maryland?  Don't get it confused with Crofton Kentucky, because there's a world of difference! 

En route home from Texas last week, my husband and I decided to take a 160-mile detour off our route across Kentucky to visit another Crofton, one of three in the United States (Kentucky, Maryland and Nebraska).  Unfortunately, we didn't get there 'til nearly dusk so our photos aren't the greatest, but you'll see Crofton Kentucky and Crofton Maryland have very little in common. 

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There's very much of a rural small-town feel to Crofton Kentucky, with a single blinking stop-light.  And yet, there are 14 places of worship.

In Crofton Maryland, as you drive into the community you see the Village Green with its shops and professional offices, Crofton Country Club with its large clubhouse, Olympic-size pool and championship golf course that winds through the community, and two of the community's five places of worship - all within a block.

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Crofton Diner is located on Main Street in Crofton Kentucky, one of six dining out options listed on the town's website.  A pretty impressive number, I think, for a population that numbered under 1000 people in the 2000 census.  

Crofton Maryland's population, by contrast, was over 20,000 in the same census.  Sly Horse Tavern, located on Crofton Maryland's Village Green, is one of our dining out options. 

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Crofton Kentucky does not have a library, but it has a Post Office and Fire House in the downtown area. There are two schools, Crofton Elementary and Crofton Amish Parochial School. 

In Crofton Maryland, we too have a Post Office - plus 3 elementary schools and a middle school.  Pictured here is the Crofton (Maryland) Library.

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Other interesting facts: 

• Crofton Kentucky covers an area that is only .6 sq. miles, whereas Crofton Maryland is 5 sq. miles.
• Income in Crofton Kentucky averages $25,625; in Crofton Maryland, it is $75,046.
• Average age in Crofton Kentucky is 37; it is 35 in Crofton Maryland.
• Crofton Kentucky's average family size is 2.37; in Crofton Maryland, it's 2.69.

What about leisure time, you may ask. 

The only references to leisure time in Crofton Kentucky on the town's website are a link to Gordon Park - featuring tennis courts, a driving range, picnic pavilions, basketball court and an air-conditioned building - and a link to the announcement about squirrel hunting season, including a place for residents to post photos of their catches. 

In case you're interested, the season opens this weekend, August 16, and runs through February 28, except November 8 and 9.  (???) There is a daily limit of 6, with a possession limit of 12. The announcement includes a reminder to request permission before hunting on someone else's land and a reminder to always treat a gun as if it were loaded.

There are plenty of squirrels on Crofton Maryland's two golf courses, but no hunting allowed!  In addition to golf, there is swimming, fishing, and tennis, as well as several parks and athletic fields. Commercial recreational opportunities include Skate Zone, Capital Raceway, and Crofton Go-Cart Raceway. 

Not to mention we're less than a half hour from the Chesapeake Bay and its numerous tributaries for boating, fishing and beaching. 

Obviously, I'm partial to Crofton Maryland - that's where I live and work.  Yet I'm sure most Crofton Kentucky residents wouldn't trade their town or lifestyle for ours.  The world would be a very boring place if we all liked the same things, and if every community and person looked alike.

That being said... I hope you enjoyed this little detour.  It was probably the highlight of our drive home to Crofton, Maryland. 

If you're curious about Crofton Real Estate - Crofton Kentucky AND Crofton Maryland - be sure to visit www.FocusOnCrofton.com tomorrow, August 15, when I'll show a comparison of what you can buy for $280,000 in the two Croftons.

PHOTOS:  Squirrel by Istockphoto;  all others by MWoda

Detour to Crofton - Kentucky, not Maryland
Copyright 2008.  Margaret Woda.  All rights reserved.