These satellite images represent many of the locations of developments and other points of interest addressed in the Land Use Accountability Project.

Maryland

Eastern Shore — Nine counties (Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset, and Somerset) comprise Maryland’s Eastern Shore—an area that is separated from the mainland by the Chesapeake Bay and that extends from Cecil County in the north all the way to Ocean City on the Atlantic coast.

Chesapeake Bay — Once “an immense protein factory,” according to H.L. Mencken, the Chesapeake Bay has grown increasingly polluted and become depopulated of seafood, despite decades of environmental restoration efforts, as residential and commercial development, shown to be partly responsible for the environmental degradation, begins to accelerate in areas that were once isolated and rural—such as the Eastern Shore.

Queen Anne’s County — Queen Anne’s County (pop. 46,571 ) has seen slow but steady development since the completion of the first bridge built across the Chesapeake Bay from mainland Maryland in 1952.

Kent Island — The gateway to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Kent Island is separated from mainland Maryland by the Chesapeake Bay and from the Eastern Shore by the Kent Narrows.

K. Hovnanian Four Seasons — Proposed location for the 1,350-unit restricted-age Four Seasons at Kent Island, which, if built as proposed, will cover the old Bittorf farm property shown here and surround this tidal pond.

Sudlersville — The draft comprehensive plan for this town of 397 anticipates the construction of 318 new homes by 2020, as two developers pursue approvals for residential projects

Wye Island — Proposed site, in 1974, for a 706-home “new town” project, 2,450 acres of this 2,800-acres island are now permanently protected as a state wildlife preserve.

Dorchester County — At the southern extremity of “the commutable shore” (i.e. about a two-hour drive to Baltimore or Washington, D.C., in the best traffic), Dorchester County remained relatively untouched by development until the past decade. A proposed residential development near the little Blackwater River triggered the outrage of environmental groups and resulted in a state buyout of most of the land slated for construction.

Talbot County — Sits at the heart of the mid-shore and ranks third in Maryland after Howard and Montgomery counties in per capita income.

Easton — Situated along Route 50, Easton (pop. 14,000), the county seat of Talbot County, has seen the construction of a Target and a Chili’s in the past year, and is now home to four Starbucks (and one of these coffee shops, opened in the spring, is now slated for closure).

Talbottown Center — James Rouse’s first development project completed in 1954, Talbottown is a small brick shopping center in the heart of Easton, Rouse’s home.

Trappe — A rural Talbot County town on Route 50 between Easton and Cambridge, Trappe (pop.1,181) is slated for a residential development of more than 2,500 units.

Columbia, in Howard County — Columbia is today an unincorporated area of more than 98,000 people that was built by developer James Rouse in 1967 as a new type of planned community designed to prevent segregation by race, religion, or income.

Annapolis — The capitol of Maryland, with a population of 36,408.

Baltimore — Largest city in the state.

Pennsylvania

Bucks County — The southern part of this county serves as suburbs to Philadelphia, and development threatens to overtake the historical, exurban and rural northern areas.

Buckingham Township — Central Bucks County, an area that has experienced rapid suburban growth since the 1980s.

Tinicum — Northern Bucks County area where developers and landowners have squared off.

Gettysburg — The famed Civil War battle field is the northern-most point of what has been designated the Journey Through Hallowed Ground.

Virginia

Loudoun County — Among the fastest growing counties in the United States dating back to the mid-1990s, faces a federal criminal investigation by federal prosecutors scrutinizing conflict of interest in land deals involving developers and county officials.

Leesburg — Seat of government for Loudoun County, an historic town which changed hands several times during the Civil War, serves as the terminus of the Dulles Greenway.

Dulles Greenway — The primary thoroughfare running through the middle of the county for commuters bound to the major business centers in Loudoun, Fairfax County, Arlington County and Washington D.C. it is a privately-built toll road.

Dulles International Airport — The 16th busiest international airport in the United States and a major provider of jobs and commerce to the Loudoun area.

Cascades — One of the largest developments in the county, opened to new residents in the 1990s.

South Riding — One of the largest developments in the county opened, opened the southern section of the county to new residents in the late 1990s.

Ashburn Village — One of the largest developments in the county, opened to new residents in the 1990s.

Sterling — One of the older areas in the county, began heavy development in the 1980s and now is a heavily built-out population center.

Rt. 50 Corridor — Demarks the southern edge of the county and serves as a major thoroughfare to some of the most crowded sections of eastern Loudoun as well some of the priciest estates in “horse country” in the western section of the county.

Middleburg — Small, affluent 18th century village on the far southwestern corner of the county, is one of the key equestrian communities in the United States.

Salamander Inn, Middleburg — Controversial luxury spa and hotel, currently scheduled to open in 2010, is being built on the former Pamela Harriman estate.

Islamic Saudi Academy Property — A 101-acre plot sold by the Islamic Saudi Academy to the County sparked controversy when it was learned that realtor fees, ranging between $200,000 and $337,000, were paid to local political insider Dale Polen Myers.

Myers’ Property — Loudoun political insider and former Chairman of the Board of Supervisors (1996-2000) sold her family farm to developers for four times its assessed value after her associates on the Board made zoning enhancements to the property.

Monticello — Thomas Jefferson’s home is the southern-most point of what has been designated the Journey Through Hallowed Ground.