By MARK MILLER, Capital News Service

Published 03/10/12

WASHINGTON – When the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area logged a population increase last decade, the most dramatic changes came in outlying counties like Charles and Frederick counties — and county leaders said they know why.

In these counties, a long-held rural character is giving way in some places to the spread of the D.C. suburbs, as people are willing to travel farther for their jobs in order to take advantage of well-regarded school systems, lower crime rates and relatively inexpensive housing, they said.

FULL STORY: www.hometownannapolis.com/news/reg/2012/03/10-13/Metropolitan-sprawl-puts-urban-in-suburban.html