[2] In 1963, after the Crawford Corporation accumulated over 1,600 acres (650 ha) of land, it announced that it would build a new community called Crofton.

This new town and planned community was founded at the same time as Reston, Virginia (April 17, 1964) and Columbia, Maryland (1967).

The company considered picking an English name for the new town that "sounds well and implies that this is a pleasant place to live."

[3][4] Crofton was in the national news in late June and early July 2002 after a fish called the northern snakehead was discovered in a local pond.

[5][6][7] The infestation was found in water behind the Crofton post office and the adjacent shopping center,[7] across Route 3 from local landmark Lake Louise.

[11][12] One comparison case was the mute swan,[12] also an invasive and destructive species of the Chesapeake Bay watershed but, in comparison, quite beautiful, and which garnered support from some environmental and animal rights groups.

The original community of Crofton was built on the Duvall family farm located within a triangle formed by three major roads: Crain Highway (Maryland Route 3) to the northwest, Davidsonville Road (Maryland Route 424) to the northeast, and Defense Highway (Maryland Route 450) to the south.

Within the triangle, Crofton Parkway, a loop road 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long, encircles the center of the community.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Crofton CDP has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17.1 km2), all land.

Census data show an increase in the percentage of minorities living in Crofton.

Based on the American Community Survey for 2008–2012, median incomes in the area were $104,279 for households and $120,316 for families.

[40] The Crofton SCBD staff includes a Town Manager, Non Governmental Figure Head Mayor Tip Conquick, Police, Recreation Coordinator, Maintenance Technician, A Director to the Office of the Mayor and administrative staff that provide for grounds and park maintenance, public safety, and community recreation programs and events.

The structure was built as the sales center for the original Crawford development; it was donated to the community in 1973.