"Lexington Park" came into being in 1943 with the establishment of the Patuxent Naval Air Station during World War II, and was named for the recently sunk USS Lexington aircraft carrier. Prior to this Lexington Park was called "Jarbosville". John Glenn, Alan Shepard, and many noted astronauts trained there. In 1977 the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge spanning the Patuxent River linked the area to Calvert County and Solomons, Maryland.

In recent years several aerospace and high-tech companies have located in the area bringing additional jobs. Continually expanding shopping Centers along Maryland Route 235 ("Three Notch Road") and Great Mills Road have many department stores. Area students attend Great Mills High School.

Lexington Park in seaside St. Mary's County is one of the nation's fastest-growing "micropolitan" areas, expanding by 14.6 percent since 2000, largely on the strength of military growth. The county population has surpassed 100,000 in 2010. In addition, Southern Maryland is the fast-growing area in the state, and a very desirable bedroom community for people who work in the District of Columbia, but unlike neighboring Charles and Calvert counties, many in St. Mary's County both work and live in the county.

Lexington Park is home to many schools listed here Town Creek Elementary, Green Holly Elementary, Lexington Park Elementary, George Washington Carver Elementary, Esperanza Middle, and Spring Ridge Middle. Great Mills High, Chesapeake Public Charter, and Fairlead Academy are also close by in neighboring Great Mills.

St. Mary's College of Maryland is located seven miles south of Lexington Park and is one of only two public honors colleges in the nation.
It is ranked "5th in the nation" under the "public colleges" category by US News and World Report. It is also ranked "4th in the nation" under the category of "Best schools for veterans" by U.S. News and world Report.