Accokeek is an unincorporated place in the southwest corner of Prince George's County. The name "Accokeek" is an Algonquian word meaning "at the edge of the hill." Before the arrival of Capt. John Smith in 1623, indigenous people had occupied the area intermittently for thousands of years. After an initial increase in the European population and a corresponding decline in the number of American Indians, the population of Accokeek stabilized. The area could be described as a rural community in harmony with nature. Since World War II, the size and diversity of the population have changed rapidly. In 1942, Indian Head Naval Reservation Access Road was constructed. The major highway passes through Accokeek and connects residents to federal government jobs in Indian Head to the south and Washington, DC, to the north. Today, Accokeek citizens continue efforts to preserve the natural environment and historical landmarks from development.