 The city is situated on the bank of the Patuxent River, which was the power source for the cotton mills that were the early industry of the town.The zip codes for the incorporated city of Laurel are 20707, 20708, 20709, 20725 and 20756.Although served by the Laurel post office, Montpelier is not within the city limits; the same is true of the unincorporated communities of Scaggsville and Whiskey Bottom in Howard County, and Maryland City and Russett in Anne Arundel County.