Cecil County, Maryland

A Historic Hub of Commerce A New Town along the Susquehanna A Susquehannock Indian Fort Adams Hall An Earthly Paradise Bainbridge Naval Training Center Bald Friar Ford & Ferry Bayard-Bouchelle House Beck's Landing Big Elk Chapel Bird’s Eye View Blue Ball Tavern Bohemia Brady-Rees House Brick Meeting House Brookland Building the Company Town Byway Destinations / Chesapeake City C & D Canal C&D Canal Museum Calvert Village Capt. Colmary-Salmon House Capt. Michael Rudulph Carriage Steps Cecil County Doughboy Monument Cecil County Memorial Post Charlestown Cherry Grove Chesapeake and Delaware Canal Tablet Colonists' Wrought Iron Cross Count de Rochambeau’s Troops Creswell Hall Cropper House Cummings Tavern Dr. Smithers' House c. 1848 Elkton Elkton, Wedding Capital of the East Essex Lodge Explore the Chesapeake Fighting Back Flight 214 Flight 605 Fort Duffy Founded on Friendship Franklin Hall Frenchtown From Creek to Canal From Creek to Canal Gassaway House George Washington Gerry House Gilpin’s Falls Covered Bridge Greenfield Grist Mill Hazelmore Henry Deibert and E. Deibert Bros. Barge Building Hilltop View Historic East Nottingham Tanyard Historic Rodgers Tavern History Quest Hollingsworth House Holly Hall In Memory of the Unknown Soldiers In recognition Jacob Tome, Town Father James Rumsey Jennie Whiteoak House John A. J. Creswell Karsner-Wilsey House/Office Kinter-Metz House Long Bridge Lt. Col. Nathaniel Ramsay Maryland Bicentennial Tree Maryland Women in Military Service Monument McReynolds-Woods House Michael Rudulph Mitchell House Mount Harmon Plantation Mount Harmon Plantation at World's End Mount Harmon Plantation at World's End Mount Harmon Plantation at World’s End Mount Pleasant National Bank of Chesapeake City Native Americans in the 1600's Naval Training Center Bainbridge, MD New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad North East North Sassafras Parish Old Post Road Old Post Road - Lower Susquehanna Ferry - Rodgers' Tavern On Alert On the Wild Side Original Vestry House Memorial Overlook of General Howe’s Landing Pell Gardens Perryville Plantation Life in the Colonial Era Railroad History Revered Son Revolutionary War Rich History of the Lower Susquehanna Richards Oak Rock Presbyterian Church Rock Run Mill Rodgers Tavern Rose Hill Sarah Beaston House Sassafras River Savin-Conrey House 1848 Sentinel on the Bay Shipwatch Inn Shrewd Decision Site of Chapel-of-Ease Site of Charlestown Wharf Site of Fort Defiance Site of Fort Hollingsworth Site of Woodlawn Camp Meeting Smith’s Falls Snow's Battery Spirited Rebuff St. Augustine School St. Augustine’s Church St. Francis Xavier Church St. Francis Xavier Church St. Mary Anne’s Church St. Patrick's Chapel St. Peters Episcopal Church Bell Steele-Davis House Stone House Striking a Blow Strong Defense Stubbs-Caldwell House Susquehanna Manor Susquehanna Manor The Anchorage The Bayard House The Enemy Returns The Hermitage The North East Nazarene Camp The North East Nazarene Camp The North East Nazarene Camp The Nottingham Lots The Perryville Mule School The Principio Company The Proprietors of the Susquehanna Canal The River Town The Sassafras River The War Effort at Home: Perry Point Ammonium Nitrate Plant The Whiteoak House This Tablet is in Commemoration Tobacco and Mount Harmon Town Hall U. S. NTC Bainbridge USNTC Bainbridge Valentine Hollingsworth (1632-1710) Veterans Memorial War in the Chesapeake Washington Hall Welcome to Turkey Point! West Nottingham Academy West Nottingham Academy West Nottingham Academy Why Build a Lighthouse? William Marston Hogue, PhD Wilna Woodlawn World War I Monument World War II Monument "O! say can you see..." “Bohemia Mannor” “Labadie Tract” “New Munster” “O! say can you see…” “Partridge Hill” “Worsell Mannor”
Cecil County, located in northeastern Maryland, has a rich and diverse history that stretches back to the colonial period. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, such as the Susquehannocks. The first European settlers arrived in the early 17th century, with English settlers establishing a trading post along the Elk River.

In 1674, the area was officially designated as Cecil County and named after Cecilius Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore. The county quickly developed into an important agricultural and trading region, with tobacco, corn, and wheat becoming major crops. The town of Elkton became the county seat and an important center for trade along the Elk River.

During the American Revolution, Cecil County played a significant role in the fight for independence. Many residents joined the Continental Army, and the town of Charlestown served as a rallying point for militias. The county also suffered due to British raids, with towns like Elkton being burned by British forces.

In the 19th century, Cecil County experienced significant industrialization, with the construction of canals and railways connecting the region to larger markets. The county became known for its iron furnaces, textile mills, and shipping industry. However, the advent of the railroad led to a decline in the canal system, leading to economic challenges for the region.

Today, Cecil County is a mix of rural landscapes and growing suburban communities. The county has preserved many historic sites and buildings, showcasing its rich history. It is also known for its natural beauty, including the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and state parks like Elk Neck State Park. Cecil County continues to evolve, blending its historical roots with modern development and maintaining its status as an important part of Maryland's heritage.
Brief timeline of the history of Cecil County, Maryland:

  • 1660: English settlers begin to colonize the area that would later become Cecil County
  • 1672: A trading post is established near the mouth of the Susquehanna River, leading to further European settlement
  • 1674: Cecil County is officially established as part of the Province of Maryland
  • 1706: The town of Elkton, now the county seat, is founded
  • 1732: The county's borders are finalized, encompassing the present-day region
  • 19th century: The county becomes an important transportation hub with the completion of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal
  • 1812: Cecil County experiences significant economic growth due to the War of 1812
  • 1856: Construction of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad further boosts the county's development
  • 20th century: Cecil County becomes predominantly rural with a focus on agriculture
  • 1963: The Conowingo Dam is completed, creating a reservoir and impacting the county's landscape
  • 1996: The Hollywood Casino Perryville, the first casino in Maryland, opens in Cecil County

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Cecil County, Maryland.