Worcester County, Maryland

1917      1918 1941      1946 Anchor from the Sailboat Wreck Askiminokonson Ayres Building Baltimore Boulevard Beach to Bay Indian Trail Beach to Bay Indian Trail Beach to Bay Indian Trail Birds of the Shore Birthplace of Commodore Stephen Decatur Boardwalk Construction 2000 Boundary Line British Manufactured Cannon Caring for the Bay City Hall Commodore Stephen Decatur, USN Corp. Isaiah Fassett Costen House Cultural Treasures Eastern End of Transpeninsular Line Between Maryland and Three Lower Counties of Pennsylvania Fishing Industry Island on the Move Korean War Korean War Memorial Marker Largest Fish Life Saving Station Life-Saving Station Makemie Memorial Presbyterian Church Mar-Va Theater Mark O. Pilchard Maryland's Eastern Shore Nassawango Iron Furnace National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark Native Americans Native Americans Ocean City Olde Sinepuxent Olive Marie Lippoldt Pier Ballroom & Bandshell Pocomoke City Historic Railroad Station Queponco Railway Station Rackliffe Plantation Milk House Renaissance Plaza River Trades & Traditions / River Lore & Legend Sam Wilkinson (1994 - 2003) Sheltered Waters Shipwrecks Shore Camping / Island Exploring Smaller Conflicts After WWII Snow Hill Town St. Martin's Church St. Paul's By-The-Sea Episcopal Church Stephen Tyng Mather Students of Ocean City High School in World War II Sturgis One Room School Swindler Park The Blue Crab The Henry Hotel The Horseshoe Crab The John Blair House The Old Globe Theater The Railroad Era The Shapes of Ships The Wild Ponies Three Ton Tire Town of Ocean City Trail of the Whispering Giants Train Depot Treasures from the Past Treasures From The Past U.S.S. Decatur Anchor Verrazano Bridge Veterans Memorial Vietnam War Memorial Marker Wicomico Treasures Worcester County Courthouse World Trade Center Beam World War I World War II World War II You're looking out over… A Productive Nursery "Bay Breeze" "Genesar" "The White Marlin Capital of the World"
Worcester County, Maryland, located on the Delmarva Peninsula, has a rich history dating back thousands of years. The region was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Assateague and Pocomoke peoples, who thrived off the area's fertile lands and bountiful waters. European explorers, including John Smith, visited the area in the 17th century, but it was English settlers who eventually established permanent colonies in the late 1600s.

In 1674, Worcester County was officially established as part of the Province of Maryland. The county was named after the English county of the same name, from which many early settlers originated. During the colonial period, agriculture, particularly tobacco farming, became the backbone of the local economy. The county also became an important center for trade, with thriving ports and numerous mills producing goods for export.

Worcester County played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War, with many residents actively supporting the cause of independence. After the war, the county experienced a shift in its economic focus. The decline in tobacco cultivation led to a rise in the seafood industry, including fishing and oystering. These industries became primary sources of income for many local residents, and they continue to be major economic drivers in the county today.

In the 20th century, Worcester County went through a period of modernization, with the development of infrastructure, improved transportation, and the growth of tourism. Beach towns along the Atlantic Ocean, such as Ocean City, became popular vacation destinations, drawing visitors from all over the region. Today, Worcester County remains a vibrant and historic region, renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and thriving tourism industry.
Brief timeline of the history of Worcester County, Maryland:

  • 1666 - Worcester County is established as part of the Province of Maryland.
  • 1672 - The county's first courthouse is constructed in the settlement of Colliton.
  • 1742 - The county seat is moved from Colliton to the newly established town of Snow Hill.
  • 1791 - Worcester County becomes part of the newly formed state of Maryland.
  • 1864 - Jarrettsville Pike, the first toll road in the county, opens.
  • 1886 - The Pocomoke Sound Railroad is completed, connecting Snow Hill to the Eastern Shore Railroad.
  • 1933 - The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is completed, providing a direct connection to the western shore of Maryland.
  • 1996 - The Worcester County Library opens its new main branch in Berlin.

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