Geography Eastern Shore of Maryland

crisfield, major seafood center along chesapeake bay

the eastern shore consists of 9 maryland counties on chesapeake bay s eastern side—or eastern side of susquehanna river (the western border of cecil county harford county. pennsylvania borders across mason–dixon line), delaware east , north, atlantic ocean on east, , virginia s own eastern shore on south. maryland s , virginia s eastern shore , of delaware form delmarva peninsula.

the counties comprising eastern shore caroline, cecil, dorchester, kent, queen anne s, somerset, talbot, wicomico, , worcester counties. south, calvert-scarborough line separates maryland virginia. modern worcester county highway map (pdf) shows location. while comprising different boundaries in 17th-18th century, eastern shore s geographic definition set once agreed on watkins point—on western side of peninsula—is , bay s shoreline began (since bay side peters out marshes , wetlands).

in 1668, philip [calvert] obtained virginia recognition of maryland s claims present-day somerset county, surveying dividing line between 2 colonies surveyor general of virginia, edmund scarborough. meanwhile, negotiated treaties lower eastern shore indian tribes harassing english settlers. these treaties defined standards of conduct indian-english relations, establishing overall peace in region.

a farm in kent county

the northern limit harder locate. dispute cecil county true shore territory due i-95 s presence surrounding developments, proximity , influence nearby urban areas philadelphia , wilmington, , position straddling elk river–leaving 50% west of shore.

like new castle county, delaware, cecil county crossed fall line, geologic division rockier highlands of piedmont region meet atlantic coastal plain, flat, sandy area forms coast. coastal plain includes delmarva peninsula , hence eastern shore of maryland. geology of delmarva inseparable part of eastern shore, has few rocky outcrops south of kent county.

the chesapeake , delaware canal crosses creek on elk river port penn, delaware. while shallow canal locks after construction in 1829, deepened in 20th century sea level, , physically separates delmarva peninsula rest of united states. maryland south of canal considered eastern shore residents. term western shore used eastern shore residents describe counties of maryland west of chesapeake bay, of baltimore-washington metropolitan area , southern maryland.

blackwater national wildlife refuge

the north-south section of mason–dixon line forms border between maryland , delaware. border marked every mile stone, , every 5 miles crownstone . line not quite due north , south, straight survey methods of 1760s make it. surveyed compromise solution century-long wrangle between penn , calvert families of england. if chesapeake bay/delaware bay watershed divide had been taken borderline, delaware half current size.

finally, although has received less attention other parts of eastern shore culture, commercial east-west ties between delaware towns , maryland towns culturally significant in colonial , american periods despite border line (which largely cut through woods , swamps). trade philadelphia conducted overland routes delaware towns odessa (then called cantwell s bridge) , smyrna (then called duck creek). agricultural products , milled grain taken delaware river shallop men in small vessels called shallops. these cultural connections continue day.

ocean city modern resort on once called seaside or seaboard side. on long north-south sandspit barrier island.