Maryland: Individual County Chronologies
ALLEGANY
29 Dec 1789
ALLEGANY created from WASHINGTON.
(Md. Laws 1789, Nov. sess.,
ch. 19)
04 Dec 1872
ALLEGANY lost to creation of GARRETT. As
demarcated at the time (and mapped here), the ALLEGANY-GARRETT
boundary was run too far west, making GARRETT smaller than it
would have been if the legal boundary description had been
observed. Despite considerable controversy and numerous
attempts to move this line, through long observance the
original survey line became the effective, legal
boundary.
(Md. Laws 1872, ch. 212,
secs. 1-2/pp. 313-314; Md. Atty. Gen.)
ANNE ARUNDEL
29 Apr 1650
ANNE ARUNDEL created from ST. MARYS. The
county was centered on the settlement of Providence, but
territorial limits were not otherwise specified.
(Archives of Md., 1:292)
03 Jul 1654
ANNE ARUNDEL lost to creation of CALVERT;
boundaries are estimated.
(Archives of Md., 3:308)
20 Oct 1654
ANNE ARUNDEL renamed PROVIDENCE; PROVIDENCE
gained from PATUXENT (now CALVERT).
(Archives of Md., 1:341, 345, 347)
24 Mar 1658
[24 March 1657/1658] PROVIDENCE renamed
ANNE ARUNDEL.
(Archives of Md., 1:369)
by 12 Jan 1660
[by 12 January 1659/1660] ANNE ARUNDEL lost
to creation of BALTIMORE.
(Archives of Md., 1:381)
06 Jun 1674
ANNE ARUNDEL gained from CALVERT and
non-county area. Boundary between ANNE ARUNDEL and BALTIMORE
was redefined [no change].
(Archives of Md., 15:39)
03 Apr 1698
ANNE ARUNDEL exchanged with
BALTIMORE.
(Archives of Md., 22:147)
31 May 1727
ANNE ARUNDEL gained from BALTIMORE.
(Archives of Md., 36:595)
24 Feb 1824
ANNE ARUNDEL lost to CALVERT.
(Md. Laws 1823, ch. 183,
sec. 1/pp. 125-126)
18 Feb 1825
Boundary between ANNE ARUNDEL and CALVERT
was clarified [no change].
(Md. Laws 1824, ch. 193/p. 147)
04 Jul 1851
ANNE ARUNDEL lost to creation of
HOWARD.
(Md. Laws 1838, ch. 22, secs. 1, 4;
Swindler, 4:413)
29 Mar 1918
ANNE ARUNDEL lost to Baltimore City
(Ind. City).
(Md. Laws 1918, ch. 82,
sec. 1/p. 135)
Baltimore City
04 Jul 1851
Baltimore City became an independent city,
separate from BALTIMORE County.
(Swindler, 4:399-410
01 Jun 1888
Baltimore City (Ind. City) gained from
BALTIMORE.
(Md. Laws 1888, ch. 98,
secs. 1-4/pp. 113-117)
29 Mar 1918
Baltimore City (Ind. City) gained from ANNE
ARUNDEL and BALTIMORE.
(Md. Laws 1918, ch. 82,
sec. 1/p. 135)
BALTIMORE
by 12 Jan 1660
[by 12 January 1659/1660] BALTIMORE was
created from ANNE ARUNDEL, KENT, and Non-County Area 1 between
ANNE ARUNDEL and KENT. BALTIMORE territorial limits, if any,
are unknown and boundaries are estimated.
(Archives of Md., 1:381)
by 06 Jun 1674
BALTIMORE lost to creation
of CECIL. Boundary between BALTIMORE and ANNE ARUNDEL was
redefined [no change].
(Archives of Md., 15:38-39)
03 Apr 1698
BALTIMORE exchanged with ANNE
ARUNDEL.
(Archives of Md., 22:147)
31 May 1727
BALTIMORE lost to ANNE ARUNDEL.
(Archives of Md., 36:595)
02 Jun 1750
BALTIMORE lost to FREDERICK.
(Archives of Md., 46:468)
02 Mar 1774
BALTIMORE lost to creation of
HARFORD.
(Archives of Md., 64:198)
19 Jan 1836
BALTIMORE lost to creation of
CARROLL.
(Md. Laws 1835, ch. 256, sec. 1; Md. Laws
1836, ch. 19)
04 Jul 1851
BALTIMORE lost to creation of the
independent city of Baltimore City, which was separate from
BALTIMORE County.
(Md. Laws 1838, ch. 22, secs. 1, 4;
Swindler, 4:413)
01 Jun 1888
BALTIMORE lost to Baltimore City
(Ind. City).
(Md. Laws 1888, ch. 98,
secs. 1-4/pp. 113-117)
29 Mar 1918
BALTIMORE lost to Baltimore City
(Ind. City).
(Md. Laws 1918, ch. 82,
sec. 1/p. 135)
CALVERT
03 Jul 1654
CALVERT created from ANNE ARUNDEL and
CHARLES (original, extinct); CHARLES (original)
eliminated. CALVERT boundaries are estimated.
(Archives of Md., 3:308)
20 Oct 1654
CALVERT renamed PATUXENT; PATUXENT lost to
PROVIDENCE (now ANNE ARUNDEL).
(Archives of Md., 1:341, 345, 347)
24 Mar 1658
[24 March 1657/1658] PATUXENT renamed
CALVERT.
(Archives of Md., 1:369)
06 Jun 1674
CALVERT lost to ANNE ARUNDEL.
(Archives of Md., 15:39)
23 Apr 1696
CALVERT lost to CHARLES and ST. MARYS, and
lost to creation of PRINCE GEORGES.
(Archives of Md., 19:213, 214)
24 Feb 1824
CALVERT gained from ANNE ARUNDEL.
(Md. Laws 1823, ch. 183,
sec. 1/pp. 125-126)
18 Feb 1825
Boundary between CALVERT and ANNE ARUNDEL
was clarified [no change].
(Md. Laws 1824, ch. 193/p. 147)
CAROLINE
15 Mar 1774
CAROLINE created from DORCHESTER and QUEEN
ANNES.
(Archives of Md., 64:209)
22 Dec 1792
Boundary between CAROLINE and DORCHESTER
was adjusted [not mapped].
(Md. Laws 1792, Nov. sess.,
ch. 19)
17 Feb 1826
Boundary between CAROLINE and DORCHESTER
was adjusted to accommodate local property owner [not
mapped].
(Md. Laws 1825, ch. 81,
sec. 1/p. 61)
01 Apr 1878
Boundary between CAROLINE and DORCHESTER
was adjusted [not mapped].
(Md. Laws 1878, ch. 393,
sec. 2/p. 607)
11 Nov 1880
CAROLINE gained part of town of
Federalsburg from DORCHESTER, placing the entire town in
CAROLINE.
(Md. Laws 1880, ch. 208,
sec. 1/pp. 332-334; Md. Gov.)
CARROLL
19 Jan 1836
CARROLL created from BALTIMORE and
FREDERICK.
(Md. Laws 1835, ch. 256, sec. 1; Md. Laws
1836, ch. 19)
CECIL
by 06 Jun 1674
CECIL was created from
BALTIMORE and KENT.
(Archives of Md., 15:38-39)
19 Jun 1674
CECIL lost to KENT; boundary is
estimated.
(Archives of Md., 15:41)
01 May 1707
CECIL lost to KENT.
(Archives of Md., 26:621)
CHARLES (original, extinct)
21 Nov 1650
CHARLES (original, extinct) created from
ST. MARYS; boundaries are estimated.
(Archives of Md., 3:259-260)
03 Jul 1654
CHARLES (original, extinct) lost all
territory to creation of CALVERT; CHARLES (original)
eliminated.
(Archives of Md., 3:308)
CHARLES
13 Apr 1658
CHARLES created from ST. MARYS; territorial
limits not specified, and boundaries are estimated.
(Archives of Md., 1:381, 3:341)
23 Apr 1696
CHARLES gained from CALVERT, lost to
creation of PRINCE GEORGES.
(Archives of Md., 19:213, 214)
10 Dec 1748
CHARLES gained from PRINCE GEORGES.
(Archives of Md., 46:141-142)
DORCHESTER
by 16 Feb 1669
[by 16 February 1668/1669] DORCHESTER was
created from Non-County Area 2 between SOMERSET and
TALBOT. DORCHESTER territorial limits, if any, are unknown;
boundaries were partially defined 6 May 1669.
(Archives of Md., 2:155)
06 May 1669
DORCHESTER territorial limits were
partially defined [no change].
(Archives of Md., 5:54)
04 Oct 1684
Boundary between DORCHESTER and SOMERSET
was clarified [no change].
(Archives of Md., 17:286-287)
01 May 1707
DORCHESTER lost to creation of QUEEN
ANNES.
(Archives of Md., 26:621)
02 Jun 1750
DORCHESTER boundaries were clarified [no
change].
(Archives of Md., 46:468)
15 Mar 1774
DORCHESTER lost to creation of
CAROLINE.
(Archives of Md., 64:209)
22 Dec 1792
Boundary between DORCHESTER and CAROLINE
was adjusted [not mapped].
(Md. Laws 1792, Nov. sess.,
ch. 19)
17 Feb 1826
Boundary between DORCHESTER and CAROLINE
was adjusted to accommodate local property owner [not
mapped].
(Md. Laws 1825, ch. 81,
sec. 1/p. 61)
01 Apr 1878
Boundary between DORCHESTER and CAROLINE
was adjusted [not mapped].
(Md. Laws 1878, ch. 393,
sec. 2/p. 607)
11 Nov 1880
DORCHESTER lost town of Federalsburg to
CAROLINE, placing the entire town in CAROLINE.
(Md. Laws 1880, ch. 208,
sec. 1/pp. 332-334; Md. Gov.)
DURHAM (extinct)
22 Oct 1669
Maryland implicitly asserted its claim to
the area of present Delaware (then controlled by New York) by
creating DURHAM (extinct) from SOMERSET and non-county area
along the Atlantic Coast; DURHAM was located in present
Delaware and Pennsylvania, and was never operational.
(Archives of Md., 5:56-57)
19 Jun 1672
DURHAM (extinct) lost all territory to
creation of WORCESTER (original, extinct); DURHAM
eliminated.
(Archives of Md., 5:107-110)
FREDERICK
10 Dec 1748
FREDERICK created from PRINCE GEORGES and
Non-County Area 1.
(Archives of Md., 46:141-142)
02 Jun 1750
FREDERICK gained from BALTIMORE.
(Archives of Md., 46:468)
02 Oct 1776
FREDERICK lost to creation of MONTGOMERY
and WASHINGTON.
(Md., Laws Since 1763, "Proceedings of
Convention," 6 Sep. 1776)
19 Jan 1836
FREDERICK lost to creation of
CARROLL.
(Md. Laws 1835, ch. 256, sec. 1; Md. Laws
1836, ch. 19)
GARRETT
04 Dec 1872
GARRETT created from ALLEGANY. As
demarcated at the time (and mapped here), the ALLEGANY-GARRETT
boundary was run too far west, making GARRETT smaller than it
would have been if the legal boundary description was
observed. Despite considerable controversy and numerous
attempts to move this line to the course originally
prescribed, through long observance the original survey line
became the effective, legal boundary.
(Md. Laws 1872, ch. 212,
secs. 1-2/pp. 313-314; Md. Atty. Gen.)
HARFORD
02 Mar 1774
HARFORD created from BALTIMORE.
(Archives of Md., 64:198)
HOWARD
04 Jul 1851
HOWARD created from Howard District of ANNE
ARUNDEL.
(Md. Laws 1838, ch. 22, secs. 1, 4;
Swindler, 4:413)
KENT
by 02 Aug 1642
KENT was created from
ST. MARYS to serve the east side of Chesapeake Bay;
territorial limits were not specified, and boundaries are
estimated.
(Archives of Md., 3:105)
24 Sep 1657
KENT boundaries redefined to include Poplar
Island [no change].
(Archives of Md., 1:361)
by 12 Jan 1660
[by 12 January 1659/1660] KENT lost to
creation of BALTIMORE.
(Archives of Md., 1:381)
by 18 Feb 1662
[by 18 February 1661/1662] KENT lost to
creation of TALBOT.
(Archives of Md., 1:425)
04 Jun 1671
KENT gained from TALBOT; boundaries are
estimated.
(Hanson, 221-222)
by 06 Jun 1674
KENT lost to creation of
CECIL.
(Archives of Md., 15:38-39)
19 Jun 1674
KENT gained from CECIL, boundary is
estimated.
(Archives of Md., 15:41)
23 Apr 1696
KENT exchanged with TALBOT.
(Archives of Md., 19:213, 214)
01 May 1707
KENT gained from CECIL, lost to creation of
QUEEN ANNES.
(Archives of Md., 26:621)
MONTGOMERY
02 Oct 1776
MONTGOMERY created from FREDERICK.
(Md., Laws Since 1763, "Proceedings of
Convention," 6 Sep. 1776)
30 Mar 1791
The United States created an unnamed
district from land ceded by Maryland and Virginia to be the
seat of national government. The district was a square with
each corner at a point of the compass and each side ten miles
long. MONTGOMERY continued county functions of Maryland in the
ceded area.
(Richardson, 1:102; Van Zandt, 90)
27 Feb 1801
MONTGOMERY lost to creation of WASHINGTON
(D.C., extinct) when the federal government established a
circuit court for the seat of national government (now called
the District of Columbia) and created two counties to
administer judicial and administrative functions; MONTGOMERY
eliminated from the District of Columbia.
(U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 15
[1801]/pp. 103-108; Bryan, 1:400-401)
01 Jul 1997
MONTGOMERY gained Takoma Park city from
PRINCE GEORGES.
(U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes
to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970-Present,"
http://www.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html)
Non-County Area
1
24 Jan 1638
Non-County Area 1 created from all that
part of present Maryland outside of ST. MARYS.
(Archives of Md., 3:60)
12 Jan 1660
Non-County Area 1 lost to creation of
BALTIMORE and Non-County Area 2.
(Archives of Md., 1:381)
06 Jun 1674
Non-County Area 1 lost to ANNE
ARUNDEL.
(Archives of Md., 15:39)
23 Apr 1696
Non-County Area 1 lost to creation of
PRINCE GEORGES.
(Archives of Md., 19:213, 214)
10 Dec 1748
Non-County Area 1 lost to creation of
FREDERICK; Non-County Area 1 eliminated.
(Archives of Md., 46:141-142)
Non-County Area
2
12 Jan 1660
Non-County Area 2 created from Non-County
Area 1.
(Archives of Md., 1:381)
18 Feb 1662
Non-County Area 2 lost to creation of
TALBOT.
(Archives of Md., 1:425)
22 Aug 1666
Non-County Area 2 lost to creation of
SOMERSET.
(Archives of Md., 3:553-555)
16 Feb 1669
Non-County Area 2 lost to creation of
DORCHESTER; Non-County Area 2 eliminated.
(Archives of Md., 2:155)
Non-County Area
3
22 Oct 1669
Non-County Area 3 created from SOMERSET
when SOMERSET lost to creation of an unnamed county in
Maryland and present southern Delaware, which never became
operational.
(Archives of Md., 5:56-57)
PATUXENT (see
CALVERT)
POTOMAC
(see ST. MARYS)
PRINCE
GEORGES
23 Apr 1696
PRINCE GEORGES created from CALVERT,
CHARLES, and Non-County Area 1.
(Archives of Md., 19:213, 214)
10 Dec 1748
PRINCE GEORGES lost to CHARLES and to
creation of FREDERICK.
(Archives of Md., 46:141-142)
30 Mar 1791
The United States created an unnamed
district from land ceded by Maryland and Virginia to be the
seat of national government. The district was a square with
each corner at a point of the compass and each side ten miles
long. PRINCE GEORGES continued county functions of Maryland in
the ceded area.
(Richardson, 1:102; Van Zandt, 90)
27 Feb 1801
PRINCE GEORGES lost to creation of
WASHINGTON (D.C., extinct) when the federal government
established a circuit court for the seat of national
government (now called the District of Columbia) and created
two counties to administer judicial and administrative
functions; PRINCE GEORGES eliminated from the District of
Columbia.
(U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 15
[1801]/pp. 103-108; Bryan, 1:400-401)
01 Jul 1997
PRINCE GEORGES lost Takoma Park city to
MONTGOMERY.
(U.S. Census Bureau, "Significant Changes
to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970-Present,"
http://www.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html)
PROVIDENCE
(see ANNE ARUNDEL)
QUEEN
ANNES
01 May 1707
QUEEN ANNES created from DORCHESTER, KENT,
and TALBOT.
(Archives of Md., 26:621)
15 Mar 1774
QUEEN ANNES lost to creation of
CAROLINE.
(Archives of Md., 64:209)
ST. MARYS
by 24 Jan 1638
[by 24 January 1637/1638] ST. MARYS was
created as the first county in Maryland. ST. MARYS was meant
to serve the entire colony; territorial limits, if any, are
unknown, and boundaries are estimated.
(Archives of Md., 3:60)
by 02 Aug 1642
ST. MARYS lost to
creation of KENT; boundaries are estimated.
(Archives of Md., 3:105)
29 Apr 1650
ST. MARYS lost to creation of ANNE
ARUNDEL.
(Archives of Md., 1:292)
21 Nov 1650
ST. MARYS lost to creation of CHARLES
(original, extinct).
(Archives of Md., 3:259-260)
20 Oct 1654
ST. MARYS renamed POTOMAC.
(Archives of Md., 1:341, 345, 347)
24 Mar 1658
[24 March 1657/1658] POTOMAC renamed
ST. MARYS.
(Archives of Md., 1:369)
13 Apr 1658
ST. MARYS lost to creation of
CHARLES.
(Archives of Md., 1:381, 3:341)
23 Apr 1696
ST. MARYS gained from CALVERT.
(Archives of Md., 19:213, 214)
SOMERSET
22 Aug 1666
SOMERSET created from Non-County Area 2
south of TALBOT. Area included all land between the Nanticoke
River and the Atlantic Ocean (including part of southern
Delaware), but Maryland did not try to exercise jurisdiction
in the eastern part.
(Archives of Md., 3:553-555)
22 Oct 1669
SOMERSET lost to creation of an unnamed
county located in Maryland and present southern Delaware, and
to creation of DURHAM (extinct). These counties never became
operational.
(Archives of Md., 5:56-57)
04 Oct 1684
Boundary between SOMERSET and DORCHESTER
was clarified [no change].
(Archives of Md., 17:286-287)
13 Nov 1685
King James II approved the decision of the
Committee for Trade and Plantations (7 November 1685) settling
the rival claims of Maryland and Pennsylvania to
Pennsylvania's Lower Counties, now Delaware. Where the
boundary should run was not settled until 1760. SOMERSET
implicitly regained area along the Atlantic coast between
Delaware and Virginia, and lost to SUSSEX (Del.).
(Lunt, 47; Report on the Resurvey, 145;
Van Zandt, 81)
10 Dec 1742
SOMERSET lost to creation of
WORCESTER.
(Archives of Md., 42:428, 657)
02 Jun 1750
SOMERSET boundaries were clarified [no
change].
(Archives of Md., 46:468)
05 Oct 1867
SOMERSET lost to creation of
WICOMICO.
(Swindler, 4:476, 479)
03 Mar 1879
SOMERSET lost a small part of Smith's
Island to ACCOMACK (Va.) when the United States approved the
Maryland-Virginia boundary down the south side of the Potomac
River and across Chesapeake Bay [not mapped].
(Paullin, 85; Van Zandt, 87)
TALBOT
by 18 Feb 1662
[by 18 February 1661/1662] TALBOT was
created from KENT and Non-County Area 2; TALBOT territorial
limits, if any, are unknown, and boundaries are
estimated.
(Archives of Md., 1:425)
04 Jun 1671
TALBOT lost to KENT; boundaries are
estimated.
(Hanson, 221-222)
23 Apr 1696
TALBOT exchanged with KENT.
(Archives of Md., 19:213, 214)
01 May 1707
TALBOT lost to creation of QUEEN
ANNES.
(Archives of Md., 26:621)
WASHINGTON
02 Oct 1776
WASHINGTON created from FREDERICK.
(Md., Laws Since 1763, "Proceedings of
Convention," 6 Sep. 1776)
29 Dec 1789
WASHINGTON lost to creation of
ALLEGANY.
(Md. Laws 1789, Nov. sess.,
ch. 19)
WICOMICO
05 Oct 1867
WICOMICO created from SOMERSET and
WORCESTER.
(Swindler, 4:476, 479)
WORCESTER (original, extinct)
19 Jun 1672
WORCESTER (original, extinct) created from
DURHAM (extinct) and the unnamed coastal county in present
Maryland and Delaware. WORCESTER (original) was located in
present Delaware and Pennsylvania and never became
operational.
(Archives of Md., 5:107-110)
13 Nov 1685
King James II approved the decision of the
Committee for Trade and Plantations (7 November 1685) settling
the rival claims of Maryland and Pennsylvania to
Pennsylvania's Lower Counties, now Delaware. The committee
concluded that the west side of Delaware Bay was outside the
grant to Lord Baltimore. Where the boundary line should run
was not settled until 1760; WORCESTER (original)
eliminated.
(Lunt, 47; Report on the Resurvey, 145;
Van Zandt, 81)
WORCESTER
10 Dec 1742
WORCESTER created from SOMERSET.
(Archives of Md., 42:428, 657)
02 Jun 1750
WORCESTER boundaries were clarified [no
change].
(Archives of Md., 46:468)
05 Oct 1867
WORCESTER lost to creation of
WICOMICO.
(Swindler, 4:476, 479)