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Talbot County Area Guide

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Talbot County Area Guide

Talbot County, MD Area Guide

Welcome to scenic Talbot County, Maryland! Enjoy incredible attractions, exciting annual events, rich history and a strong sense of community. Whether you’re enjoying fishing with your family or taking advantage of Talbot County’s Parks and Recreation Department’s great programs, Talbot County has something for everyone. To learn more about Talbot County, please visit their official website at: http://talbotcountymd.gov/

History

Talbot County, Maryland is one of the oldest centers of European settlement in the New World. Its first English settlers, arriving by boat in the 1630s, established tobacco plantations along the shores of the Choptank, Wye, Tred Avon, and St. Michael’s rivers, as well as on the long stretch of Chesapeake Bay coast known as Bayside, and on its countless creeks and coves. By 1662, these settlers had formally created Talbot County, but the boundaries were later adjusted in 1706 with the establishment of Queen Anne's County and again in 1773 with the creation of Caroline County, resulting in the Talbot County of today.

For a century Talbot life centered tobacco and sea trade. Tobacco served as money and was traded for English manufactured goods with ships which anchored directly off the plantation wharves. Its first town, Oxford, laid out in 1683, served as a port of call for vessels from all over the world. Its early shipbuilding center, St. Michaels, created the swift, sharp-hulled sailing craft later known as the "Baltimore Clipper" famous in the War of 1812.

The county town, first known as Talbot Courthouse and later as Easton, was known as the "East Capital" of Maryland because the Eastern Shore's courts and governmental offices were located there. Easton had the Shore's finest bank, its first newspaper, its first Federal offices, and its first brick hotel.

Talbot’s early settlers included Quakers, Puritans, Irish and Scottish rebels, and African-Americans. During the Revolution, Talbot County’s residents played important roles. Mathew Tilghman was Maryland's acknowledged leader in the events leading to independence, and his son-in-law, Tench Tilghman, was General Washington's aide, famous for his ride to carry the news of Cornwallis' surrender to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Young Perry Benson was a Revolutionary War hero and later as Brigadier General, he headed a citizen army which repulsed a British attack on St. Michaels in 1813.

The Civil War divided Talbot County, with its men fighting on both sides. Unionville, a Talbot County town, was settled by Union soldiers who were freed slaves returning to their homes. In post Civil War times, the county gained national note as a site of summer homes for wealthy Northerners and a vacation resort for summer boarders from nearby cities.

After the Civil War, tobacco was replaced with other agricultural products as the main source of income, including tomatoes, fruit, and dairy products. Also, Talbot County played a key role in the maritime industries of shipbuilding, seafood harvesting and processing.

In 1951, the Bay Bridge was completed, increasing population pressure and ended the county's isolation. The completed Bay Bridge brought with it travel and tourism. Today, corn, soybeans and poultry have become the major sources of income, as well as water-related tourism such as sailing and sport fishing. To discover all this and more about Talbot County’s rich history, please visit: http://www.hstc.org/talbotcountyhistory.htm.

Parks and Recreation

Talbot County Department of Parks and Recreation offers visitors and residents alike the opportunity to enjoy the County’s natural resources, recreational facilities, and programs. The Department operates the Talbot County Community Center, George Murphy Community Pool, and the Bay Hundred Community Pool, as well as13 public park sites and 29 public landings. Talbot County Department of Parks and Recreation is dedicated to providing everyone with educational, recreational, and cultural opportunities to participate in. To find out more about what the Talbot County Department of Parks and Recreation can offer you and your family, please visit: http://www.talbotcountymd.gov.

Attractions and Activities

Discover a variety of magnificent attractions and activities throughout Talbot County. From art galleries, upscale boutiques and antiques shops to fishing, golfing, and shopping, there’s so much to do! Whether you enjoy sailing, bicycling, tennis, horseback riding, birding, kayaking, canoeing, nature tour boats, lighthouse tours, water skiing, or wandering, there are endless opportunities that await you in Talbot County. Feel free to explore the links provided below to discover just a glimpse of what awaits you.

St. Michaels, the town that fooled the British
http://www.stmichaelsmd.org/

Oxford
http://www.oxfordmd.net/

St. Michaels Museum
http://www.stmichaelsmuseum.com/purpose.htm

Amish Farmer's Market
http://talbot.tourvideo.com

Fishing on the Bay
http://alwayswetfishing.com/

HM Krentz
http://www.oystercatcher.com/

Shopping in Historic Downtown Easton
http://www.eastonmd.org/

Talbot Massage
http://www.talbotmassage.com/

Academy of the Arts Museum
http://www.academyartmuseum.org/

Hog Neck Golf Course
http://www.hogneck.com/golf/proto/hogneck/

Easton Bowling Center
http://www.eastonbowl.com/

SkyDive Maryland
http://www.mdskydive.com/

The Avalon Theatre
http://www.avalontheatre.com/

Canvasback Decoy & Gallery 26
http://canvasbackdecoygallery.com/

Events

Talbot County is host to a variety of exceptional events throughout the year! From free festivals and community events to excellent concerts and shows, there’s something for people of all ages and interests! Please visit the link provided below to discover just a few of these family-friendly events and activities that await you in the upcoming months
http://www.tourtalbot.org/events.asp