CAROLINE COUNTY
Administrative Offices
109 Market Street
Denton, MD 410-479-0660
www.carolinemd.org
Chamber of Commerce
9194 Legion Road
Denton 410-479-4638
www.carolinechamber.org
Long before boardwalks, highrise hotels and condominiums dotted the Eastern Shore, the “smart money” was already destined for waterfront property. This preoccupation with shoreline development may explain why Caroline County has been the “late bloomer” of the region. In 1790 when the first federal census was taken in 1790, 9,500 people were living in Caroline County. Although 200 years have passed, this rural countryside still reflects the unspoiled beauty of days gone by.
Unique among the shoreline counties, Caroline does not border the Chesapeake Bay nor does it offer any Atlantic Ocean coastline. In addition to the State of Delaware to the east, the Maryland neighbors of this land-locked region include Talbot County to the west, Dorchester County to the south and Queen Anne’s County to the north. Most of the still-sparse population of 27,000 is concentrated in the county’s ten incorporated towns of Denton, Federalsburg, Preston, Greensboro, Goldboro, Ridgely, Hillsboro, Templeville, Marydel and Henderson.
Economy and Transportation
Ideally located midway between Maryland’s northern and southern borders, Caroline County shares its eastern border with the State of Delaware. As you might expect, agriculture has always been the mainstay of Caroline County’s economy. Because most of the soil is quite sandy, the area became well-known for its prolific truck crops. While farming activity is focused on grain and vegetable crops, the raising of poultry and the processing of poultry products also represent significant sources of revenue. The canning industry still flourishes in Caroline County, boasting a history that dates back to the 19th century.
In recent years, Caroline County has expanded its economic base in the area of light industry. Major business centers are concentrated in the towns of Denton and Federalsburg, where several industrial parks join a scattering of small industries. In fact, over 550 businesses and manufacturing operations currently employ about 1/5 of the county’s residents. Major employers in Caroline County include such diverse enterprises as Preston Trucking, Maryland Plastics, Solo Cup, Interactive Marketing Services and Delsey Luggage. A strong network of federal and state highways combine with convenient air, rail and shipping transportation services to ensure the efficient movement of products to major markets.
Education and Healthcare
Area youth receive a quality education in neighborhood and regional schools, where an excellent pupil/teacher ratio encourages a flexible learning pace geared toward individual growth and development. Programs for the gifted and challenged combine with a wide range of extra-curricular activities to encourage the expression of unique talents and leadership potential.
The county’s high schools provide career and technical education courses in such diverse disciplines as agriculture/aquaculture production, business, homemaking, work-study, construction and maintenance trades. Choices for higher education opportunities close to home include the impressive resources of Chesapeake College, a two-year regional college that offers Associate degrees, certificates, career studies and college-track programs. Among the four-year institutions that are convenient to Caroline County residents are Washington College in Kent County, Salisbury State University in Wicomico County, and the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore in Somerset County. Delaware Technical and Community College in nearby Georgetown also provides a variety of vocational courses.
A strong network of local clinics, community hospitals and regional medical centers ensure that cutting-edge healthcare services are easily accessible to Caroline County residents. Nearby facilities range from the 64-bed Kent & Queen Anne’s Hospital—located in Chestertown and affiliated with John Hopkins Medicine—to the Peninsula Regional Medical Center. The latter is classified as an acute-care facility with over 375 beds, comprehensive medical and surgical services and a wide variety of advanced specializations.
Lifestyle
In its housing options as well as the calendar of local celebrations, Caroline County is a showcase of rural charm and small-town pleasures. Carnivals play an integral role in summertime fun, underlined by the Caroline County Fair. Another favorite is the Old-Time Wheat Threshing, Steam and Gas Engine Show, offering displays of steam and gas engines, antique tractors and farm equipment, antique cars and a sprawling flea market. However, you don’t have to wait for a main event to enjoy thrilling rides, contests, games and tasty food booths. Virtually every town boasts a summer carnival sponsored by the local volunteer fire department.
Just because you choose to settle in one of the Eastern Shore’s more rural areas doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice an active cultural life. Renowned venues and nearby performing arts centers include the Chesapeake Performing Arts Center in Wye Mills, the Mid Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Easton, the Oxford Community Center in Oxford, the Church Hill Theatre, and the Mid-Shore Symphony Society in Centerville. The latter is responsible for delivering a season of Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performances to local audiences.
Those who appreciate nature and the great outdoors will want to explore the state parks and wildlife refuges that are located in and around Caroline County. Many consider Martinique State Park to be the highlight of local recreational facilities. No matter what activities you enjoy—hiking, boating, camping, or nature observation—this lush and expansive park provides the perfect setting. Even the Native Americans who first walked this region were drawn to the area around the park, an almost magical land of pine forests on the shores of the Choptank River and Watts Creek.
Neighboring Tuckahoe State Park near Hillsboro offers the added beauty of Tuckahoe Creek, a quiet country steam bordered by wooded marshlands. This park is also home to the Adkins Arboretum, a 500-acre site that displays plants, trees and shrubs indigenous to Maryland. Runners, hikers and bikers can enjoy the vast network of trails that wind through the park. The entire Mid-Shore area is brimming with opportunities and scenic locations for outdoor adventure. Just a few of the most popular destinations include the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge near Cambridge in Dorchester County, Horsehead Wetland Center in Grasonville in Queen Anne’s County, and Pickering Creek Environmental Center near Easton in Talbot County.
In addition to the open fields of this predominantly agricultural region, the county boats an abundance of forests and woodlands as well as marshes along the Choptank, Tuckahoe and Marshyhope Rivers, the chief bodies of water. If you happen to be an avid hunter or angler, your dreams have all come true. Most newcomers are quick to discover the Caroline County Shooting Preserve, for example, or the Chesapeake Gun Club just a few miles away in Greensboro. Shimmering lakes and secluded ponds are scattered throughout the countryside, and plenty of boat ramps and marinas guarantee river and creek access to the open water.
The same panoramic scenery and natural beauty that allows Caroline County to offer such ideal recreational amenities creates a scenic backdrop for area homes. Selections include rambling farmhouses shaded by large old trees, handsome country estates, new residential developments, and cozy single-family dwellings nestled in well-established neighborhoods. Newcomers can choose from a variety of period homes or newer construction in pleasing architectural styles, many of which offer generous acreage for raising horses or tending flower and vegetable gardens.
The “Green Garden County” is able to offer newcomers the slower pace and natural beauty of rural lifestyle. Although Caroline seems to be a welcome oasis in a world beset with crowded cities and commercial growth, the development of surrounding areas has spurred new interest in Caroline’s land-rich resources. Over the past twenty years, the county’s visionary planners and leaders have taken steps to protect and preserve the pastoral and idyllic setting that makes Caroline County such a wonderful place to live, play and work.
Denton
City Offices
410-479-2050
www.dentonmaryland.com
Chamber of Commerce
410-479-4638
www.carolinechamber.org
Originally known as Pig Point, Denton serves as the county seat and center of commerce for Caroline County. Outdoor enthusiasts and those who are drawn to small-town charm will find no better location than Denton, tucked midway along the Eastern Shore. The air is literally filled with bird calls, while the surrounding campgrounds are alive with flora and fauna. History buffs will enjoy such treasures as the old county courthouse, a museum of rural life or the Neck Meeting House built by Quakers in 1802. Attracting new businesses as well as new residents, Denton is home to a growing number of manufacturing plants and service enterprises. Newcomers can choose from a selection of homes in a variety of architectural styles and price ranges—either within Denton’s welcoming neighborhoods or along the outskirts of town surrounded by the lovely countryside.
