KENT COUNTY
Administrative Offices
400 High Street
Chestertown, MD 410-778-4600
www.kentcounty.com
Chamber of Commerce
122 North Cross Street
Chestertown 410-810-2968
www.kentchamber.org
Highways
U.S. 301
Situated on a scenic peninsula where the Chester and Sassafras Rivers meander into Chesapeake Bay, Kent County has managed to preserve its tranquility and natural beauty through the passage of time. The area’s enchanting coastline varies from historic waterfront towns dotted with marinas to expanses of rolling farmlands broken only by tidewater tributaries. A place where fresh and saltwater meet, Kent County serves as a haven for fishing and boating enthusiasts, cyclists, bird-watchers and nature lovers. By the same token, residents are committed to protecting the wide variety of plant and animal life that share their peninsula home.
Those looking for the slower pace and relaxed lifestyle of country living with a full calendar of local festivities will feel right at home in Kent County. Rock Hall is the undisputed center of convenient marinas, charming restaurants and record-breaking events. Thousands of visitors each year are attracted to the Rockfish Tournament and the Fourth of July extravaganza. So spectacular is August’s Party on the Bay, it has earned the title of “Pearl of the Chesapeake.”
Economy and Transportation
The locals think of Kent County as “quintessentially rural,” a place that offers a peace and calmness that have all but disappeared in today’s hurried marketplace. Farming, seafood harvesting and agriculture play a leading role in the economy as well as the lifestyle of its residents. During the summer months, in particular, local markets are brimming over with fresh produce at bargain prices.
The hospitality and tourism industries also represent a viable source of revenue for Kent County. With all its scenic beauty, great outdoor activities and delightful towns, the area is a popular destination for tourists and vacationers. Sailors and boaters are especially drawn to the 15 marinas of Rock Hall, considered the pleasure boating center of the Upper Eastern Shore. Not to be outdone, the town of Galena lures visitors inland with delicious seafood, antiques and Rudnick’s famous auction house.
Maryland’s smallest county enjoys a strong network of transportation amenities, crowned by the impressive Chesapeake Bay Bridge that links the area to the key metropolitan centers of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Kent County residents also have easy access to the urban amenities, educational institutions and employment centers of Wilmington, Delaware.
Education and Healthcare
Area youth receive an outstanding education in Kent County public and private schools, with Chestertown serving as the educational focal point. In fact, the county has emerged as a regional educational center, from private elementary/secondary schools like Kent School and Radcliffe Creek to Washington College and its associated Academy of Lifelong Learning. Students from a five-county area attend Radcliffe Creek, the only school in the Eastern Shore region that specializes in teaching learning-differenced children.
Highly respected, Washington College was founded in 1782 with the financial help of George Washington and remains as one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the nation. General Washington gave his name and 50 guineas to the institution in appreciation of Kent County’s support and patriotism during the Revolutionary War. An offshoot of the college, the Academy of Lifelong Learning, or WC-ALL, provides an innovative and flexible way for Eastern Shore residents to continue their education. Experts in various fields share their knowledge, and the academy requires no exams or academic prerequisites—simply a commitment to learn, grow and enjoy.
In addition to the state-of-the-art medical and surgical specialties available at Kent & Queen Anne’s Hospital, residents can be assured of local facilities to meet every need. In the area of healthcare as in education, the Town of Chestertown leads the way for Kent County and surrounding rural areas. Resources include the Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center, the Magnolia Hall Nursing Center and the Chestertown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Lifestyle
One of Maryland’s oldest counties, Kent is steeped in historic significance. History buffs need only cross the Chester River Bridge to step back into time. Founded in 1706, the Port of Chester is the site of one of the region’s largest celebrations: the annual re-enactment of the 1774 Chestertown Tea Party. This three-day commemoration is complete with colonial attire, a parade, art shows, jousting tournaments and the annual Tea Party Classic Distance Run.
Along with historic sites and outstanding museums, you’ll find an abundance of stately period homes lining many of the streets. A spectacular showcase of 18th and 19th century buildings and homes grace the Chestertown waterfront, including the Customs House, the Geddes-Piper House on Church Alley, and the White Swan Tavern. Among the finest historic buildings in the region are the Hynson-Ringgold House, renowned for its unusual antler staircase and hip roof; and Wide Hall, a masterpiece of Georgian architecture built by the prosperous merchant and Revolutionary War figure Thomas Smyth.
On balmy summer evenings, Kent County residents can gather in Chestertown’s beautiful town square to relax and enjoy music in the park. Springtime in Chestertown heralds the Gala Garden Party, providing tours of the area’s exceptional gardens behind the walls and alongside handsome historic mansions. Cultural attractions from community theater to concerts and the symphony are all available within a short distance from home in the Eastern Shore’s quaint cities and towns.
While the small towns and villages of Kent County offer first-rate amenities to residents and visitors, this region is a veritable haven for boating and fishing enthusiasts, hunters, cyclists and nature lovers. A visit to the marshland is highlighted by the presence of the water-loving creatures that make their home among the reeds and rushes. Estuarine habitats offer excellent spawning and nursery conditions for many fish species including the prized striped bass or “rockfish” as the locals call it.
The crown jewel of unspoiled habitats is the Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, home to over 240 species of birds, the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel, deer and other wildlife. This island features much of the diversity that is characteristic of the Chesapeake Region, from pine forests and meadows to tidal wetlands. A raised observation platform affords panoramic views of shoal waters teeming with ducks, geese, tundra swans and other migrating waterfowl. At sunrise and sunset, a low boardwalk offers a glimpse of grazing deer, rambling red foxes and osprey carrying fish to hungry nestlings. Rowboats, motorboats and crab nets are all available for rent.
Kent County’s miles of paths, trails and winding roads invite other recreational activities like hiking, horseback riding and cycling. A number of excellent sporting clay ranges are also popular attractions. Betterton beach is ideal for swimming and picnicking, while quiet coves tucked along the peninsula offer good opportunities for fishing, canoeing, or kayaking. Although Kent is the smallest of Maryland’s counties, it serves as a strong magnet for those who want to indulge in every imaginable water sport, from sailing and yachting to windsurfing and water skiing.
Housing options in Kent County include an abundance of waterfront properties, from sprawling estates to modest cottages. Nestled in the small towns and quaint residential havens, you’ll find beautiful older homes with large front porches, lush landscaping and well-groomed gardens. Horse properties and rambling old farmhouses blend with modern construction in new residential communities for a full selection of architectural styles and price ranges. From its sleepy hamlets and historic pride to pulsating shoreline celebrations, Kent County is truly a home for all seasons.
Chestertown
City Offices
410-778-0500
www.chestertown.com
Chamber of Commerce
410-810-2968
www.kentchamber.org
Home of George Washington College, Chestertown is the center of amenities and the hub of life in Kent County. Located on the banks of the Chester River, Chestertown began as a prosperous shipbuilding, trade and government center during the colonial movement and still maintains the state’s oldest records. The popular autumn Candlelight Walking Tour offers a glimpse into many of the spectacular homes built by wealthy merchants of the 18th and 19th centuries. Quaint red-brick sidewalks and broad, shaded streets form an idyllic backdrop for specialty shops, galleries and eateries. On cool summer evenings, residents can relax to the strains of concerts held around the antique fountain in the town square. Lovely homes, a stimulating college-town atmosphere and community pride make Chestertown the ideal place to call home.
Rock Hall
Town Offices
410-639-7611
www.rockhallmd.com
Chamber of Commerce
410-810-2968
www.kentchamber.org
The quaint fishing town of Rock Hall served as a focal point of watermen activity on the Chesapeake Bay for over 300 years. Although a combination of factors has greatly reduced the commercial fishing business, Rock Hall still lures pleasure boaters, fishermen and tourists to its calm waters. Local museums, historic sites, mouth-watering seafood and quaint clapboard houses combine with outstanding recreational opportunities and some of Maryland’s most well-attended shoreline festivities. Rock Hall and the surrounding “necks” are ideal for cyclists who appreciate the flat terrain and wide open spaces. Surrounded by water on three sides and locked in by farmland to the north, it would be difficult to rival Rock Hall for breathtakingly beautiful vistas.
