Chestertown is a town in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The population was 5,532 as of the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Kent County, the oldest county in Maryland.
History.
Founded in 1706, Chestertown rose in stature when it was named one of the English colony of Maryland's six "Royal Ports of Entry". The shipping boom that followed this designation made the town at the navigable head of the Chester River wealthy. In the mid-eighteenth century, Chestertown trailed only Annapolis and was considered Maryland's second leading port.
A burgeoning merchant class infused riches into the town, reflected in the many brick mansions and townhouses that sprang up along the waterfront. Another area in which Chestertown is second only to Annapolis is in its number of existing eighteenth century homes.
As of the 1790 census, Chestertown was the geographical center of population of the United States.
Chestertown was incorporated in 1805, and was named for the Chester River.
The town is noted for its abundance of historic properties. Airy Hill, the "Bernice J.", Brampton, Carvill Hall, Chester Hall, the Chestertown Armory, the Chestertown Historic District, Chestertown Railroad Station, Denton House, Gobbler Hill, Godlington Manor, the "Island Image", Lauretum, Radcliffe Mill, Reward-Tilden's Farm, Rose Hill, the "Silver Heel", the Charles Sumner Post No. 25, Grand Army of the Republic, Thornton, Washington College: Middle, East and West Halls, and White House Farm (Chestertown, Maryland) are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography.
Chestertown is at (39.219328, -76.068424).
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and is water. As of the first US Census in 1790, Chestertown was the geographical center of the nation's population.
Climate.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and cool, wet winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Chestertown has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Demographics.
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2010 census.
As of the census of 2010, there were 5,252 people, 1,971 households, and 984 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 2,361 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 74.2% White, 20.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.2% of the population.
There were 1,971 households, of which 18.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.7% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 50.1% were non-families. 42.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.65.
The median age in the town was 34.9 years. 12.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 28.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 16.4% were from 25 to 44; 19.1% were from 45 to 64; and 23.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 43.1% male and 56.9% female.
Arts and culture.
Chestertown Tea Party Festival.
In May 1774, five months after the British closing the port of Boston after the Boston Tea Party, the citizens of Chestertown wrote a set of resolves that prohibited the buying, selling, or drinking of tea. Based on these resolutions, a popular legend has it that the citizens held their own "tea party" on the Chester River in an act of colonial defiance.
The Chestertown Tea Party Festival celebrates Chestertown's colonial heritage with a weekend of events on Memorial Day weekend, including a re-enactment of the legendary "tea party." A parade begins the festival, marching down High Street to the Chester River, and then follows with colonial music and dance, fife and drum performances, puppet shows, colonial crafts demonstrations and sales, military drills, and a walking tour of the historic district. In the afternoon, re-enactors, playing the part of angry citizens and Continental Soldiers, march to the docks where redcoats (played by members of the Maryland Loyalist Battalion) defend the ship for a short skirmish, then retire. The ship, the schooner "Sultana", is then boarded by the angry citizens, and the tea is thrown into the Chester River.
Schooner "Sultana".
In 1997, John Swain came up with blueprints for a reproduction of the American-built yacht, later Royal Navy schooner , planning the construction and home of the ship to be centered in Chestertown. In the same year the non-profit group Sultana Projects, Inc. was formed by Swain and supporters to fund construction of the ship. A shipyard was constructed and the keel for the "Sultana" was laid in October 1998. Over 3,000 students participated in the community and educationally led effort, with a core group of volunteers logging over 150,000 hours of time building the ship. Over 10,000 people were at the launching of the ship in March 2001, and since then more than 8,000 students a year have boarded the "Sultana" for educational trips. The "Sultana" also plays a key role in the Chestertown Tea Party, as it is now the official boat of the staged re-enactment. The Schooner Sultana website offers more detailed information on the ship.
Honors and accolades.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the country's largest private, nonprofit preservation organization, named Chestertown, Maryland, to its 2007 list of "America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations", an annual list of unique and lovingly preserved communities in the United States. Chestertown was selected from 63 destinations in 27 states that were nominated by individuals, preservation organizations, and local communities.
In 2008, "Progressive Farmer" magazine honored Kent County and Chestertown by naming it #1 in "Best Rural Places to Live in America". "For a county to be in Progressive Farmer's Best Places list, they hold them to the usual standards — good schools, health care, safety and other desirable qualities. But what makes Kent stand out is its residents' resolve to maintain a solid rural heritage."
First Friday.
On the first Friday of each month, Chestertown residents, as well as neighboring towns' residents make their way down to Chestertown's main street. Many shops open their doors to visitors and put their merchandise on display. This event draws many people from the surrounding town area, as well as many students from Washington College.
Education.
Chestertown is in the Kent County Public Schools. Henry Highland Garnett Elementary School (Henry Highland Garnet), which had about 264 students as of 2021, and Kent County Middle School are in Chestertown, while Kent County High School is in an unincorporated area with a Worton postal address. The former Chestertown High School moved from its original 1915 building in 1953. In 1971 Kent County High opened and the former Chestertown High became Chestertown Middle School. The middle school became the consolidated Kent County Middle in 2010.
The town is home to Washington College, a private liberal arts college founded in 1782. Washington College is the tenth oldest college in the United States. George Washington was a founding patron.
The college is known nationally as the home of the "Sophie Kerr Prize", which is awarded to the graduating senior with the most literary potential. The award is near $50,000 annually. The most recent prize, worth $61,382 was awarded at a ceremony in Baltimore to Alex Stinton, an Eastern Shore native.
The town is also home to Radcliffe Creek School, founded in 1996. The school is open to students with, and without, diagnosed learning disabilities. Radcliffe Creek was created for students ages 4 through 14, but a preschool program called 'little creek' was recently added as well. Students from several counties throughout Maryland attend the school.
Kent County Public Library maintains the Chestertown branch.
Media.
"The Chestertown Spy" is an online news source for Chestertown and the Chester River community.
"The Kent County News", a weekly newspaper, covers news of the town and county.
WCTR Radio has been a local community resource since 1963. Originally an AM daytime station, it now has two FM frequencies: FM 106.9 in Chestertown serving Kent County, and FM 96.1 in Wye Mills, serving Queen Anne's County.
Transportation.
The primary means of travel to and from Chestertown is by road. Maryland Route 213 is the most significant highway serving the town, and is the main north–south road along the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Other state highways serving the town include Maryland Route 20, Maryland Route 289, Maryland Route 291 and Maryland Route 514.
References.
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