Snow Hill, Maryland
A Brief History of Snow Hill...
Snow Hill, located along the banks of the
Pocomoke River, was settled in 1642 by a small
group of colonists. The settlement grew and prospered
as a farming and business community,
with the river playing a key role in its development
In 1686 the Town of Snow Hill was charted;
in 1694 it was made a Royal Port, and
schooners plied the river, carrying on a lively
trade. Warehouses, a wheelwright, shipwright,
and other supportive businesses sprang up. By
1740 the population had grown and when Somerset
County was divided into Worcester
County and Somerset County in 1742, Snow Hill
was made the county seat of Worcester County.
In 1793 the town was platted into some 1000 lots.
Snow Hill was involved in the Amercian Revolution
and in June 1775 adopted resolutions to aid
Massachusetts. Local records were hidden in the
War of 1812. Northern and southern sympathies
were both evident during the War Between the
States.
As steamboats replaced the schooners, Snow
Hill continued as an active port, carrying passengers
and goods to the Western Shore. Steamers
traveled up-river to the
Nassawango Iron Furnace
for shipments of bog iron. As the railroad
superceeded water travel, Snow Hill continued
an active role, as the rail line ran through
town on the main north-south peninsular route.
A disastrous fire in 1893 destroyed the original
downtown area, and the early town and county
records housed in the Courthouse. Thus many of
the facts of early Snow Hill are unable to be
validiated.
Snow Hill today functions as Worcester's
County Seat, with the Courthouse the nucleus of
much activity. Small businesses are available to
serve the needs of Snow Hill and the surrounding
agrarian interests. Emphasis is placed on developing
the town's full recreational potential,
and on maintaining Snow Hill with its quiet,
brick-side-walked, tree lined streets, enriched by
lovely old houses.
Back to Snow Hill
Created Feb 22, 1995 by Richard Mitchell
mitchell@shore.intercom.net