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97-699: Crisfield is a city in Somerset County, Maryland , United States, located on the Tangier Sound , an arm of the Chesapeake Bay . The population was 2,515 at the 2020 census . It is included in the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area . Crisfield has the distinction of being the southernmost incorporated city in Maryland. The site of today's Crisfield was initially

194-506: A humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) with all months significantly above freezing, seven to eight months greater than 50 °F (10 °C),) and three months greater than 22 °C (72 °F).) The hardiness zones are 7b and 8a. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. As of

291-486: A commodity crop. For many years they prospered, but tobacco exhausted the soil. By the early 19th century, after the American Revolutionary War , some planters turned to mixed farming. The Eastern Shore remained primarily rural and steeped in slave society culture. Other parts of Maryland had an increasing proportion of free people of color , and more than half the blacks in the state were free before

388-768: A government for Somerset County, the eighth in the Province of Maryland ; it was formed from the southern part of Kent County . This had been organized in 1642 as the Province's second county, encompassing the entire Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake. Horsey was selected to sit on the first county court, which administered the new county. Charles Calvert appointed Stephen Horsey on December 11, 1665, along with Captain William Thorne , William Stevens, George Johnson, John Winder, James Jones and Henry Boston. Horsey sat as

485-477: A high-speed ferry link will reduce travel times to adjacent points on the western shore by as much as two and a half hours as the Bay Bridges are far from one another, spurring tourism and economic growth on both sides. The most recent proposal came in the 2000s; however, it was deemed that a ferry would not be economically feasible. Money earmarked for the ferry service was released to the city for an upgrade of

582-472: A highway to serve the county. In January 1667, the county administration laid out the five initial districts, designated as " Hundreds ", into which the county would be divided. Additional hundreds were added as additional knowledge of the area was surveyed. Settlement of the county generally proceeded from the Chesapeake Bay eastward, and from old Accomack County northward. The original settlers in

679-400: A household in the county was $ 29,903, and the median income for a family was $ 37,643. Males had a median income of $ 27,496 versus $ 23,035 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 15,965. About 15.0% of families and 20.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 28.4% of those under age 18 and 19.1% of those age 65 or over. In presidential elections, Somerset is

776-634: A law in 1659/1660 requiring Quakers in the colony to convert to Anglicanism or leave the colony. A group of Virginia Quakers living in Accomack County, Virginia , on the southern tip of what later became known as the Delmarva Peninsula , petitioned Charles Calvert, third Lord Baltimore in 1661 to migrate to the Eastern Shore of Maryland to the territory under his governance. The governor considered this an opportunity to fortify

873-625: A nickname still carried by the city. An industrial boom followed. By 1904, the City of Crisfield was the second largest city in Maryland, after Baltimore , with the population topping off at about 25,000 at that time. The city's seafood industry attracted new residents from as far away as New England and the Midwestern United States . The city also had a baseball team before long: the Crisfield Crabbers, who played in

970-482: A play area, a gazebo, and bathrooms during the summer months. It also is a popular crabbing spot. Nearby Janes Island State Park is a large marshy island made of almost completely undeveloped land, and is colonized by various birds and marine life. It offers fishing, swimming beaches, picnicking, camping, a playground, and has about thirty miles of water trails which can be accessed by canoe. The beaches allow swimming as well. Crisfield's two public schools are part of

1067-578: A regular member of the Somerset County Court through the winter and spring of 1666. He traveled across the Chesapeake Bay in 1665 with Captain Thorne to meet with Charles Calvert, who swore them in as county commissioners. Horsey established himself as a nonconformist and someone willing to stand up for his beliefs. County boundary disputes continued, including of the northern boundary. Baltimore believed his Eastern Shore territory extended to

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1164-586: A request to the Presbytery of Laggan in northern Ireland to consider sending a Presbyterian minister to Somerset county; and the first Presbyterian (Reformed) minister, Reverend Francis Makemie, arrived in early 1683, quickly followed by a growing list of additional Irish Presbyterian ministers and missionaries. The towns of Rehoboth and Snow Hill along the Pocomoke River in the eastern (seaside) portion of Somerset County became Presbyterian centers in

1261-416: A settler from Yorkshire or Hertfordshire , England, arrived from Northampton County, Virginia to claim his headright . He patented a 300-acre (1.21 km) [though in actuality only 250 acres (1.01 km)] parcel of land, which he named "Emmessex". He later patented another 200 acres (0.81 km) of land on September 23, 1683, naming it "Musketa Hummock". Both of these plots of land are located in

1358-579: A small fishing village called Annemessex Neck. During European colonization, it was renamed Somers Cove , after Benjamin Summers. When the business potential for seafood was discovered, John W. Crisfield decided to bring the Pennsylvania Railroad to Crisfield, and the quiet fishing town grew. Crisfield is now known as the "Seafood Capital of the World". The city's success was so great that

1455-555: A survey of the Chesapeake Bay revealed that the area was a lucrative fishing location, with extensive oyster beds around Somers Cove. In 1866, John W. Crisfield , a Princess Anne attorney, was instrumental in bringing the Eastern Shore Railroad, a branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad system, to the Somers Cove seaport. The Crisfield Secondary Branch of the railroad opened on November 6 of that year. The town

1552-659: A swing county that typically votes Republican . In 2012, it was one of only a handful of Southern counties to switch from the Republican McCain to the Democratic Obama , though in 2016 it swung strongly in favor of Donald Trump . In 2020, Somerset shifted even more toward Trump, the only county in Maryland to trend this way, in spite of Maryland as a whole voting more Democratic; Biden won Talbot and Frederick counties, two counties that were formerly solidly Republican in presidential elections. It has

1649-671: Is Ronald Howard (Republican), who has been serving as sheriff since 2014. The Census Bureau recognizes the following census-designated places (CDPs) in the county: 38°05′N 75°52′W  /  38.08°N 75.86°W  / 38.08; -75.86 Eastern Shore Baseball League Future major leaguers who played in the ESBL include notables such as: Frank "Home Run" Baker , Mickey Cochrane , Jimmie Foxx , Mickey Vernon , and Don Zimmer . The Eastern Shore Baseball Hall of Fame at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland , pays homage to ESBL players and locals who made

1746-519: Is a popular site for public events. The county dock, located one block west at the end of Broad Street, is largely used for freight, and was rehabilitated in the mid-2000s. The Little Boat Harbor, located on Brick Kiln Road is utilized mostly by smaller workboats. Somers Cove Marina , a large marina built in Crisfield in the 1960s, is currently owned by the State of Maryland. The marina hosts many of

1843-401: Is appointed by the mayor and city council. The mayor is elected by the citizens of Crisfield, and the council members are as well. All serve four-year terms. The city once had a minor league baseball team: the Crisfield Crabbers, who played in now-defunct Eastern Shore Baseball League . Several little league baseball and high school sports teams remain in the city. Wellington Beach and Park

1940-565: Is governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland. Somerset County Commissioners are elected to four-year terms; all current commissioners' terms will expire in 2022. Stephen Horsey was appointed by the Governor of Maryland as the first sheriff of Somerset County on August 22, 1666, and the Somerset County Sheriff's Office celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2011. The current sheriff

2037-627: Is known as the Great Fire of 1928. It began on March 29 at the Crisfield Opera House and quickly spread to the downtown area, completely destroying it and causing over $ 1 million in damages. Crisfield's prosperity began to decline along with the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Oyster populations declined to the point where the watermen could no longer fully support themselves on their daily catches. Some businesses began to move out of Crisfield, while others shut down. On April 1, 1976,

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2134-669: Is named for the former governor born in Crisfield, and attracts many politicians from across the state each year. Crisfield's largest event is the annual National Hard Crab Derby & Fair, held every Labor Day weekend, which began in 1947. Major highlights of the Crab Derby include a parade through Main Street, the Little Miss, Little Mr. and Miss Crustacean Pageants, the Boat Docking Contest (which began in 1971),

2231-557: Is the McCready Memorial Hospital. The second largest employer in the city is the Sherwin-Williams plant (formerly Rubberset company), which manufactures paintbrushes and roller covers. In the past, the economy was centered on the watermen and seafood. About 150 seafood processing and packing plants were located within the city in its heyday. As the health of the Chesapeake Bay began to decline, so did

2328-499: Is the main access point to the hospital. Maryland Route 380 (Byrdtown Road and Main Street Extension) lead to the Crisfield suburbs of Lawsonia and Byrdtown ; this area is commonly referred to by the locals as "Down Neck". Major streets not maintained by the state are Somerset Avenue, which is located at the northern edge of town and travels south, paralleling the eastern city boundary and fronted mostly by homes; all of

2425-528: Is the principal city of this CSA. As of the census of 2010, there were 2,726 people, 1,113 households, and 667 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,682.7 inhabitants per square mile (649.7/km). There were 1,531 housing units at an average density of 945.1 per square mile (364.9/km). The racial makeup of the city was 59.0% White , 36.4% African American , 0.6% Native American , 0.5% Asian , 1.3% from other races , and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.7% of

2522-674: The Tricesimo die Marty 1651. Scarborough and his force of 40 mounted men reached Horsey's new residence on October 11, 1663, and presented the Commands of the Assembly of Virginia against him. Horsey was "arrested" by Scarborough, but Horsey refused to accompany the party back to Virginia, declaring that he was going to remain in Maryland and maintain allegiance to the King and Lord Baltimore. The settlers expelled Scarborough and his force from

2619-521: The 2010 United States Census , there were 26,470 people, 8,788 households, and 5,478 families residing in the county. The population density was 82.8 inhabitants per square mile (32.0/km ). There were 11,130 housing units at an average density of 34.8 per square mile (13.4/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 53.5% white, 42.3% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.4% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.3% of

2716-518: The Baltimore Police Department to head law enforcement in the city. Since then, crime rates have been on a steady decline, generally halving between 2006 and 2008. The most prevalent crime in the city is property crime, down from a high of 180 in 2006 to 92 in 2008. Theft is also very common. Violent crimes, such as murder and forcible rape, are rare, though the numbers for those are on the decline as well. In January 2010, it

2813-500: The Eastern Shore Baseball League . The success of the city's seafood industry filled the city with train soot and large quantities of oyster shells. Around the turn of the 20th century, businessmen would buy plots of land at the southwest edge of the city and discard the shells and soot into the salt marshes. This shell midden eventually grew to become a peninsula roughly a half-mile long. Downtown Crisfield

2910-623: The National Register of Historic Places . Crisfield is a very compact city, with little vacant land. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 3.06 square miles (7.93 km), of which 1.62 square miles (4.20 km) (53.0%) is land and 1.44 square miles (3.73 km) (47.0%) is water. As one of the southern points on the Delmarva Peninsula and one very close to

3007-701: The Provincial General Assembly established the Church of England as the "established church" of the Province. This put pressure on the Quakers and Presbyterians, who were excluded from political office for a period. Their numbers in the county began a slow decline until the American Revolution . For more than a century, the county and much of the colony were developed by planters, with the labor of enslaved Africans, for tobacco as

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3104-677: The Somerset County Public Schools district, which is headquartered in Westover . As Crisfield's heritage is on the water, it has many points of access to the Tangier Sound and Chesapeake Bay. Crisfield has two public docks. The city dock is located at the end of Main Street (MD 413). The city dock is the landing for mail ships, large commercial ships, and passenger ferries to Smith Island and Reedville, Virginia via Tangier Island . The city dock pavilion

3201-478: The census of 2000, there were 24,747 people, 8,361 households, and 5,444 families residing in the county. The population density was 76 inhabitants per square mile (29/km ). There were 10,055 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile (12/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 56.4% White , 41.1% Black or African American , 0.4% Native American , 0.5% Asian , 0% Pacific Islander , 0.5% from other races , and 1.2% from two or more races. 1.3% of

3298-582: The 1921 season would be joined by an eighth team for the 1922 season. The seven teams that completed the 1921 season were Cambridge, Crisfield, Laurel, Pocomoke City, Princess Anne, Salisbury, and Snow Hill. Four towns attended the meeting to seek expansion teams; Dover and Milford in Delaware, Berlin in Maryland, and Parksley in Virginia. Dover and Milford withdrew their request after it was decided that only one new team would be added for 1922. The Parksley team

3395-531: The Annemessex settlement. They attempted to secure oaths of allegiance under threat of arrest and property confiscation. Scarborough was also on a personal mission to arrest Stephen Horsey (born on Isle of Wight , England and immigrated to Northampton, Virginia, 1643), the leader of the anti-tax movement and a vocal critic of the colonial government. He along with fellow Northampton County residents William Coulborne , Randall Revell , and Ambrose Dixon signed

3492-611: The Atlantic Barrier Island are the only hardiness zone 8a examples in Maryland. Crisfield is part of the Salisbury-Ocean Pines CSA , a combined statistical area (CSA) which includes the Salisbury metropolitan area ( Somerset and Wicomico counties) and the Ocean Pines micropolitan area ( Worcester County ), which had a combined population of 155,934 at the 2000 census . Salisbury

3589-404: The Chesapeake Bay, the city is extremely flat, with the elevation never rising above 3 feet (0.91 m). The city of Crisfield is surrounded by salt marshes and was built on a floodplain. The downtown is especially prone to flooding during large storms and hurricanes. On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy 's storm surge left most of the city underwater. Ongoing local concerns about flooding and

3686-837: The Civil War. After the defeat of the French Empire at the hands of the Seventh Coalition in July 1815, emperor Napoleon I sought to flee to the United States to escape imprisonment. According to local legends, Napoleon's brother, Jerome Bonaparte , had previously married Elizabeth Patterson , an American socialite from Baltimore, and through her the Bonapartes had connections to the American gentry, such as

3783-732: The Crab Picking contest, and the Crab Bowl. The Crab Bowl turns the Somers Cove Marina into fairgrounds with rides, concerts, vendor stands, and fireworks. Crisfield has several museums: the J. Millard Tawes Historical Museum, the Ward Brothers Workshop, and the J. Millard Tawes Library. Crisfield is said to have a mayor–council–manager government. Administration is handled by the City Manager, who

3880-753: The King family in Beverly. According to the 1944 book 'Rivers of the Eastern Shore' by Hulbert Footner, Nicholas Girod , former Mayor of New Orleans , attempted to rescue Napoleon from his exile in British Saint Helena in 1821, the plan being to hide Napoleon in Beverly House in Princess Anne , Somerset County, before transporting him to Napoleon House in New Orleans once the hunt for him subsided. However, Napoleon died before

3977-630: The Pocomoke City delegation not supporting Snow Hill to remain in the league. This was refuted later, stating it was merely the opinion of a few young men in the heat of anger and the story had been spread to affect the election. In mid-November, President Miller announced that the Eastern Shore League was admitted by the National Association of Professional Baseball Clubs and that arrangements were being made for

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4074-552: The Roman Catholic government, resulting in the reversion of Lord Baltimore's proprietary charter. The Province was converted into a Royal colony (with a later government controlled by the king and his ministers). The capital was moved from the Catholic stronghold at St. Mary's City in southern Maryland to the more central, newly renamed Annapolis on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, opposite Kent Island . In 1692,

4171-772: The Virginia Assembly to declare that the Virginia-Maryland border was 30 miles (48 km) north of the Pocomoke Sound, at the mouth of the Wicomico River . The Assembly tried to secure the allegiance to Virginia of all settlers south of the Wicomico River ;– including the Annemessex and Manokin settlements. In early October 1663, a militia from Accomac County, Virginia led by a Colonel Edmund Scarborough arrived at

4268-403: The average family size was 2.92. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 27.8% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 75.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.3 males. The median income for a household in

4365-623: The borders of his territory on the Delmarva Peninsula against the pressing encroachment of the Virginians. The Royal Charter that Lord Baltimore had received from King Charles I in 1632 had granted Maryland the land north of the entire length of the Potomac River up to the 40th parallel . Later surveys authorized by Baltimore on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay indicated that the southern boundary would continue across

4462-458: The city dock. The city of Crisfield is accessible by two main state highways: Maryland Route 413 (the main route through the city and is known colloquially as "The Strip") and Maryland Route 667 . Both routes connect directly to U.S. Route 13 , the main north−south thoroughfare of the Delmarva Peninsula . Additionally, Maryland Route 358 (Jacksonville Road) leads to the nearby Janes Island State Park , and Maryland Route 460 (Hall Highway)

4559-433: The city was $ 17,979, and the median income for a family was $ 23,929. Males had a median income of $ 30,078 versus $ 20,670 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 12,387. About 30.5% of families and 34.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 46.8% of those under age 18 and 30.2% of those age 65 or over. Crisfield gained a new police chief in 2007—Chief Michael L. Tabor, who retired from

4656-667: The city's large events, such as the National Hard Crab Derby. Throughout Crisfield's history, there has been discussion of a high-speed ferry link between Crisfield and the Western Shore, with large vessels that can accommodate large numbers of vehicles and tractor-trailers. The proposed site for a Western Shore landing has ranged from Point Lookout State Park in Maryland to Reedville in Northumberland County, Virginia . Proponents state that

4753-464: The city, starting in the late 1990s, alongside the many seafood restaurants already in town. A large supermarket had been in city plans for a decade, though it wasn't until April 2010 that it opened for business. Crisfield has also been a target for large waterfront properties, with several large condominiums being built in the mid-2000s in the downtown area, along with other places flanking Crisfield's harbors. A "strategic revitalization plan" has been in

4850-426: The city. The population density was 1,674.9 inhabitants per square mile (646.7/km). There were 1,357 housing units at an average density of 834.7 per square mile (322.3/km). The racial makeup of the city was 58.54% White , 37.46% African American , 0.40% Native American , 0.51% Asian , 0.04% Pacific Islander , 0.37% from other races , and 2.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of

4947-478: The county has a total area of 610 square miles (1,600 km ), of which 320 square miles (830 km ) is land and 291 square miles (750 km ) (48%) is water. The State of Maryland Deal Island Wildlife Management Area , a protected area , is in the northwest quadrant of the county. It incorporates not only Deal Island but the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. It is 13,000 acres (5,300 ha). It has over 9 miles (14 km) of flat trails. The county has

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5044-836: The county. The work of these Presbyterian ministers and missionaries eventually led to the organization of the Presbytery in Philadelphia in 1706, the forerunner of American Presbyterianism . In 1689, the " Glorious Revolution " of 1688 in England resulted in the exile of the Roman Catholic King James II . After conquest by invasion, the Protestant Dutch rulers William of Orange-Nassau and Mary of Orange (James II's Protestant daughter) later became King William III, (1650–1702) and Queen Mary II. The "Protestant Revolution" of 1689 in Maryland overthrew

5141-513: The descendants of the tribes of Maryland remained. They intermarried with colonists, including white indentured servants, and African and African-American enslaved workers. Children of Native American mothers were generally absorbed and grew up in their culture, even if mixed-race . The Catholic Church recorded Native American families in southern Maryland. In the late 20th century, many groups of Native American began to reorganize, noting their community continuity. Several tribes have been recognized by

5238-401: The first President of the league. It was decided upon a 70-game schedule, five games at home and five games on the road, versus each team in the league for the 1922 season, with the final day being Labor Day. A general admission fee of 40 cents, including war tax, was set, and it was decided that each team should post an $ 875 guarantee by March 1, 1922, in order to assure the team would finish out

5335-417: The first two settlements were Quakers and Anglicans ; and both groups continued to grow from ongoing immigration from the northern portions of the Virginia colony. In the 1670s, Scottish and Irish Presbyterians began to immigrate to the county, some from Virginia, some from the British Isles. In December 1680, a prominent member of the county and professed Anglican, William Stevens of Rehoboth settlement, sent

5432-421: The impact of sea level rise were featured in The Washington Post in October 2013. Crisfield is the southernmost city in the state of Maryland; the point farthest south is geographically located at Ape Hole. Regardless of this, Southern Maryland is an official region of the state not associated with the Eastern Shore , and areas of Saint Mary's County are sometimes claimed to be the southernmost point of

5529-416: The league could contract and play as a six-team league for 1922, with Cambridge being mentioned as a possible contraction candidate. At a meeting on January 5, 1922, it was announced that the decision by Princess Anne to withdraw was final and the representative of the Berlin team offered to withdraw, since Berlin was the last team added to the league. The league accepted the withdrawal under the terms that if

5626-2185: The league expanded to eight teams again, Berlin would be added back. The opening game of the inaugural season was played on June 9, 1922, between the Laurel Blue Hens and Cambridge Canners in Laurel. 1925 Eastern Shore League schedule No Playoffs Scheduled. Five State Championship : Hagerstown ( Blue Ridge League ) 4 games, Cambridge 3. 1926 Eastern Shore League schedule 34 Easton wins were reversed August 16; 19 Parksley wins were reversed August 22; 23 Dover Wins and 22 Cambridge wins were reversed September 2. All due to salary limit violations. Five State Championship : Hagerstown ( Blue Ridge League ) 4 games, Chrisfield 2. 1927 Eastern Shore League schedule Five State Championship : Parksley 4 games, Chambersburg ( Blue Ridge League ) 2. 1928 Eastern Shore League schedule The League Disbanded July 10. No Player Statistics Available. 1937 Eastern Shore League schedule Salisbury had 21 wins reversed June 19 due to veteran player limit violations Playoffs: Salisbury 2 games, Cambridge 1.Centreville 2 games, Easton 1. Finals: Salisbury 3 games, Centreville 2. 1938 Eastern Shore League schedule Playoffs: Salisbury 2 games, Milford 0. Cambridge 2 games, Dover 0. Finals: Salisbury 3 games, Cambridge 1. 1939 Eastern Shore League schedule Playoffs: Cambridge 3 games, Centreville 0. Dover 3 games, Federalsburg 0. Finals: Cambridge 4 games, Dover 2. 1940 Eastern Shore League 1940 Eastern Shore League schedule Playoffs: Milford 3 games, Dover 2. Salisbury 3 games, Centreville 2. Finals: Salisbury 4 games, Milford 2. 1941 Eastern Shore League schedule Playoffs: Milford 3 games, Centreville 0. Easton 3 games, Cambridge 0. Finals: Easton 4 games, Milford 3. 1946 Eastern Shore League schedule Playoffs: Centreville 4 games, Dover 3. Milford 4 games, Salisbury 2. Finals: Centreville 4 games, Milford 1. 1947 Eastern Shore League schedule Playoffs: Cambridge 4 games, Dover 3; Seaford 4 games, Federalsburg 0. Finals: Seaford 4 games, Cambridge 3. 1948 Eastern Shore League schedule Playoffs: Teams played

5723-426: The location of Cape Henlopen or at Fenwick Island. There were few settlers in the frontier on either side to take issue. That boundary would finally be settled in 1763 when surveyors Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon incorporated the Transpeninsular Line (Mason–Dixon line) as the definitive boundary between Delaware and Maryland. The territory continued to attract new settlers, primarily from Virginia, and by 1666,

5820-463: The longest streak of voting for every incumbent president seeking re-election; it has done so since at least 1980 . If Gerald Ford, who was never elected president, is not counted as an incumbent, this streak can be traced back to 1948 (Trump in 2020 , Obama in 2012 , Bush in 2004 , Clinton in 1996 , H.W. Bush in 1992 , Reagan in 1984 , Carter in 1980, Nixon in 1972 , Johnson in 1964 , and Eisenhower in 1956 ). Somerset County

5917-530: The main access point to Smith Island, it is an area with many speakers of the unique Smith Island accent . It also serves Smith Island cake , the Maryland state dessert , in many of its restaurants. Since 1986, Crisfield has hosted the Scorchy Tawes Pro-Am Fishing Tournament. The 3-day tournament features cash prizes for different fishing categories, and nightly block-parties at Side Street Restaurant. The annual J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake takes place in September each year. The event, which began in 1976,

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6014-428: The major leagues. Perdue Stadium is the home of the class A Delmarva Shorebirds , an Orioles farm team. The class D "Eastern Shore League" was started in 1922 using teams from the pre-existing Eastern Shore League, a group which had been playing baseball since the 1890s. The first meeting of the class D league was held on October 8, 1921, in Salisbury, Maryland where it was decided that the seven teams that completed

6111-403: The most prominent of which is the National Hard Crab Derby . Crisfield is also a major gateway to Smith Island and Tangier Island . The Annamessex , a Native American tribe related to the Pocomoke people , were indigenous to the region. Their small fishing village was known as Annemessex Neck. The nearby Annemessex River is also named after them. On February 10, 1663, Benjamin Summers,

6208-565: The numbers for the blue crab catch, which have fallen by 70% since the 1990s. Regulations have been placed on harvest of female crabs in order to control overharvesting . Most of the labor force in Crisfield works outside of the city and elsewhere on the peninsula—the largest seafood employer in Somerset County is located nearby in Hopewell . Additionally, a new industrial park, slated for construction as early as September 2013 just north of Crisfield, near Carvel Hall and along MD 413, will expand Crisfield's corporate limits. Due to Crisfield being

6305-419: The peninsula at the mouth of the Pocomoke River . It was marked on the north shore by a rock outcropping labelled as "Watkins' Point". The Virginian Quakers settled just north of that point, on the southern bank of the Annemessex River in November 1662, A separate group of Anglican Virginian settlers were granted permission to make another settlement, further north along the Manokin River . In conjunction with

6402-408: The plot could go ahead. As the English colonies expanded, they encroached on Native American land. The coastal areas were occupied primarily by Algonquian language -speaking tribes. The population of the latter decreased, due to disease, warfare and social disruption. Some of the tribes migrated west to the Ohio River Valley or joined with neighboring tribes to the north, such as the Lenape. Some of

6499-543: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The largest ancestry groups in the county are Black or African American (41%), English American (16%), German (8%), Irish (8%) and Italian (1%) ancestry. There were 8,361 households, out of which 38.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who

6596-440: The population. There were 1,113 households, of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.1% were married couples living together, 25.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.1% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

6693-407: The population. There were 1,172 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.9% were married couples living together, 25.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and

6790-425: The population. In terms of ancestry, 13.3% were German , 11.5% were English , 9.2% were American , and 8.3% were Irish . Of the 8,788 households, 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.7% were non-families, and 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size

6887-512: The present-day Crisfield Election District. Another plot of land, named "Little Worth" and totalling 100 acres (0.40 km), was also patented in Annemessex. These three plots of land would eventually come to be known collectively as Somers Cove. Somers Cove soon became a major East Coast distribution center for seafood. The town grew faster than other settlements on the Delmarva Peninsula , with over 100 buildings in 1804, while Princess Anne and Salisbury had 40 and 4 respectively. In 1854,

6984-544: The public schools in the city are located down this corridor. There is also Main Street, which provides access to City Hall, the post office, police department, the library, and many of the businesses in the city, and also intersects Somerset Avenue at the only stoplight in the city. Main Street merges with Maryland Route 413 near the Crisfield Fire Department, becoming a four-lane boulevard. Broadway Avenue, running parallel to Main Street one block south,

7081-411: The railroad that had brought prosperity to Crisfield was abandoned as Conrail was established. However, Maryland Route 413 , a new, straight vehicular highway was built before the railroad was abandoned, along the railroad right-of-way. As large businesses in the United States grew, they passed the shrinking Crisfield by until the late 20th century. Fast-food restaurants began to slowly find business in

7178-475: The season. At this point, it was decided that having three teams in Worcester County would be too many. The director for each of the three teams, Berlin, Pocomoke City, and Snow Hill, volunteered for their team to withdraw. A vote was held and Snow Hill was eliminated, with the opening for the eighth team in the inaugural season being offered to Parksley, Virginia . A meeting of Snow Hill residents

7275-557: The settlement. The company moved on to the Manokin Settlement , where they were received much more favorably. Although the Anglican settlers there were willing to swear allegiance to the Virginia colonial government, they were not willing to take any action against Lord Baltimore's government. Scarborough returned to Virginia without success in taking over southern Somerset County for Virginia. The new settlers established

7372-583: The state. After the Dutch Anglo war, The Dutch loss the North & South Rivers (Hudson & Delaware). The Dutch colony (2 miles X 20 miles) along the Delaware Bay, became Durham County Maryland, With the county seat being Lewes, 1665 until 1669. In 1669 it became part of Somerset County until 1683 when it given to William Penn. In 1742, Worcester County to the east and the ocean, was organized as

7469-537: The state. Crisfield's location on the Atlantic Coastal Plain in Maryland gives it a humid subtropical climate , with hot, humid summers and cool to mild winters. Its proximity to water, as well as a common trend on the Delmarva Peninsula, means that the city does not see much snowfall in the winters; meaning Crisfield as well as Inner Harbor Baltimore , and the border of Assateague Island on

7566-403: The territory had met the requirements to become established as a county in the province with its own local government. On August 22, 1666, Lord Baltimore issued a proclamation establishing the new county, including the establishment of a complete civil and military organization. The proclamation established a sheriff and a military commander for the county, and five surveyors charged with laying out

7663-410: The thirteenth county of Maryland by separation from Somerset County. By 1867, portions of Somerset and Worcester counties were ceded to create a 22nd jurisdiction, Wicomico County . (The state in 1872 created a 23rd and final county in the far mountainous west, named Garrett .) The county has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places . According to the U.S. Census Bureau ,

7760-520: The top of the peninsula, where the Delaware River meets the Bay. In the 1680s, William Penn , founder of Pennsylvania, claimed this territory as his own, based on a conflicting deed. Penn, Baltimore, and their heirs began a protracted legal battle to determine the boundaries. Their compromise was to split the Delmarva Peninsula; however, they disagreed as to whether the boundary line should be drawn at

7857-455: The train soot and oyster shells prompted the extension of the city's land into the marshes. City residents often claim that the downtown area is literally built atop oyster shells. Crisfield began to slip into decline along with the declining health of the Chesapeake Bay, prompting a "strategic revitalization plan" to address the city's future needs. Currently, Crisfield is largely a tourist destination. It hosts many annual events and festivals,

7954-488: The two new settlements, Lord Baltimore set up a three-man commission for the Eastern Shore territory, made up of two Marylanders and one Virginian. Its purpose was ostensibly to oversee the territory, found new settlements, and maintain a detailed recording of all land and civic transactions in the area. Lord Baltimore intended to use the commission to reinforce Maryland's claim to the area and to monitor any encroachments by Virginians. In 1663, activists from Virginia persuaded

8051-469: The winner of the league to face the winner of the Blue Ridge League . By November 29, Snow Hill fans had threatened legal action, requesting an injunction to prevent the league from playing any scheduled games until Snow Hill was allowed to return to the league, saying that the league's organizational meeting was held at Snow Hill's suggestion. On December 13, it was announced that Princess Anne

8148-619: The works since 2006 to address future growing needs and beautification of the city. Crisfield is known for its seafood, particularly Atlantic blue crab , and it abounds with restaurants, seafood packing houses, and seafood distribution companies. Several seafood restaurants across the country carry the city's name. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy affected the town as many businesses and homes were flooded. The Crisfield Armory , Crisfield Historic District , Cullen Homestead Historic District , Make Peace , Nelson Homestead , Capt. Leonard Tawes House , and Ward Brothers' House and Shop are listed on

8245-468: Was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age was 36.5 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 42,443 and the median income for a family was $ 49,759. Males had a median income of $ 39,307 versus $ 33,067 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 16,919. About 12.7% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 27.0% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over. As of

8342-435: Was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age in the city was 38.4 years. 27.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.5% were from 25 to 44; 24.6% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 44.0% male and 56.0% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 2,723 people, 1,172 households, and 723 families residing in

8439-536: Was 24,620, making it the second-least populous county in Maryland. The county seat is Princess Anne . The county is part of the Lower Eastern Shore region of the state. The county was named for Mary, Lady Somerset, the wife of Sir John Somerset and daughter of Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour (c. 1560–1639). She was also the sister of Anne Calvert, Baroness Baltimore (1615–1649), who later lent her name to Anne Arundel County , which

8536-456: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92. In the county, the population was spread out, with 18.5% under the age of 18, 15.7% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.1 males. The median income for

8633-408: Was built atop this new land, and this leads to the common statement that Crisfield was so prosperous that it is "literally built on top of oyster shells". James Reed, an African American native to North Carolina was lynched by a mob of whites in Crisfield, Maryland on July 28, 1907. He was thought to have killed the local police chief. The city experienced several fires, the most well-known of which

8730-423: Was dropping out of the league because it could not find an adequate location for a new ballpark at a reasonable price, and that the former ballpark at Washington High School was too small for the league. Speculation then began that Snow Hill may re-enter the league, that Princess Anne could be replaced by Milford or Dover in Delaware, or Easton, Maryland, who had been invited to the first meeting and declined, or that

8827-546: Was erected in 1650 as the Province of Maryland 's third county. Somerset County is located on the state's Eastern Shore . It is included in the Salisbury , MD- DE Metropolitan Statistical Area . The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is located in Princess Anne. Somerset County was settled and established by English colonists in part due to a response to the Province/Dominion of Virginia passing

8924-405: Was formally incorporated in 1872 as a city, and renamed Crisfield in honor of the attorney's efforts. The railroad bolstered the economy of the new city and Crisfield prospered greatly, as did other towns and settlements along its route, such as Marion Station to the north. Seafood was soon being shipped all over the United States, and Crisfield became known as the "Seafood Capital of the World",

9021-645: Was held shortly after where resolutions were passed protesting Snow Hill's removal from the league and it was reported that President Miller would call the Board of Directors back together to reconsider Snow Hill's removal. By early November, it was reported that the residents of Snow Hill were so angered by their team being removed from the 1922 season, there was concern of it affecting elections in Worcester County that fall, as Snow Hill residents stated they would not support any candidate from Pocomoke City due to

9118-511: Was nominated by Pocomoke City and the Berlin team by Snow Hill, with Berlin winning the vote 4 to 3. At this meeting, a $ 1,750 a month salary limit was put in place and it was decided to divide gate receipts 50/50 with a guarantee of at least $ 60 per game. It was also announced that three town, Berlin, Cambridge, and Princess Anne, would build new ballparks. The Board of Directors met on October 22, 1921, and elected Walter B. Miller of Salisbury as

9215-412: Was once a major business center in the city as well, fronted by many businesses and churches and passed directly through the city's marina; however, it no longer reaches the marina, and a large number of the stores and warehouses along it have closed. Somerset County, Maryland Somerset County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of Maryland . As of the 2020 census , the population

9312-437: Was open with life guards and concession stand in the 1980s, but closed. However, through Program Open Space, Crisfield received funding to build and reopen it. Crisfield's public Wellington Beach and Park reopened in early 2012 as Brick Kiln Beach. However, after Hurricane Sandy hit later that year, the beach required major reconstruction. The beach was renamed and reopened to the public on June 2, 2013 at 1:00 PM. The park has

9409-483: Was reported that Crisfield experienced an 81% decrease in crime rates of all kinds since 2007. Crisfield's economy is centered largely around retail, health care, and automotive. Seafood is also an important part of Crisfield's economy, just as it has been for most of its existence, with several packing plants existing within the city. In 1997, the company CrabPlace.com began selling seafood online, caught by local watermen. The largest employer inside Crisfield's limits

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