Port Tobacco Village, Maryland
Port Tobacco Village, Maryland | ||
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FIPS code 24-63225 | |
Port Tobacco, officially Port Tobacco Village, is a town in Charles County, in southern Maryland, United States. The population was 13 at the 2010 census,[4] making Port Tobacco the smallest incorporated town in Maryland.[5]
Overview
This was historically the territory of
Since the late 20th century, the former 1819 courthouse has been renovated for use as a historical museum. In 2007 a consortium started the Port Tobacco
A few miles south, the
History
This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2007) |
Areas along the waterways of present-day Maryland were inhabited for thousands of years by various cultures of distinct
Colonial era
Within a generation of the first Maryland settlers' landing at
Later the
The early immigrants to Port Tobacco were products of the religious turmoil in England. Their deeply felt convictions were powerful influences in Maryland's history. The area had both English Catholic and
Freed from restraints by the
For two centuries, Port Tobacco area residents assumed important roles in state and national history.
Civil War
During the Civil War, Port Tobacco became known as a stronghold of Confederate sympathizers, although Union troops occupied the town. Rose O'Neal Greenhow (1814-1864), born here, became renowned as a Confederate spy operating in Washington, DC. Recruited by former US Army captain Thomas Jordan, later promoted to Confederate general, she took over his network in early 1861.[16] Due to military plans she passed to the Confederates that summer, she was credited with ensuring their victory at the First Battle of Bull Run in July 1861.[17] Local slaves were freed following Maryland's adoption of a new Constitution on November 1, 1864 (the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 did not apply to states which remained in the Union). During the hunt for John Wilkes Booth after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, intelligence gathered in a Port Tobacco hotel (Brawner Hotel) (conspirator George Atzerodt lived in town) established the assassin had fled with his companion Herold into Virginia, where they were ultimately located and Herold surrendered, but Booth died during the attempted capture.
Decline
Port Tobacco started declining as erosion from excessive agricultural use and poor soil conservation caused significant siltation at the head of the Port Tobacco River, decreasing its navigability and ultimately cutting off the town from access to Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Larger merchant vessels were unable to use the former seaport; as a result, commercial activity at the port had dwindled by the time of the Civil War.[18]
The decline was exacerbated by the completion in 1873 of a nearby Baltimore and Potomac Railroad line to Pope's Creek which bypassed Port Tobacco and ran further south to another port directly on the Potomac River.[19] A small portion of the town's square incorporated in 1888 as Port Tobacco Village,[7][8] a move that may have signaled an effort by the community to reverse its decline, but new communities eventually sprang up along the railway and prospered, including the town of La Plata which succeeded Port Tobacco as the county seat in 1895.
Reconstruction
The remains today are identified as Port Tobacco Village. Because of the town's abrupt decline and silting of the river, many
Visitors may see the reconstructed Port Tobacco Courthouse, furnished as it may have appeared in the 19th century, even as of the day of Booth's escape. The North wing has exhibits on tobacco culture, as well as archaeological finds which reveal early colonial and Native American life.
Other notable nearby historic sites include:
- Several 18th-century homes on the National Register of Historic Places, including Rose Hill, Ellerslie, Linden, Retreat, Stagg Hall, and Catslide House.[21]
- The restored one-room schoolhouse, used from 1876 to 1953
- Thomas Stone National Historic Site, the plantation home of one of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence.
- St. Thomas Manor and Cemetery at Chapel Point is the oldest continuously operating Catholic parish among the Thirteen Colonies; exhibits provide insight into early Catholic history and Jesuit missionary activity in the colony, as well as Native American history.
- Mulberry Grove, birthplace of John Hanson
Port Tobacco folklore
Legend of the Blue Dog
Halloween reminds local residents of Charles County's "Blue Dog" legend, which is taught in local schools and has been told in the county for more than 100 years. By most accounts, the spirit of a large blue dog protects the treasure of his murdered master, which is supposed to be buried somewhere along Rose Hill Road outside Port Tobacco.
Charles Stuart was the owner of the Rose Hill property containing the fabled rock where Blue Dog and his master were killed.[22] He has said that the first written account of the Blue Dog legend dates back to 1897,[23] when Olivia Floyd, a noted Confederate spy and owner of Rose Hill, told the Port Tobacco Times that she had seen the ghost of the Blue Dog.[23]
The legend says that Charles Thomas Sims, a soldier, and his dog were killed on February 8 in the 18th century on Rose Hill Road while returning from a Port Tobacco tavern. This was following the American Revolutionary War.[24] Henry Hanos of Port Tobacco purportedly killed Sims and his dog for Sims' gold and a deed to an estate. Hanos buried the gold and deed under a holly tree along Rose Hill Road. When Hanos returned to recover the treasure, he was scared away by the ghost of Blue Dog. Hanos fell ill and died suddenly. To this day, Blue Dog reportedly continues to watch over his slain master's treasure.[24]
Thuc Doan Nguyen is developing a film based on this tale.[25]
Transportation
The only state highway serving Port Tobacco is Maryland Route 6. MD 6 connects westward to Nanjemoy, while to the east, it links with US 301 in La Plata.
Geography
Port Tobacco Village is located in central Charles County near the intersection of Maryland Route 6 and Chapel Point Road, just southwest of the neighboring town of La Plata. It sits near the Port Tobacco River, which joins the Potomac River a short distance south.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.16 square miles (0.41 km2), all land.[26]
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1870 | 215 | — | |
1880 | 202 | −6.0% | |
1890 | 132 | −34.7% | |
1980 | 40 | — | |
1990 | 36 | −10.0% | |
2000 | 15 | −58.3% | |
2010 | 13 | −13.3% | |
2020 | 18 | 38.5% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[27] |
2020 census
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2000[28] | Pop 2010[29] | Pop 2020[30] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH)
|
9 | 11 | 13 | 60.00% | 84.62% | 72.22% |
Black or African American alone (NH)
|
4 | 1 | 1 | 26.67% | 7.69% | 5.56% |
Alaska Native alone (NH)
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Asian alone (NH) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6.67% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Some Other Race alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6.67% | 7.69% | 11.11% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 11.11% |
Total | 15 | 13 | 18 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2010 census
As of the
There were 7 households, of which 14.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.4% were married couples living together, and 28.6% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.86 and the average family size was 2.20.
The median age in the town was 64.5 years. 7.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 15.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 0.0% were from 25 to 44; 30.8% were from 45 to 64; and 46.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 46.2% male and 53.8% female.
2000 census
As of the
There were 5 households, out of which 40.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 60.0% had a female householder with no husband present. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.0% under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $100,992, and the median income for a family was $102,264. The per capita income for the town was $43,017. There were no families below the poverty line.
Notable people
- George Atzerodt, co-conspirator with John Wilkes Booth
- Gustavus Richard Brown (1747-1804), Edinburgh educated physician, attended George Washington at his death bed
- Barnes Compton (1830–1889), planter, state legislator, State Treasurer, and US congressman
- John Hanson (1721–1783) first President of the Continental Congress
- abolitionist, minister, former slave, and an inspiration for Uncle Tom's Cabin
- Timmy Hill (1993–), NASCAR driver
- Tyler Hill (1994–), NASCAR driver
- Ann Teresa Mathews (1732–1800), founder of the first Catholic convent in the United States
- William Matthews (1770–1854), early American Roman Catholic priest
- Thuc Doan Nguyen (1976-), writer
- United States Constitution
- Jesuit leader and president of Georgetown University
References
- ^ "Port Tobacco". Maryland Manual. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
- ^ "Port Tobacco ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com. 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
- ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Port Tobacco Village town, Maryland". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
- ^ Census 2000. (2001, April). Charles County Demographic 5(2), p. 1. Retrieved July 21, 2007 (Adobe Acrobat Reader required for viewing).
- ^ Donald G. Shomette, Lost Towns of Tidewater Maryland, Tidewater Publishers, Centreville, MD, 2000, pp. 193-245.
- ^ a b "Municipalities & Population Centers - Port Tobacco". Charles County Government. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2014. "Today just 13 residents live within the incorporated borders of Port Tobacco Village, but the many surrounding neighborhoods add to this community known for its rich heritage and historical significance."
- ^ a b "Port Tobacco". Maryland Manual Online. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
- ^ a b Nancy Bromley McConaty, "Restorers work to upgrade Catslide House", SoMDNews, 29 Feb 2008, accessed 17 Mar 2010
- ^ "Port Tobacco". Maryland Municipal League. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved October 4, 2007.
- ISBN 978-0-87474-195-7.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ Alice and Henry Ferguson (1960). The Piscataway Indians of Southern Maryland. Alice Ferguson Foundation. p. 8.
- ^ Maryland Scenic Byways at pp. 66-71 of 91-page pdf file, pp. 128-138 in internal pagination
- ^ "A History of Christ Church, Port Tobacco Parish, Established 1692". Archived from the original on July 17, 2006. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
- ^ "Our History - Christ Church Port Tabacco Parish". Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
- ^ Fishel, Edwin C. The Secret War for the Union: The Untold Story of Military Intelligence in the Civil War, New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1996, pp. 59-76
- ^ "Greenhow, Rose O'Neal" Archived 2016-01-20 at the Wayback Machine, (1817-1864), The National Archives – People Description. 1817-1864, (accessed February 5, 2013)
- ^ Beisaw, April M. (September 2007). "Once Was Not Enough: Founding and Finding Port Tobacco, Charles County". Maryland Archeology. 43 (2). Academia: 1–6. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
- ^ "LaPlata Train Station". Charles County Government. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- ^ "Port Tobacco Archaeological Project". porttobacco.blogspot.com. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Nixon White House Staffer, Charles Stuart, Dies at 69". Nixon Foundation. October 3, 2007. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
- ^ a b Hayden, Faith (September 29, 2002). "Washington stayed here, as does loyal dog's ghost". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 4, 2007.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Port Tobacco Historic District". Charles County Economic Development/Tourism Office. Retrieved October 4, 2007.
- ^ "Amazingly Simple Graphic Design Software – Canva". Retrieved March 31, 2023.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "P004 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Port Tobacco Village, Maryland". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Port Tobacco Village, Maryland". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Port Tobacco Village, Maryland". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
External links
- Media related to Port Tobacco Village, Maryland at Wikimedia Commons
- Web page of Port Tobacco Village, Maryland
- Port Tobacco Archaeological Project
- Port Tobacco at Historical Marker Database
- Contact Information for Port Tobacco Village, Maryland