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Learn About Port Tobacco, Maryland
Port Tobacco is a town located in Charles County, MD. It is officially known as Port Tobacco Village and is the smallest incorporated town in the state of Maryland. The town is located near La Plata to the east. Pomfret lies to the north, Welcome to the south, and the communities of Ironsides and Indian Head are located to the east and northeast. According to the United States Census Bureau, Port Tobacco has a total area of 0.16 square miles, all of which is land.
The area surrounding Port Tobacco was originally inhabited by Algonquian-speaking peoples, particularly the Potapoco and the more dominant Piscataway. English settlers arrived in the 17th century, and the town was officially established in 1727. It soon became the second-largest town in Maryland. As the first county seat of Charles County, Port Tobacco developed into a major seaport with access to the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
Port Tobacco’s decline began when river traffic was disrupted by the buildup of silt in the Port Tobacco River. The town was further affected when railroad routes bypassed the area. Although Port Tobacco was incorporated in 1888, the county seat was relocated to La Plata in 1895, contributing to its continued decline.
The English adapted the Potapoco name when naming Port Tobacco, a name that also reflected the colony’s chief export crop. The town grew rapidly as a major port for the tobacco trade, with exports shipped on ocean-going sailing vessels. During the late 17th century, Port Tobacco was the second-largest river port in Maryland.
Since the late 20th century, the former courthouse built in 1819 has been renovated and now serves as a historical museum. In 2007, a consortium launched the Port Tobacco Archaeology Project, which focuses on uncovering the history of Native Americans, colonial Europeans, and Africans in the region. Because of its rich and layered past, the area is considered one of the most significant archaeological sites in Southern Maryland.