Port Tobacco Village, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Port Tobacco, officially Port Tobacco Village, is a town in Charles County
, Maryland
, United States. The population was 15 at the 2000 census, making Port Tobacco the smallest incorporated town in Maryland.
This was historically the territory of Algonquian
-speaking peoples, especially the Potapoco and the more dominant Piscataway
. Settled by the English
in the 17th century and established in 1727, the town on the Port Tobacco River
soon became the second largest in Maryland. The first county seat of Charles County, it was a seaport with access to the Chesapeake Bay
and Atlantic Ocean. It declined rapidly after river traffic was cut off and it was bypassed by the railroad. Moving the county seat
to La Plata
in 1895 drew population away, but left the town with its historic significance intact.
In recent years, the former court house has been renovated for use as a historical museum. In 2007 a consortium started the Port Tobacco Archeology Project, devoted to revealing the history of Native American
s, and colonial Europe
ans and Africans. Because of its unique history, the area is "one of the richest archeological sites in Southern Maryland."
A few miles south, St. Ignatius Church
and cemetery at St. Thomas Manor
comprise a complex designated as a National Historic Landmark
, notable as a Jesuit mission
center of the 17th century and possibly the oldest continuously operating Roman Catholic parish founded in the Thirteen Colonies
which began the United States. The complex at Chapel Point has scenic views overlooking the Potomac River
. John Hanson
, President of the U.S. Continental Congress
, was born nearby.
. At the time of European exploration, this coastal area along the Port Tobacco River
was the territory of the Potopaco, an Algonquian
-speaking tribe. They called their settlement Potopaco. Overall, the dominant tribe on the north side of the Potomac River
was the Algonquian Piscataway
, which later absorbed some of the smaller tribes' survivors.
Within a generation of the first Maryland settlers' landing at St. Clement's Island
, they pushed the frontiers of the colony north and west toward the Potomac and Port Tobacco rivers. The English developed a small village about 1634 on the east side of the Port Tobacco tributary. It became the nucleus for trade
and government
. It was first called Chandlers Town. The town was one of the oldest English-speaking communities on the East Coast of the United States
.
Later the English
adapted the Native American
name as Port Tobacco
. Its name also referred to what became the colony's chief export commodity crop. The town grew as it became a major port for the tobacco trade, with export product transported by ocean-going sailing ships. During the late 17th century, Port Tobacco became the second largest river port in Maryland. In 1658, it was designated the first county seat
of Charles County.
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 Catholic and Church of England
congregations. The Jesuits established a mission and church at what became St. Thomas Manor
at Chapel Point. The manor's chapel was expanded to what is called St. Ignatius Church, a center for local Native Americans converted to Christianity
. The oldest continuously operating Catholic parish in the United States, complex is now a National Historic Landmark
.
Freed from restraints by the Toleration Act
of 1649 and feeling a need for spiritual guidance, some settlers gathered their first Anglican church in a log building at the head of the Port Tobacco Creek. The year was 1683, nine years before the Establishment Act. Supported by the tobacco poll tax of 40 pounds per head from 1692–1776, Christ Church prospered. The community built a second structure in 1709. After the American Revolution
, the Anglican Church was disestablished in the US. Parishioners rallied to contribute directly to Christ Church. After the building was destroyed by a tornado in 1808, they financed a new brick structure by a lottery. The new Christ Church was first occupied in 1827. Falling into disrepair after 60 years of use, it was demolished and replaced with a stone edifice in 1884.
For two centuries, Port Tobacco area residents had central roles in state and national history. John Hanson
was elected first President by the Continental Congress
under the Articles of Confederation
; Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer
was a signer of the United States Constitution
; and Thomas Stone
was one of four of the Maryland delegation who signed the Declaration of Independence
.
The town started declining as it became cut off from access to Chesapeake Bay
and ocean as silt and tidal action changed the Port Tobacco River. At the same time, coastal ships became larger and were unable to use the river. When the former seaport was bypassed during construction of railroad lines in the 19th century, its decline continued. In 1895 the county seat was moved to La Plata, which further contributed to decline of the town. (See article on La Plata, Maryland
.)
Its remains today are identified as Port Tobacco Village. Because of the town's abrupt decline and silting of the river, many archeological sites have been preserved, making it one of the richest areas for studying the mixed history of Native, and colonial cultures, including that of enslaved Africans.
During the Civil War, the town was occupied by Union troops, leading to the emancipation of many local slaves after 1863. When the railroad built a stop at La Plata
, it began to lobby the legislature to move the county seat there, which was accomplished in 1895.
Visitors continue to enjoy the reconstructed Port Tobacco Courthouse, furnished as a 19th-century courtroom. The second floor has exhibits on the important tobacco
culture and archaeological finds revealing early colonial and Native American life. This work was sponsored by the Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco, which is helping a public archeology project on the entire town. Other notable historic sites are
In 2007 the Port Tobacco Archeological Project, was begun by a partnership among the Archeological Society of Maryland, the Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco, the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium, Preservation Maryland, and Preserve America
. It has encouraged participation by the community, with an Internet blog and regular chances for volunteer participation at many levels.
Halloween
reminds local residents of Charles County's "Blue Dog" legend, which is taught in local schools. It has been told in the county for more than 100 years. By most accounts, the spirit of a large blue dog protects his murdered master's treasure, buried somewhere on Rose Hill
Road outside Port Tobacco. According to resident Charles Stuart, whose property contains the fabled rock where Blue Dog and his master were killed, the first written account of the Blue Dog legend dates back to 1897. His house's former owner, Olivia Floyd
, told the Port Tobacco Times that she had seen the ghost of the Blue Dog.
Although Stuart has not seen the ghost of Blue Dog in his 20 years of residence, he does not doubt the accuracy of accounts telling that Charles Thomas Sims, a soldier, and his dog were killed on February 8 on Rose Hill Road while returning from a Port Tobacco Tavern. This was following the American Revolutionary War
.
Local myth tells that Henry Hanos of Port Tobacco killed Sims and his dog for Sim's 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. He fell ill and died suddenly. To this day, Blue Dog reportedly continues to watch over his slain master's treasure.
of 2000, there were 15 people, 5 households, and 5 families residing in the town. The population density
was 94.0 people per square mile (36.2/km²). There were 6 housing units at an average density of 37.6 per square mile (14.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 60.00% White, 26.67% Black or African American
, 6.67% Asian, and 6.67% from two or more races.
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% have 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 are no families below the poverty line.
Charles County, Maryland
Charles County is a county in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Maryland.As of 2010, the population was 146,551. Its county seat is La Plata. This county was named for Charles Calvert , third Baron Baltimore....
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, United States. The population was 15 at the 2000 census, making Port Tobacco the smallest incorporated town in Maryland.
This was historically the territory of Algonquian
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
-speaking peoples, especially the Potapoco and the more dominant Piscataway
Piscataway (tribe)
The Piscataway are a subtribe of the Conoy Native American tribe of Maryland. At one time, they were one of the most populous and powerful Native polities of the Chesapeake Bay region. They spoke Algonquian Piscataway, a dialect of Nanticoke...
. Settled by the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the 17th century and established in 1727, the town on the Port Tobacco River
Port Tobacco River
The Port Tobacco River is a tidal tributary of the Potomac River located in Charles County, Maryland in the United States. The river is approximately in length. The river was once the site of the thriving Port Tobacco, the county seat of Charles County from 1658 to 1895.-External links:*...
soon became the second largest in Maryland. The first county seat of Charles County, it was a seaport with access to the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
and Atlantic Ocean. It declined rapidly after river traffic was cut off and it was bypassed by the railroad. Moving the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
to La Plata
La Plata, Maryland
La Plata is a town in Charles County, Maryland, United States. The population was 6,551 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Charles County.-History:...
in 1895 drew population away, but left the town with its historic significance intact.
In recent years, the former court house has been renovated for use as a historical museum. In 2007 a consortium started the Port Tobacco Archeology Project, devoted to revealing the history of Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
s, and colonial Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
ans and Africans. Because of its unique history, the area is "one of the richest archeological sites in Southern Maryland."
A few miles south, St. Ignatius Church
St. Thomas Manor
St. Thomas Manor is a historic home and church complex located near Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland. It is a two story, seven-bay, brick structure of Georgian architecture, of Flemish bond construction. Connected to the manor house stands a two-story brick wing that incorporates a former...
and cemetery at St. Thomas Manor
St. Thomas Manor
St. Thomas Manor is a historic home and church complex located near Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland. It is a two story, seven-bay, brick structure of Georgian architecture, of Flemish bond construction. Connected to the manor house stands a two-story brick wing that incorporates a former...
comprise a complex designated as a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
, notable as a Jesuit mission
Mission (station)
A religious mission or mission station is a location for missionary work.While primarily a Christian term, the concept of the religious "mission" is also used prominently by the Church of Scientology and their Scientology Missions International....
center of the 17th century and possibly the oldest continuously operating Roman Catholic parish founded in the Thirteen Colonies
Thirteen Colonies
The Thirteen Colonies were English and later British colonies established on the Atlantic coast of North America between 1607 and 1733. They declared their independence in the American Revolution and formed the United States of America...
which began the United States. The complex at Chapel Point has scenic views overlooking the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
. John Hanson
John Hanson
John Hanson was a merchant and public official from Maryland during the era of the American Revolution. After serving in a variety of roles for the Patriot cause in Maryland, in 1779 Hanson was elected as a delegate to the Continental Congress...
, President of the U.S. Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
, was born nearby.
History
Areas along the waterways of present-day Maryland were inhabited for thousands of years by various cultures of distinct indigenous peoplesIndigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
. At the time of European exploration, this coastal area along the Port Tobacco River
Port Tobacco River
The Port Tobacco River is a tidal tributary of the Potomac River located in Charles County, Maryland in the United States. The river is approximately in length. The river was once the site of the thriving Port Tobacco, the county seat of Charles County from 1658 to 1895.-External links:*...
was the territory of the Potopaco, an Algonquian
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
-speaking tribe. They called their settlement Potopaco. Overall, the dominant tribe on the north side of the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
was the Algonquian Piscataway
Piscataway (tribe)
The Piscataway are a subtribe of the Conoy Native American tribe of Maryland. At one time, they were one of the most populous and powerful Native polities of the Chesapeake Bay region. They spoke Algonquian Piscataway, a dialect of Nanticoke...
, which later absorbed some of the smaller tribes' survivors.
Within a generation of the first Maryland settlers' landing at St. Clement's Island
St. Clement's Island
St. Clement's Island lies in the Potomac River near Colton's Point, Maryland, in the United States. The uninhabited island has been designated St. Clement's Island State Park....
, they pushed the frontiers of the colony north and west toward the Potomac and Port Tobacco rivers. The English developed a small village about 1634 on the east side of the Port Tobacco tributary. It became the nucleus for trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
and government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
. It was first called Chandlers Town. The town was one of the oldest English-speaking communities on the East Coast of the United States
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
.
Later the English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
adapted the Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
name as Port Tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
. Its name also referred to what became the colony's chief export commodity crop. The town grew as it became a major port for the tobacco trade, with export product transported by ocean-going sailing ships. During the late 17th century, Port Tobacco became the second largest river port in Maryland. In 1658, it was designated the first county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Charles County.
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 Catholic and Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
congregations. The Jesuits established a mission and church at what became St. Thomas Manor
St. Thomas Manor
St. Thomas Manor is a historic home and church complex located near Port Tobacco, Charles County, Maryland. It is a two story, seven-bay, brick structure of Georgian architecture, of Flemish bond construction. Connected to the manor house stands a two-story brick wing that incorporates a former...
at Chapel Point. The manor's chapel was expanded to what is called St. Ignatius Church, a center for local Native Americans converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. The oldest continuously operating Catholic parish in the United States, complex is now a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
.
Freed from restraints by the Toleration Act
Maryland Toleration Act
The Maryland Toleration Act, also known as the Act Concerning Religion, was a law mandating religious tolerance for trinitarian Christians. Passed on April 21, 1649 by the assembly of the Maryland colony, it was the second law requiring religious tolerance in the British North American colonies and...
of 1649 and feeling a need for spiritual guidance, some settlers gathered their first Anglican church in a log building at the head of the Port Tobacco Creek. The year was 1683, nine years before the Establishment Act. Supported by the tobacco poll tax of 40 pounds per head from 1692–1776, Christ Church prospered. The community built a second structure in 1709. After the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, the Anglican Church was disestablished in the US. Parishioners rallied to contribute directly to Christ Church. After the building was destroyed by a tornado in 1808, they financed a new brick structure by a lottery. The new Christ Church was first occupied in 1827. Falling into disrepair after 60 years of use, it was demolished and replaced with a stone edifice in 1884.
For two centuries, Port Tobacco area residents had central roles in state and national history. John Hanson
John Hanson
John Hanson was a merchant and public official from Maryland during the era of the American Revolution. After serving in a variety of roles for the Patriot cause in Maryland, in 1779 Hanson was elected as a delegate to the Continental Congress...
was elected first President by the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
under the Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation, formally the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was an agreement among the 13 founding states that legally established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution...
; Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer
Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer
Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer was a politician and a Founding Father of the United States. Born long before conflicts with Great Britain emerged, he was a leader for many years in Maryland's colonial government...
was a signer of the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
; and Thomas Stone
Thomas Stone
Thomas Stone was an American planter who signed the United States Declaration of Independence as a delegate for Maryland. He later worked on the committee that formed the Articles of Confederation in 1777...
was one of four of the Maryland delegation who signed the Declaration of Independence
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
.
The town started declining as it became cut off from access to Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
and ocean as silt and tidal action changed the Port Tobacco River. At the same time, coastal ships became larger and were unable to use the river. When the former seaport was bypassed during construction of railroad lines in the 19th century, its decline continued. In 1895 the county seat was moved to La Plata, which further contributed to decline of the town. (See article on La Plata, Maryland
La Plata, Maryland
La Plata is a town in Charles County, Maryland, United States. The population was 6,551 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Charles County.-History:...
.)
Its remains today are identified as Port Tobacco Village. Because of the town's abrupt decline and silting of the river, many archeological sites have been preserved, making it one of the richest areas for studying the mixed history of Native, and colonial cultures, including that of enslaved Africans.
During the Civil War, the town was occupied by Union troops, leading to the emancipation of many local slaves after 1863. When the railroad built a stop at La Plata
La Plata, Maryland
La Plata is a town in Charles County, Maryland, United States. The population was 6,551 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Charles County.-History:...
, it began to lobby the legislature to move the county seat there, which was accomplished in 1895.
Visitors continue to enjoy the reconstructed Port Tobacco Courthouse, furnished as a 19th-century courtroom. The second floor has exhibits on the important tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
culture and archaeological finds revealing early colonial and Native American life. This work was sponsored by the Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco, which is helping a public archeology project on the entire town. Other notable historic sites are
- Catslide House, one of the four surviving 18th-century homes in the area;
- the restored one-room schoolhouse, used from 1876–1953; and
- Thomas Stone National Historic SiteThomas Stone National Historic SiteThe Thomas Stone National Historic Site, also known as Habre de Venture or Thomas Stone House, is a United States National Historic Site located about 25 miles south of Washington D.C. in Charles County, Maryland. The site was established to protect the home and property of Thomas Stone, one of...
, the plantation home of one of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence. - The St. Thomas Manor and Cemetery at Chapel Point provide insight into early Catholic history and Jesuit missionary activity in the colony.
In 2007 the Port Tobacco Archeological Project, was begun by a partnership among the Archeological Society of Maryland, the Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco, the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium, Preservation Maryland, and Preserve America
Preserve America
Preserve America is a United States government program, established under President George W. Bush, intended to encourage and support community efforts to preserve and enjoy the country's cultural and natural heritage....
. It has encouraged participation by the community, with an Internet blog and regular chances for volunteer participation at many levels.
Legend of the Blue Dog
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
reminds local residents of Charles County's "Blue Dog" legend, which is taught in local schools. It has been told in the county for more than 100 years. By most accounts, the spirit of a large blue dog protects his murdered master's treasure, buried somewhere on Rose Hill
Rose Hill (Port Tobacco, Maryland)
Rose Hill, a historic home near Port Tobacco in Charles County, Maryland, United States. It is a five-part, Georgian-style dwelling house. It has a two-story central block with gable ends. It was restored during the mid 20th century....
Road outside Port Tobacco. According to resident Charles Stuart, whose property contains the fabled rock where Blue Dog and his master were killed, the first written account of the Blue Dog legend dates back to 1897. His house's former owner, Olivia Floyd
Olivia Floyd
Annie Olivia Floyd was a Confederacy spy during the American Civil War. She was the daughter of David L. and Sarah Floyd. Her "disloyal" activities during the war led to an arrest warrant being sworn out for her capture.Olivia Floyd lived at Rose Hill in Charles County, Maryland...
, told the Port Tobacco Times that she had seen the ghost of the Blue Dog.
Although Stuart has not seen the ghost of Blue Dog in his 20 years of residence, he does not doubt the accuracy of accounts telling that Charles Thomas Sims, a soldier, and his dog were killed on February 8 on Rose Hill Road while returning from a Port Tobacco Tavern. This was following the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Local myth tells that Henry Hanos of Port Tobacco killed Sims and his dog for Sim's 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. He fell ill and died suddenly. To this day, Blue Dog reportedly continues to watch over his slain master's treasure.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 15 people, 5 households, and 5 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 94.0 people per square mile (36.2/km²). There were 6 housing units at an average density of 37.6 per square mile (14.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 60.00% White, 26.67% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 6.67% Asian, and 6.67% from two or more races.
There were 5 households out of which 40.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 60.0% have 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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $43,017. There are no families below the poverty line.
Notable residents
- Samuel Luckett (ca 1650 - 1705) was an early resident and planter in Port Tobacco.
- George AtzerodtGeorge AtzerodtGeorge Andreas Atzerodt was a conspirator, with John Wilkes Booth, in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Assigned to assassinate Vice-President Andrew Johnson, he lost his nerve and did not make an attempt. He was executed along with three other conspirators by hanging.-Early life:Atzerodt...
co-conspirator of John Wilkes BoothJohn Wilkes BoothJohn Wilkes Booth was an American stage actor who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. Booth was a member of the prominent 19th century Booth theatrical family from Maryland and, by the 1860s, was a well-known actor... - Barnes ComptonBarnes ComptonBarnes Compton was a wealthy planter who became a politician at the state level before the Civil War. He was appointed as Maryland State Treasurer, serving 1872-1885. He was elected to the US House of Representatives from the fifth congressional district of Maryland...
(1830–1889), planter, state legislator, State Treasurer, and US Congressman. - Timmy HillTimmy HillTimothy Hill is an American NASCAR Nationwide Series race car driver. He currently drives the No. 15 Poynt / Lilly Trucking of Virginia Ford for Rick Ware Racing....
(1993-), NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Driver.