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Havre de Grace, MD

Havre de Grace, Maryland
City
City of Havre de Grace
Concord Point Lighthouse, The Iconic Representation of HdG. Sits at the mouth of the Susquehanna River in Havre de Grace
Concord Point Lighthouse, The Iconic Representation of HdG. Sits at the mouth of the Susquehanna River in Havre de Grace
Official seal of Havre de Grace, Maryland
Seal
Location in Maryland
Location in Maryland
Coordinates: 39°32′54″N 76°5′51″W / 39.54833°N 76.09750°W / 39.54833; -76.09750Coordinates: 39°32′54″N 76°5′51″W / 39.54833°N 76.09750°W / 39.54833; -76.09750
Country  United States of America
State  Maryland
County Harford
Incorporated 1785
Government
 • Mayor William Martin
Area
 • Total 6.89 sq mi (17.85 km2)
 • Land 5.50 sq mi (14.24 km2)
 • Water 1.39 sq mi (3.60 km2)  20.17%
Elevation 56 ft (17 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 12,952
 • Estimate (2016) 13,527
 • Density 1,900/sq mi (730/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 21078
Area code(s) 410
FIPS code 24-37600
GNIS feature ID 0590437
Website www.havredegracemd.com

Havre de Grace /ˌhævər dˈɡrs/, abbreviated HdG, is a city in Harford County, Maryland, situated at the mouth of the Susquehanna River and the head of Chesapeake Bay. It is named after the port city of Le Havre, France, which in full was once Le Havre de Grâce (French, "Harbor of Grace"). The population was 12,952 at the 2010 United States Census. The city was honored as one of America's 20 best small towns to visit in 2014 by Smithsonian magazine.

During the Revolutionary War, the small hamlet known as Harmer's Town was visited several times by General Lafayette, considered a hero of the war. He commented that the area reminded him of the French seaport of Le Havre, which had originally been named Le Havre-de-Grâce. Inspired by Lafayette's comments, the residents incorporated the town as Havre de Grace in 1785.

During the First Congress in 1789, Havre de Grace missed by only one vote being named the capital of the fledgling United States.

On May 3, 1813, during the War of 1812, Havre de Grace was attacked by British Rear Admiral George Cockburn who burned and plundered the city. The American Lieutenant John O'Neill single-handedly manned a cannon to help defend the town. He was wounded, captured by the British, and soon released. In gratitude, Havre de Grace made O'Neill and his descendants the hereditary keepers of the Concord Point lighthouse marking the mouth of the Susquehanna River.


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