Port Tobacco
| Port Tobacco Village, Maryland | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
 |
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| Coordinates: 38°30′41″N 77°1′12″W / 38.51139°N 77.02000°WCoordinates: 38°30′41″N 77°1′12″W / 38.51139°N 77.02000°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maryland |
| County | Charles |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.16 sq mi (0.41 km2) |
| • Land | 0.16 sq mi (0.41 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 13 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 0 |
| • Density | 81.3/sq mi (31.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| FIPS code | 24-63225 |
Port Tobacco, officially Port Tobacco Village, is a town in Charles County, Maryland, United States. The population was 13 at the 2010 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 by silting and the town was bypassed by the railroad. The town incorporated in 1888, but in 1895 the county seat moved to nearby La Plata, which drew population away but left the town with its historic significance intact.
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 Archeology Project, devoted to revealing the history of Native Americans and colonial Europeans and Africans. Because of its unique history, the area is "one of the richest archeological sites in Southern Maryland."
A few miles south, the St. Ignatius Church, manor house, and cemetery at St. Thomas Manor comprise a complex designated as a National Historic Landmark. It is notable as a Jesuit mission center established in the 17th century and is likely the oldest continuously operating Roman Catholic parish founded in the Thirteen Colonies. The complex at Chapel Point has scenic views overlooking the Potomac River. John Hanson, President of the U.S. Continental Congress, was born nearby.
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