West Nottingham Academy Historic District

West Nottingham Academy Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
West Nottingham Academy Historic District, April 2010
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Nearest city	Colora, Maryland
Coordinates	39°40′1″N 76°4′49″W / 39.66694°N 76.08028°W / 39.66694; -76.08028Coordinates: 39°40′1″N 76°4′49″W / 39.66694°N 76.08028°W / 39.66694; -76.08028
Area	85 acres (34 ha)
Built	1864 (1864)
Architectural style	Colonial Revival, Mid 19th Century Revival, Federal
NRHP reference #	90001125
Added to NRHP	July 26, 1990

West Nottingham Academy was founded in 1744 by the Presbyterian preacher Samuel Finley, who later became President of Princeton College (now Princeton University). Today, the independent co-ed school serves both boarding and day students in grades 9-12. The 124-acre (0.50 km²), tree-lined campus is located in Colora, Cecil County, Maryland near the Chesapeake Bay – an hour and a half south of Philadelphia and fifty minutes north of Baltimore.

West Nottingham Academy is one of the oldest boarding schools in the United States. The school claims to be "the oldest boarding school in the United States" and has the oldest founding date of any school still in operation but did suspend operation at various times in its history. For this reason, the claim as "the oldest" is a point of debate with some. What remains certain is that the school's story began in 1744 and it has shaped the lives of many important figures of American history.

Famous graduates include Benjamin Rush, John Morgan and , both signers of the Declaration of Independence, Alexander Martin, Governor of North Carolina, Reverend Samuel Doak (cousin of Samuel Finley) called "the apostle of learning and religion in the West" by Teddy Roosevelt in his book, "The Winning of the West" and John Filson, historian, author and a founder of Cincinnati, Ohio.

More recent notable alumni include world-renowned painter Eric Fischl and basketball player Josh Boone(PF), a player on the University of Connecticut's 2004 Men's National Championship Team and former member of the NBA's New Jersey Nets. Currently plays for the Iowa Energy of the NBA D-League.