Maryland

Dorchester

32,531

2020 population

1790

first census record

census records

About Dorchester

Dorchester, Maryland, first appears in the United States federal census in 1790, when it recorded a population of 15,875. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 32,531.

Its recorded population peaked at 32,618 in 2010.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Nanticoke War 1711, Nanticoke War – Emperor's Neck Incident 1713, Nanticoke War 1742, and 29 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	32,531
2010	32,618
2000	30,674
1990	30,236
1980	30,623
1970	29,405
1960	29,666
1950	27,815
1940	28,006
1930	26,813
1920	27,895
1910	28,669
1900	27,962
1890	24,843
1880	23,110
1870	19,458
1860	20,461
1850	18,877
1840	18,843
1830	18,686
1820	17,759
1810	18,108
1800	16,346
1790	15,875

Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Dorchester

Military engagements that took place in Dorchester, Maryland.

Nanticoke War 1711

1711

Nanticoke War – Emperor's Neck Incident 1713

1713

Nanticoke War 1742

1742

Chesapeake Bay Flotilla Actions 1813

1813

Cambridge MD Secessionist Disorders (1861)

1861

Historic places in Dorchester

National Register of Historic Places listings in Dorchester, Maryland.

Dorchester County Courthouse and Jail

Cambridge

Fletcher, K. B., Mill

Willin Village Archeological Site

Eldorado

LaGrange

Cambridge

Hooper Island Light Station

Hooperville

Pine Street Neighborhood Historic District

Cambridge

Rock Methodist Episcopal Church

Cambridge

PATRICIA (log canoe)

Cambridge

Grace Episcopal Church Complex

Taylor's Island

Dale's Right

Cambridge

Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Church

Taylor's Island

Handsell

Vienna

Cambridge Historic District, Wards I and III

Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery

Cambridge

East New Market Historic District

East New Market

Browse all Marylandhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Maryland

Explore census history and historic records for more Maryland counties.

Charles Frederick Garrett Harford Howard Kent Montgomery Prince George's Queen Anne's Somerset St. Mary's Talbot Washington Wicomico Worcester Allegany Anne Arundel Baltimore Baltimore city Calvert

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Dorchester County, Maryland

This page charts the census history of Dorchester County, Maryland. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Dorchester County, Maryland report

Or see a real report first

Explore Maryland records

Marylandhistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Maryland›

Frequently asked about Dorchester

When does Dorchester first appear in the US census?

Dorchester, Maryland first appears in the federal census in 1790, with a recorded population of 15,875.

What is the population of Dorchester?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Dorchester had a recorded population of 32,531.

When did Dorchester's population peak?

Dorchester's recorded population peaked at 32,618 in 2010.

Were any battles fought in Dorchester?

5 documented military engagements took place in Dorchester, including Nanticoke War 1711, Nanticoke War – Emperor's Neck Incident 1713, Nanticoke War 1742.

How many historic places are in Dorchester?

29 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Dorchester, Maryland.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your location View a free sample report