This pristine tidewater area has long been popular for recreation. Boaters, birdwatchers, hunters and fishermen are attracted to the beauty and bounty of the waters surrounding Dorchester County. Oystering became a major industry after the Civil War and in 1900 Cambridge, the County seat, was second only to Baltimore as an oystering center.
The seat of Dorchester County, Cambridge is one of the earliest settlements in Maryland. Its position on the Choptank River and proximity to the Chesapeake Bay explain the array of work and pleasure boats that fill the harbor.