Easton, Maryland

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 10.67 square miles (27.64 km²), of which 10.56 square miles (27.35 km²) is land and 0.11 square miles (0.28 km²) is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Easton has a humid subtropical climate.

Demographics

As of the census of 2013, there were 16,687 people, 6,711 households, and 4,079 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,509.9 inhabitants per square mile (583.0/km²). There were 7,405 housing units at an average density of 701.2 per square mile (270.7/km²). The racial make-up of the town was 73.1% White, 17.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 5.1% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race constituted 9.8% of the population.

There were 6,711 households, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.2% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.92.

The median age in the town was 41.2 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.8% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 21.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender make-up of the town was 46.4% male and 53.6% female.

The median income for a household in the town was $53,209. Males had a median income of $31,103 versus $25,411 for females. The per capita income for the town was $31,061. About 27.0% of families and 31.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

History

Easton is so named because of its location east of Saint Michaels.

Jesse Hughes, a footwear manufacturer and dealer, did business in Easton between 1861-1879. His business records, which are held by the University of Maryland Libraries, provide insight into 19th century town life.

In 1916, the town erected a statue in honour of Confederate soldiers from Talbot County.

The town was home to four franchises of the Eastern Shore Baseball League — the Farmers, Browns, Cubs, and Yankees. The Third Haven Meeting House, the oldest Quaker meeting house and one of the oldest places of worship in Maryland, is in Easton. ArtHouse Live, a resident theatre company, is also based in Easton.

In 2008, a lost painting of a Paris street scene by Édouard Cortès was discovered amongst donated items at a Goodwill Industries store in Easton. After an alert store manager noticed that it was a signed original, the painting was auctioned for $40,600 at Sotheby's.

The town of Easton seems to have received its official beginning from an Act of the Assembly of the Province of Maryland dated November 4, 1710. The act was entitled, "An Act for the Building of a Court House for Talbot County, at Armstrong's Old Field near Pitt's Bridge". Pitt's Bridge crossed a stream forming the headwaters of the Tred Avon or Third Haven River. It was located at a point where North Washington Street crosses this stream, now enclosed in culverts, north of the Talbottown Shopping Center, and passes under the Electric Plant property. Prior to this date, the court had met at York, a small settlement north of Dover Bridge. The court decided that this location was not convenient to all sections of the county and, in order to change the location, the above act of the Assembly was passed. As a result of this act, two acres of land were purchased from Philemon Armstrong, at a cost of 5,000 pounds of tobacco, the currency of the times. Upon this tract, the same plot upon which the present Talbot County Court House now stands, the court house, a brick building 20 x 30 feet, was erected at a cost of 115,000 pounds of tobacco. The courts of the county were held in this building from 1712 until 1794. A tavern to accommodate those who attended court was one of the first buildings erected; stores and dwellings followed. The village was then known as "Talbot Court House". These were not the first buildings in the area. The frame meeting house of the Society of Friends was built between 1682 and 1684.

Neighborhoods

Sports

Easton is home to the Easton Ice Hawks. They play in the CBHL (Chesapeake Beltway Hockey League). Easton Ice Hawk home games are played at the Talbot County Community Center in Easton.

Notable people

Notable landmarks