The Village of Lower Marlboro
Hand drawn map of some notable buildings still in existence today. Artist unknown, appeared with an article by Betty Briscoe, “Know Your County, Lower Marlboro Marker.” Calvert Independent, 28 Mar. 1979, p. 16.
Originally called Coxtown and established sometime in the mid Seventeenth Century, Lower Marlboro gained its present named after the Duke of Marlborough.
Due to the deep waters of the Patuxant, Coxtown was established as one of the first principal ports for sailing vessels in the American Colonies. In the late 1600’s, Acts of the Assembly were passed to divide the growing town into lots, and by 1782 was home to 557 inhabitants. This busy port had the first grade school in Maryland (third in the nation), a grist mill, saw mill, furniture factory, horse racing track, numerous stores, blacksmith, and an Academy.
Coxtown became Marlborough after the Duke of Marlborough’s victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. Later, after the founding of Prince George’s County, and the establishment of Upper Marlboro, Coxtown came to be called Lower Marlboro.
While Lower Marlboro is now a small village compared to its busy commercial shipping days, it remains a vibrant community that still centers most of its activities in and around the river.
