Kent County Local Guide

Get to Know Kent County

Kent County pairs riverfront towns with farms, woodland and Chesapeake shoreline. Use this guide to settle in, identify the right service providers and explore local history and nature.

Grassy shoreline and Chesapeake waters near Bogles Wharf at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge — Eastern Neck shoreline near Bogles Wharf, 2009 (official website, opens in a new tab)Photo: Robert Pos / USFWS

Kent County first appears in Maryland records in 1642. Its county court moved to the settlement now called Chestertown in 1697, and Chestertown became a port of entry in 1706. The county’s waterfront towns and rural communities retain connections to trade, farming and the Chesapeake Bay.

Today, local museums interpret maritime work, agriculture, aviation and African American history. Riverfront parks and Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge offer ways to explore the landscape alongside those stories. Kent Island is in neighboring Queen Anne’s County, not present day Kent County.

Guide Topics

Use these links to reach the guide’s individual pages.

Find the Right Office Find Property Records and Tax Bills Find Tax Information and Relief Plan a Renovation Understand Permits and Inspections Set Up Utilities and Care for Septic Systems Internet Access Recycling and Household Waste Repair and Housing Assistance Check a Contractor Enjoy the Area Your Guide to Settling In Settling In Owning & Improving a Home Time Outdoors History & Culture Libraries & Community

General information to help you find the right starting point. Requirements, eligibility, service areas, and application processes can change. Confirm details with the office or provider serving your exact address. Official links open in a new tab. Found a broken link or a changed office? Contact LizyTylerCo and include “Kent County Guide,” the link name, and what happened. Return to All Resources.