When was Caroline County founded?

Caroline County was founded in 1774, formed from Dorchester County and Queen Annes County, and named after Caroline Eden.

What is the county seat of Caroline County?

The county seat of Caroline County is Denton.

Is there an online parcel map for Caroline County?

Yes. A public source publishes a parcel map of 16,923 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.

Has Caroline County's boundary or name changed?

Caroline County was created in 1774 from Dorchester County and Queen Annes County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 4 later changes, most of them small boundary adjustments, chiefly involving Dorchester County.

Who issues building permits in Caroline County?

The county's page on building permits: Permits. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.

Is my lot in a flood zone?

We do not have flood maps for Caroline County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.

County · code 24011

Caroline CountyMaryland

Caroline County is in Maryland with its county seat at Denton. The county was created on March 15, 1774, from parts of Dorchester and Queen Annes counties.

Founded1774
County seatDenton
Named forCaroline Eden
Land area319 sq mi + 6.5 sq mi water
Population33,293 2020 Census
Parcels mapped16,923 checked 16 October 2026

Open the free map Click any parcel in Caroline County: acreage, parcel id, address and who publishes the map. No sign-in.

Updated 19 October 2026

Census outline · seat marked

History

Formed in 1774 from Dorchester County and Queen Annes County

An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.

Caroline County was named after Caroline Eden.

Boundary changes from the Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

1774
Caroline County created Caroline created from Dorchester and Queen Annes.
from Dorchesterfrom Queen Annes
15 March 1774 · Archives of Md., 64:209
1792
Changed Boundary between Caroline and Dorchester was adjusted.
Dorchester
22 December 1792 · Md. Laws 1792, Nov. sess., ch. 19
1826
Changed Boundary between Caroline and Dorchester was adjusted to accommodate local property owner.
Dorchester
17 February 1826 · Md. Laws 1825, ch. 81, sec. 1/p. 61
1878
Changed Boundary between Caroline and Dorchester was adjusted.
Dorchester
1 April 1878 · Md. Laws 1878, ch. 393, sec. 2/p. 607
1880
Gained territory Caroline gained part of town of Federalsburg from Dorchester, placing the entire town in Caroline.
from Dorchester
11 November 1880 · Md. Laws 1880, ch. 208, sec. 1/pp. 332-334; Md. Gov.

Land and parcels

What the maps cover in Caroline

Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.

Parcels Good enough

Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 16,923 parcels. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
edited 27 February 2026 · checked 16 October 2026
Address points Missing

No public address points layer found for Caroline County yet.
Buildings Reference

Roof outlines traced from aerial imagery from FEMA Response Geospatial Office with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Good for seeing what is on a lot; not accurate enough to set a fence from.
checked 18 October 2026

Official: from the office that keeps the record
Good enough: a reliable statewide or national copy
Fallback: a guide only; check the official record
Missing: nothing public found yet

People and land

Caroline by the Census

Population

33,293 2020 Census count

Housing units

13,434 2020 Census count

Land area

319 square miles

Water area

6.5 square miles

People per sq mi

104 population ÷ land area

Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Census; US Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer Files. Not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Rules and offices

Who to ask before you build, dig or sell

Official county pages only. We link to them; we do not copy them, because they change.

Inside a city or town, permits usually come from that city rather than the county.

Permits

Permitsfrom carolinemd.org
Permitsfrom carolinemd.org
Building Inspection Fee Schedulefrom carolinemd.org
Plumbing Inspection Fee Schedulefrom carolinemd.org

Zoning and code

Planning and zoning
Planning & Codes
from carolinemd.org · checked 13 October 2026
Testimony on Legislation or Ordinancefrom carolinemd.org
Zoningfrom carolinemd.org
Zoning Mapfrom carolinemd.org

County government

County government
The official website of Caroline County.
carolinemd.org

See your own lot on these maps

Open Caroline County on Parcel Chart's free map and click your parcel. Save it with a free account; the full record of your place (site map, projects, documents) is Pro, in early access.

Open the free map no sign-in Pro early access

Questions

Common questions about Caroline County

When was Caroline County founded?: Caroline County was founded in 1774, formed from Dorchester County and Queen Annes County, and named after Caroline Eden.
What is the county seat of Caroline County?: The county seat of Caroline County is Denton.
Is there an online parcel map for Caroline County?: Yes. A public source publishes a parcel map of 16,923 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
Has Caroline County's boundary or name changed?: Caroline County was created in 1774 from Dorchester County and Queen Annes County. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 4 later changes, most of them small boundary adjustments, chiefly involving Dorchester County.
Who issues building permits in Caroline County?: The county's page on building permits: Permits. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
Is my lot in a flood zone?: We do not have flood maps for Caroline County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.

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