County · code 24019
Dorchester CountyMaryland
Dorchester County, Maryland, is a county with its seat in Cambridge, formed in 1668.
- Founded1668
- County seatCambridge
- Named forEdward Sackville, 4th Earl of Dorset
- Land area541 sq mi + 442 sq mi water
- Population32,531 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped23,452 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Dorchester on the map of Maryland
Maryland has 24 counties and county equivalents, each with its own records office. Shapes with a page are links.
History
Founded in 1668
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Dorchester County was created from Non-County Area 2 between Somerset and Talbot counties in 1668 and was named after Edward Sackville, 4th Earl of Dorset. The county lost territory to the creation of Queen Annes County in 1707 and to the creation of Caroline County in 1774, and later lost the town of Federalsburg to Caroline County in 1880.
- 1669Dorchester County created By 16 February 1668/1669, Dorchester was created from Non-County Area 2 between Somerset and Talbot. Dorchester territorial limits, if any, are unknown; boundaries were partially defined 6 May 1669. · Archives of Md., 2:155
- 1669Changed Dorchester territorial limits were partially defined (no change). · Archives of Md., 5:54
- 1707Lost territory Dorchester lost to creation of Queen Annes.to Queen Annes· Archives of Md., 26:621
- 1774
- 1880Lost territory Dorchester lost town of Federalsburg to Caroline, placing the entire town in Caroline. · Md. Laws 1880, ch. 208, sec. 1/pp. 332-334; Md. Gov.
Show all 10 changes
- 1669Dorchester County created By 16 February 1668/1669, Dorchester was created from Non-County Area 2 between Somerset and Talbot. Dorchester territorial limits, if any, are unknown; boundaries were partially defined 6 May 1669. · Archives of Md., 2:155
- 1669Changed Dorchester territorial limits were partially defined (no change). · Archives of Md., 5:54
- 1684Boundary clarified Boundary between Dorchester and Somerset was clarified (no change).with Somersetno change· Archives of Md., 17:286-287
- 1707Lost territory Dorchester lost to creation of Queen Annes.to Queen Annes· Archives of Md., 26:621
- 1750Boundary clarified Dorchester boundaries were clarified (no change).no change· Archives of Md., 46:468
- 1774
- 1792Changed Boundary between Dorchester and Caroline was adjusted. · Md. Laws 1792, Nov. sess., ch. 19
- 1826Changed Boundary between Dorchester and Caroline was adjusted to accommodate local property owner. · Md. Laws 1825, ch. 81, sec. 1/p. 61
- 1878Changed Boundary between Dorchester and Caroline was adjusted. · Md. Laws 1878, ch. 393, sec. 2/p. 607
- 1880Lost territory Dorchester lost town of Federalsburg to Caroline, placing the entire town in Caroline. · Md. Laws 1880, ch. 208, sec. 1/pp. 332-334; Md. Gov.
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Dorchester
Who publishes each layer, how good it is, and when we last checked.
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Parcels Good enough
Lot lines and tax-map numbers for 23,452 parcels from Dorchester County. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
edited 29 October 2024 · checked 15 October 2026 -
Address points Missing
No public address points layer found for Dorchester County yet.
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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
Dorchester by the Census
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
County government
- County government
The official website of Dorchester County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Dorchester 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.
Questions
Common questions about Dorchester County
- When was Dorchester County founded?
- Dorchester County was founded in 1668, and named after Edward Sackville, 4th Earl of Dorset.
- What is the county seat of Dorchester County?
- The county seat of Dorchester County is Cambridge.
- Is there an online parcel map for Dorchester County?
- Yes. Dorchester County publishes a parcel map of 23,452 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Dorchester County's boundary or name changed?
- Dorchester County was created in 1669. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 6 later changes, chiefly involving Caroline County and Queen Annes County.
- Who issues building permits in Dorchester County?
- The county's page on building permits: Building Permits. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Dorchester County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby