County · code 24029
Kent CountyMaryland
Kent County is a 277-square-mile county in Maryland with its county seat in Chestertown. It was formed in 1642 and named after Kent.
- Founded1642
- County seatChestertown
- Named forKent, England
- Land area277 sq mi + 136 sq mi water
- Population19,198 2020 Census
- Parcels mapped13,758 checked 15 October 2026
Where it is
Kent 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 1642
An old deed may name a county that no longer exists, or a boundary that has since moved.
Kent County was created from St. Marys County on August 2, 1642, to serve the east side of Chesapeake Bay. It lost territory to the creation of Baltimore County in 1660, Talbot County in 1662, and Cecil County in 1674, and gained territory from Talbot and Cecil counties through the 1670s and early 1700s.
- 1642Kent County created By 2 August 1642, Kent was created from St. Marys to serve the east side of Chesapeake Bay; territorial limits were not specified, and boundaries are estimated.from St. Marys· Archives of Md., 3:105
- 1660Lost territory By 12 January 1659/1660, Kent lost to creation of Baltimore. · Archives of Md., 1:381
- 1662Lost territory By 18 February 1661/1662, Kent lost to creation of Talbot. · Archives of Md., 1:425
- 1671
- 1674
Show all 9 changes
- 1642Kent County created By 2 August 1642, Kent was created from St. Marys to serve the east side of Chesapeake Bay; territorial limits were not specified, and boundaries are estimated.from St. Marys· Archives of Md., 3:105
- 1657Boundary clarified Kent boundaries redefined to include Poplar Island (no change).no change· Archives of Md., 1:361
- 1660Lost territory By 12 January 1659/1660, Kent lost to creation of Baltimore. · Archives of Md., 1:381
- 1662Lost territory By 18 February 1661/1662, Kent lost to creation of Talbot. · Archives of Md., 1:425
- 1671
- 1674
- 1674
- 1696
- 1707Gained territory Kent gained from Cecil, lost to creation of Queen Annes.from Cecilfrom Queen Annes· Archives of Md., 26:621
Land and parcels
What the maps cover in Kent
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 13,758 parcels. Drawn for tax purposes: usually within a few feet of a survey, but not a survey.
edited 2 July 2025 · checked 15 October 2026 -
Address points Missing
No public address points layer found for Kent 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
Kent 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.
Zoning and code
County government
- County government
The official website of Kent County.
See your own lot on these maps
Open Kent 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 Kent County
- When was Kent County founded?
- Kent County was founded in 1642, and named after Kent, England.
- What is the county seat of Kent County?
- The county seat of Kent County is Chestertown.
- Is there an online parcel map for Kent County?
- Yes. A public source publishes a parcel map of 13,758 parcels, rated good enough here. You can click any parcel on it in Parcel Chart's free map, no sign-in needed.
- Has Kent County's boundary or name changed?
- Kent County was created in 1642. Since then the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries records 7 later changes, chiefly involving Cecil County, Talbot County and Baltimore County.
- Who issues building permits in Kent County?
- The county's page on building permits: Permits. Inside a city or town, ask that city first.
- Who issues septic and well permits in Kent County?
- The county's page on septic systems and wells: Health department: septic and well.
- Is my lot in a flood zone?
- We do not have flood maps for Kent County yet. Look up the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center, which shows the effective flood map for any lot.
Nearby