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Prince George's County Timeline
Amii Follmer, University of Maryland
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| 1780 |
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| 1800 |
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| 1820 |
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| 1840 |
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| 1860 |
1861-1865: The Civil War
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| 1880 |
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| 1900 |
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The Beginnings of Riverdale (1801)
The Flemish aristocrat Henri Joseph Stier began construction
on an 800 acre plantation, which today is known as Riverdale.
Laurel’s Beginnings (1811)
What was first a grist mill developed into a cotton mill in the
1840s employing 700 workers, and by the 1870s Laurel was an early
commuter town for those working in DC and Baltimore.
War of 1812 (1814)
The British sailed up the Patuxent to Benedict and marched
through Nottingham, Upper Marlborough, Long Old Fields to
Bladensburg where US forces were defeated.
Agricultural Society Founded (1817)
Maryland’s first agricultural society was found in Prince
George’s County by Horace Capron, Dr. John Bayne and Charles
Calvert.
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (1835)
The B&O Railroad was completed between Baltimore and Washington, running
straight through Prince George’s county.
Samuel Morse Sends First Telegraph (1843)
The first telegraph lines originated in Prince George’s County; Samuel
Morse’s first message was sent out on May 24th.
Surratt House Museum Built (1852)
Built in 1852 historic Surratt House served as a tavern and hostelry, a post
office, and polling. It was the country home of Mary Surratt, first woman to be
executed by the United States government after being found guilty of conspiring
with John Wilkes Booth to assassinate Abraham Lincoln.
University of Maryland Founded (1858)
The nation’s first agricultural college was founded by Charles Calvert, today
it is the University of Maryland, College Park.
Abolition of Slavery (1864)
The abolition of slavery became a part of the new Maryland State Constitution
of 1864.
Hyattsville, Takoma Park, Riverdale Park, Charlton (now Berwyn) Heights,
College Park, Glenn Dale and Bowie Established (1880s-1890s)
During the end of the 19th century railroad towns popped up all over Prince
George’s County, and the population began to grow much faster than the old small
agricultural area.
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