DORCHESTER COUNTY, MARYLAND
![[County Seal, Dorchester County, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/do/images/1198-1-890b.gif)
Origin: The exact date and legal origin of Dorchester County are unknown, but it was in existence by February 16, 1668/69, when a writ was issued to the county sheriff by the Lord Proprietary. The County was named for Sir Edward Sackville (1590-1652), the 4th Earl of Dorset, a family friend of the Calverts.
Boundaries: Bounded north by Choptank River & Caroline County; east by Nanticoke River & Delaware; south by Tangier Sound; west by Chesapeake Bay.
County Code & Charter
County Seat: Cambridge, MD 21613
Form of Government: Charter since December 5, 2002
Population: 1990 census: 30,236; 2000 census: 30,674; 2010 census: 32,618; 2020 census: 32,531
![[photo, Dorchester County Courthouse, 206 High St., Cambridge, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/36loc/do/images/1198-1-1685.jpg)
Courthouse, 206 High St., Cambridge, Maryland, January 2007. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
websites:
Animal Control: http://docodogcontrol.com/
Chesapeake College: www.chesapeake.edu/
Circuit Court: www.dorchestercountymd.com/circuit-court/
Council Districts: www.dorchestercountymd.com/local-government/council-district-map/
Corrections Dept.: www.dorchestercountymd.com/department-of-corrections/
County Council: www.dorchestercountymd.com/departments/councils-office/
County Government: www.dorchestercountymd.com/departments/
County Government Directory: www.dorchestercountymd.com/community-directory/
District Court: www.courts.state.md.us/district/directories/courtmap.html#DORCHESTER
Dorchester County: www.dorchestercountymd.com/
Economic Development Dept.: http://choosedorchester.org/
Elections Office: www.docomdelections.org/
Emergency Services: www.dorchestercountymd.com/emergency-services-main/
Finance & Treasury Dept.: www.dorchestercountymd.com/departments/finance-treasury/
Health Dept.: www.dorchesterhealth.org/
Human Resources Dept.: www.dorchestercountymd.com/departments/human-resources/
Job Service: www.dllr.state.md.us/county/uppershore/
Library: www.dorchesterlibrary.org/
Maintenance Division: www.dorchestercountymd.com/departments/maintenance-division/
Planning & Zoning Dept.: www.dorchestercountymd.com/planning-zoning/
Public Defender: www.opd.state.md.us/dorchester
Public Schools: http://dcps.k12.md.us/
Public Works Dept.: www.dorchestercountymd.com/departments/public-works-2/
Recreation & Parks Dept.: http://dorchesterrecreation.org/
Register of Wills: http://registers.maryland.gov/main/dorchester.html
Sheriff's Office: www.docosheriff.com/
Social Services Dept.: www.dorchesterdss.org/
http://dhr.maryland.gov/local-offices/dorchester-county/
State's Attorney: www.dorchestercountymd.com/departments/states-attorney/
Tourism Dept.: http://visitdorchester.org/
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