Town of Chesapeake City emblem

Town of Chesapeake City MD

Today, Chesapeake City is the only town in Maryland that is situated on a working commercial canal. Most of its interesting 19th-century architecture remains intact, and the area that encompasses it on the south bank has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. At the city dock, pleasure boaters find a tranquil harbor off the busy Inter-Coastal Waterway, of which the canal is a major element. From the basin, visitors can walk easily into town or tour the Canal Museum, where the story of the canal is told and the massive waterwheel and steam engines that filled the locks stand in mute testimony. Outside is a replica of the lighthouses that lined the canal in days gone by.

Chesapeake City now is a destination widely known for its unique inland view of ocean-going vessels, for the proudly preserved and displayed reminders of its history, and for its friendly hospitality. Travelers discover fine dining, picturesque stores, outdoor concerts, seasonal events, and outstanding bed & breakfasts. From its origin as a rough and rowdy boom town, through an era of dispiriting depression, Chesapeake City has emerged as a charming and interesting place with a warm welcome for its visitors.

Read a Brief History of Chesapeake City

The 14-mile, hand-dug Chesapeake & Delaware Canal was opened to traffic on October 17, 1829. At that time there were three buildings on the south bank at the western end of the canal. As the ship traffic through the canal increased, the little cluster of buildings grew into a busy commercial community providing goods and services to passengers and shippers. In 1839, the place was named Chesapeake City. By 1849 the town, now extending over to the north bank, was well established and at its population peak. For the next 75 years, Chesapeake City prospered.In 1927, the C&D Canal was dredged to a sea-level waterway, eliminating the need for ships to stop for the locks at Chesapeake City. The town’s economic base quickly declined. Commerce was further complicated in 1942 when a ship destroyed the bridge that connected the two sides of the town, leaving residents and travelers for seven years with only a ferry as a means to cross the canal. The opening of a new high-level bridge in 1949 did nothing to restore the town’s economy—travelers swept by high above the town. Another blow struck the town in the 1960s when an entire street of 39 homes was razed to make way for a widening of the canal, which by then was the third busiest in the world.

CHESAPEAKE CITY WEATHER

Town Hall Closed

Town Hall will be closed on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, in observance of Election Day, on Monday, November 11, 2024, in observance of Veterans Day, and on Thursday and Friday, November 28 and 29, 2024, in observance of Thanksgiving.

Lead/Copper Rule Revisions Initial Service Line Inventory

The Town of Chesapeake City has completed the initial service line inventory required by U.S. EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (initial inventory due October 16, 2024).  The Town of Chesapeake City will continue to identify and track...

Public Hearing for Proposed Comprehensive Plan Update

The Chesapeake City Planning Commission and Town Council will hold a joint Public Hearing to receive and consider Public Comment for the Proposed 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 6:30 pm, at Town Hall, 108...

Council Meetings Rescheduled

The Town Council Meetings scheduled for Oct. 14 & Nov. 11, 2024, have been RESCHEDULED for Monday, Oct. 15 & Nov. 12, 2024, at 6:30 pm at Town Hall.

Workshop Canceled

The Town Council Workshop scheduled for Monday, September 23, 2024, has been CANCELED!

Boat Ramp Closure

The Chesapeake City Boat Ramp and PARKING AREA will be closed on Saturday, September 21, 2024, for the Cecil County 350th Anniversary Fireworks.  We are sorry for the inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your cooperation.

Jimmy Buffett Day

Mayor Rich Taylor officially declared August 30, 2024, as Jimmy Buffett Day in the Town of Chesapeake City with a proclamation presented at the August 12 Council Meeting.  Please read the full proclamation below. Jimmy Buffett...

Ordinance Adoption

Notice is hereby given that the Chesapeake City Town Council has adopted Ordinance 2024-002