Secretary, MD

Secretary is a small, quiet waterfront town on Maryland's Eastern Shore, tucked into a bend where the Warwick River wraps around the community. With fewer than 500 residents, it offers a calm, slow-paced setting surrounded by wetlands, water, and quiet residential streets. Families have Warwick Elementary right on Main Street, while neighboring East New Market is just a mile down Route 14. For grocery runs, healthcare, and dining out, Cambridge is an easy ten-minute drive to the west.

The town gets its unusual name from Henry Sewall, a 17th-century secretary of the Maryland province who owned the surrounding land. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Secretary was a working river port where steamboats loaded up oysters and farm produce for Baltimore markets. Today, daily life is much quieter and revolves around the water, with neighborhood boat ramps, fishing spots, and scenic docks. It offers a relaxed slice of Dorchester County for anyone seeking a peaceful lifestyle with quick access to the Choptank River.