Why is the Virginia Eastern Shore not part of Maryland?

Question

I love the Delmarva peninsula, but I have often wondered why the states were set up along these lines. It is very odd how the peninsula has a large portion attached to Virginia when it is not connected in any way to the rest of the state. Can someone explain the historical reasons for this?

Answer 1

It was simply part of the original Jamestown, Virginia holdings.

Captain John Smith in 1608 led an exploring party and mapped the Chesapeake Bay region with amazing accuracy, including the Eastern Shore where he “modestly” named one of the southern most islands, Smith Island.
It is the same isle where infamous pirate captain, Edward Teach –Blackbeard cleaned the hull of his ship in 1717, a spot still known as Blackbeard’s Cove.

The Jamestown government obtained land on the Eastern Shore from the Indians in 1614 but came to stay in 1620. With them came the first Africans transported here to serve as slave laborers forced to work on the growing number of plantations. During the colonial era slaves proved skilled in crafts and building structures and many of the region’s impressive historic homes can be linked to early slave craftsmanship. Located on Pungoteague Creek the Eastern Shore also has the distinction of having the first African community in the English Colonies.

In 1663 the peninsula was divided into two counties, Accomack to the north and Northampton in the south. In these two counties are found the earliest continuous court records in America dating from 1632. The town of Eastville possess the oldest followed by the town of Accomac.

Answer 2

When the settlers set up colonies across the east coast, they had to fight and kill off the native americans in order to take posession of the land. Sooner or later they eventually started fighting each other over who stole the most land and where the boundry lines were supposed to be. So that last little tip on the south east side of Maryland is nothing more than a strip of land that had to be given to Virgina to settle a petty arguement over who the land belonged to.

Answer 3

Political power. Do some research on the "western" lands that the original colonies laid claim to. It is very interesting.