Today, nearby Upper Marlboro is known for being the county seat of Prince George’s County. Located in the central portion of the county, it was established in 1706 as “Marlborough Town” after John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. It was renamed to “Upper Marlborough” in 1774 and then to Upper Marlboro in the late 19th century, but did you know there’s also a Lower Marlboro?
Lower Marlboro is located on the east bank of the Patuxent River in Calvert County, approximately 15 miles south of Upper Marlboro. It’s not incorporated, and does not have a central business district or post office and zip code, but it does possess some substantial history.
Both Upper and Lower Marlboro were part of Marlborough Town. Throughout the 19th century, Lower Marlboro was considered a port town on the Patuxent River where tobacco was loaded and unloaded for ships. During the War of 1812, Lower Marlboro was burned by the British as they advanced towards Washington, D.C. Lower Marlboro still has numerous homes dating back to the early 19th century.
“Upper” was included in Upper Marlborough’s name in 1744 to distinguish the town from the community of Marlboro, which is now known as Lower Marlboro. The remove of the “ugh” at the end of the name was due to a postal clerk believing that the full name did not properly fit on the rubber stamps being used at the time. There was a proposed ballot to bring the “ugh” back in 1968, but it did not make it too far.
A historical marker in Lower Marlboro states the following, “ORIGINALLY COX TOWN, NAMED FOR EARLY SETTLERS THOMAS AND HENRY COX (1663). CHANGED TO MARLBOROUGH TO HONOR DUKE FOR DEFEATING FRENCH AT BATTLE OF BLENHEIM (1704), WHICH REDUCED FRENCH AND INDIAN ATTACKS ON THE COLONIES. AN EARLY PORT OF ENTRY (1683), THE TOWN BY MID-18TH CENTURY BOASTED WAREHOUSES, STORES, TAVERNS, A MILL, RACETRACK, SCHOOL AND MANY STATELY HOMES. “LOWER” WAS ADDED TO NAME TO DISTINGUISH IT FROM PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY SEAT, AND IN 19TH CENTURY BOTH TOWNS ADOPTED “MARLBORO” SPELLING. PATUXENT MANOR SELL STANDS NEAR HERE. PANELING FROM ITS GREAT ROOM IS DISPLAYED IN WINTERTHUR MUSEUM.”