Crisfield MD (Maryland)

Crisfield MD is a Chesapeake Bay cruise port and town in Somerset County (Maryland USA) with population around 3,000. The port is on Tangier Sound (inlet of Chesapeake Bay, Norther Atlantic Ocean, East Coast USA). Crisfield is part of the Salisbury metropolitan area (Maryland-Delaware) that consists of 3 MD counties (Somerset, Wicomico, Worcester) and 1 DE county (Sussex). Crisfield is Maryland state's southernmost city.

As cruise port, Crisfield MD is included in the regular schedule of USA's largest river cruise company - ACL-American Cruise Lines. Next table shows ACL's 6-day "Chesapeake Bay Cruise" itinerary roundtrip from Baltimore MD.

Crisfield has two public docks. City Dock serves mail ships, large commercial vessels and ferries (crossing to Smith Island MD and Reedville VA via Tangier Island). County Dock serves mainly cargo ships. Crisfield MD also has a large boat marina (berthing facility for yachts, pleasure craft, tour boats) and is the gateway to Chesapeake Bay's Smith Island (Maryland) and Tangier Island (Virginia) - both accessed via daily scheduled passenger ferries.

The settlement was founded as a fishing village (initially named Annemessex Neck) and later renamed to Somers Cove (after Benjamin Summers / a settler from Yorkshire England) and finally to Crisfield (after John Woodland Crisfield / a US Congressman from Maryland). After the town was included into the Pennsylvania Railroad system (1846-1968), its fishing industry (oyster farming) hugely expanded. Current-day town's economy is based on tourism. Tourists (mainly domestic) are attracted by popular annual events and festivals, the largest of which is the National Hard Crab Derby and Fair (since 1947, held every Labor Day weekend).