In the early part of the 18th century, Talbot County on Maryland's Eastern Shore was restructured in size and boundary, requiring the designation of a new county seat. Groups from the Wye River to Oxford competed vigorously to have their town win the honor. But the selection committee, with manifestpartiality, decided upon the geographical center of the new county: a remote field cultivated and thenabandoned by its native residents. Here was born thetown that would eventually be known as Easton. Telling the story of the original Talbot CourtHouse, the market, early schools, churches, andbusinesses, this fascinating visual history documentsan era of significant change for the town in the early 20th century. Improved roads and transportationallowed the widespread population of the county to come to town; friends and family members could meetmore often, and a sense of community identity began to grow.