Far enough from the city to be quaint, close enough to enjoy the attributes of the city, Middletown, Maryland is ideally situated in the beautiful Middletown Valley of Maryland.

Founded in 1767, Middletown is steeped in American history -- from the mid 1600’s and Colonial settlements to the new millennium and high-tech biological engineering, Middletown contributes at every turn of the page.

A young Lieutenant George Washington surveyed the South Mountain area and commented that the Middletown Valley was one of the most beautiful places he had ever seen. The Revolutionary and Civil Wars passed through Middletown along Main Street, the Old National Pike, turning our homes and churches into headquarters and hospitals.

Middletown is a Maryland Heritage Area and is part of the official "Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area" as certified by the Maryland Department of Planning.

Historical Sketch of Middletown

The first settlements in Middletown were made by English and German settlers around 1740; numerous histories report that Frederick Lauber, a gunsmith, was the first settler around 1730. According to the land and wills records of Frederick County, 100 acres of land were granted to Notley Thomas, August 4, 1750. He assigned 50 acres to Richard Smith, November 25, 1750. Smith then had 44 acres surveyed by Isaac Broke and called the property Smithfield.

On July 8, 1776, he transferred Smithfield to Josiah Bell, who subsequently sold it to Michael Jesserong for 66 English pounds. It was Jesserong who renamed the property Middletown. He sold the first lots of the town in 1767, the date officially marking the town's founding. On August 14, 1768, Jesserong sold the enter parcel to Conrad Crone, who also had purchased one of the first lots. Under Crone's direction the town continued to be developed.

Middletown is the birthplace of two Revolutionary War heroes; Sergeant Lawrence Everhart, who saved the life of Col. William Washington at the Battle of Cowpens, and General Joseph Van Swearingen, who served under his father during the war.

During the Civil War, Middletown witnessed the troops of both armies under the direction of Generals Lee and McClellan passing through the town on their way to South Mountain and Antietam. In the aftermath of those battles, Middletown opened its churches and homes to care for the wounded, among whom was Col. Rutherford B. Hayes, later President of the United States.

Andrew Jackson once said that our valley was "one of the most favored and delightful spots on the earth." Middletown residents agree and extend to you, our visitors, an invitation to share in the celebration of our history, and to enjoy the unsurpassed beauty of this "favored and delightful" setting.

- The Middletown Heritage Committee

Visit these websites for additional historical information about the area.

Middletown Maryland official website - http://middletown.md.us//

Friends of South Mountain State Battlefield - www.fsmsb.org/

Maryland Historical Trust - www.marylandhistoricaltrust.net

The Central Maryland Heritage League Land Trust - www.cmhl.org/

Historical Society of Frederick County - www.hsfcinfo.org/

Destination Frederick County: official tourism page of Frederick County - www.fredericktourism.org/