In 1792, two cousins of the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone decided to create a town. George and William Boone purchased a tract of land in Maryland known as “The Resurvey on Friendship” and laid out a plan. Their new settlement, which they called Boonesberry, started with a simple grid of 44 half-acre lots.

The name didn't stick for long. For a time, it was renamed Margaretsville in honor of George Boone's wife, Margaret. It was later changed again to Boonesborough. Finally, when the post office was established, the name was officially shortened to the one we know today: Boonsboro.

The Boones chose their location wisely. The town was situated along a major wagon road that cut through a gap in the Blue Ridge Mountains. This path would eventually become part of the National Road, the first major improved highway in the United States built by the federal government. This strategic position made Boonsboro a convenient stop for travelers and traders heading west.

Early settlers were drawn by the fertile land and the opportunities a new town on a major thoroughfare could offer. Growth was steady. By 1803, just over a decade after its founding, the small community had grown to include 24 houses.

The rich soil of the surrounding Pleasant Valley was ideal for farming. While settlers grew various crops for their own use, one agricultural product stood out: apples. Orchards thrived in the region, and apples became a cornerstone of the local economy.

Much of the apple harvest was pressed into cider. In colonial America, hard cider was a daily staple, safer to drink than water and easier to produce than beer or wine. It was a common beverage for all ages and a key commodity for trade, providing a stable source of income for Boonsboro's founding families.

Now, let's test your knowledge of Boonsboro's early days.

From a simple plan of 44 lots, Boonsboro grew into a key stopping point on the road west, built on the practical foundation of agriculture.