Piscataway, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Piscataway, Maryland
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Hardy's Tavern
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 Piscataway, Maryland
Location in Maryland
Piscataway, Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States of America |
| State |  Maryland |
| County |  Prince George's |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 597903 |
Piscataway is a small community in Prince George's County, Maryland, in the United States. It is not a city with its own government, but rather an unincorporated community. This means it is managed by the county. Piscataway is one of the oldest places settled by Europeans in Maryland. The nearby Piscataway Creek was once important for shipping goods like tobacco out to sea. The community is also close to where the Piscataway tribe once had a village called Kittamaqundi.
Early History of Piscataway
Piscataway was officially created in 1706. The government of the Maryland colony decided to survey and plan out several towns. Piscataway was one of these new towns. Others included Queen Anne Town and Upper Marlboro.
Tobacco and Trade
In 1747, the Maryland government wanted to make sure that the tobacco grown in the area was good quality. Tobacco was the main crop back then. They set up a system to check and control the quality of tobacco. Piscataway became home to one of the seven large tobacco warehouses in Prince George's County. This helped make sure that only good tobacco was sold.
Role in the American Revolution
During the time leading up to the American Revolution, people in Piscataway were involved in planning local actions. A group called the "Committee of Correspondence" met here. They helped organize support for the revolution against British rule. A famous person from Piscataway was William Marbury. He was part of an important early case in the Supreme Court.
Community Life and Landmarks
The St. Mary's Catholic Church is a very important part of the community. It includes a church, a school, and a cemetery. The original church building was built in 1904. A larger church was added in 1988. This church serves a very large area, covering parts of five different postal communities. It has the biggest territory of any church in the Archdiocese of Washington.
Historic Buildings and Future Growth
Many old houses still stand in the center of Piscataway. There is even a building that used to be a hotel and tavern. The last local business, the John Wood store, closed in the 1970s. A new housing development called "The Preserve" is being built nearby. It will eventually have 1,100 single-family homes. A new road has also been built around the community. The oldest part of the village, along Floral Park Road, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
Piscataway in Literature
Piscataway is mentioned in a famous poem from 1708 called "The Sot-Weed Factor" by Ebenezer Cooke. The poem describes what life was like in Piscataway when it was a young colony. Later, a novel with the same name was written by John Barth. This novel also explored the early history of the area.
Notable People
- Michael Shiner: He kept a detailed diary that tells us a lot about life in his time.
- William Marbury: He was involved in a very important Supreme Court case called Marbury v. Madison. This case helped define the power of the Supreme Court.
