Marion Station offers rural landscapes on the Eastern Shore
Back in the 19th century, Marion Station was a bustling rail town on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It was popular for fishing and farming and was once called the "Strawberry Capital of the World." Today, though much of the local economy faded when the railroad shut down, Marion Station remains a prominent hub for boating, crabbing and agriculture. Homebuyers often search here for rural single-family homes or spacious land for farming, hunting or building custom properties. “It appeals to people who like an agricultural, small-community feeling,” says Rebecca Lewis, a longtime Somerset County local and broker with Century 21 Harbor Realty. “Folks that don’t want to be in town but still want to be close enough to amenities that are five minutes away.” Residents can visit nearby marshland parks along the Chesapeake Bay or venture north to Salisbury and south to Crisfield to shop, work or grab dinner on a night out.
Nearby trails, boating and marsh parks on the Chesapeake
The Terrapin Run Recreational Trail has a trailhead in Marion Station and is a relatively new multipurpose path built along a railroad bed. The first phase was built in 2021, and it currently runs almost five miles from Marion to Crisfield. Ongoing construction is planned to extend the trail north to Westover. Coulbourn Creek Boat Ramp is a paved public launch point for paddleboats or motorboats, so locals can explore the creek or go fishing. Janes Island State Park is farther south by Crisfield and offers a campground, rental cabins, picnic pavilions and a marina. The island features over 30 miles of waterway trails through salt marshes and is a popular destination for viewing native wildlife. “It’s normal to see neighbors out on motorboats, four-wheelers and occasionally sailboats,” says Lewis. “Locals absolutely go fishing and crabbing around here as well.”
Rural single-family homes and acres of farmland
Single-family homes in Marion Station range from $100,000 to $600,000, varying by age, square footage and lot size. Along the community's narrow, tree-lined roads, buyers can find Colonial Revivals, modest ramblers and Cape Cods with open porches. There is also a significant local land market, with multi-acre parcels often zoned for agricultural, residential or hunting use.
Local farm markets and spots to eat in Crisfield
In town, residents often head to Butler's Farm Market and Orchard, a family-owned business selling locally sourced produce, butcher meat, fresh crabs and homemade pastries. Crisfield features a Food Lion for groceries, and restaurants like Chesapeake Bay Seafood & Steaks along Richardson Avenue serve hungry diners. Water’s Edge Café serves fried chicken and softshell crab platters in a retro, '50s-style interior, complete with a jukebox and an ice cream parlor.
Nearby Somerset County public schools
Somerset County Public Schools is the main district serving Marion Station. Students can attend Carter G. Woodson Elementary School, which has a C-plus rating from Niche, and Somerset Intermediate School, which has a C rating. Crisfield Academy & High School gets a B-minus rating and offers an Army JROTC program.
Somerset Strawberry Festival draws large crowds
The Somerset Strawberry Festival is an annual Marion Station tradition celebrating the community's agricultural roots. Locals come together for a day of live performances from school choirs and bands, the Phil Rayfield Memorial Walk / Run, strawberry-themed pageants, food and craft vendors, and plenty of berries to eat.
Salisbury is a half hour away
Salisbury is a 25-mile drive north on U.S. Route 13, which takes around half an hour. The city is also home to the Salisbury Regional Airport, which offers daily domestic flights from American Airlines. There's also a passenger ferry from Crisfield to Smith Island, Maryland's only inhabited offshore island. It's a popular day trip destination for wildlife viewing, cruises and Smith Island Cake, the official Maryland state dessert.
Written By
Maxwell Olarinde
