Life in Snow Hill has revolved around the Pocomoke River for centuries
Along the banks of the Pocomoke River, Snow Hill was established in 1686 and quickly became a royal port of England. Today, steamboats and schooners no longer operate in this Eastern Shore town, but life still revolves around the river. “Everybody either owns a kayak or they’re regulars at the local rental shop,” says Jeff Chapman, a Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate and a seventh-generation Snow Hill resident. As locals paddle across the Cypress tree-lined river, they’ll pass lily pad patches and Goat Island, a popular picnic spot. Snow Hill is also the seat of Worcester County. Despite this designation, Chapman says the community is still charming, with just over 2,000 residents, several eclectic events and a 19th-century downtown district. “Snow Hill is one of the oldest towns on the Eastern Shore, yet we’ve managed to remain a hidden gem and preserve our history.”
Houses from the 1800s and beyond
Snow Hill’s earliest homes include Queen Annes and Colonial Revivals dating back to the early 1800s. Cape Cod cottages from the mid-20th century and New Traditional houses built between the ‘90s and 2020s are also common. The median home price is around $300,000, though well-preserved older houses may reach $800,000. Heavy rainfall can cause the Pocomoke River to overflow, and homes closest to the waterway may require flood insurance.
The Pocomoke River is popular for fishing, kayaking and canoeing
With an average depth of 15 feet, the Pocomoke River is the deepest waterway in the U.S. for its narrow width. “If you drop a lure or sunglasses in the river, you’re never retrieving them. Everybody in town knows that,” Chapman says. Anglers can catch yellow perch and pickerel off Byrd Park’s wooden pier. The green space also has a few paddle boat launches. Kayakers and canoers can head north of Byrd Park to enjoy a picnic at Goat Island, where live goats graze grass. “Nobody really knows how the goats got on the island, but they’ve been there as long as my family has lived in Snow Hill,” Chapman says. Several events are celebrated on the river every summer. For instance, locals try to knock friends and family into the water during the Canoe Joust, a Snow Hill Volunteer Fire Company fundraiser.
Downtown Snow Hill has restaurants and hosts several festivals
Cafés, antique stores and cozy bars fill Italianate-style buildings in downtown Snow Hill. The district is closed off to car traffic on the first Friday of every month as locals pop into art galleries, listen to live music and enjoy wine tastings. In August, farmers drive tractors through the area for the Blessing of the Combines, a parade and festival marking the start of harvest season. “We are superstitious. Farmers who live near Snow Hill literally believe that if they don’t bring their combines to this, their harvest will be bad,” Chapman says. Several historic houses of worship are downtown, including the Makemie Memorial Presbyterian Church, located in a 19th-century Gothic building. A former A-frame Catholic church from 1891 now houses the Julia A. Purnell Museum, packed with exhibits about Eastern Shore history. Food Rite is the only grocery store in town. Big-box retailers are available in Pocomoke City, 12 miles south.
B-plus grades and higher for Snow Hill public schools
Worcester County Public Schools serve the area. Kids can attend Snow Hill Elementary, earning an A from Niche, and Snow Middle, graded an A-minus. They may continue to B-plus-rated Snow Hill High, where the Eagles athletic program offers sports like bowling, golf and football. “Less than 400 students go to the high school, but the athletic program feels like one at a big school,” Chapman says. “Most games, no matter the sport, are well-attended.”
Snow Hill has Little League teams and Worcester County offices
Some non-riverfront recreation spaces are also in town. The 80-acre John Walter Smith Park has baseball diamonds used by Little League teams and multi-purpose fields for soccer games. Next to the park, locals can play basketball and work out inside the Worcester County Recreation Center. The county’s health department and jail are in the same area. Kids can go to weekly story times and craft workshops at the Worcester County Library Snow Hill Branch in the downtown area.
Ocean City and Assateague Island National Seashore are nearby
U.S. Route 113 stretches along Snow Hill’s eastern edge. The highway leads to beaches like Ocean City and Assateague Island National Seashore, both less than 25 miles northeast. Though locals often take day trips to these places, Chapman says Snow Hill is also a tourist destination. “Families go on their beach vacations, then drive down to Snow Hill for the day and walk around downtown.” A freight railroad runs through town and may cause traffic stops at intersecting roads. Berlin, 16 miles northeast, is home to the closest hospital, while Salisbury, less than 20 miles northwest, has the nearest regional airport.
