''The Star Democrat'' is an American newspaper published and mainly distributed in

Easton, Maryland Easton is an incorporated town in and the county seat of Talbot County, Maryland, United States. The population was 15,945 at the 2010 census, with an estimated population in 2019 of 16,671. The primary ZIP Code is 21601, and the secondary ...

, in Talbot County, as well as in the surrounding counties of Caroline, Dorchester, Queen Anne's and

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

. ''The Star Democrat'' is published on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. The Tuesday edition is currently digital only.

History

1799–1977

''The Star Democrat'' was founded in 1799 by Thomas Perrin Smith as ''The Republican'' and then ''The Star''. The newspaper competed against the ''Maryland Herald'' (1790–1799). Smith bought the property where ''The Republican'' would print in 1801 and would use as his office and residence. The newspaper was a supporter of

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 18 ...

. 'The Star' became known as ''The Republican Star and Eastern Shore Political Luminary'' sometime between the beginning of the newspaper and 1802. ''The Star'' became known all over the

state of Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to it ...

when the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...

broke out. The newspaper in defiance of the

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

claiming rights to seize American ships, "To the citizens: Your independence, the legacy of the heroes of '76, has been attacked by a band of sea robbers and pirates. You are now called upon to assemble around the standards of your country and adopt measures that will convince the cowardly assins that we are the descendants of those heroes who once drove from our country, that we are willing and ready to do it again or perish with our constitution." In 1814, the newspaper bought the ''Eastern Shore General Advertiser'' (1802–1814) and became known as ''The Republican Star and Eastern Shore General Advertiser''. On September 20, 1814, the newspaper's name changed to ''The Republican Star''. In 1841, 'The Star' bought ''Whig & Advocate'' (1828–1841). In 1841, Smith retired and turned the newspaper over to George W. Sherwood. Sherwood bought the ''Eastern-Shore Star''. In 1843, Sherwood turned the newspaper over to T.K. Robson. Robson bought ''The Easton Star''. In 1889, John Todd had publishing duties. Sometime between 1889 and 1896 the newspaper bought the ''Easton Democrat''. In 1896, ''The Republican Star and Eastern Shore Political Luminary'' merged with a rival newspaper, ''The Democrat'', to become ''The Star-Democrat''. Sometime between 1896 and In 1911, the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Club bought the original property that Smith had bought and used.

1974–present

''The Star Democrat'' expanded from a county weekly to a regional weekday paper in 1974 and added a Sunday edition, ''The Sunday Star'', in October 1988. A website
www.stardem.com
was launched in 1996. In the fall of 1978, the newspaper moved from downtown Easton to its current plant at 29088 Airpark Drive. The paper is owned by

Adams Publishing Group Adams Publishing Group LLC (APG) is a company that provides publishing services, including newspapers, periodicals, and website publishing in the United States. Its corporate headquarters is located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. Mark Adams, the son ...

References

Citations

Sources

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External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Star Democrat, The Easton, Maryland Newspapers published in Maryland Talbot County, Maryland Publications established in 1799 1799 establishments in Maryland