In 1792, William Boone and his brother, George, laid out 44 half-acre lots – 22 on each side of the main wagon road connecting Fredericktown and Hagerstown (now Alternate 40) – with the town square at the intersection with the road to Sharpsburg (now MD 34).  Thus, Boonsboro was born!  The town was originally called Boone’s Berry and later changed to Margaretsville in honor of George’s wife.  By 1808, it was known as Boonesborough and in 1866 the spelling of the town’s name, Boonsboro, became standardized.

The original plat from 1792 shown over a recent aerial photo of Boonsboro.