The Princess Anne Historic District is located in Princess Anne the county seat of Somerset County, Maryland on Maryland's Eastern Shore. There has been little change due to industry or other development, and the town retains much of its historic character since its founding in the early 18th century. It has been the governmental center since the county was formed in 1742 and the present courthouse is one of the most architecturally distinguished in the state. Within the historic district are a few pre-Revolutionary structures, a high concentration of Federal and Victorian architecture, vernacular dwellings as well as 19th and early-20th century commercial and public buildings. The district contains approximately 270 structures of which nearly 90 percent are contributing to the character of the district. Among the contributing structures are: It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.