The town of Smithsburg, Maryland is located in northeastern Washington County. Platted in 1814, the community's development was directly influenced by factors such as migration paths, the arrival of the railroad, and advances in agricultural technology. By 1923 much of the existing village had been erected. Aside from road improvements and the recent construction of suburban- type housing, Smithsburg retains its mid-19th- to early 20th-century archi- tectural character. It is an excellent example of a community relatively untouched by modern, 20th-century architectural trends. Because Washington County has a rich collection of similar communities that appear much as they had at the turn of the century, Smithsburg's significance is important not only unto itself, but as an important contributing member to the greater architectural and cultural character of small towns in Washington County.