The Eastern Shore (i.e. the Delmarva side of the bay) is known for its accessibility to waterways, beaches, and nature, as well as its slower pace of life with less traffic and congestion. In regard to the Chesapeake Bay and its impact on the Delmarva environment and economy, an eastern section of the State of West Virginia, Central Pennsylvania and a small section of Central New York are also being taken into consideration. (See Section 4.5 on Environmental Data)

The Eastern Shore began the twenty-first century with strong growth across multiple economic indicators. The region gained jobs at double the rate of the rest of the state from 2001 to 2007 while also outpacing the state in net business creation and keeping pace in wage growth. However, there are more people experiencing poverty now than there were 30 years ago. Maryland’s poverty rate is 19 percent higher than it was in 1990 – a year that the U.S. economy entered a recession – and there are nearly 200,000 more Marylanders trying to get by on incomes below the federal poverty line. Nearly every county in the state has a higher poverty rate than it had in 1990. While unemployment rates have continued to decline since the 2008 recession, wages often are not high enough to support a family.