182 THE COASTAL PLAIN FORMATIONS OF CECIL COUNTY 



Singerly, Baldwin and Iron Hill is not a conspicuous feature, although 

 a gentle rise suggests the former position of the old shore. 



While the formation of the Sunderland terrace was still in progress 

 the region rose above the surface of the Atlantic Ocean and ero- 

 sion began vigorously to carry away the loose sands and gravels which 

 had just been laid down. How extensive this uplift was it is now 

 impossible to say. It is also equally difficult to determine its dura- 

 tion, but it was of sufficient length to permit the destruction of a large 

 portion of the Sunderland formation. When the country sank again 

 and permitted the waters of the Atlantic to encroach once more over 

 the sinking region, the advancing waves completed the work of the 

 rivers and leveled off whatever prominences were left unreduced. 

 During this Wicomico depression, however, Cecil county did not sub- 

 side to the depth which it did during the previous submergence and 

 the shore-line finally came to rest at a line a little to the south of that 

 occupied by the Atlantic during Sunderland time. In a rough 

 way, this Wicomico shore-line corresponded with the position now 

 occupied by the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad 

 from the Susquehanna to Northeast. From Northeast it turned 

 southward to encircle the high land running down the middle of Elk 

 Neck, then northward again to within one-half mile of Childs. From 

 this point it passed southeast to within half a mile of Elkton and then 

 northeastward. Grays Hill again rose above the water as an island 

 and was encircled by the Wicomico shore-line. With this single ex- 

 ception, the entire Eastern Shore was submerged. The maximum 

 advance of the Atlantic Ocean during Wicomico time is well shown 

 in a pronounced sea-cliff which separates the Wicomico formation 

 from older ones lying above it. This has suffered less from erosion 

 than the Sunderland sea-cliff and may be distinctly seen throughout 

 almost its entire extent. Notable examples are between Aiken and 

 Principio Station, in the vicinity of Northeast, along the eastern slope 

 of Elk Neck and around the margins of Grays Hill. Throughout the 

 county, the Wicomico terrace ends, and the sea-cliff cut by the waves 

 of the Wicomico sea begins, at about the 90- or 100-foot contour. 

 While the Wicomico formation was still forming, Cecil county was 



