There have been several proposals for the Eastern Shore of Maryland to secede from the state of Maryland and form a new state.

Proposals have been debated in the Maryland General Assembly

Maryland General Assembly

The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives...

 in 1833-1835, 1852 and recently in 1998 for the Eastern Shore becoming its own state. Early proposals encompassed a state of the entire Delmarva Peninsula

Delmarva Peninsula

The Delmarva Peninsula is a large peninsula on the East Coast of the United States, occupied by most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia...

. The proposal in 1998 by state Senators Richard F. Colburn

Richard F. Colburn

Richard F. Colburn , is a Republican State Senator for District 37 in Maryland. He is married to Alma Colburn and has one daughter, Johanna Colburn.-Background:...

 and J. Lowell Stoltzfus

J. Lowell Stoltzfus

J. Lowell Stoltzfus is a Republican Senator, and former Minority Leader, representing Maryland's 38th Legislative District, which covers parts of Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester....

did not specify the status of the nine counties of the Eastern Shore after secession.