Queenstown was established in 1707, although at that time it was named “Queen Anne’s Towne” in honor of Good Queen Anne of England. In 1710, the name was changed to “Queen’s Towne.” Eventually the “e” was dropped and the name became one word.

Queenstown was the first county seat of Queen Anne’s County—the county was established contemporaneously with the town. In 1708, the county’s first courthouse was built there. Queenstown remained the county seat until 1782, at which time the seat was moved to Centreville.

During the War of 1812, Queenstown was the only town in Queen Anne’s County to be attacked by the British. The attack occurred in August 1813 at the “Bowlingly” estate. The British seriously damaged the estate and its contents before moving on to Kent Island. “Bowlingly” still exists today as a private residence.

After surviving the War of 1812, Queenstown was almost totally destroyed by fire in 1820. But the town rebuilt and kept moving forward. In the early to mid-1850s, Queenstown became a stop for steamboats that carried goods and passengers up and down the Chester River and to and from Baltimore.

Today, agriculture and seafood harvesting are the dominant economic factors in the area. A large retail factory outlet complex and the Queenstown Harbor Golf Links, adjacent to the town, are other significant elements that have a healthy impact on the town’s economy.

In the 1970s, the Board of Town Commissioners established the Queenstown Historic Preservation Committee for the main purpose of purchasing and restoring the original courthouse property. Since it ceased to serve its original purpose in 1782, the building has been at various times a home, warehouse, drug store, grocery store, restaurant, beer parlor, post office, and antique shop. In 1977, the town acquired the property and started the restoration work. Over 400 individuals and businesses have been involved with the project in diverse ways.