Salisbury is a city in southeastern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Wicomico County, Maryland and the largest city in Maryland's Eastern Shore region. The city's population was 23,743 at the 2000 census. Salisbury is the principal city of the Salisbury, Maryland Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the Salisbury-Ocean Pines, Maryland Combined Statistical Area. The city is the commercial hub of the Delmarva Peninsula and is sometimes called "the Crossroads of Delmarva". Salisbury's location at the head of Wicomico River was a major factor in growth. At first it was a small colonial outpost of Lord Baltimore's. The river was the only navigable waterway leading out to the Chesapeake Bay for early settlers. In 1732, Salisbury became an official port, growing to be second only to Baltimore as the most active seaport in Maryland. Salisbury is located near several major cities: Baltimore 106 miles (171 km); Washington, D.C. 119 miles (192 km), Philadelphia 128 miles (206 km), Norfolk 132 miles (212 km), Dover 50 miles (80 km), and Wilmington 96 miles (154 km).