In the early 20th century, Maryland had no waiting period for issuing marriage licenses, and couples from throughout the Northeast flocked to Elkton, the first county seat south of the state line, where they could be married without delay. Independent wedding chapels lined Main Street. In 1936, the town issued 11,791 marriage licenses. Two years later, the state adopted a 48-hour wait, but the tradition endured. As late as the 1970’s, as many as 6,000 couples were wed here in a year.