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Formed from York County, Virginia, in 1654, our beautiful region was given the name New Kent, after Kent, England, from which some of our early settlers had emigrated.
Today a sister-county relationship exists between the two localities, which have includes an exchange of student talent and hosting of local dignitaries.
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, 32 miles (51 km) south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural county of Kent, known as the Garden of England. There is evidence of a settlement in the area dating back to beyond the Stone Age.
The town is within the borough of Maidstone. In 2001, the town had a population of 75,000.
The Crest
(Right) - Maidstone, England's crest, and below it our Maidstone, New Kent crest adapted from it.
Maidstone, England, was chartered in 1549.
The wavy fess represents the River Medway in the original Maidstone crest. The red roundels are from the arms of Archbishop Courtenay, who built All Saints Church, at the end of the fourteenth century. The lion is that of England.
The mural crown represents municipal government and the horse’s head recalls the arms of the County Council. The hops upon which they are standing refer to the produce for which the Maidstone district is famous.
The Iguanodon refers to the English town’s prehistoric background, a complete skeleton of this creature having been found within the borough.
The Lion is derived from that in the arms.
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