The Worcester Democrat was a weekly newspaper published from 1898 to February 22, 1973, in Pocomoke City, Worcester County, Maryland.^[1][2] It was founded by Samuel M. Crockett, a Democratic politician who served in the Maryland House of Delegates for two terms, 1920–1922.^[3] Crockett had learned the newspaper business as a young man working at the Somerset Herald in Princess Anne, Maryland,^[4] and was also owner of another local paper, the Peninsula-Ledger.^[5] In January 1921, the publication changed its name to the Worcester Democrat and the Ledger-Enterprise^[6] after it absorbed the successor of the Peninsula-Ledger,^[7] the Ledger-Enterprise.^[8] This remained the title until September 24, 1953, when it was changed back to its original Worcester Democrat.^[9] On March 1, 1973, the Democrat merged with nearby Snow Hill's Democratic Messenger to form the Worcester County Messenger.^[10] This newspaper remained in publication until at least 1980.^[11][12]

The Democrat reported mostly on local industry and events, with the yearly Pocomoke Fair running from 1901 to 1917 becoming an anticipated event.^[13][14] On October 17, 1933, the paper reported on the lynching of a local man by a mob in Princess Anne; this would be the last known lynching in Maryland.^{[15][16][17][18]}