In the 18th century a stage coach Road was built between Richmond and the Potomac River. At the end of the road, one could take a ferry to Charles County, Maryland. A stop near the Potomac River was named New Hope, Virginia and one of the earliest buildings was named the New Hope Tavern.
In 1803, the town of New Hope was renamed to Bowling Green was named after Major John Thomas Hoomes, whom donated land for the building of a courthouse and money to the local government after the town became the county seat of Caroline County.