March is a Fenland market town and was the county town of the Isle of Ely from 1889 to 1965. The town grew by becoming an important railway centre. Like many Fenland towns, March was once an island surrounded by marshes and occupied the second largest "island" in the Great Level.
March is situated on the banks of the old course of the navigable River Nene, and today mainly used by pleasure boats. Modern March lies on the course of the Fen Causeway, a Roman road, and there is evidence of Roman settlements in the area.