Western Maryland facts for kids

Sideling Hill Road Cut. A man-made mountain pass on Interstate 68/U.S. Route 40 near Hancock, Washington County.

Western Maryland, also known as the Maryland Panhandle, is the portion of the U.S. state of Maryland that typically consists of Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties. The region is bounded by Preston County, West Virginia to the west, the Mason-Dixon line (Pennsylvania) to the north, and the Potomac River (West Virginia) to the south. At one point, at the town of Hancock, the northern and southern boundaries are separated by just 1.8 miles.

Western Maryland is more rural than the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area, where most of the state's population lives, and is noted for its mountainous terrain and includes Appalaichian culture although this is mixed with the culture of descendents from other parts of Maryland. The area is in the central Appalachians. Washington, Allegany, and Garrett counties are part of the Appalachian Regional Commission. The most populous community in Western Maryland is Hagerstown, located in Washington County, the most populous county in the region. Major highways in Western Maryland include Interstate Highways I-70, I-81 and I-68; U.S. Highways U.S. 11, U.S. 40, U.S. 40 ALT, U.S. 219 and U.S. 50; as well as various state highways.

An enlargeable map of the 23 counties and 1 independent city of the State of Maryland

Climate

The climate of Western Maryland is more akin to the mountains of northern West Virginia than to any other part of Maryland. Summers tend to be much cooler than in the rest of the state, and winters harsher. Temperatures in winter drop to below 0 °F (−17.8 °C) on around eight nights per winter, and snowfall averages from 20 inches (0.51 m) farther east to over 120 inches (3.05 m) in the higher elevations. Comparably, Prince George's County, in the eastern part of the Washington, D.C., area, averages only 25 inches (0.64 m) of snow and wintertime maxima exceed 50 °F (10 °C) on a third of all days.

History

In 1748, the Western Maryland population was finally large enough to create a new county called Frederick County. Hunters and traders had been in Western Maryland as early as 1715, but there were not many attempts at settlements for years after that in more remote parts of the area. 1768 had many emigrants that began to settle in the Western Maryland, Western Pennsylvania, and Western Virginia areas. In the earliest part of the colonial days, German immigrants that came from Pennsylvania had the most influence on the development of the plains and valleys of Western Maryland.

Named for George Washington, Washington County was founded in 1776, by division of Frederick County. In 1862 during the civil war, this county was home to one of the bloodiest single-day battles at Antietam National Battlefield. The largest city in this county is Hagerstown. It was named after Jonathan Hager, a German settler.

In 1785, the city of Cumberland, which is in Allegany County, was established. The County was the home for many pioneers, when they would travel through the Cumberland Narrows, a 1,000 foot high gap. This gap forms the main pass through the Allegheny Mountains to the west. In the mid-18th century, English settlers came to the county and began to mine and create towns and farms. This county was important for transportation for many travelers heading west. They would pass through by many forms of transportation, including canal, train, and horse and buggy.

The most western county in the state, Garrett County, was the last part of Maryland to be settled in 1764. The county was founded in 1872 by John Work Garrett, the B&O Railroad president.

Demographics

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the three westernmost counties of Maryland have a population of 252,614, accounting for 4.4% of the population of Maryland.

The most populated county is Washington County, which has an approximated 147,430 people. Allegany County is the next most populated county with 75,087 people, and Garrett County is the smallest with 30,097 people.

Tourism

Tourism is very important to Western Maryland and railroads were a big part of that in the 19th century. From the University of Maryland Overview of Western Maryland, "Tourism, second home development, and retirement housing have the potential for significant growth. Second home development is particularly noticeable in the Deep Creek Lake recreational area of Garrett County, but the arrival of retirees from more metropolitan counties has been noted in several of the counties."

The largest lake in Western Maryland is Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County. The 4,000 acre body of water is owned by the State of Maryland and is man made. Construction began in 1920 and the lake was filled by 1929. It was originally made to power a small scale hydroelectric plant, but was eventually turned into a tourist destination. The lake is currently managed for boating and fishing, although it still provides some water to generate electricity. The Deep Creek Lake State Park offers fishing piers, beach and swim area, covered pavilions, and opportunities for camping.

Wisp Ski Resort is a huge tourism spot in Western Maryland as it is the only 4 season ski, golf, and recreational destination resort. This resort is approximately 172 acres which includes a mountain coaster, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and more.

County populations

Major communities

• Boonsboro
• Brunswick
• Cumberland
• Frostburg
• Hagerstown
• Hancock
• Middletown
• Mountain Lake Park
• Oakland
• Smithsburg
• Westernport
• Williamsport

Potential state

In 2014, it was reported that some residents want the region to form a new state. Possible names for such a proposed state include Liberty, Antietam, and Augusta. Local supporters of partitioning western Maryland (dubbed "the Western Maryland Initiative") cited a perception of political domination by the more populous eastern portion of the state, particularly with reference to such issues as gun control, taxation, and same-sex marriage.

Economy

Western Maryland has a heavily agricultural economy. Its best-known crops are the apples grown in the Cumberland Valley, but corn, potatoes, beans, and varieties of green-leaf vegetables are grown as well. Mixed crop and livestock farms are common, and the region has a large number of dairy cattle farms.

Sports

Sports teams in Western Maryland include the following:

Garrett County along the Savage River has played host to two ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships in 1989 and 2014.

Education

Colleges in Western Maryland include:

• Garrett College – Community College
• Allegany College of Maryland – Community College
• Frostburg State University