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Western Maryland, also known as the Maryland panhandle or Mountain Maryland, is the portion of the U.S. state of Maryland that typically consists of Frederick, 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 and 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, the narrowest stretch in the state.

Western Maryland is more rural than the Washington-Baltimore area, where most of the state's population lives, and is noted for its mountainous terrain. 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; and several state highways.

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 can 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. In comparison, Prince George's County, in the eastern part of the Washington metropolitan area, would previously average only 25 inches (0.64 m) of snow and wintertime maxima exceeded 50 °F (10 °C) on a third of all days.

Below is climate data for Hagerstown, the largest city in Western Maryland, located in Washington County, the easternmost and lowest elevation county in Western Maryland.

Below is climate data for Oakland, located in Garrett County, the westernmost and highest elevation county in Western Maryland.

History

In 1748, the Western Maryland population was finally large enough to create a new county called Frederick County; at the time, the county stretched further west than it does today. 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. 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 westernmost 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.

Appalachian development

The Appalachian Regional Development Act was created and passed in 1965 in an effort to correct the poverty issue, and the growing economic problems in the Appalachian region (13 States). According to the State of Maryland Appalachian Development Plan, the Act was passed because: (1) One in every three Appalachians lived in poverty; (2) Per capita income was 23% less than the US average; and (3) High unemployment and harsh living conditions had, in the 1950s, forced more than 2 million Appalachian people to leave their homes and seek work in other regions.

For the state of Maryland, this act was intended to bring awareness to the poverty levels of the Western Maryland counties. The program that was developed for this act was called the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). The main goal of the ARC was to improve the development of the economy, and bring this region into socioeconomic parity with the rest of the nation.

County population

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 is home to approximately 147,430 people. Allegany County is the next most populated county with 75,087 people, while Garrett County is the least populated with 30,097 people.

Major communities

The following are some of the major cities in Western Maryland by county, in descending order of population, along with the city population of the 2020 census.

Washington County:

• Hagerstown (43,527)
• Boonsboro (3,336)
• Smithsburg (2,975)
• Williamsport (2,137)
• Hancock (1,546)

Allegany County:

• Cumberland (20,859)
• Frostburg (9,002)
• Westernport (1,888)

Garrett County:

• Mountain Lake Park (2,092)
• Oakland (1,925)

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.

Tourism

Tourism is very important to Western Maryland. There is a thriving tourist industry, and has been noted as having "potential for significant growth."

Western Maryland has a number of sites with significance for military history, particularly the Civil War. In 1862, Washington County was home to one of the Civil War's bloodiest single-day battles at Antietam National Battlefield.

Western Maryland, particularly Cumberland, is also home to transportation themed tourism. The Downtown Cumberland Historic District is a National Register Historic District, and Cumberland's Western Maryland Railway Station is a popular site.

Garrett County is also well known for its numerous state parks and outdoor activities. Places such as Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County are frequented by many visitors every year. 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.

Maryland's only ski resort, Wisp Ski Resort, is located on a 172 acre property next to Deep Creek Lake. Hosting a year-round mountain coaster and cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter, it is a major tourist attraction in the region.

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:

• Allegany College of Maryland – community college
• Frostburg State University
• Garrett College – community college
• Hagerstown Community College – community college

Potential state

In 2014, it was reported that some residents want the region to form a new state, which would include Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick, and Carroll counties. 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.

See also

• List of Appalachian Regional Commission counties

References

1. "Mountain Maryland". VisitMaryland. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
2. ^ "Maryland Regions". Visit Maryland. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
3. "Western Maryland American Job Centers". Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
4. Hazen, Kirk (2000). "The Appalachian Language Bibliography". Retrieved December 8, 2007.
5. Hogg, Richard M.; Denison, David (2006). A History of the English Language. Cambridge University Press. pp. 386–387. ISBN 0-521-66227-3. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
6. "Station Name: MD HAGERSTOWN WASHINGTON CO AP". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 28, 2013.
7. "The Snowiest Place in Each State". Retrieved January 24, 2015.
8. "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
9. Scharf, J. Thomas (1882). History of Western Maryland. Philadelphia : L. H. Everts. pp. 59–61. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
10. "State of Maryland Appalachian Development Plan" (PDF). Retrieved August 11, 2014.
11. https://www.census.gov
12. "Western Maryland Overview of Regional Trends and Issues" (PDF). Retrieved August 9, 2014.
13. "Deep Creek Lake". Maryland.gov. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
14. "Wisp Resort". www.wispresort.com.
15. "Some Western Maryland Residents Want To Form Their Own State". WJZ-TV. February 10, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
16. Rosenwald, Michael S. (September 8, 2013). "Western Maryland secessionists seek to sever ties with the liberal Free State". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 12, 2014.

External links

• Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Official Website for the Scenic Railroad and Canal Place.
• Walkersville Southern Railroad website, see also Walkersville Southern RR wiki article
• Western Maryland Tourism Website MDMountainside.com
• Rocky Gap Resort Western Maryland Park with Lake & Golf Course
• Heritage Days Festival
• Canal Place
• Queen City Striders Running Club
• Western Maryland Mountain Bike Association
• Western Maryland Water Color Society

v t e Municipalities and communities of Allegany County, Maryland, United States
County seat: Cumberland
Cities	Cumberland Frostburg
Towns	Barton Lonaconing Luke Midland Westernport
CDPs	Barrelville Bel Air Bier Bowling Green Bowmans Addition Carlos Clarysville Corriganville Cresaptown Danville Dawson Detmold Eckhart Mines Ellerslie Flintstone Franklin Gilmore Grahamtown Klondike LaVale Little Orleans McCoole Midlothian Moscow Mount Savage National Nikep Ocean Oldtown Pleasant Grove Potomac Park Rawlings Shaft Spring Gap Vale Summit Woodland Zihlman
Other communities	Amcelle Bellegrove Dickens Evitts Creek George's Creek McKenzie Mexico Narrows Park North Branch Pinto Pleasant Valley Town Creek
Maryland portal United States portal

v t e Municipalities and communities of Frederick County, Maryland, United States
County seat: Frederick
Cities	Brunswick Frederick
Towns	Burkittsville Emmitsburg Middletown Mount Airy‡ Myersville New Market Thurmont Walkersville Woodsboro
Village	Rosemont
CDPs	Adamstown Ballenger Creek Bartonsville Braddock Heights Buckeystown Graceham Green Valley Jefferson Lewistown Libertytown Linganore Monrovia Point of Rocks Sabillasville Spring Ridge Urbana
Other communities	Balmoral Broad Run Catoctin Furnace Charlesville Clover Hill Creagerstown Discovery Fairhaven Feagaville Foxville Garfield Hansonville Ijamsville Johnsville Knoxville Ladiesburg Lake Linganore Lander New London New Market West New Midway Petersville Rocky Ridge Sherwood Forest Spoolsville Sunny Side Tuscarora Unionville Utica Wolfsville
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Maryland portal United States portal

v t e Municipalities and communities of Garrett County, Maryland, United States
County seat: Oakland
Towns	Accident Deer Park Friendsville Grantsville Kitzmiller Loch Lynn Heights Mountain Lake Park Oakland
CDPs	Bloomington Crellin Finzel Gorman Hutton Jennings Swanton
Unincorporated communities	Altamont Asher Glade Bittinger East Vindex Fairview Hoyes Keysers Ridge McHenry Redhouse Sand Spring Sang Run Selbysport Shallmar West Vindex Wilson Wilson‡
Ghost town	Schell‡
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Maryland portal United States portal

v t e Municipalities and communities of Washington County, Maryland, United States
County seat: Hagerstown
City	Hagerstown
Towns	Boonsboro Clear Spring Funkstown Hancock Keedysville Sharpsburg Smithsburg Williamsport
CDPs	Antietam Bagtown Bakersville Beaver Creek Big Pool Big Spring Breathedsville Brownsville Cavetown Cearfoss Charlton Chewsville Dargan Downsville Edgemont Ernstville Fairplay Fairview Fort Ritchie Fountainhead-Orchard Hills Gapland Garretts Mill Greensburg Halfway Highfield-Cascade Indian Springs Jugtown Kemps Mill Leitersburg Mapleville Maugansville Mercersville Middleburg Mount Aetna Mount Briar Mount Lena Paramount-Long Meadow Pecktonville Pinesburg Pondsville Reid Ringgold Robinwood Rohrersville St. James San Mar Sandy Hook Tilghmanton Trego-Rohrersville Station Wilson-Conococheague Yarrowsburg
Other communities	Appletown Benevola Broadfording Burtner Eakles Mill Huyett Lappans Park Hall Pen Mar Samples Manor Spielman Van Lear Weverton Woodmont Zittlestown
Maryland portal United States portal

v t e State of Maryland
Annapolis (capital)
Topics	Index Cities Government Congressional delegations Congressional maps History Mass media Newspapers Radio TV People Symbols Tourist attractions
Society	Abortion African Americans Agriculture Climate change Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Gun laws Homelessness LGBT rights Politics Sports
Regions	Allegheny Mountains Atlantic coastal plain Blue Ridge Chesapeake Cumberland Valley Delaware Valley Delmarva Peninsula Eastern Shore Piedmont Ridge and Valley Southern Maryland Tidewater Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area Baltimore metropolitan area Washington metropolitan area Western Maryland
Cities	Aberdeen Annapolis Baltimore Bowie Brunswick Cambridge College Park Cumberland Frederick Gaithersburg Greenbelt Hagerstown Havre de Grace Laurel Pocomoke City Rockville Salisbury Takoma Park Westminster
Towns	Bel Air Denton Easton Elkton Leonardtown Ocean City Port Deposit Upper Marlboro
CDPs	Arbutus Arnold Aspen Hill Baltimore Highlands Bethesda Camp Springs Carney Catonsville Chillum Clinton Cockeysville-Hunt Valley Colesville Columbia Crofton Dundalk Edgewood Eldersburg Elkridge Ellicott City Essex Fairland Ferndale Fort Washington Germantown Glen Burnie Green Haven Hillcrest Heights Landover Langley Park Lanham Lansdowne Lochearn Lutherville Middle River Milford Mill Montgomery Village Odenton Olney Owings Mills Oxon Hill Parkville Pasadena Perry Hall Pikesville Potomac Randallstown Redland Reisterstown Rosedale St. Charles Severn Severna Park Silver Spring South Gate Suitland Timonium Towson Urbana Waldorf Wheaton-Glenmont White Oak Woodlawn
Counties	Allegany Anne Arundel Baltimore Calvert Caroline Carroll Cecil Charles Dorchester Frederick Garrett Harford Howard Kent Montgomery Prince George's Queen Anne's St. Mary's Somerset Talbot Washington Wicomico Worcester
Maryland portal

39°41′40.23″N 77°52′15.94″W / 39.6945083°N 77.8710944°W / 39.6945083; -77.8710944

• Western Maryland
• Regions of Maryland
• Geography of Appalachia