Garrett County, Maryland

Garrett County, Maryland
Garrett County Courthouse in December 2013
Flag Seal
Location in the U.S. state of Maryland
Maryland's location in the U.S.
Founded	November 4, 1872
Named for	John Work Garrett
Seat	Oakland
Largest town	Mountain Lake Park
Area
• Total	656 sq mi (1,699 km2)
• Land	647 sq mi (1,676 km2)
• Water	8.6 sq mi (22 km2), 1.3%
Population (est.)
• (2014)	29,679
• Density	47/sq mi (18/km²)
Congressional district	6th
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.garrettcounty.org

Panoramic view of Deep Creek Lake, Garrett County, MD.

Garrett County (gərɛt) is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2010 census, the population was 30,097, making it the third-least populous county in Maryland. Its county seat is Oakland. The county was named for John Work Garrett (1820–1884), president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Created from Allegany County, Maryland in 1872, it was the last Maryland county to be formed.

Garrett County has long been part of the media market of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is considered to be a part of Western Maryland.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is to the north. The Maryland–Pennsylvania boundary was surveyed and marked between April 1765 and October 1767 by astronomer Charles Mason and surveyor Jeremiah Dixon. This boundary is commonly known as the Mason–Dixon line. The eastern border with Allegany County was defined by the Bauer Report, submitted to Governor Lloyd Lowndes, Jr. on November 9, 1898. The Potomac River and State of West Virginia lie to the south and west.

Garrett County lies in the Allegheny Mountains, which here form the western flank of the Appalachian Mountain Range. Hoye-Crest, a summit along Backbone Mountain, is the highest point in Maryland.

The Eastern Continental Divide runs along portions of Backbone Mountain. The western part of the county, drained by the Youghiogheny River, is the only part of Maryland within the Mississippi River drainage basin. All other parts of the county are in the Chesapeake Bay basin.

Garrett County contains over 76,000 acres (310 km²) of parks, lakes, and publicly accessible forestland. Popular activities in the county include camping, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, alpine and cross county skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, ice fishing, fly fishing, whitewater canoeing, kayaking, rafting, boating, swimming, sailing, horseback riding, and water skiing.

The National Register of Historic Places listings in Garrett County, Maryland has 20 National Register of Historic Places properties and districts, including Casselman Bridge, National Road a National Historic Landmark. Garrett County is part of Maryland's 6th congressional district.

History

Map of Braddock's Military Road from Cumberland, MD to Braddock, PA 1755

In the early 20th century, the railroad and tourism started to decline. Coal mining and timber production continued at a much slower pace. Today, tourism has made a dramatic rebound in the county with logging and farming making up the greatest part of the economic base. Due to a cold climate and lack of any large city, Garrett County has remained a sparsely populated rural area.

Law and government

Government

The County is governed by an elected Board of County Commissioners (the "Board"), whose three members serve four-year terms and must live in the District they represent. The Board is the traditional form of county government in Maryland and may exercise only such powers as are conferred by the General Assembly of Maryland.

The County is administered under a line organizational method, with the County Administrator responsible for the general administration of County Government. The administration of the County is centralized with the County Administrator responsible for overseeing the financial planning, annual budget process, personnel management, and direction and management of operations within the organization.

The county is part of Maryland's 6th congressional district and is the most Republican in the state. The Republican candidate for President has won in each of the last thirteen elections. In 2008, John McCain carried Garrett County by a 40.2% margin over Barack Obama, with Obama carrying Maryland by a 25.5% margin over McCain.

County seal

On December 15, 1977, the seal of Garrett County went into effect by virtue of Resolution #7. The seal is elliptical, with the name "Garrett County" inscribed above the upper fourth of the ellipse, and "Maryland 1872" inscribed below the lower fourth of the ellipse. The date “1872" depicts the year of the formation of Garrett County. The seal illustrates a large snowflake to depict winter; water to represent sailing; and oaks and conifer to represent the county’s mountains. The colors are peacock blue for the sky and water. The blue and white background is divided by kelly green.

County flag

The official flag for Garrett County is elliptical. The flag illustrates a large snowflake to depict winter; water to represent sailing; and oaks and conifer to represent the county’s mountains. The colors are peacock blue for the sky and water. The blue and white background is divided by kelly green.

Law enforcement

The county is policed by the Garrett County Sheriff's Office and the Maryland State Police.

The state parks are police by the Department of Natural Resources Police.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 656 square miles (1,700 km²), of which 647 square miles (1,680 km²) is land and 8.6 square miles (22 km²) (1.3%) is water. It is the second-largest county in Maryland by land area.

Garrett County is Maryland's westernmost county, bordered to the north by the Mason–Dixon line with Pennsylvania, to the south by the Potomac River and West Virginia, to the west by a land border with West Virginia, and to the east by a land border with Allegany County, Maryland. The county's northwesternmost point is approximately 60 miles (97 km) southeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and its southeasternmost point is approximately 160 miles (260 km) northwest of Baltimore, Maryland.

Garrett County is located entirely within the highland zone of the Appalachian Mountains known variously as the Allegheny Mountains, the Allegheny Plateau, and the Appalachian Plateau. The county's highest elevations are located along four flat-topped ridges and range to a height of 3,360 feet (1,020 m) at Hoye-Crest along Backbone Mountain, the highest point in the state of Maryland. As is typical in the Allegheny region, broad flats generally lie below the ridge crests at elevations of approximately 500 feet (150 m). River valleys are generally narrow and deep, with ravines typically 1,000 to 1,800 feet (550 m) below surrounding peaks.

The county contains over 76,000 acres (310 km²) of parks, lakes, and publicly accessible forestland. It is drained by two river systems, the Potomac and the Youghiogheny. The Savage River, a tributary of the Potomac, drains about a third of the county. The Casselman River, a tributary of the Youghiogheny, flows north from the county’s central section into Pennsylvania. The Youghiogheny itself drains the westernmost area of the county and flows north into Pennsylvania, where it empties into the Monongahela River at McKeesport, just south of Pittsburgh.

Geologic points of interest

The Glades

The Glades' 601 acres (2.43 km²) is of great scientific interest because it is an ombrotrophic system (fed solely by rainwater) with peat layers up to 9 feet (2.7 m) thick, and is one of the oldest examples of mountain peatland in the Appalachians.

On the western edge of the Savage River State Forest along Maryland Route 495 lies Bittinger, Maryland. Named after Henry Bittinger who first settled in the area, other German settlers moved in and took up the fertile farm land. On the eastern edge of Bittinger is one of the largest glades area of Garrett County. Geographically, this is an area which seems to have been affected by the last great ice sheet of North America. Two miles southeast of Bittinger, there is a large deposit of peat moss.

Loess Dunes

In the Casselman River valley, 1-mile (1.6 km) south of Grantsville, Maryland and beside Maryland Route 495, one can see remains of geological evidence about the last great ice sheet over North America. A series of low mounds can be seen in the fields on the west side of Maryland Route 495 that are "loess" (wind-blown) material. Apparently, these are the only ones still visible in the northern part of Garrett County.

The mounds were formed when a glacier lake existed in the Casselman valley, and the ice around the edges of the frozen lake melted. Wind blew fine grains of earth into the water around the edges where it sank to the bottom, and the mounds were the result of the deposit of this wind-blown material.

Mountains Mountain Elevation (ft.) Backbone Mountain 3,360 Big Savage Mountain 2,991 Blossom Hill 2,620 Contrary Knob 2,680 Conway Hill 2,760 Dung Hill 2,732 Elbow Mountain 2,694 Elder Hill 2,826 Fort Hill 2,600 George Mountain 3,004 Lewis Knob 2,960 Little Mountain 2,920 Little Savage Mountain 2,817 Marsh Hill 3,073 Meadow Mountain 2,959 Mount Nebo 2,604 Negro Mountain 3,075 Pine Hill 2,500 Rich Hill 2,842 Ridgley Hill 2,617 River Hill 2,700 Roman Nose Mountain 3,140 Roth Rock Mountain 2,860 Salt Block Mountain 2,707 Snaggy Hill 3,040 Walnut Hill 2,629 Winding Ridge 2,775 Whites Knob 2,940 Zehner Hill 3,000

Creeks Bear Creek Beaver Creek Cherry Creek Church Creek Crabtree Creek Deep Creek (formerly Green Glades Creek) Fork Creek Georges Creek Herrington Creek Middle Fork Creek Muddy Creek North Fork Creek Rhine Creek Snowy Creek South Fork Crabtree Creek South Fork Creek Lakes Deep Creek Lake (largest freshwater body of water in Maryland, 11.6 miles (18.7 km) in length) Waterfalls Gap Falls Muddy Creek Falls (highest free-falling waterfall in State at 54 feet) Swallow Falls Tolliver Falls

Forests, rivers, caves

See these articles for information on the forests, rivers and caves of Garrett County:

• List of Maryland state forests
• List of rivers of Maryland
• Caves of Maryland (Crabtree - largest cave in Maryland)

Parks and recreation

Forest in Swallow Falls State Park

For a more comprehensive list, see List of Maryland state parks.

State parks

There are six state parks in Garrett County. All offer picnic and fishing areas; all but Casselman River State Park have hiking paths. Mountain bike paths, swimming areas, and boat launches and rentals are available at Deep Creek, Herrington Manor, and New Germany state parks. Rental cabins are available at Herrington Manor and New Germany state parks. Big Run, Deep Creek, Herrington Manor and New Germany state parks all offer canoeing, while campsites may be found at Big Run, Deep Creek, New Germany, and Swallow Falls state parks.

• Big Run State Park
• Casselman River Bridge State Park (Grantsville)
• Deep Creek Lake State Park (Swanton)
• Herrington Manor State Park (Oakland)
• New Germany State Park(Grantsville)
• Swallow Falls State Park

County parks

Garrett County owns four park sites and fifteen recreation facilities. The parks are maintained in cooperation with local associations and civic groups. The recreation areas are attached to public schools and colleges and maintained by the Garrett County Board of Education.

Municipal parks

The municipal parks of Garrett County provide sport facilities, hiking, bike and walk paths, playgrounds, picnic areas, boat ramps, and fishing.

• Kitzmiller Parks & Recreation Dept.
• Oakland Broadford Park includes swimming, picnic tables, fishing, boat ramp, playgrounds, sports fields.

Adjacent counties

• Somerset County, Pennsylvania (north)
• Allegany County, Maryland (east)
• Mineral County, West Virginia (southeast)
• Grant County, West Virginia (south)
• Preston County, West Virginia (west)
• Fayette County, Pennsylvania (northwest)
• Tucker County, West Virginia (southwest)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	12,175		—
1890	14,213		16.7%
1900	17,701		24.5%
1910	20,105		13.6%
1920	19,678		−2.1%
1930	19,908		1.2%
1940	21,981		10.4%
1950	21,259		−3.3%
1960	20,420		−3.9%
1970	21,476		5.2%
1980	26,498		23.4%
1990	28,138		6.2%
2000	29,846		6.1%
2010	30,097		0.8%
Est. 2014	29,679		−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014

2010

According to the 2010 United States Census Bureau:

• 97.9% White
• 1.0% Black
• 0.1% Native American
• 0.3% Asian
• 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
• 0.7% Two or more races
• 0.0% Other races
• 0.7% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 29,846 people, 11,476 households, and 8,354 families residing in the county. The population density was 18/km² (46/sq mi). There were 16,761 housing units at an average density of 10/km² (26/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 98.83% White, 0.43% Black or African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. 0.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 36.1% were of German, 22.9% American, 9.6% English and 8.8% Irish ancestry.

There were 11,476 households out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.10% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,238, and the median income for a family was $37,811. Males had a median income of $29,469 versus $20,673 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,219. 13.30% of the population and 9.80% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 16.60% are under the age of 18 and 13.90% are 65 or older.

Economy

See also: Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development

Garrett County produces natural gas, the only county in the state to do so. Much of the economic activity in the area centers around the outdoors. In the winter, the Wisp ski resort in Oakland and New Germany State Park's cross county skiing trail are frequent destinations, and Deep Creek Lake sees much activity in the summer. The state parks in the county are frequented year-round.

Transportation

Major highways

National Road, US 40 Alt.

For a more comprehensive list, see List of Maryland state highways.

• Interstate 68
• U.S. Route 40
• 
  US 40 Alt.
• U.S. Route 50
• U.S. Route 219
• Maryland Route 38
• Maryland Route 39
• Maryland Route 42
• Maryland Route 135
• Maryland Route 495
• Maryland Route 546
• Maryland Route 560
• Maryland Route 669
• Maryland Route 946

Airport

Garrett County Airport (2G4) is a general aviation airport surrounded by the mountains of Western Maryland. The airport enhances the region's tourist industry and provides emergency air service evacuation and landing facilities for general aviation.

Media

Garrett County is part of the Pittsburgh DMA, a regional media market centered in neighboring Pennsylvania.

Events

Annual events include the Autumn Glory Festival, the Scottish Highland Festival, and the Garrett County Fair.

Communities

Towns

• Accident
• Deer Park
• Friendsville
• Grantsville
• Kitzmiller
• Loch Lynn Heights
• Mountain Lake Park
• Oakland (county seat)

Census-designated places

The United States Census Bureau recognizes seven census-designated places (CDPs) in Garrett County.

• Bloomington
• Crellin
• Finzel
• Gorman
• Hutton
• Jennings
• Swanton

Unincorporated communities

The following communities are classified as populated places or locales by the Geographic Names Information System.

• Altamont () is where CSX's Mountain Subdivision rail line crosses the Eastern Continental Divide just west of the railroad's underpass of MD 135 east of Deer Park.
• Asher Glade () is at the intersection of MD 42 and Asher Glade Road northwest of Friendsville and a short distance south of the Pennsylvania state line near Markleysburg, Pennsylvania.
• Avilton () is at the intersection of Avilton Lonaconing Road and Green Lantern Road southwest of Finzel.
• Bethel () is at the intersection of Walnut Bottom Road and Chestnut Grove Road near Jennings Randolph Lake southwest of Bloomington.
• Bevansville () is at the intersection of MD 495 and Durst Road west of Jennings.
• Bittinger () is at the intersection of MD 495 and Orendorf Road north of Swanton and south of Grantsville.
• Blooming Rose () is at the intersection of MD 42 and Blooming Rose Road west of Friendsville.
• Casselman () is at the intersection of MD 495 and Maple Grove Road along the Casselman River south of Grantsville.
• Cove () is at the intersection of Cove Road and Cove Run north of Accident.
• East Vindex () is on Vindex Road north of Kitzmiller.
• Elder Hill () is at the intersection of MD 42 and Kisner Road south of Friendsville.
• Engle Mill () is at the intersection of Fish Hatchery Road and Bowman Hill Road northeast of Accident.
• Fairview () is at the intersection of Fairview Road and Peapatch Lane south of Grantsville.
• Floyd () is at the intersection of Savage River Road and Spring Lick Road west of Bloomington.
• Fort Pendleton () is on US 50 west of Gorman and east of Backbone Mountain.
• Foxtown () is at the intersection of Dung Hill Road and Amish Road west of Jennings.
• Fricks Crossing () is where Fricks Crossing Road intersects CSX's Mountain Subdivision rail line and crosses the Little Youghiogheny River southwest of Deer Park.
• Gortner () is at the intersection of US 219 and Mason School Road south of Oakland.
• Gravel Hill () is on Friendsville Addison Road east of Friendsville.
• Green Glade () is on Green Glade Road along the south side of Green Glade Cove, a branch of Deep Creek Lake.
• Hazelhurst () is on Hazelhurst Road along the south side of Green Glade Cove, a branch of Deep Creek Lake.
• Herrington Manor () is the location of Herrington Manor State Park northwest of Oakland.
• Hi-Point () is where US 40 Alternate crosses the top of Negro Mountain west of Grantsville. This location was the highest point on the National Road.
• High Point () is at the intersection of US 40 Alternate and US 219 east of Grantsville.
• Hoyes () is at the intersection of MD 42 and Hoyes Sang Run Road southwest of Accident.
• Hoyes Run () is at the intersection of Oakland Sang Run Road and Hoyes Run Road along the Youghiogheny River west of Deep Creek Lake.
• Kaese Mill () is at the intersection of Collier Road and Fish Hatchery Road east of US 219's junction with Fish Hatchery Road and northeast of Accident.
• Kearney () is at the intersection of White Church Steyer Road and Le Moyne King Road southeast of Loch Lynn Heights.
• Keeler Glade () is along Blooming Rose Road just east of the Maryland–West Virginia state line.
• Kempton () is on Kempton Road next to the Potomac River in the southwestern corner of Garrett County where the Maryland–West Virginia state line changes from the river to a north–south line.
• Kendall () is on the Youghiogheny River south of Friendsville and north of Sang Run.
• Keysers Ridge () is at the junctions of I-68, US 40, US 219, and US 40 Alternate west of Grantsville.
• Lake Ford () is at the intersection of Cranesville Road and Lake Ford Road south of the Cranesville Swamp Preserve just east of the Maryland–West Virginia state line.
• Locust Grove () is at the intersection of Noah Frazee Road and Sand Spring Road west of Friendsville.
• McComas Beach () is on Mayhew Inn Road along Red Run Cove near the west end of Deep Creek Lake.
• McHenry () is at the intersection of US 219 and Mosser Road on March Run Cove at the north end of Deep Creek Lake.
• Merrill () is where Westernport Road crosses the Savage River within Savage River State Forest west of Lonaconing.
• Mineral Spring () is at the confluence of Mill Run and Cove Run east of Youghiogheny River Lake northeast of Friendsville.
• Mitchell Manor () is a neighborhood east of Cherry Glade Run just north of the town of Oakland.
• New Germany () is along New Germany Road adjacent to New Germany State Park south of Grantsville.
• North Glade () is at the intersection of MD 495 and North Glade Road east of Deep Creek Lake.
• Piney Grove () is at the intersection of US 40 Alternate and Avilton Lonaconing Road.
• Redhouse () is at the intersection of US 50 and US 219 south of Oakland and west of Backbone Mountain.
• Sand Spring () is at the intersection of Sand Spring Road and Fearer Road west of Friendsville.
• Sang Run () is at the intersection of Sang Run Road and Oakland Sang Run Road west of McHenry
• Schell () is at the confluence of Laurel Run and the Potomac River northeast of Gorman.
• Selbysport () is at the intersection of Friendsville Addison Road and Old Morgantown Road north of Friendsville.
• Shallmar () is along Shallmar Road along the Potomac River west of Kitzmiller.
• Standard () is at the confluence of Three Forks Run and the Potomac River north of Kitzmiller.
• Stanton Mill () is where River Road crosses the Casselman River east of Grantsville.
• Steyer () is at the intersection of White Church Steyer Road and Steyer Gorman Road near the Potomac River east of Gorman.
• Strawn () is along US 40 just south of the Maryland–Pennsylvania state line west of Keysers Ridge.
• Strecker () is along Crabtree Creek and CSX's Mountain Subdivision between Swanton and Savage River Reservoir.
• Sunnyside () is at the intersection of US 219 and Ben Dewitt Road north of Redhouse.
• Table Rock () is at the intersection of US 50 and Table Rock Road on top of Backbone Mountain.
• Tasker Corners () is at the junctions of Bethlehem Road, Steyer Mine Road, Schell Road, and Potomac Camp Road southeast of Loch Lynn Heights and southwest of Kitzmiller.
• Thayerville () is at the intersection of US 219 and Glendale Road next to Deep Creek Lake.
• Wallman () is along Wallman Road along the Potomac River northeast of Gorman.
• West Vindex () is along Vindex Road north of Kitzmiller.
• There are two locations named Wilson:
  • One Wilson () is along Old Wilson Road at the source of the South Fork of Crabtree Creek east of Altamont.
  • The other Wilson () is in both Maryland and West Virginia on either side of the Wilson Bridge across the Potomac River southwest of Gorman.
• Winding Ridge () is at the intersection of Cove Road and Old Morgantown Road north of Accident.

See also

• USS Garrett County (LST-786)
• Meshach Browning
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Garrett County, Maryland
• History of Deep Creek Lake, Maryland
• 1964 Savage Mountain B-52 crash

External links

County, State and Federal government

• Garrett County Online
• Maryland State Archives - Maryland Manual, Garrett County
• Garrett County Economic Development Online
• U.S. Census Bureau State & County QuickFacts - Garrett County, Maryland
• Maryland Geological Survey Online
• U.S. Geological Survey - Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
• State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources - Western Maryland Public Lands
• Maryland Land Conservation Center

Historical and academic

• Garrett County Historical Society Museum - History of Garrett County
• Western Maryland's Historical Library
• Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County
• Garrett College Weather Underground Data Exchange
• Frostburg State University Planetarium

Business and tourism

• Deep Creek Lake Events, Business Listings and More
• The Official Website of Garrett County's Chamber of Commerce
• The Official Website of Garrett County's Deep Creek Lake Area
• The Official site of the Maryland Office of Tourism
• AirNav.com - Garrett County Airport (2G4)
• Garrett County Arts Council
• Deep Creek Times, Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County area information
• News - Oakland, The Republican
• News - Cumberland, Times-News