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Garrett County
County
Official seal of Garrett CountySeal
Location within the U.S. state of Maryland
Maryland's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°17′N 79°22′W / 39.28°N 79.37°W / 39.28; -79.37
Country	United States
State	Maryland
Founded	1872
Named for	John Work Garrett
Seat	Oakland
Largest city	Mountain Lake Park
Area
• Total	656 sq mi (1,700 km)
• Land	648 sq mi (1,680 km)
• Water	8 sq mi (20 km)  1.21%
Population
• Total	29,846
• Density	47/sq mi (18/km)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th
Website	www.garrettcounty.org

Garrett County is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Maryland. Created from Allegany County, Maryland in 1872 it was the last Maryland county to be formed. Named for John Work Garrett (1820-1884), railroad executive, industrialist, and financier. Garrett served as president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from 1858 until his death in 1884.

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 lay to the south and west. 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 Maryland–Pennsylvania boundary is commonly known as the Mason-Dixon Line.

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 within the Chesapeake Bay basin.

John Friend, Sr. is considered to be the first permanent settler of Garrett County. According to family tradition, John Friend, his son Gabriel, and his brother Andrew came into Garrett County from Virginia in 1764 by way of McCulloch's Path. Eventually, they got to the Indian village on the Youghiogheny River which now bears the family name, Friendsville.

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 and Oakland is the county seat.

History

In 1696 the western part of the Province of Maryland (including the present Garrett County) was incorporated into Prince George's County. This county included six current State of Maryland counties, and by repeated splitting, new ones were created:

Frederick County, Maryland from Prince George's in 1748; Montgomery County, Maryland and Washington County, Maryland from Frederick County in 1776; Allegany County, Maryland from Washington County in 1789.

In January 1872, a number of residents from the western portion of Allegany County sent a petition to the state legislature requesting the creation of a new county. Advocates of the new county cited as their main reason for this initiative the substantial distance from far western Maryland to the existing county seat in Cumberland, greater representation in the state’s general assembly, greater opportunities for local tax revenue, and more appropriate expenditures of public funds. Two possible names were proposed for the new county, Garrett and Glade. Acting in compliance with this petition, a new county was established by the Maryland State Legislature on April 1, 1872. Named after John Work Garrett (1820-1884), then-president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Garrett County was formed from the western sections of Allegany County and has the distinction of being the last county created within the state of Maryland.

It was a constitutional requirement, however, that the final ratification of the county’s creation be left up to the qualified voters of the territory. The question concerning the creation of a new county, as well as the people’s choice for county seat, were both voted on in the November 4, 1872, general election. Voters overwhelmingly approved creation of the new county by a vote of 1297 to 405. The popular choice of the electorate for the county seat was Oakland, which won out over rivals Grantsville and McHenry’s Glades, the former by only 63 votes. On December 4, 1872, Maryland governor William Pinkney Whyte proclaimed that the extreme western triangle of the state “has become and is now constituted as a new county, to be called ‘Garrett County.’” In 1880, the first Garrett County census showed a population of 12,175 people.

In the mid-1700s, much of the land was surveyed by George Washington for Lord Fairfax of Virginia. A common stopping point for Washington and British troops during the French and Indian War was Little Meadows, Maryland at the foot of Meadow Mountain. In 1755, twenty-three year-old Washington, who knew the territory, served as a volunteer aide-de-camp to General Edward Braddock. General Braddock of the Coldstream Guards was sent to remove the French from Fort Duquesne, (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). The Braddock expedition set out from Fort Cumberland on May 29, 1755. Braddock's army cut a military trail through the wilderness roughly following the eastern part of Nemacolin's path. For half a century, passage westward from Cumberland by travelers and settlers was over Braddock's Road.

In 1806, President Thomas Jefferson signed a bill from Congress setting aside money for building the National Road, the nation’s first federally funded and constructed highway, from Cumberland, Maryland, to Wheeling, West Virginia. Work started in 1811 at Cumberland and by 1816, the Maryland section had been completed; two years later, it was completed all the way to Wheeling and the banks of the Ohio River. Over 20 miles of this 132-mile road pass through the northern portion of present-day Garrett County.

Development and settlements were the result of such transportation breakthroughs. With the advent of the National Road, many people passed through the northern parts of the county to points westward. The town of Grantsville came about due to the influx of traffic along this road. Some of the old stage coach inns can still be found in the Grantsville area.

The county would owe much of its eventual development to the building of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad through its mountains in 1851-1852. In the 1850s, the railroad would open up the area that would become Garrett County. During the railroad period, which lasted until the early part of the 19th Century, the Irish, Scotch, and Welsh came to mine the coal and cut the timber. This brought great population growth in the county along the railroad. The towns of Oakland, Bloomington and Swanton would spring up during this time as commercial mining, and timber centers, dependant on the railroad for receiving and shipping of products to market.

The railroads also were resposible for building large summer resorts in the beautiful mountain areas in Garrett County. The rich and the famous were often found in Garrett County during this time period recreating. President Cleveland and his wife spent their honeymoon in 1886 at the Dear Park Resort in Garrett County.

In the early 1900's, the railroad started to decline as cheaper and more efficient modes of transportation came into being. Tourism declined for a time as well. Coal mining and timber production continued but 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 rural area and sparsley populated. As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were only 29,846 county residents.

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 which 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

Garrett County, Maryland’s westernmost county, lies on the Allegheny Plateau, about 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and 160 miles west of Baltimore, Maryland. Highest elevations along four flat-topped ridges range to 3,360 feet. Broad flats lie 500 feet below the ridge crests.River valleys are narrow, deep ravines typically 1000 to 1800 feet below surrounding peaks. Two river systems drain the county: the Potomac#North Branch Potomac River and Youghiogheny. The Savage River drains about a third of the area, emptying to the North Branch of Potomac River. The Casselman River drains north to the Youghiogheny from the county’s central section. The upper Youghiogheny drains area west of the Casselman watershed and empties to the Monongahela south of Pittsburgh.

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 & Recreation

County Parks - Garrett County owns four park sites, and fifteen recreation facilities. The park locations are maintained in cooperation with local associations and civic groups, while 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.

Airport

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

Major 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

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)

v t e Places adjacent to Garrett County, Maryland
Fayette County, Pennsylvania Somerset County, Pennsylvania Preston County, West Virginia Garrett County, Maryland Allegany County Grant County, West Virginia Mineral County, West Virginia

Climate

The region’s climate is humid, continental. The area experiences effects of the Great Lakes and storm systems that sweep northeast along the Appalachians. Average yearly precipitation totals 49 inches, with one in ten years less than 43 inches and one in ten years more than 55 inches. The total includes snowfall that averages 72 inches. Average daily temperatures for the year range between a 60.4 degree maximum and a minimum of 36.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Frost typically persists into late May and the growing season usually ends in late September, limiting average growing seasons to 122 days.

Economy

Garrett County, Maryland's westernmost county, has over 76,000 acres of parks, lakes, and publicly accessible forestland. Considered Maryland's "Mountaintop Playground," the county boasts the state's highest elevation (3,360 feet) as well as its largest inland body of water (Deep Creek Lake). Garrett County is home to the state's only sub-arctic wetlands and is the only county in the state to produce natural gas or peat.

Garrett County's 970 businesses employ 10,100 workers, with an estimated 15 of these having 100 or more workers. Garrett County businesses continue to expand and prosper. Major private employers include Beitzel Corporation/Pillar Innovations, First United Corporation, Garrett Industrial Supply/Pioneer Conveyor, Fechheimer Brothers, Wisp Resort, Phenix Technologies, Garrett Container Systems, and Total Biz Fulfillment.

Central, Northern, and Southern Garrett Industrial Parks, as well as the Keyser's Ridge Business Park located off Interstate-68, are State Enterprise Zones. The McHenry Business Park, a technology-based business park to be located on county property adjacent to the Garrett County Airport, is in the design phase and is on track for infrastructure construction to begin in spring 2009.

Garrett County participates in the One Maryland Program, which offers significant tax credits for capital investments that create jobs, and has been designated a HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) Zone by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR 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 according to Census 2000.

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.

Cities and towns

Garrett County includes eight municipalities, all classified as towns under Maryland law:

• Accident (incorporated 1916)
• Deer Park (incorporated 1884)
• Friendsville (incorporated 1902)
• Grantsville (incorporated 1864)
• Kitzmiller (incorporated 1906)
• Loch Lynn Heights (incorporated 1896)
• Mountain Lake Park (incorporated 1931)
• Oakland (incorporated 1862)

Surrounding areas

The United States Census Bureau recognizes no Census-Designated Places (CDPs) in Garrett County, which is unusual for Maryland counties, which usually have many unincorporated population centers. There are some areas in Garrett County that are not listed as CDPs. They are:

• Bittinger
• Bloomington
• Crellin
• Gorman
• Hutton
• McHenry
• Jennings
• Sang Run
• Shalmar
• Swanton

Education

Educational matters that affect Garrett County come under the control of the Board of Education. The Board is composed of six members. Five are elected by the voters to four-year terms. A nonvoting student member, chosen by the Board of Education, serves a one-year term.

The Superintendent of Schools administers the Garrett County Public School System, and serves as executive officer, secretary, and treasurer of the Board of Education. With the approval of the State Superintendent of Schools, the Board of Education appoints the Superintendent of Schools to four-year terms.

Garrett College was founded as Garrett Community College in 1967, and opened in September 1971. It was renamed Garrett College on July 1, 2002.

The Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County is the public library for Garrett County. Based in Oakland, the central library has branches in Accident, Friendsville, Grantsville, and Kitzmiller.

Local media

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

See also

• USS Garrett County (LST-786)
• Meshach Browning
• History of Deep Creek Lake, Maryland

Notes and references

1. "Maryland Counties, Garrett County, Maryland". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
2. ^ "Title 1: General Provisions". Garrett County, MD Code of Ordinances. American Legal Publishing Corporation. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
3. Cope, Thomas D (1949), Degrees along the west line, the parallel between Maryland and Pennsylvania, Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 93(2):127-133, American Philosophical Society {{citation}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
4. John A Grant (2001–2002). "Garrett County History". Garrett College, History course material. Garrett County Historical Society Museum. Retrieved 2009-11-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
5. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15.
6. "Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7:1698, Volume 23, Page 23". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
7. ^ Feildstein, Albert L (2006). Garrett County. Postcard History Series. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0-7385-4266-0. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |laysummary= (help); Invalid |nopp=Introduction (help); Unknown parameter |nopp= ignored (|no-pp= suggested) (help)
8. ^ "Board of Garrett County Commissioners". Board of Commissioners. Garrett County Online. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
9. David Leip's Presidential Atlas (Maps for Maryland by election)
10. U.S. Election Atlas
11. ^ Gary B. Blank, Ph.D. Associate professor, Department of Forestry. Maryland Department of Natural Resources (ed.). "Forest Management History in the Central Appalachians 1900 to 2000" (pdf). Raleigh, NC: Department of Forestry, North Carolina State University. Retrieved 2009-11-27. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
12. "The Glades". Maryland. The Nature Conservancy. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
13. "Maryland at a Glance, Land, Mountains". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
14. "Maryland at a Glance, Waterways, Creeks". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
15. "Maryland at a Glance, Waterways, Lakes". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
16. "Maryland at a Glance, Waterways, Waterfalls". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
17. "Maryland at a Glance, Parks & Recreation, State Parts". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
18. "Maryland at a Glance, Parks & Recreation, County Parks". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
19. "Maryland at a Glance, Parks & Recreation, Municipal Parks". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
20. AirNav.com "Garrett County Airport (2G4)". FAA Information effective 22 October 2009. AirNav.com. Retrieved 2009-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
21. Stone, K.M; Matthews, E.D. (1974). "Soil Survey of Garrett County, Maryland" (Cons. Serv. and Maryland Ag. Exprmt. Stn.). United States Department of Agriculture: 83 (maps). {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
22. ^ "Garrett County". County Profiles. Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
23. ^ "Maryland Counties, Garrett County, Maryland, Executive Branch, Education". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. Retrieved 2009-11-11.

External links

State and County 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

• 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

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
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