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Garrett County () is the westernmost
county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...
of the U.S. state of
Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean t ...
. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,806, making it the third-least populous county in Maryland. Its
county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...
is
Oakland Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third largest city overall in the Bay ...
. The county was named for John Work Garrett (1820–1884), president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Created from
Allegany County, Maryland Allegany County is located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population was 68,106. Its county seat is Cumberland. The name ''Allegany'' may come from a local Lenape word, ''welhik hane'' or ''o ...
in 1872, it was the last Maryland county to be formed. Garrett County has long been part of the
media market A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area (DMA), television market area, or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same (or similar) television and radio station offerings, and may also incl ...
of
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
. It is considered to be a part of Western Maryland. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is to the north. The Maryland–Pennsylvania boundary is commonly known as the
Mason–Dixon line The Mason–Dixon line, also called the Mason and Dixon line or Mason's and Dixon's line, is a demarcation line separating four U.S. states, forming part of the borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia (part of Virginia ...
. 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 The Potomac River () drains the Mid-Atlantic United States, flowing from the Potomac Highlands into Chesapeake Bay. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map. Retrieved Augu ...
and State of West Virginia lie to the south and west. Garrett County lies in the
Allegheny Mountains The Allegheny Mountain Range (; also spelled Alleghany or Allegany), informally the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the Eastern United States and Canada and posed a significant barrier to land travel in less devel ...
, which here form the western flank of the
Appalachian Mountain Range The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. They ...
. Hoye-Crest, a summit along
Backbone Mountain Backbone Mountain is a ridge of the Allegheny Mountains of the central Appalachian Mountain Range. It is situated in the U.S. states of West Virginia and Maryland and forms a portion of the Eastern Continental Divide. In the state of Maryland, Ba ...
, is the highest point in Maryland at an elevation of . The
Eastern Continental Divide The Eastern Continental Divide, Eastern Divide or Appalachian Divide is a hydrographic divide in eastern North America that separates the easterly Atlantic Seaboard watershed from the westerly Gulf of Mexico watershed. The divide nearly spans ...
runs along portions of
Backbone Mountain Backbone Mountain is a ridge of the Allegheny Mountains of the central Appalachian Mountain Range. It is situated in the U.S. states of West Virginia and Maryland and forms a portion of the Eastern Continental Divide. In the state of Maryland, Ba ...
. The western part of the county, drained by the
Youghiogheny River The Youghiogheny River , or the Yough (pronounced Yok ) for short, is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed August 15, 2011 tributary of the Monongahela River in the U.S. ...
, is the only part of Maryland within the
Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem), second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest Drainage system (geomorphology), drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson B ...
drainage basin A drainage basin is an area of land where all flowing surface water converges to a single point, such as a river mouth, or flows into another body of water, such as a lake or ocean. A basin is separated from adjacent basins by a perimeter, ...
. All other parts of the county are in the
Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay ( ) is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula (including the parts: the Eastern Shore of Maryland / ...
basin. The National Register of Historic Places listings in Garrett County, Maryland has 20
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
properties and districts, including Casselman Bridge, National Road a
National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places liste ...
. Garrett County is part of Maryland's 6th congressional district. The extreme south of the county lies within the United States National Radio Quiet Zone.


History

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 Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring (disambiguation), touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tour (disambiguation), tours. Th ...
has made a dramatic rebound in the county with logging and farming making up the greatest part of the economic base. Due to a cool climate and lack of any large city, Garrett County has remained a sparsely populated rural area.


Geography

According to the
U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.3%) is water. It is the second-largest county in Maryland by land area. Garrett County is Maryland's westernmost, bordering
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
to the north via the
Mason–Dixon line The Mason–Dixon line, also called the Mason and Dixon line or Mason's and Dixon's line, is a demarcation line separating four U.S. states, forming part of the borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia (part of Virginia ...
,
West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the ...
to the south and west (with the
Potomac River The Potomac River () drains the Mid-Atlantic United States, flowing from the Potomac Highlands into Chesapeake Bay. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map. Retrieved Augu ...
forming its southern boundary), and
Allegany County, Maryland Allegany County is located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population was 68,106. Its county seat is Cumberland. The name ''Allegany'' may come from a local Lenape word, ''welhik hane'' or ''o ...
to the east. The county's northwesternmost point is approximately southeast of
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
, and its southeasternmost point is approximately northwest of
Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic, and the 30th most populous city in the United States with a population of 585,708 in 2020. Baltimore wa ...
. Garrett County is located entirely within the highland zone of the
Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, (french: Appalaches), are a system of mountains in eastern to northeastern North America. The Appalachians first formed roughly 480 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. The ...
known variously as the
Allegheny Mountains The Allegheny Mountain Range (; also spelled Alleghany or Allegany), informally the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the Eastern United States and Canada and posed a significant barrier to land travel in less devel ...
, the Allegheny Plateau, and the
Appalachian Plateau The Appalachian Plateau is a series of rugged dissected plateaus located on the western side of the Appalachian Mountains. The Appalachian Mountains are a mountain range that run down the Eastern United States. The Appalachian Plateau is the nor ...
. The county's highest elevations are located along four flat-topped ridges and range to a height of at Hoye-Crest along
Backbone Mountain Backbone Mountain is a ridge of the Allegheny Mountains of the central Appalachian Mountain Range. It is situated in the U.S. states of West Virginia and Maryland and forms a portion of the Eastern Continental Divide. In the state of Maryland, Ba ...
, 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 . River valleys are generally narrow and deep, with ravines typically 1,000 to below surrounding peaks. The county contains over 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 The Casselman River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed August 15, 2011 tributary of the Youghiogheny River in western Maryland and Pennsylvania in the United States.Ge ...
, 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 The Monongahela River ( , )—often referred to locally as the Mon ()—is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed August 15, 2011 river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-c ...
at McKeesport, just south of
Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
.


Geologic points of interest


The Glades

The Glades' is of great scientific interest because it is an ombrotrophic system (fed solely by rainwater) with peat layers up to 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, which is named after Henry Bittinger, who first settled in the area and who was joined by other German settlers moving in and taking up the fertile farmland. On the eastern edge of Bittinger is one of the largest glades area of Garrett County. Geographically, this is an area that 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 ''Sphagnum'' is a genus of approximately 380 accepted species of mosses, commonly known as sphagnum moss, peat moss, also bog moss and quacker moss (although that term is also sometimes used for peat). Accumulations of ''Sphagnum'' can store wa ...
.


Loess Dunes

In the
Casselman River The Casselman River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed August 15, 2011 tributary of the Youghiogheny River in western Maryland and Pennsylvania in the United States.Ge ...
valley, 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.


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

250px, Forest in Swallow Falls State Park Garrett County contains over of parks, lakes, and publicly accessible forestland. Popular activities in the county include camping, hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, alpine and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, ice fishing, fly fishing, whitewater canoeing, kayaking, rafting, boating, swimming, sailing, horseback riding, and water skiing.


State parks

There are seven 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 New Germany State Park is a public recreation area covering adjacent to Savage River State Forest in Garrett County, Maryland. The state park is administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources The Maryland Department of Natu ...
(Grantsville) * Sang Run State Park * 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.


Libraries and Museums

Th
Ruth Enlow Library
was founded in 1915 as the Oakland Free Public Library. Since then, an additional four branches have been added to the library system in Accident, Friendsville, Grantsville, and Kitzmiller. The present director of the library is Thomas Vose. Th
Garrett County Historical Society and Museums
include a Historical Museum, a Transportation Museum, the Grantsville Museum and the Leo Beachley Photographic Archives.


Adjacent counties

* Fayette County, Pennsylvania (northwest) * Somerset County, Pennsylvania (north) *
Allegany County, Maryland Allegany County is located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population was 68,106. Its county seat is Cumberland. The name ''Allegany'' may come from a local Lenape word, ''welhik hane'' or ''o ...
, (east) * Grant County, West Virginia (south) * Mineral County, West Virginia (southeast) * Preston County, West Virginia (west)


Demographics


2020 census

''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''


2010 census

As of the
2010 United States Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators serving ...
, there were 30,097 people, 12,057 households, and 8,437 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 18,854 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.8% white, 1.0% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 35.4% were
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...
, 13.6% identified as
American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...
, 11.3% were Irish, and 11.3% were
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...
. Of the 12,057 households, 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.0% were non-families, and 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age was 42.7 years. The median income for a household in the county was $45,760 and the median income for a family was $56,545. Males had a median income of $40,035 versus $27,325 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,888. About 8.9% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those aged 65 or over.


2000 census

As of the
census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...
of 2000, there were 29,846 people, 11,476 households, and 8,354 families residing in the county. The
population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...
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 White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...
, 0.43%
Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...
or
African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.07% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02%
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...
, 0.09% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. 0.44% of the population were
Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
or Latino of any race. 36.1% were of
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...
, 22.9% identified as
American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...
, 9.6%
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...
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 Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...
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 Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...
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. Garrett County is home to an
Amish The Amish (; pdc, Amisch; german: link=no, Amische), formally the Old Order Amish, are a group of traditionalist Anabaptist Christian church fellowships with Swiss German and Alsatian origins. They are closely related to Mennonite churc ...
community in the Oakland area that consists of a church district of about 70 homes. The Amish community dates back to 1850 and became associated with the
New Order Amish The New Order Amish are a subgroup of Amish that split away from the Old Order Amish in the 1960s for a variety of reasons, which included a desire for "clean" youth courting standards, meaning they do not condone the practice of bundling, or no ...
, with electricity permitted inside of homes.


Politics and government


Government

The County is governed by an elected three-member
Board of County Commissioners A county commission (or a board of county commissioners) is a group of elected officials (county commissioners) collectively charged with administering the county government in some states of the United States; such commissions usually comprise ...
, whose members serve four-year terms and must live in the district they represent. The Board is the traditional form of county government in Maryland. It may exercise only those powers conferred by the General Assembly of Maryland, and even those powers are narrowly construed. Garrett 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.


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.


Politics

Although since the Civil War Maryland has been a Democratic-leaning state, Garrett County, owing to its history of
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...
settlement from north of the
Mason–Dixon line The Mason–Dixon line, also called the Mason and Dixon line or Mason's and Dixon's line, is a demarcation line separating four U.S. states, forming part of the borders of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and West Virginia (part of Virginia ...
, plus strong pre-war
Unionism Unionism may refer to: Trades *Community unionism, the ways trade unions work with community organizations *Craft unionism, a model of trade unionism in which workers are organised based on a particular craft or trade *Dual unionism, the developm ...
resulting from virtual absence of
slaves Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...
, has always been strongly Republican. Since it was created in 1872, Garrett is one of forty counties across the nation (chiefly Unionist strongholds in antebellum slave states) to have never voted for a Democratic presidential candidate. Compared with neighbouring and closely allied Grant County, West Virginia, Garrett has not shown quite the same levels of Republican support – Lyndon Johnson did get within 109 votes of Barry Goldwater in 1964 – but as with Grant County, the only occasion Garrett County has not been carried by the official Republican nominee occurred in 1912 when a major split in the Republican Party allowed "Bull Moose Party" nominee and former President Theodore Roosevelt to claim the county. Since 1996, no Democratic presidential nominee has won even 30% of the county’s vote, and not since 2010 has Garrett County voted Democratic in any statewide election. Garrett County is represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by the Maryland's 6th congressional district, 6th congressional district, which includes part of northwestern metro DC. The district is currently represented by Democrat David Trone.


Law enforcement

The county is policed by the Garrett County Sheriff's Office and the Maryland State Police. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, state parks are policed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police, Department of Natural Resources Police. The county established an Office of the Fire marshal, Fire Marshal in 2022, working in collaboration with the Maryland State Office established in 1894.


Economy

Garrett County produces natural gas, the only county in the state to do so. Much of the economic activity in the area centers around tourism. In the winter, the Wisp ski resort in Oakland and New Germany State Park's cross-country 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. During the Covid-19 , Covid-19 Pandemic, tourism boomed as many people from Washington, DC, Baltimore, and
Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
wanted to get away from the city. The average sale price for a home in the county jumped $250,000 from July 2020 to July 2021. As of July 2021, the average price for a home in the county ($642,805) is the second-most expensive in Maryland, only falling behind Montgomery County, Maryland, Montgomery County.


Transportation


Major highways

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


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, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
television market. KDKA-TV and WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and WJAC-TV in Johnstown, Pennsylvania serves Oakland, the county seat. Oakland also has an educational television station (by way of PBS member station WGPT, part of state-wide Maryland Public Television; it also serves Pittsburgh-based member station WQED (TV), WQED). It has a weekly newspaper, the ''Garrett County Republican'', which was purchased by NCWV Media in 2017.


Events

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


Communities


Towns

*Accident, Maryland, Accident *Deer Park, Maryland, Deer Park *Friendsville, Maryland, Friendsville *Grantsville, Maryland, Grantsville *Kitzmiller, Maryland, Kitzmiller *Loch Lynn Heights, Maryland, Loch Lynn Heights *Mountain Lake Park, Maryland, Mountain Lake Park *
Oakland Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third largest city overall in the Bay ...
(county seat)


Census-designated places

The United States Census Bureau recognizes seven census-designated places (CDPs) in Garrett County. *Bloomington, Maryland, Bloomington *Crellin, Maryland, Crellin *Finzel, Maryland, Finzel *Gorman, Maryland, Gorman *Hutton, Maryland, Hutton *Jennings, Garrett County, Maryland, Jennings *Swanton, Maryland, Swanton


Unincorporated communities

The following communities are classified as populated places or locales by the Geographic Names Information System. *Altamont is where CSX Transportation, CSX's Mountain Subdivision rail line crosses the
Eastern Continental Divide The Eastern Continental Divide, Eastern Divide or Appalachian Divide is a hydrographic divide in eastern North America that separates the easterly Atlantic Seaboard watershed from the westerly Gulf of Mexico watershed. The divide nearly spans ...
just west of the railroad's underpass of Maryland Route 135, 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 New Germany State Park is a public recreation area covering adjacent to Savage River State Forest in Garrett County, Maryland. The state park is administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources The Maryland Department of Natu ...
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. *Ryan's Glade stretches along the common border with Grant County, West Virginia from about midway between Mountain Lake Park and Gormania, West Virginia, Gormania to the southwestern corner of the county near Wilsonia, West Virginia, Wilsonia. *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. Formerly known as Oakton. *Strecker is along Crabtree Creek and CSX Transportation, 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.


Education

Garrett College is a public community college in McHenry, Maryland. The college had three outreach centers in Accident, Grantsville, and Oakland. Garrett County Public Schools operates public schools. There are two public high schools in the county, Southern Garrett High School and Northern Garrett High School, two public middle schools, Southern Garrett Middle School and Northern Garrett Middle School, and seven public elementary schools, Accident Elementary School, Broad Ford Elementary School, Crellin Elementary School, Friendsville Elementary School, Grantsville Elementary School, Route 40 Elementary School, and Yough Glades Elementary School. There is also one K-8 public school in the county, which is Swan Meadow School.


See also

*USS Garrett County (LST-786), 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


References


External links


County, State and Federal government


Garrett County OnlineGarrett County Economic Development Online
*[http://www.mgs.md.gov/index.html Maryland Geological Survey Online]
U.S. Geological Survey - Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120301102331/http://www.conservemd.org/index.cfm Maryland Land Conservation Center]
Garrett County Health DepartmentGarrett County Community Planning Tool


Historical and academic


Garrett County Historical Society Museum - History of Garrett CountyWestern Maryland's Historical LibraryRuth Enlow Library of Garrett CountyGarrett College Weather Underground Data ExchangeMultimedia Learning Center


Business and tourism


Deep Creek Lake Events, Business Listings and MoreThe Official Website of Garrett County's Chamber of CommerceThe Official Website of Garrett County's Deep Creek Lake AreaThe Official site of the Maryland Office of TourismAirNav.com - Garrett County Airport (2G4)Deep Creek Times, Deep Creek Lake and Garrett County area informationNews - Oakland, The RepublicanNews - Cumberland, Times-News
{{authority control Garrett County, Maryland, Maryland counties Maryland counties on the Potomac River Northwestern Turnpike Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 1872 establishments in Maryland Counties of Appalachia Populated places established in 1872