Allegany County, Maryland

Allegany County
County
Allegany County Courthouse
Allegany County Courthouse
Flag of Allegany County
Flag
Official seal of Allegany County
Seal
Map of Maryland highlighting Allegany County
Location within the U.S. state of Maryland
Map of the United States highlighting Maryland
Maryland's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°38′N 78°41′W
Country United States
State Maryland
Founded December 25, 1789
Named for Allegheny Mountains
Seat Cumberland
Largest city Cumberland
Area
 • Total 430 sq mi (1,100 km2)
 • Land 424 sq mi (1,100 km2)
 • Water 5.8 sq mi (15 km2)  1.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 68,106
 • Density 160/sq mi (61/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 6th
Website www.alleganygov.org

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 oolikhanna, which means 'best flowing river of the hills' or 'beautiful stream'. A number of counties and a river in the Appalachian region of the U.S. are named Allegany, Allegheny, or Alleghany. Allegany County is part of the Cumberland metropolitan area. It is a part of the Western Maryland "panhandle".

History

The western part of Maryland (including the present Allegany County) was originally part of Prince George's County when Maryland was formed in 1696. This county included six current counties, and by repeated splitting, new ones were generated: Frederick from Prince George's in 1748; and Montgomery and Washington from Frederick in 1776.

Allegany County was formed in 1789 by the splitting of Washington County. At the time it was the westernmost county in Maryland, but a split in 1872 produced Garrett County, the current westernmost county.

A 10-dollar note inscribed "THE ALLEGANY COUNTY BANK Will pay TEN DOLLARS to the bearer on demand. Cumberland." The note has illustrations of a young woman, a girl, and three men on a boat.
A 10-dollar note from the Allegany County Bank from 1860.

Prior to 1789, the Virginia Commonwealth claimed the area of present-day Garrett and Allegany Counties, of Maryland. A 1771–1780 map of Virginias counties, shows Hampshire County, but the Virginia State boundary has Hampshire outside that boundary line. When conducting genealogical research, it is possible to find tax records for Hampshire County, Virginia included in Maryland records, and Maryland records in Hampshire County... Hampshire County was formed in 1758 by the Virginia Commonwealth and at its founding, included the present day counties of Garrett and Allegany Counties in Maryland, and Hardy, Grant, Mineral, and part of Morgan Counties in what is now West Virginia.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 430 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 424 square miles (1,100 km2) is land and 5.8 square miles (15 km2) (1.3%) is water.

Allegany County lies primarily in the Ridge-and-Valley Country of the Appalachian Mountains. It is bordered to the north by the Mason–Dixon line with Pennsylvania, to the south by the Potomac River and West Virginia, to the east by Sideling Hill Creek and Washington County, Maryland, and to the west by a land border with Garrett County, Maryland. The western part of the county contains a portion of the steep Allegheny Front, which marks the transition to the higher-elevation Appalachian Plateau and Allegheny Mountain region. The town of Frostburg is located west of the Front at an elevation of nearly 2,100 feet above sea level, while the county seat of Cumberland, only eight miles away, has an elevation of only 627 feet.

Mountains

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. Note %±
1790 4,809 —
1800 6,303 31.1%
1810 6,909 9.6%
1820 8,654 25.3%
1830 10,609 22.6%
1840 15,690 47.9%
1850 22,769 45.1%
1860 28,348 24.5%
1870 38,536 35.9%
1880 38,012 −1.4%
1890 41,571 9.4%
1900 53,694 29.2%
1910 62,411 16.2%
1920 69,938 12.1%
1930 79,098 13.1%
1940 86,973 10.0%
1950 89,556 3.0%
1960 84,169 −6.0%
1970 84,044 −0.1%
1980 80,548 −4.2%
1990 74,946 −7.0%
2000 74,930 0.0%
2010 75,087 0.2%
2020 68,106 −9.3%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

Allegany County, Maryland - Demographic profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 66,195 57,953 88.16% 85.09%
Black or African American alone (NH) 5,959 5,286 7.94% 7.76%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 90 115 0.12% 0.17%
Asian alone (NH) 566 733 0.75% 1.08%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 26 22 0.03% 0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 59 185 0.08% 0.27%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 1,107 2,663 1.47% 3.91%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,085 1,149 1.44% 1.69%
Total 75,087 68,106 100.00% 100.00%

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, there were 75,087 people, 29,177 households, and 17,959 families residing in the county. The population density was 177.0 inhabitants per square mile (68.3/km2). There were 33,311 housing units at an average density of 78.5 per square mile (30.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.2% white, 8.0% black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 31.8% were German, 14.6% were Irish, 11.9% were English, 11.8% were American, and 5.6% were Italian.

Of the 29,177 households, 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.4% were non-families, and 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 40.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,747 and the median income for a family was $52,680. Males had a median income of $42,322 versus $29,594 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,764. About 9.6% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.3% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 74,930 people, 29,322 households, and 18,883 families residing in the county. The population density was 176 people per square mile (68 people/km2). There were 32,984 housing units at an average density of 78 per square mile (30/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.02% White, 5.35% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 29.0% were of German, 16.7% US or American, 12.8% Irish, 10.7% English and 5.3% Italian ancestry according to the 2000 census.

There were 29,322 households, out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.60% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.60% under the age of 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,821, and the median income for a family was $39,886. Males had a median income of $31,316 versus $21,334 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,780. About 9.70% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.70% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2010, Allegany County had a racial and ethnic population composition of 88.16% Non-Hispanic whites, 8.03% Blacks, 0.14% Native Americans, 0.76% Asians, 0.04% Pacific Islanders, 0.08% Non-Hispanics who reported some other race, 1.47% Non-Hispanics who reported two or more races and 1.44% Hispanics.

Economy

According to the county's comprehensive annual financial reports, the top employers by number of employees in the county are the following. ("NR" indicates the employer was not ranked among the top ten employers that year.)

Employer Employees
(2021) 		Employees
(2012)
UPMC Western Maryland 2,200 2,290
Allegany County Board of Education 1,350 1,346
Northrop Grumman 1,050 1,396
Frostburg State University 1,003 922
Hunter Douglas 900 580
New Page Corporation NR 870
CSX Transportation 635 900
Western Correctional Institution 588 552
North Branch Correctional Institution 574 557
American Woodmark 572 NR
Allegany College 509 559

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Occupying a middle ground between incorporated and unincorporated areas are Special Tax Districts, quasi-municipal unincorporated areas created by legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly. They lack home rule authority and must petition the General Assembly for changes affecting the authority of the district. There are eight Special Tax Districts in the county:

Other census-designated places in the county include:

Unincorporated communities

Government and infrastructure

Current government

The Allegany County Government is governed by a 3-member board of County Commissioners.

Board of County Commissioners
Position Name Affiliation District
  President David J. Caporale Republican At-large
  Commissioner Creade V Brode Jr Republican At-large
  Commissioner William R. Atkinson Republican At-large
Orphans Court
Position Name Affiliation District
  Chief Judge Donna May Republican At-large
  Judge Edward Crossland Republican At-large
  Judge Albert Feldstein Republican At-large
Sheriff
Position Name Affiliation District
  Sheriff Craig Robertson Republican At-large
Clerk of the Court
Position Name Affiliation District
  Clerk of the Court Dawne D Lindsey Republican At-large
Register of Wills
Position Name Affiliation District
  Register of Wills Mary Beth Pirolozzi Republican At-large
States Attorney
Position Name Affiliation District
  States Attorney James Elliott Republican At-large
General Assembly
Position Name Affiliation District
  Senate Mike McKay Republican District 1
  House of Delegates Jim Hinebaugh Republican District 1A
  House of Delegates Jason C. Buckel Republican District 1B
  House of Delegates Terry Baker Republican District 1C
U.S Congress
Position Name Affiliation District
  House of Representatives David Trone Democratic District 6

Libraries

The library system was created in 1960, when libraries in Cumberland, Frostburg, LaVale, Pennsylvania Avenue School, and Westernport were merged to form a unified library system. The first of the libraries which would make up the library system was the Washington Street library, founded in 1924. The most recent addition to the library system was the Georges Creek library, which opened in March 2001. The Allegany County Library System currently has six branches: Frostburg Library, Georges Creek Library, LaVale Library, South Cumberland Library, Washington Street Library, and Westernport Library.

Infrastructure

The North Branch Correctional Institution, (opened 2003), and the earlier adjacent Western Correctional Institution are operated by the Division of Corrections of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, (with its headquarters in Baltimore) is located in an unincorporated area of Allegany County, just southwest of Cumberland. The prison housed male death row inmates, who were moved from the Maryland Correctional Adjustment Center, from June 2010 until death row was closed in 2014.

Politics

Allegany County was granted a home rule form of government in 1974. It is a strongly Republican county, the last Democrat to win a majority being Jimmy Carter in 1976. The only other Democrats to carry the county since 1880 have been Lyndon B. Johnson, Franklin D. Roosevelt (twice), and by very narrow margins Harry S. Truman in 1948 and Woodrow Wilson in 1912.

Voter registration and party enrollment of Allegany County
Party Total Percentage
Democratic 11,865 26.92%
Republican 22,959 52.08%
Independents, unaffiliated, and other 9,257 21.00%
Total 44,081 100.00%
United States presidential election results for Allegany County, Maryland
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 20,886 68.16% 9,158 29.89% 597 1.95%
2016 21,270 69.39% 7,875 25.69% 1,509 4.92%
2012 19,230 64.42% 9,805 32.85% 815 2.73%
2008 18,405 61.88% 10,693 35.95% 644 2.17%
2004 18,980 63.57% 10,576 35.42% 299 1.00%
2000 14,656 55.58% 10,894 41.31% 821 3.11%
1996 12,136 46.68% 11,025 42.40% 2,840 10.92%
1992 13,862 45.31% 11,501 37.59% 5,232 17.10%
1988 17,462 59.19% 11,844 40.15% 197 0.67%
1984 19,763 63.30% 11,143 35.69% 317 1.02%
1980 17,512 55.62% 12,167 38.65% 1,805 5.73%
1976 15,435 49.15% 15,967 50.85% 0 0.00%
1972 20,687 64.55% 10,808 33.72% 553 1.73%
1968 13,561 42.50% 13,227 41.45% 5,122 16.05%
1964 12,384 37.75% 20,425 62.25% 0 0.00%
1960 20,489 59.93% 13,701 40.07% 0 0.00%
1956 20,239 65.26% 10,775 34.74% 0 0.00%
1952 19,186 56.83% 14,529 43.03% 47 0.14%
1948 14,375 49.00% 14,398 49.08% 562 1.92%
1944 15,589 50.39% 15,345 49.61% 0 0.00%
1940 14,804 44.26% 18,456 55.18% 188 0.56%
1936 11,191 35.87% 19,721 63.20% 291 0.93%
1932 12,911 49.05% 12,033 45.71% 1,378 5.24%
1928 19,443 67.74% 9,026 31.45% 234 0.82%
1924 9,042 55.24% 4,442 27.14% 2,886 17.63%
1920 9,595 57.37% 5,643 33.74% 1,487 8.89%
1916 5,760 51.56% 4,859 43.49% 553 4.95%
1912 1,396 16.25% 3,382 39.36% 3,815 44.40%
1908 5,178 48.89% 4,791 45.24% 622 5.87%
1904 5,232 56.32% 3,326 35.81% 731 7.87%
1900 5,944 54.63% 4,527 41.61% 409 3.76%

Transportation

I-68 and US 40 in Allegany County

Allegany County has been, since colonial times, an important node on the nation's transportation network as a key transition point in the movement of goods and people to and from the ports of the Mid-Atlantic and the agricultural and industrial production centers of the Ohio Valley and Midwest. The Cumberland Narrows, a naturally-occurring watergap separating Wills and Haystack Mountains, serves as one of the few passages through what is otherwise one of the steepest rushes of the Ridge and Valley province. Because of this, Cumberland has been the site of both planned and completed transportation projects focused on connecting east and west.

On his fateful march from Alexandria to Fort Duquesne in modern-day Pittsburgh during the French and Indian War, British General Edward Braddock and his men, including then-Lieutenant Colonel and Braddock's aide-de-camp George Washington, carved a road, closely following the Native American Nemacolin's Path, from the British encampment at Fort Cumberland, through the Allegheny Mountains all the way to Fort Duquesne. This road, known in early America as Braddock's Road, became the guidelines for the earliest sections of the Cumberland Road, or what later became known as the National Road. Specifically, the section on Braddock's Road from Cumberland to Uniontown, Pennsylvania was followed nearly exactly in the early construction of the National Road. A monument to the start of the National Road now stands on Greene Street in Cumberland, very near the spot Braddock and his men began their expedition.

In modern times, Allegany County is an important regional crossroads. It is crossed from east to west by Interstate 68 and US Route 40, and from north to south by US Route 220, which from Cumberland to the Mason–Dixon line is part of the Appalachian Development Highway System's Corridor O.

Major highways

Rail

Public transportation

Education

Public K–12 education in the county is handled by Allegany County Public Schools (ACPS). ACPS is governed by an elected, five-member Board of Education, plus an appointed superintendent. ACPS manages three high schools (grades 9–12), three middle schools (grades 6–8), 13 elementary schools (grades K–5), and one K–8 school, plus the Center for Career and Technical Education in Cresaptown, and the Eckhart Alternative School in Eckhart Mines.

Allegany County is also home to three Christian parochial schools: Bishop Walsh School (Catholic) in Cumberland, Lighthouse Christian Academy (non-denominational) in Cumberland, and Calvary Christian Academy (non-denominational) in Cresaptown.

Allegany County is home to Frostburg State University, one of the eleven member universities of the University System of Maryland, and the only public, four-year university in Maryland west of the Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area. The university, founded in 1898 as the Frostburg State Normal School, FSU, as the university is known to students and alumni, now offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and has a yearly enrollment consistently over 5,000 students.

A junior college experience is available in Allegany County with the Allegany College of Maryland, located in Cumberland. Allegany College provides more than 50 associate degree programs and more than 20 certificate programs, and has more than 3,500 enrollees and more than 16,000 registrants in its Continuing Education programs. ACM also operates a satellite campus in Everett, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles north of Cumberland in Bedford County.

Natural resources

The primary mineral resources extracted for use in Allegany County are coal, iron, sandstone, and limestone. Coal-bearing formations are concentrated in the Georges Creek Basin in the western part of the county.

Notable residents

See also

Sandy Creek may not be mentioned here. Here is a reference that it existed (the letter symbols at the end of the reference are defined in a table at the end of Keegan's book) A Third Rutan Family Index p 177 By James J. Keegan Maryland Listings: Peter Rutan - (1776-1848_ p/John Rutan-Catherine Jones of Morris Co. NJ; m (1) Elizabeth McIlrath (1771-1845) (2) Mary Webb (1788-1855) in 1846; he was living in Sandy Creek, Allegany Co. in 1880 and moved to Markleysburg, Fayette Co. PA in 1812; they later (lived) in Caroll Co. OH; GSNJ; LDS; MEACH