Washington County, Maryland

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Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. The population was 154,705 as of the 2020 census.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Its county seat and largest city is Hagerstown.<ref name="GR6">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The county is part of the Western Maryland region of the state.

Washington County was the first county in the United States to be named for the Revolutionary War general (and later President) George Washington. Washington County is one of three Maryland counties recognized by the Appalachian Regional Commission as being part of Appalachia.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The county borders southern Pennsylvania to the north, Northern Virginia to the south, and the Martinsburg Panhandle of West Virginia to the south and west. Washington County is included in the Hagerstown metropolitan area, which is also included in the Washington metropolitan area.

History

For thousands of years, Native Americans inhabited the lands that would later form Washington County.<ref name="md250">Template:Citation</ref> Archaeological evidence suggests that an Iroquoian people known as the Susquehannock occupied this region around 1600.<ref>Template:Citation</ref><ref name="Wall">Template:Cite journal</ref> In the early 17th century, England began to settle lands on the Chesapeake Bay to the east of present-day Washington County. Contact between the Susquehannock and these English settlers was limited until English merchant William Claiborne from Virginia began trading with the Susquehannock in the 1630s.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

In 1634, England established the Province of Maryland as an English colony with their founding of St. Mary's City to the southeast of present-day Washington County.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> English-Susquehannock relations then began to deteriorate, as Maryland formed an alliance with the Piscataway people, who were the frequent target of Susquehannock raids. The founding of the province also disrupted their trade alliance with Claiborne as he refused to acknowledge Maryland's authority.<ref>Template:Cite thesis</ref> In 1641, the Governor of Maryland declared the Susquehannock "enemies of the province", and Susquehannock raids on Maryland and the Piscataway continued intermittently until 1652.<ref name="Jennings">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Acquisition by Maryland

In the winter of 1652, the Susquehannock were attacked by the Mohawk, and although the attack was repulsed, it led to the Susquehannock negotiating the Articles of Peace and Friendship with Maryland.<ref name="Jennings" /> The Susquehannock relinquished their claim to territory on either side of the Chesapeake Bay and reestablished their earlier trading relationship with the English.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1696, the province incorporated its western portions (including its claims to present-day Washington County) into Prince George's County.<ref name="trails">[1], Washington County, Maryland History and Genealogy, 2006. Retrieved 2008.</ref> In 1707, Maryland became a British colony as the result of the union of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland.<ref name="Act of Union 1707 article I">Template:Citation</ref>

In the 1730s, European settlers arrived in present-day Washington County,<ref name="md250"></ref> and in 1748, Frederick County, which then included Washington County, separated from Prince George's County.<ref name="trails"></ref> During the French and Indian War, Marylanders constructed Fort Frederick in 1756.<ref name="md250" /> Later, Maryland was one of the colonies that revolted to form the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolutionary War in 1775. On September 6, 1776, Maryland formed Washington County from a part of Frederick County.<ref name="md250" /><ref name="trails" /> It was the first county in the United States named after George Washington.<ref name="md250" /> The State of Maryland ratified the United States Constitution and officially joined the United States in 1788. In 1789, part of Washington County was divided to form Allegany County, which itself was later divided in 1872 to form Garrett County.<ref name="trails"></ref>

File:Seal of Washington County, Maryland (1950–1988).png
The Washington County seal from 1950 to 1988; de facto as it was never officially adopted.

Washington County has over 30 historical sites and is home to 3 National Parks, 7 State Parks, 14 County Parks, and numerous City and Town Parks.<ref name="md250" /> A number of properties in the county are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref name="nris">Template:NRISref</ref> The county's history includes riots during the Whiskey Rebellion, several Civil War battles including the Battle of Antietam, the site where the abolitionist John Brown planned his raid on Harpers Ferry, and the location of railroads that facilitated westward expansion of the United States.<ref name="md250" />

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (2.0%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Washington County is located in the Appalachian Mountains, stretching from the Ridge-and-Valley Country in the west to South Mountain in the east, which is an extension of the Blue Ridge. Much of the county lies in the broad Hagerstown Valley between these two zones; the valley is part of the Great Appalachian Valley that continues southward into Virginia and West Virginia as the Shenandoah Valley and northward into Pennsylvania as the Cumberland Valley.

The county is bordered to the north by the Mason–Dixon line with Pennsylvania, to the south by the Potomac River and the states of Virginia and West Virginia, to the west by Sideling Hill Creek and Allegany County, Maryland, and to the east by Frederick County and South Mountain.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

File:2019-07-10 11 52 50 View south along Interstate 81 from the overpass for Interstate 70 in Halfway, Washington County, Maryland.jpg
View south along I-81 from I-70 in Washington County

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Demographics

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2000 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 147,430 people, 49,726 households, and 34,112 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 52,972 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 89.71% White or Caucasian, 7.77% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. 1.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race, 32.1% identified as being of German ancestry, 21.4% American, 8.8% Irish, and 8.4% English ancestry.

There were 49,726 households, out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.00% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.00 males.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 147,430 people, 55,687 households, and 37,506 families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 60,814 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 85.1% white, 9.6% black or African American, 1.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.1% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 31.7% were German, 14.1% were Irish, 9.8% were English, 8.5% were American, and 5.1% were Italian.<ref name="census-dp2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Of the 55,687 households, 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.6% were non-families, and 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 39.7 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $52,994 and the median income for a family was $65,811. Males had a median income of $47,622 versus $34,225 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,588. About 7.7% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Communities

File:Hagerstown Downtown Potomac St.JPG
Hagerstown
File:Williamsport Maryland.jpg
Williamsport

City

Towns

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Census-designated places

The Census Bureau recognizes the following census-designated places in the county: Template:Div col

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File:Hancock main street.jpg
Hancock

Unincorporated communities

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Sharpsburg

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Politics and government

Federal representation

The county is located within Maryland's 6th congressional district. The representative of the district currently is April McClain Delaney (D).

Like most of Appalachia, German-influenced and Unionist Western Maryland,<ref>Levine, Mark V.; ‘Standing Political Decisions and Critical Realignment: The Pattern of Maryland Politics, 1872-1948’; The Journal of Politics, volume 38, no. 2 (May 1976), pp. 292-325</ref> Washington County is solidly Republican. The last Democrat to carry Washington County at a Presidential level was Lyndon Johnson during his 1964 landslide win over Barry Goldwater, although between 1888 and 1940 the county was a consistent bellwether for all Presidential elections.

Voter registration

Voter registration and party enrollment as of June 2025<ref name="MDBOE">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

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Template:Party color cell Republican 45,519 Template:Percentage
Template:Party color cell Democratic 30,603 Template:Percentage
Template:Party color cell Unaffiliated 24,959 Template:Percentage
Template:Party color cell Other parties 1,681 Template:Percentage
Total 102,997 Template:Percentage

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State representation

Washington County is represented by two senators in the Maryland State Senate. Member Mike McKay (R), serves the 1st district in Maryland and Paul D. Corderman (R), serves in the 2nd district. The county also is represented in Maryland General Assembly’s other primary division, the Maryland House of Delegates. Delegates who stand for Washington County include: Terry Baker (R) for District 1C, William Valentine (R) and William J. Wivell (R) for District 2A and Matthew Schindler (D) for District 2B.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

County government

Washington County’s “leader” is known as the County Administrator. Currently, Michelle Gordon serves as the County Administrator. However, Washington County's County Commissioners exercise executive powers as they exist in the government of the county.

The County Commissioners in Washington County comprise the traditional form of county government in Maryland. Current members include: John Barr (President) (R), Jeffrey A. Cline (Vice President) (R), Randall Wagner (R), Derek Harvey (R), and Randy Leatherman (R).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web

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File:Downtown Boonsboro, Maryland.jpg
Boonsboro

Economy

In 2000, the median income for a household in the county was $40,617, and the median income for a family was $48,962. Males had a median income of $34,917 versus $24,524 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,062. About 7.00% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.30% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

According to the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, the following were the major employers in the county (excluding post offices, state government, and local governments, but including public institutions of higher education):<ref name="Employer">Major Employers in Washington County, Maryland, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development (Nov. 2014 data).</ref>

Employer Employees
(Nov. 2014)<ref name="Employer"/>
Meritus Health 2,730
Citi 2,700
First Data 2,322
Volvo Group 1,350
The Bowman Group 718
FedEx Ground 648
Staples Inc. 597
Hagerstown Community College 594
Merkle Response Management Group 545
Arc of Washington County 500
Direct Mail Processors 500
Walmart/Sam's Club 500
Sierra Nevada Corp. 486
Giant Food Stores/
Martin's Food Markets 		420
Weis Markets 400
Brook Lane Health Services 395
Lehigh Phoenix 360
A.C.&T 350
Susquehanna Bancshares 345
Dot Foods 312
JLG Industries 300
Home Depot 296
Lowe's 276
Thompson's Gas & Electric Service 275
United Parcel Service (UPS) 274
CertainTeed 250
Darden Restaurants 250
Sheetz 250
Tractor Supply 250
Homewood Retirement Centers 249
NMS Healthcare of Hagerstown 240
Horizon Goodwill Industries 229
C. William Hetzer 225
FedEx Freight 225

Washington County is top in the state for commercial production of fruits, tree nuts, and berries.<ref name="2017-census-county">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Parks and recreation

File:2019-07-14 13 12 11 View west along Interstate 68 and U.S. Route 40 (National Freeway) from the Victor Cushwa Memorial Bridge as it passes through the Sideling Hill Road Cut in Forest Park, Washington County, Maryland.jpg
Sideling Hill man-made mountain pass on I-68/U.S. 40 near Hancock

National parks

State parks

Museums, historic sites, and other points of interest

Education

Washington County Public Schools administers public schools in the county. See Washington County Public Schools – School Directory for a detailed listing of elementary, middle, high, and other schools.

High schools

Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break Public high schools

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  • Broadfording Academy, Hagerstown
  • Emmanuel Christian School, Hagerstown
  • Gateway Academy, Williamsport
  • Grace Academy, Hagerstown
  • Heritage Academy, Hagerstown
  • Highland View Academy, Hagerstown
  • St. James School, Saint James
  • St. Maria Goretti High School, Hagerstown
  • Truth Christian Academy, Hagerstown

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Colleges and universities

Notable residents and natives

See also

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References

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