Washington County is a

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

located in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

. The population was 154,705 as of the 2020 census. Its

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

and largest city is

Hagerstown Hagerstown is a city in Washington County, Maryland, United States, and its county seat. The population was 43,527 at the 2020 census. Hagerstown ranks as Maryland's sixth-most populous incorporated city and is the most populous city in the ...

. The county is part of the

Western Maryland upright=1.2, An enlargeable map of Maryland's 23 counties and one independent city Western Maryland, also known as the Maryland panhandle or Mountain Maryland, is the portion of the U.S. state of Maryland that typically consists of Washing ...

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 President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

)

George Washington George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...

. Washington County is one of three Maryland counties recognized by the

Appalachian Regional Commission The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a United States federal–state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life. Congress established A ...

as being part of

Appalachia Appalachia ( ) is a geographic region located in the Appalachian Mountains#Regions, central and southern sections of the Appalachian Mountains in the east of North America. In the north, its boundaries stretch from the western Catskill Mountai ...

. The county borders southern

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

to the north,

Northern Virginia Northern Virginia, locally referred to as NOVA or NoVA, comprises several County (United States), counties and independent city (United States), independent cities in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. ...

to the south, and the Martinsburg Panhandle of West Virginia to the south and west. Washington County is included in the Hagerstown- Martinsburg, MD- WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

Arlington Arlington most often refers to: *Arlington, Virginia **Arlington National Cemetery, a United States military cemetery *Arlington, Texas Arlington may also refer to: Places Australia *Arlington light rail station, on the Inner West Light Rail in S ...

, DC-MD- VA-WV- PA Combined Statistical Area.

History

The western portions of the

Province of Maryland The Province of Maryland was an Kingdom of England, English and later British colonization of the Americas, British colony in North America from 1634 until 1776, when the province was one of the Thirteen Colonies that joined in supporting the A ...

(including present Washington County) were incorporated into

Prince George's County Prince George's County (often shortened to PG County or PG) is located in the U.S. state of Maryland bordering the eastern portion of Washington, D.C. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 967,201, making it the second-most populous ...

in 1696. This original county included six current counties. The first to be created was

Frederick Frederick may refer to: People * Frederick (given name), the name Given name Nobility = Anhalt-Harzgerode = * Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670) = Austria = * Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria fro ...

, separated from Prince George's County in 1748. Following

independence Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state, in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the status of ...

, the sovereign

State of Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

formed Washington County on September 6, 1776, by the division of Frederick County. At the same time, a portion of Frederick County became part of the newly created

Montgomery County Montgomery County may refer to: Australia * The former name of Montgomery Land District, Tasmania United Kingdom * The historic county of Montgomeryshire, Wales, also called County of Montgomery United States * Montgomery County, Alabama * Montg ...

along with portions from Prince George's County and Charles County, and was named for General

Richard Montgomery Richard Montgomery (2 December 1738 – 31 December 1775) was an Irish-born American military officer who first served in the British Army. He later became a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and ...

. Washington County as created included land later to become Allegany County (created in 1789) and

Garrett County Garrett County () is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Maryland, completely within the Appalachian Mountains. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 28,806, making it the third-least populous county in Maryland. Its ...

(included in Allegany County when it was created in 1789, but separated from Allegany County in 1872). Washington County thus originally included the entire western part of the state. A number of properties in the county are listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, 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 U.S. Census Bureau is part of the U ...

, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.0%) is water. Washington County is located in the

Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains, often called the Appalachians, are a mountain range in eastern to northeastern North America. The term "Appalachian" refers to several different regions associated with the mountain range, and its surrounding terrain ...

, 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 Hagerstown Valley is located in Maryland in the United States. It is part of the Great Appalachian Valley, which continues northward as Cumberland Valley in Pennsylvania, and southward as Shenandoah Valley in West Virginia and Virginia. Hagerst ...

between these two zones; the valley is part of the

Great Appalachian Valley The Great Appalachian Valley, also called The Great Valley or Great Valley Region, is one of the major landform features of eastern North America. It is a gigantic trough, including a chain of valley lowlands, and the central feature of the Appal ...

that continues southward into Virginia and West Virginia as the

Shenandoah Valley The Shenandoah Valley () is a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia in the United States. The Valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the east ...

and northward into Pennsylvania as the

Cumberland Valley The Cumberland Valley is a northern constituent valley of the Great Appalachian Valley, within the Atlantic Seaboard watershed in Pennsylvania and Maryland. The Appalachian Trail crosses through the valley. Geography The valley is bound t ...

. The county is bordered to the north by the

Mason–Dixon line The Mason–Dixon line, sometimes referred to as Mason and Dixon's Line, is a demarcation line separating four U.S. states: Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia. It was Surveying, surveyed between 1763 and 1767 by Charles Mason ...

with

, to the south by the

Potomac River The Potomac River () is in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and flows from the Potomac Highlands in West Virginia to Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. It is long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography D ...

and the states of

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

and

West Virginia West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...

, to the west by Sideling Hill Creek and

Allegany County, Maryland Allegany County is a County (United States), county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 68,106. Its county seat is Cumberland, Maryland, Cumberland ...

, and to the east by Frederick County and South Mountain.

Adjacent counties

* Fulton County,

(northwest) * Franklin County,

(north) * Frederick County (east) *

Loudoun County Loudoun County () is in the northern part of the Virginia, Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. In 2020, the census returned a population of 420,959, making it Virginia's third-most populous county. The county seat is Leesburg, Virgi ...

(southeast) * Jefferson County,

(south) * Berkeley County,

(south) * Morgan County,

(southwest) * Allegany County (west)

Major highways

Interstate 68 Interstate 68 (I-68) is a Interstate Highway in the U.S. states of West Virginia and Maryland, connecting Interstate 79, I-79 in Morgantown, West Virginia, east to Interstate 70, I-70 in Hancock, Maryland. I-68 is also Corridor E of ...

Interstate 70 Interstate 70 (I-70) is a major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15, I-15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to Interstate 695 (Maryland), I-695 and Maryland Route 570 (MD 570) in Woodlawn, Baltimo ...

Interstate 81 Interstate 81 (I-81) is a north–south (physically northeast–southwest) Interstate Highway in the eastern part of the United States. Its southern terminus is at Interstate 40, I-40 in Dandridge, Tennessee, Dandridge, Tennessee; its nort ...

U.S. Route 11 U.S. Route 11 or U.S. Highway 11 (US 11) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway extending across the eastern U.S. The southern terminus of the route is at US 90 in Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refu ...

U.S. Route 40 U.S. Route 40 or U.S. Highway 40 (US 40), also known as the Main Street of America (a nickname shared with U.S. Route 66), is a major east–west United States Highway traveling across the United States from the Mountain States to the Mid- ...

U.S. Route 40 Alternate Several special routes of U.S. Route 40 exist. In order from west to east they are as follows. Current routes WaKeeney business loop U.S. Route 40 Business (US-40 Bus.) is a business route through WaKeeney, Kansas, that was recommended i ...

* *

U.S. Route 340 * US 522

U.S. Route 522 U.S. Route 522 (US 522) is a spur route of US 22 in the states of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. The U.S. Highway travels in a north-south direction, and runs from US 60 near Powhatan, Virginia, to its northern terminus ...

Maryland Route 34 Maryland Route 34 (MD 34) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Shepherdstown Pike, the state highway begins at the West Virginia state line at the Potomac River, where the highway continues south as ...

Maryland Route 56 Maryland Route 56 (MD 56) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Big Pool Road, the state highway runs from Interstate 70 (I-70) in Big Pool east to MD 68 near Pinesburg in western Washington County. MD 56, which feat ...

Maryland Route 57 Maryland Route 57 (MD 57) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as St. Paul Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 40 in Maryland, U.S. Route 40 (US 40) near Clear Spring, Maryland, Clear Spring north to Maryland Route ...

Maryland Route 58 Maryland Route 58 (MD 58) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Cearfoss Pike, the state highway runs from Maryland Route 63, MD 63 in Cearfoss, Maryland, Cearfoss east to Key Circle in Hagerstown, ...

Maryland Route 60 Maryland Route 60 (MD 60) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Leitersburg Pike, the state highway runs from the intersection of Potomac Avenue and Northern Avenue/Eastern Boulevard in Hagerstown, ...

Maryland Route 62 Maryland Route 62 (MD 62) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Little Antietam Road, the state highway runs from MD 804 in Chewsville north to MD 60 in Leitersburg in northeastern Washington C ...

Maryland Route 63 Maryland Route 63 (MD 63) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from Maryland Route 65, MD 65 in Fairplay, Maryland, Fairplay north to the Pennsylvania state line near Cearfoss, Maryland, Cearfoss, where the ...

Maryland Route 64 * MD Route 65

Maryland Route 65 Maryland Route 65 (MD 65) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Sharpsburg Pike, the state highway runs from Maryland Route 34, MD 34 in Sharpsburg, Maryland, Sharpsburg north to the southern end of ...

Maryland Route 66 Maryland Route 66 (MD 66) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Mapleville Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 40 Alternate (Hagerstown–Frederick, Maryland), U.S. Route 40 Alternate ( ...

Maryland Route 67 * MD Route 68

Maryland Route 68 Maryland Route 68 (MD 68) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from U.S. Route 40 (US 40) in Clear Spring east to US 40 Alternate in Boonsboro. MD 68 crosses central Washington County to the south of H ...

Maryland Route 77 Maryland Route 77 (MD 77) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from Maryland Route 64, MD 64 in Smithsburg, Maryland, Smithsburg east to Maryland Route 194, MD 194 in Keymar, Maryland, Keymar. MD 77 is the ...

Maryland Route 144 Maryland Route 144 (MD 144) is a collection of state highways in the U.S. state of Maryland. These highways are sections of old alignment of U.S. Route 40 in Maryland, U.S. Route 40 (US 40) between Cumberland, Maryland, Cumberland and Baltimo ...

Maryland Route 180 * MD Route 418

Maryland Route 418 Maryland Route 418 (MD 418) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Ringgold Pike, the state highway runs from MD 60 in Leitersburg east to the Pennsylvania state line near Ringgold, where the highway continues as State ...

Maryland Route 491 * MD Route 494

Maryland Route 494 Maryland Route 494 (MD 494) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Fairview Road, the state highway runs from the Pennsylvania state line near Fairview, where the highway continues north as Pennsylvania Route 75 (PA 75), ...

Maryland Route 550 Maryland Route 550 (MD 550) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from MD 26 in Libertytown north to Pen Mar Road in Fort Ritchie. MD 550 runs southeast–northwest across central Frederick County, ...

Maryland Route 615 Maryland Route 615 (MD 615) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from Interstate 70 (I-70) and U.S. Route 40 (US 40) east of Hancock north to the Pennsylvania state li ...

Maryland Route 632 Maryland Route 632 (MD 632) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Downsville Pike, the state highway runs from Maryland Route 63, MD 63 in Downsville, Maryland, Downsville north to Maryland Avenue in Hagerstown, Maryland, ...

Demographics

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 . There were 52,972 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 89.71% White or Caucasian, 7.77%

Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.18%

Native American Native Americans or Native American usually refers to Native Americans in the United States. Related terms and peoples include: Ethnic groups * Indigenous peoples of the Americas, the pre-Columbian peoples of North, South, and Central America ...

, 0.80% Asian, 0.04%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 0.46% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), ...

, and 1.04% from two or more races. 1.19% of the population were

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

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. The population density was . There were 60,814 housing units at an average density of . 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. In terms of ancestry, 31.7% were

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

, 14.1% were Irish, 9.8% were

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

, 8.5% were

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, p ...

, and 5.1% were

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...

. 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. 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 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 14.1% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

(county seat)

Towns

* Boonsboro * Clear Spring * Funkstown *

Hancock Hancock may refer to: Places Places in the United States * Hancock, Iowa * Hancock, Maine * Hancock, Maryland * Hancock, Massachusetts * Hancock, Michigan * Hancock, Minnesota * Hancock, Missouri * Hancock, New Hampshire ** Hancock (CDP), New H ...

* Keedysville * Sharpsburg * Smithsburg * Williamsport

Census-designated places

The Census Bureau recognizes the following

census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...

s in the county: *

Antietam The Battle of Antietam ( ), also called the Battle of Sharpsburg, particularly in the Southern United States, took place during the American Civil War on September 17, 1862, between Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virgin ...

* Bagtown * Bakersville * Beaver Creek * Big Pool *

Big Spring Big or BIG may refer to: * Big, of great size or degree Film and television * ''Big'' (film), a 1988 fantasy-comedy film starring Tom Hanks * ''Big'', a 2023 Taiwanese children's film starring Van Fan and Chie Tanaka * ''Big!'', a Discovery C ...

* Breathedsville * Brownsville *

Cavetown Robin Daniel Skinner (born 15 December 1998), known professionally as Cavetown (sometimes stylised in all lowercase), is an English singer-songwriter, record producer, and YouTuber. His style blends elements of indie rock, indie pop and bedroom ...

* Cearfoss *

Charlton Charlton may refer to: People * Charlton (surname) * Charlton (given name) Places Australia * Charlton, Queensland * Charlton, Victoria * Division of Charlton, an electoral district in the Australian House of Representatives, in New South Wales ...

* Chewsville * Dargan * Downsville * Eakles Mill * Edgemont * Ernstville *

Fairplay FairPlay is a family of digital rights management (DRM) technologies developed by Apple Inc. for protecting videos, books and apps and historically for music. Music The initial version of FairPlay was created to protect music on the iTunes S ...

* Fairview *

Fort Ritchie Fort Ritchie in Cascade, Maryland was a military installation southwest of Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania and southeast of Waynesboro in the area of South Mountain. Following the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission, it closed in ...

* Fountainhead-Orchard Hills * Gapland * Garretts Mill * Greensburg * Halfway * Highfield-Cascade * Indian Springs * Jugtown * Kemps Mill * Leitersburg * Mapleville * Maugansville * Mercersville * Middleburg * Mount Aetna * Mount Briar * Mount Lena * Paramount-Long Meadow * Pecktonville * Pinesburg * Pondsville *

Reid Reid is a surname of Scotland, Scottish origin. It means "red". People with the surname * Alec Cunningham-Reid (1895–1977), British politician * Alan Reid (disambiguation), multiple people * Alex Reid (disambiguation), multiple people * Alexan ...

* Ringgold * Robinwood * Rohrersville * Saint James * San Mar *

Sandy Hook Sandy Hook is a barrier spit in Middletown Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. The barrier spit, approximately in length and varying from wide, is located at the north end of the Jersey Shore. It encloses the southern en ...

* Tilghmanton * Trego-Rohrersville Station * Wilson-Conococheague * Yarrowsburg Hancock main street

Unincorporated communities

* Appletown * Benevola * Broadfording * Burtner * Huyett *

Pen Mar Pen Mar is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Maryland, United States. It is one of the border towns in the United States with a portmanteau name. Located on the Mason–Dixon line, it is bordered to the north by the community of P ...

* Samples Manor * Spielman * Trego * Van Lear * Weverton * Woodmont * Zittlestown

Politics and government

Federal representation

The county is located within

Maryland's 6th congressional district Maryland's 6th congressional district elects a representative to the United States House of Representatives from the northwest part of the state. The district comprises all of Garrett, Allegany, Frederick, and Washington counties as well as a po ...

. The representative of the district currently is

April McClain Delaney April Lynn McClain Delaney (; born May 28, 1964) is an American lawyer and politician who is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Maryland's 6th congressional district since 2025. She previously served as the deputy administr ...

(D). Like most of

-influenced and Unionist

, Washington County is solidly Republican. The last Democrat to carry Washington County at a Presidential level was

Lyndon Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson (; August 27, 1908January 22, 1973), also known as LBJ, was the 36th president of the United States, serving from 1963 to 1969. He became president after assassination of John F. Kennedy, the assassination of John F. Ken ...

during his 1964 landslide win over

Barry Goldwater Barry Morris Goldwater (January 2, 1909 – May 29, 1998) was an American politician and major general in the United States Air Force, Air Force Reserve who served as a United States senator from 1953 to 1965 and 1969 to 1987, and was the Re ...

, although between 1888 and 1940 the county was a consistent

bellwether A bellwether is a leader or an indicator of trends.bellwether
" ''Cambridge Dictionary''. Re ...

for all Presidential elections.

Voter registration

State representation

Washington County is represented by two senators in the

Maryland State Senate The Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. Composed of 47 senators elected from an equal number of constituent single ...

. Member Mike McKay (R), serves the 1st district in Maryland and

Paul D. Corderman Paul D. Corderman (born September 1, 1977) is an American politician from Maryland and a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party. He is a member of the Maryland Senate from District 2, which covers parts of Washington Cou ...

(R), serves in the 2nd district. The county also is represented in

Maryland General Assembly The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland that convenes within the State House in Annapolis. It is a bicameral body: the upper chamber, the Maryland Senate, has 47 representatives, and the lower ...

’s other primary division, the

Maryland House of Delegates The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the Maryland General Assembly, legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It consists of 141 delegates elected from 47 districts. The House of Delegates Chamber is in the Maryland State House ...

. Delegates who stand for Washington County include:

Terry Baker Terry Wayne Baker (born May 5, 1941) is an American former professional Gridiron football, football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football and college bas ...

(R) for District 1C, William Valentine (R) and

William J. Wivell William Joseph Wivell (born June 9, 1964) is an American politician who has served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates representing Maryland House of Delegates District 2A, District 2A since 2015. A member of the Republican Party (Unit ...

(R) for District 2A and

Matthew Schindler Matthew J. Schindler (born November 22, 1983) is an American politician who is a member to the Maryland House of Delegates from Maryland House of Delegates District 2B, District 2B. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Part ...

(D) for District 2B.

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 Derek J. Harvey is a retired US Army Colonel who previously served on the staff of Congressman Devin Nunes, ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Harvey is a former National Security Council (NSC) staffer in Pre ...

(R), and Randy Leatherman (R).

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 Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east, as well as with the Atlantic Ocean to ...

, the following were the major employers in the county (excluding

post offices Post, POST, or posting may refer to: Postal services * Mail, the postal system, especially in Commonwealth of Nations countries ** An Post, the Irish national postal service ** Canada Post, Canadian postal service ** Deutsche Post, German posta ...

, state government, and local governments, but including public institutions of

higher education Tertiary education (higher education, or post-secondary education) is the educational level following the completion of secondary education. The World Bank defines tertiary education as including universities, colleges, and vocational schools ...

):Major Employers in Washington County, Maryland

(Nov. 2014 data). Washington County is top in the state for commercial production of

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (angiosperms) that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which angiosperms disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particular have long propaga ...

tree nut A nut is a fruit consisting of a hard or tough nutshell protecting a kernel which is usually edible. In general usage and in a culinary sense, many dry seeds are called nuts, but in a botanical context, "nut" implies that the shell does not open ...

s, and

berries A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone fruit, stone or pit (fruit), pit although many wikt:pip#Etymology 2, pips or seeds may be p ...

Parks and recreation

National parks

Antietam National Battlefield Antietam National Battlefield is a National Park Service-protected area along Antietam Creek in Sharpsburg, Washington County, northwestern Maryland. It commemorates the American Civil War Battle of Antietam that occurred on September 17, 186 ...

Appalachian National Scenic Trail The Appalachian Trail, also called the A.T., is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States, extending almost between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, and passing through 14 states.Gailey, Chris (2006)"Appalachian T ...

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park is located in the District of Columbia and the state of Maryland. The park was established in 1961 as a National Monument by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to preserve the neglected remains o ...

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, originally Harpers Ferry National Monument, is located at the confluence of the Potomac River, Potomac and Shenandoah River, Shenandoah rivers in and around Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The park includes ...

State parks

Fort Frederick State Park Fort Frederick State Park is a public recreation and historic preservation area on the Potomac River surrounding the restored Fort Frederick, a fortification active in the French and Indian War (1754–1763) and the American Revolutionary War (1 ...

Fort Tonoloway State Park Fort Tonoloway State Park is an undeveloped Maryland state park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "Federated state, state" as a political subdivision. State parks ...

Gathland State Park Gathland State Park is a public recreation area and historic preserve located on South Mountain near Burkittsville, Maryland, in the United States. The state park occupies the former estate of war correspondent George Alfred Townsend (1841-191 ...

Greenbrier State Park Greenbrier State Park is a public recreation area located on South Mountain, northeast of Boonsboro in Washington County, Maryland, USA. The state park has camping, hiking trails, and a man-made lake. It is managed by the Maryland Department ...

South Mountain State Park South Mountain State Park is a public recreation area that runs for nearly the entire length of South Mountain through Washington and Frederick counties in Maryland. The state park is contiguous with several other national, state and local par ...

Washington Monument State Park Washington Monument State Park is a public recreation area located approximately southeast of Boonsboro, Maryland, Boonsboro, Maryland. The park preserves the Washington Monument, a tower honoring George Washington, the first President of the ...

Museums, historic sites, and other points of interest

* Bowman House, Boonsboro *

Crystal Grottoes Crystal Grottoes is the only show cave in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is located on Maryland Route 34 between Boonsboro and Antietam National Battlefield. History Crystal Grottoes was discovered in 1920 in the course of quarrying operati ...

, the only show caves in Maryland. *

Discovery Station Discovery Station, is a hands-on, family-friendly museum in downtown Hagerstown, Maryland, United States that opened to the public in 2005. The museum's focus is to create an environment that stimulates curiosity for discovery, exploration, and ...

, Hagerstown * Hager House, Hagerstown *

Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum The Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum located at 300 South Burhans Boulevard, Hagerstown, Maryland, USA, has exhibits relating to local railroad Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running ...

, Hagerstown * Price-Miller House, Hagerstown *

Sideling Hill Sideling Hill, also Side Long Hill, is a long, steep, narrow mountain ridge in the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians, Ridge-and-Valley (or Allegheny Mountains) physiographic province of the Appalachian Mountains, located in Washington County, Maryla ...

, man-made mountain pass on Interstate 68/U.S. Route 40 roughly west of Hancock shows off 100 million years+ of rock formation with Information Center and walkways on the premises. * Springfield Farm, Williamsport *

Stoney Creek Farm Stoney Creek Farm is located in Boonsboro, Maryland. It is near the American Civil War battlefield Antietam, Washington Monument State Park, and the Appalachian Trail. It was owned by the Schlosser family as early as April 6, 1841, when local de ...

, Boonsboro *

Washington County Museum of Fine Arts Washington County Museum of Fine Arts (WCMFA) is an art museum located in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. The building is located off Park Circle and serves as a centerpiece in Hagerstown City Park. The museum was donated in 1929, by Mr. and ...

, Hagerstown *Washington County Rural Heritage Museum, Boonsboro

Education

Washington County Public Schools Washington County Public Schools (''WCPS'') is a U.S. school system run for the residents of Washington County, Maryland. The central offices of WCPS are collectively known as the Washington County Board of Education, which is located on 10435 D ...

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

High schools

Public high schools * Antietam Academy,

* Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, Hagerstown *

Boonsboro High School Boonsboro High School (BHS) is a public high school (grades 9 to 12) in Boonsboro, Washington County, Maryland, United States. Facilities The present school building was created in 1958 and renovated in 1975 and 2006. The 1975-76 renovation c ...

, Boonsboro *Clear Spring High School, Clear Spring *

Evening High School Boyd J. Michael III Technical High School is a public school offering technology-related and general classes for students in 11th and 12th grades. The school building is located on a tract of land with several schools including South Hagerstown Hi ...

, Hagerstown * Hancock High School,

North Hagerstown High School North Hagerstown High School is public high school located in Hagerstown, Maryland. The school is part of the Washington County Public Schools system. North Hagerstown High School is fully accredited by the Maryland State Department of Education. ...

, Hagerstown *

Smithsburg High School Smithsburg High School was constructed in 1965 on 66 North Main Street in the town of Smithsburg, Maryland, United States. The school is part of the Washington County Public Schools system. It shares a campus with Smithsburg Middle School and, ...

, Smithsburg *

South Hagerstown High School South Hagerstown High School is located at 1101 South Potomac Street, in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. The current principal is Rodney Gayman. The 164,000 square-foot school is part of the Washington County Public Schools Washington Co ...

, Hagerstown *

Washington County Technical High School Boyd J. Michael III Technical High School is a public school offering technology-related and general classes for students in 11th and 12th grades. The school building is located on a tract of land with several schools including South Hagerstown Hi ...

, Hagerstown *

Williamsport High School Williamsport High School is a public high school in Williamsport, Washington County, Maryland, United States. Baseball team The school's baseball team, and its coach David Warrenfeltz, were the subject of a 2012 ''Sports Illustrated'' ar ...

, Williamsport Private high schools *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 Saint Maria Goretti Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic day school located in Hagerstown, Maryland. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore, within the tri-state areas of the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia ...

, Hagerstown *Truth Christian Academy, Hagerstown

Colleges and universities

* Antietam Bible College, Biblical Seminary, and Graduate School *

Hagerstown Community College Hagerstown Community College (HCC) is a public community college in Hagerstown, Maryland. It was founded in 1946 as Maryland’s first community college. The campus encompassed eighteen buildings on . The college hosts a business incubator, ou ...

, two-year public

community college A community college is a type of undergraduate higher education institution, generally leading to an associate degree, certificate, or diploma. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an open enr ...

Kaplan College Brightwood College, formerly Kaplan College, was a system of for-profit colleges in the United States, owned and operated by Education Corporation of America. Main qualifications offered included health, business, criminal justice, information ...

(formerly

Hagerstown Business College Hagerstown Business College (or HBC) was a private for-profit college that operated in Hagerstown, Maryland from 1938-2007 when it became part of Kaplan University, Kaplan College. Established in 1938, HBC offered associate degrees and certifica ...

) *

Mount Saint Mary's University Mount St. Mary's University is a Private university, private Catholic university in Emmitsburg, Maryland, United States. It has the largest Catholic seminary in the United States. Undergraduate programs are divided between the College of Libera ...

, Hagerstown Campus, offers

Master of Business Administration A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a professional degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration; elective courses may allow further study in a particular ...

(MBA) program. *

University System of Maryland at Hagerstown The University System of Maryland at Hagerstown (USMH) is a facility located in the Commercial Core Historic District in Hagerstown, Maryland It offers upper-level undergraduate and graduate programs to residents of Hagerstown and its surroundi ...

, branch of the

University System of Maryland The University System of Maryland (USM) is a public university system in the U.S. state of Maryland. The system is composed of the eleven campuses at College Park, Baltimore County, Baltimore, Princess Anne, Towson, Salisbury, Bowie, Frost ...

; offers various associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree programs in connection with other state colleges and universities in Maryland.

Notable residents and natives

* See ''People from Washington County''.

References

External links

Washington County governmentHagerstown-Washington County Chamber of CommerceHagerstown-Washington County Convention & Visitor's BureauWashington County Free LibraryWHILBR – Western Maryland's Historical LibraryWashington County Free Library – Historic Newspaper Indexing ProjectWashington County Museum of Fine ArtsWashington County Economic Development Commission
{{Authority control 1776 establishments in Maryland Maryland counties Maryland counties on the Potomac River Hagerstown metropolitan area Populated places established in 1776

History

Geography

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

2000 census

2010 census

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Politics and government

Federal representation

Voter registration

State representation

County government

Economy

Parks and recreation

National parks

State parks

Museums, historic sites, and other points of interest

Education

High schools

Colleges and universities

Notable residents and natives

See also

References

External links