According to Countryaah, Carroll County, Maryland is located in the north-central part of the state, bordering Pennsylvania and West Virginia. It has a population of approximately 170,000 people, making it the sixth most populous county in Maryland. The county seat is Westminster.
Carroll County has a rich history that dates back to 1706 when it was first organized by English settlers from Pennsylvania. The county was named after Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and later served as one of Maryland’s first senators.
The county is home to an abundance of natural beauty with rolling hills, lush forests and picturesque rivers and streams. Outdoor recreation opportunities abound with hiking trails, fishing spots and campgrounds throughout the county. There are also several historic sites and attractions including Catoctin Furnace Historic Site, Union Mills Homestead and Piney Run Park & Nature Center.
The economy in Carroll County is largely driven by agriculture with poultry production being its largest industry followed by dairy farming and crop production. Other major industries include manufacturing, healthcare services and retail trade. Major employers in the area include Union Hospital, Carroll Community College and McDaniel College as well as two state prisons located in Sykesville.
Education is highly valued in Carroll County with public schools serving over 25,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade at over 60 schools throughout the district. The school system offers a wide range of academic programs including Advanced Placement classes for college credit as well as career & technical education for real-world job skills training. Higher education options include McDaniel College which offers undergraduate degrees in traditional liberal arts disciplines as well as graduate degrees; Carroll Community College which provides two-year degrees; and Towson University which offers four-year degree programs at their satellite campus located just outside Westminster city limits.
Carroll County provides a great quality of life for its residents with plenty to do year-round from attending festivals like Summerfest or Winterfest to taking advantage of outdoor activities like camping or kayaking on Liberty Reservoir or tubing down Big Pipe Creek which runs through much of the county’s rural areas.. In addition to all these activities, there are also plenty of shopping centers, restaurants and entertainment venues throughout the area offering something for everyone to enjoy no matter what their interests may be.
History of Carroll County, Maryland
Carroll County, Maryland is located in the heart of the state and is home to over 170,000 people. The county was created in 1837 from parts of Frederick and Baltimore Counties and was named after Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence.
The early settlers of Carroll County were mostly German-speaking farmers who arrived in the mid-1700s. The economy of the area was largely based on agriculture with crops such as wheat, oats, corn, hay and tobacco being grown. In addition to farming, iron ore mining also became an important industry in the 1800s which led to the establishment of several iron works including Catoctin Furnace Historic Site.
During the Civil War, many citizens in Carroll County sided with the Union while others sympathized with the Confederacy. Union troops occupied parts of Carroll County during this time and there were several skirmishes that took place throughout its borders.
By 1900, less than half of all households were still engaged in agriculture as more people moved into cities for work opportunities. This shift continued into the 20th century as industrialization increased and manufacturing jobs became more available throughout Maryland’s larger cities like Baltimore and Hagerstown.
Despite this trend away from farming, agriculture remains an important part of life in Carroll County today with poultry production being its largest industry followed by dairy farming and crop production. Other major industries include manufacturing, healthcare services and retail trade while tourism has become increasingly popular due to its many outdoor recreation opportunities including hiking trails, fishing spots and campgrounds throughout the county as well as several historic sites and attractions like Catoctin Furnace Historic Site or Union Mills Homestead.
Education is also highly valued in Carroll County with public schools serving over 25,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade at over 60 schools throughout its district offering a wide range of academic programs including Advanced Placement classes for college credit as well as career & technical education for real-world job skills training. Higher education options include McDaniel College which offers undergraduate degrees in traditional liberal arts disciplines as well as graduate degrees; Carroll Community College which provides two-year degrees; and Towson University which offers four-year degree programs at their satellite campus located just outside Westminster city limits.
Today, Carroll County continues to be a great place to live offering plenty to do year-round from attending festivals like Summerfest or Winterfest to taking advantage of outdoor activities like camping or kayaking on Liberty Reservoir or tubing down Big Pipe Creek which runs through much of its rural areas. Residents can also enjoy shopping centers, restaurants and entertainment venues throughout the area giving something for everyone no matter what their interests may be.
Major cities and towns in Carroll County, Maryland
Carroll County, Maryland is a rural county located in the northern part of the state. It encompasses a total area of 453 square miles and is home to over 167,000 residents. The county seat is Westminster, which is also the largest city in the county. Other major cities and towns include Mount Airy, Sykesville, Taneytown, Hampstead and New Windsor.
Westminster is the hub of Carroll County and offers a wide range of activities for residents to enjoy. It has an array of shops and restaurants that line Main Street as well as several historic sites like the Westminster National Historic District which showcases many 19th century buildings from its days as a prosperous mill town. The city also hosts several annual events including Summerfest in June and Winterfest in December featuring live music, food vendors and more.
Mount Airy is another popular city in Carroll County with its quaint downtown area filled with unique shops and eateries as well as outdoor activities like hiking trails at nearby South Mountain or fishing on Lake Linganore. The city also hosts several events throughout the year such as their annual Freedom Festival featuring live music, fireworks displays and more.
Sykesville is a small town located just outside Westminster that offers plenty of amenities for residents including parks, historic sites like Piney Run Park where visitors can learn about local history or take part in outdoor activities like biking or kayaking on Liberty Reservoir; shopping centers like Long Gate Shopping Center; and restaurants serving up everything from classic American fare to international cuisine.
Taneytown is another small town located close to Westminster that offers plenty of amenities for residents including parks such as Memorial Park which features playgrounds, picnic areas and more; shopping centers like Carroll Plaza Shopping Center; restaurants ranging from traditional American fare to international cuisine; historic sites such as Old Taneytown Cemetery offering guided tours through its grounds or even ghost tours around Halloween time; plus several annual events such as Taneytown Heritage Day showcasing local history with re-enactments by costumed interpreters along with food vendors, entertainment and more.
Hampstead is an unincorporated community located just outside Westminster that offers plenty of amenities for residents including parks such as Hampstead Town Park which features playgrounds, picnic areas and more; shopping centers like Manchester Valley Shopping Center; restaurants ranging from traditional American fare to international cuisine; historic sites such as Hampstead Historical Society offering guided tours through its grounds or even ghost tours around Halloween time; plus several annual events such as Hampstead Fall Festival showcasing local history with re-enactments by costumed interpreters along with food vendors, entertainment and more.
New Windsor is an unincorporated community located just outside Westminster that offers plenty of amenities for residents including parks such as New Windsor Community Park which features playgrounds, picnic areas and more; shopping centers like New Windsor Shopping Center; restaurants ranging from traditional American fare to international cuisine; historic sites such as Old New Windsor Town Hall offering guided tours through its grounds or even ghost tours around Halloween time; plus several annual events such as New Windsor Days showcasing local history with re-enactments by costumed interpreters along with food vendors, entertainment and more.
Population in Carroll County, Maryland
According to existingcountries.com, Carroll County, Maryland is located in the north-central region of the state and is home to a population of approximately 167,134 people. The county seat is Westminster, and it has a total area of 452 square miles. The population of Carroll County is diverse in terms of age, race, ethnicity, and origin. According to the most recent census data from 2018, the median age in Carroll County is 41.8 years old with 18% of residents being under 18 years old and 16% being over 65 years old.
The racial makeup of Carroll County is 90.7% White (non-Hispanic), 5.3% Black or African American (non-Hispanic), 2.1% Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% Asian (non-Hispanic), 0.2% Native American (non-Hispanic), 0.1% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (non-Hispanic), and 1.0% from two or more races (non-Hispanic). The largest ancestries in Carroll County are German (25%), Irish (21%), English (15%), Italian (5%), Polish (3%), French Canadian/Acadian/Cajun/Louisiana Creole/Métis/Native American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes (2%), Dutch/Flemish/Low German/Scandinavian/Swedish /Norwegian /Danish /Finnish /Icelandic /Gaelic Languages spoken in Europe before 1945(2%).
Carroll County’s economy consists primarily of agriculture, manufacturing & construction businesses as well as technology & professional services companies such as engineering & computer software firms that have been attracted by its proximity to Baltimore & Washington D.C.. The top employers in Carroll County are McDaniel College with 1,903 employees; Carroll Hospital Center with 1,155 employees; Taneytown City Government with 1,094 employees; Arbutus Medical Center with 992 employees; and Westminster City Government with 873 employees respectively according to the U.S Census Bureau’s 2019 estimates for nonfarm employment numbers within the county’s boundaries.
In conclusion, Carroll County has a diverse population that has grown significantly since 2000 due to its agricultural roots as well as increasing demand for technology and professional services companies located nearby major cities such as Baltimore & Washington D.C.. As such it provides an attractive option for those looking for a place to live that offers both rural charm and easy access to urban areas like these two cities while still retaining its own unique character & culture.
