Allegany County
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Click on the seal to see a larger version
[Allegany County Seal] [MD map showing location of Allegany County]

Allegany County was formed in 1789 from Washington County. Its name comes from the Indian word Oolikhanna, which means beautiful stream . George Washington's first headquarters can be found there.

Allegany County lies in the heart of Western Maryland, centrally located between Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Washington, DC. Throughout the 19th century, Allegany County was a leading crossroads, where rail, roads, and canal met. Today, this transportation network supports a major manufacturing and distribution center. Cumberland, the county's largest city, is 100 miles east of Pittsburgh and 130 miles west of Baltimore. An important local natural resource is bituminous coal.

The county is mountainous and beautiful with elevations ranging from less than 600 to nearly 3,000 feet. Farms dot its mountains and narrow valleys. Livestock, primarily beef cattle, is the major farm enterprise.

Allegany County's greatest resource is its natural beauty and history. The North Branch of the Potomac River forms its southern and eastern boundaries with neighboring West Virginia and the famous Mason-Dixon Line its northern boundary with Pennsylvania. On the west, the county is bounded by Garrett, Maryland's westernmost county and once a part of Allegany County. The county seat is Cumberland.

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The Frost Mansion, Frostburg
Frostburg, Maryland
as it looked c. 1915
Below is some interesting census information about Allegany County. Look at the way the county population has changed over the years!

Population Information for Allegany County
Population % of MD Population
1790 Census 4,809 1.5%
1890 Census 41,571 4.0%
1990 Census 74,946 1.6%
2000 Census 74,930 1.4%

© Copyright October 16, 1997, Office of the Secretary of State.
Last Modified October 04, 2002 . bv