Williamsport, Maryland

Last updated

Williamsport, Maryland
Town
Williamsport Maryland.jpg
Conococheague Street in Williamsport in 2007
Flag of Williamsport, Maryland.png
Flag
Seal of Williamsport, Maryland.png
Seal
Washington County Maryland Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Williamsport Highlighted.svg
Location of Williamsport, Maryland
Coordinates: 39°35′50″N77°49′05″W / 39.59722°N 77.81806°W / 39.59722; -77.81806
CountryUnited States
State Maryland
County Washington
Incorporated 1823 [1]
Government
[1]
 • Type Mayor–council
Area
[2]
 • Total0.98 sq mi (2.55 km2)
 • Land0.98 sq mi (2.55 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[3]
420 ft (130 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total2,083
 • Density2,119.02/sq mi (817.91/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
21795
Area code(s) 301, 240
FIPS code 24-85100
GNIS feature ID2391487 [3]
Website http://williamsportmd.gov/

Williamsport is a town in Washington County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,868 at the 2000 census and 2,137 as of 2010. [4]

Contents

Geography

Cushwa Basin and Visitor Center C&O Canal - Cushwa Visitor Center.jpg
Cushwa Basin and Visitor Center
Conococheague Creek Aqueduct C&O Canal - Conococheague Creek Aqueduct.jpg
Conococheague Creek Aqueduct

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.04 square miles (2.69 km2), all land. [5]

Williamsport is located 7.69 mi (12.38 km) southwest of Hagerstown [6] and 16.23 mi (26.12 km) north of Martinsburg, West Virginia. [7]

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Williamsport has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. [8]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850 1,091—
1860 1,016−6.9%
1870 1,28326.3%
1880 1,50317.1%
1890 1,277−15.0%
1900 1,47215.3%
1910 1,5716.7%
1920 1,6152.8%
1930 1,7759.9%
1940 1,772−0.2%
1950 1,8906.7%
1960 1,853−2.0%
1970 2,27022.5%
1980 2,153−5.2%
1990 2,103−2.3%
2000 1,868−11.2%
2010 2,13714.4%
2020 2,083−2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]

2010 census

As of the census [10] of 2010, there were 2,137 people, 960 households, and 543 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,054.8 inhabitants per square mile (793.4/km2). There were 1,080 housing units at an average density of 1,038.5 per square mile (401.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.6% White, 2.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 960 households, of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 43.4% were non-families. 38.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.73.

The median age in the town was 44.9 years. 19% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.3% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 23.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 46.0% male and 54.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census [11] of 2000, there were 1,868 people, 785 households, and 471 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,725.6 inhabitants per square mile (666.3/km2). There were 836 housing units at an average density of 772.3 per square mile (298.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.29% White, 0.80% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.27% of the population.

There were 785 households, out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.0% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,243, and the median income for a family was $41,115. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $21,708 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,179. About 7.4% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

History

Aerial view of Williamsport in 1930 Maryland - Williamsport - NARA - 23941235 (cropped).jpg
Aerial view of Williamsport in 1930

The town lies on one of the early Native American trails between New York and the Carolinas. In the mid-18th century, tens of thousands of European settlers and pioneer families with their wagons followed the same route on the Great Wagon Road from Pennsylvania to Virginia and points south and west. In 1744, a ferry was established at the present site of Williamsport to carry the traffic across the Potomac River. Today’s travelers make the crossing on Interstate 81 a mile downriver from the town.

In 1755 the land tract of Thomas Cresap (Jr.) named "Leeds" at the future site of Williamsport would become an important supply depot for the Braddock expedition to capture the French fort Duquesne (at present Pittsburgh). Supplies were transported to this place both west from Rock Creek (today's Georgetown) and south from Pennsylvania. Col. Thomas Dunbar's 48th regiment of the British Army encamped here on May 1, 1755, before ferrying across the Potomac River and marching two days south to rejoin Sir Thomas Halkett's 44th regiment north of Winchester, Virginia. [12] Just over two months later Dunbar, the highest-ranking surviving, unwounded officer, would lead the remains of the tattered army through Williamsport to Frederick, Maryland on the retreat to Philadelphia. [13]

The land of present-day Williamsport was previously owned by Otho Holland Williams, a Continental Army officer in the American Revolutionary War, and for whom the town is named.

Cedar Grove, Daniel Donnelly House, Elmwood, Rose Hill, Sprechers Mill House, Springfield Farm, Tammany, and the Williamsport Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [14] [15]

Economic growth

Bryon Leather Shop at Bryon, 1945 Maryland - Williamsport - NARA - 23941233 (cropped).jpg
Bryon Leather Shop at Bryon, 1945

In 1834, boats using a portion of the newly built Chesapeake and Ohio Canal were able to reach Williamsport from Washington, D.C. The canal itself was extended to Williamsport in 1835. [16] : 96  The canal became an important commercial route which connected the area with the lower Potomac River region and the Chesapeake Bay, and later with the Cumberland, Maryland region as the canal construction continued westward. Williamsport became a very popular waterfront town which benefited the economy. In 1873, the Western Maryland Railway extended its line from Hagerstown to Williamsport, in order to gain access to canal traffic. Coal from Cumberland area mines was one of the principal commodities transferred from canal barges to rail cars at Williamsport. [17]

Flooding

In 1863, during the Civil War, the overflowing flooding waters of the river prevented General Robert E. Lee's army, on its retreat from Gettysburg, from crossing and making it safely into Virginia for several days. [16] : 94  A large flood in 1924 caused extensive damage to the canal, which was then permanently shut down. [18]

Recent developments

The town's historic core was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Williamsport Historic District in 2001. [19]

The town in May 2010 secured Michael Sparks, a previous town consultant and writer of a revitalization feasibility study, as Director of Economic and Community Development to revitalize downtown and attract tourism. [20] [21] Mr. Sparks outlined a revitalization initiative with the acronym of C.A.R.E.

Over a one-year experiment[ when? ] with having a full-time economic development employee [23] hundreds of thousands of grant dollars were secured for projects including handicap accessibility for town buildings, [24] reconstruction of sewage pump stations, [25] a possible bike-and-boat rental facility, [26] and the town was approved as a Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area Target Investment Zone. [27] Bike lanes, [28] bike racks [27] and directional signage were installed to better direct tourists and connect the town with the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. [24] A new permit process was set up with the Washington County, Maryland permit office, building code enforcement [27] and heavy truck traffic were addressed. [29] Events were coordinated that emphasized revitalization and the downtown merchants. [30] [31] [32] Additionally local youth were honored for community involvement, [33] events were coordinated for town youth [34] and a Boys and Girls Club was created. [35] The changes increased business in Williamsport. [36] [37] The town is part of a regional initiative known as the Canal Towns Partnership. [38]

FirstEnergy corporation closed the R. Paul Smith Power Station in Williamsport on September 1, 2012. [39]

I-81 northbound at the exit for US 11 in Williamsport 2019-06-07 10 52 56 View north along Interstate 81 at Exit 2 (U.S. Route 11, Williamsport) in Williamsport, Washington County, Maryland.jpg
I-81 northbound at the exit for US 11 in Williamsport

Transportation

The main means of transportation to and from Williamsport are by road. Interstate 81 is the main highway directly serving Williamsport, passing along the town's southeastern border. I-81 continues north towards Harrisburg and south towards Martinsburg. A few miles from Williamsport, I-81 also has an interchange with Interstate 70, which provides access to Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Other highways serving Williamsport include U.S. Route 11, Maryland Route 63 and Maryland Route 68, all of which converge in the center of town.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harpers Ferry, West Virginia</span> Town in West Virginia, United States

Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States, in the lower Shenandoah Valley. The population was 269 at the 2020 census. Situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, where the U.S. states of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia meet, it is the easternmost town in West Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecil County, Maryland</span> County in the United States

Cecil County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland at the northeastern corner of the state, bordering both Pennsylvania and Delaware. As of the 2020 census, the population was 103,725. The county seat is Elkton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cumberland, Maryland</span> City in Maryland

Cumberland is a city in and the county seat of Allegany County, Maryland, United States. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 19,075. Located on the Potomac River, Cumberland is a regional business and commercial center for Western Maryland and the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. It is the primary city of the Cumberland metropolitan area, which had 95,044 residents in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chesapeake City, Maryland</span> Town in Maryland, United States

Chesapeake City is a town in Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 736 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brunswick, Maryland</span> City in Maryland

Brunswick is a city in southwestern Frederick County, Maryland, United States. The city is located on the north bank of the Potomac River; Loudoun County, Virginia occupies the opposite shore. The population of Brunswick was 8,211 at the 2022 Census. There are three schools serving Brunswick: Brunswick Elementary School, Brunswick Middle School, and Brunswick High School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Betterton, Maryland</span> Historic district in Maryland, United States

Betterton is a town in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The population was 345 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Potomac, Maryland</span> Census-designated place named North Potomac in Maryland, United States

North Potomac is a census-designated place and unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is located less than 5 miles (8.0 km) north of the Potomac River, and is about 20 miles (32 km) from Washington, D.C. It has a population of 23,790 as of 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poolesville, Maryland</span> Town in Maryland, United States

Poolesville is a U.S. town in the western portion of Montgomery County, Maryland. The population was 5,742 at the 2020 United States Census. It is surrounded by the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve, and is considered a distant bedroom community for commuters to Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travilah, Maryland</span> Census-designated place in Maryland

Travilah is a United States census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland. It is 17.28 square miles (44.8 km2) located along the north side of the Potomac River, and surrounded by the communities of Potomac, North Potomac, and Darnestown—all census-designated places. It had a population of 11,985 as of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonardtown, Maryland</span> Town in Maryland, United States

Leonardtown is a town in and the county seat of St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,563 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funkstown, Maryland</span> Town in Maryland, United States

Funkstown is a town in Washington County, Maryland, United States. The population was 904 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharpsburg, Maryland</span> Town in Maryland, United States

Sharpsburg is a town in Washington County, Maryland. The town is approximately 13 miles (21 km) south of Hagerstown. Its population was 560 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colonial Beach, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia, United States

Colonial Beach, Virginia (CBVA) is a river and beach town located in the northwestern part of Westmoreland County on Virginia's Northern Neck peninsula. It is bounded by the Potomac River, Monroe Bay and Monroe Creek. It is located 65 mi (105 km) from Washington, D.C.; 70 mi (110 km) from the state capital of Richmond; and 35 nautical miles from the Chesapeake Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shepherdstown, West Virginia</span> Town in West Virginia, United States

Shepherdstown is a town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States, located in the lower Shenandoah Valley along the Potomac River. Home to Shepherd University, the town's population was 1,531 at the time of the 2020 census. The town was established in 1762 along with Romney; they are the oldest towns in West Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paw Paw, West Virginia</span> Town in West Virginia, United States

Paw Paw is a town in Morgan County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 410 at the 2020 census. The town is known for the nearby Paw Paw Tunnel. Paw Paw was incorporated by the Circuit Court of Morgan County on April 8, 1891, and named after pawpaw, a wild fruit that grows in abundance throughout this region. Paw Paw is the westernmost incorporated community in Morgan County, and the Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park</span> Historic site in Maryland and Washington, D.C.

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 of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and many of its original structures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 11 in Maryland</span> Section of U.S. Highway in Washington County, Maryland, U.S.

U.S. Route 11 (US 11) is a part of the United States Numbered Highway System that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Rouses Point, New York. In Maryland, the federal highway runs 12.83 miles (20.65 km) from the West Virginia state line at the Potomac River in Williamsport north to the Pennsylvania state line near Maugansville. US 11 is the primary north–south surface highway in central Washington County, connecting Hagerstown with Williamsport to the south and Hagerstown Regional Airport to the north. The federal highway was once a major long-distance highway, but that role has been assumed by Interstate 81 (I-81), which parallels US 11 not only in Maryland but for most of its course from Tennessee to Upstate New York. US 11 is maintained by the Maryland State Highway Administration except for the municipally-maintained portions within the corporate limits of Williamsport and Hagerstown.

The Hagerstown–Martinsburg metropolitan area, officially designated by the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as Hagerstown–Martinsburg, Maryland–West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), constitutes the primary cities of Hagerstown, Maryland; Martinsburg, West Virginia; and surrounding areas in three counties: Washington County, Maryland; Berkeley County, West Virginia; and Morgan County, West Virginia. The metro area lies mainly within the rich, fertile Cumberland and Shenandoah valleys, and is approximately a 60–90 minute drive from Washington, D.C.; Baltimore, Maryland; and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Hagerstown is approximately 75 miles (121 km) driving distance from all three cities. The population of the metropolitan area as of 2008 is 263,753.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hagerstown, Maryland</span> City in Maryland, United States

Hagerstown is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Maryland, United States. 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 Maryland Panhandle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. Paul Smith Power Station</span> Former electric generating plant

The R. Paul Smith Power Station is a closed electric generating plant owned by FirstEnergy in Williamsport, Maryland.

References

  1. 1 2 "Williamsport". Maryland Manual. State of Maryland. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  2. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  3. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Williamsport, Maryland
  4. ↑ Table 4: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Maryland, Listed Alphabetically: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2008, U.S. Census Bureau, 2008. Released July 1, 2009. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  6. ↑ Driving Directions from Williamsport, MD to Hagerstown, MD, Mapquest. Accessed February 22, 2009.
  7. ↑ Driving Directions from Williamsport, MD to Martinsburg, WV, Mapquest. Accessed February 22, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Williamsport, Maryland Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  11. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  12. ↑ Sargent, Winthrop (1856). The History of an Expedition Against Fort Du Quesne in 1755. J.B. Lippincott.
  13. ↑ Calder, Isabel M. (1935). Charlotte Brown, "The Journal of Charlotte Brown, Matron of the General Hospital, with the English Forces in America, 1754-1756," in Colonial Captivities, Marches and Journeys. Kennikat Press.
  14. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  15. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 12/26/12 through 12/28/12. National Park Service. January 4, 2013.
  16. 1 2 Chesapeake and Ohio Canal . Washington, D.C.: National Park Service. 1991. ISBN   0-912627-43-3. Handbook No. 142.
  17. ↑ Cook, Roger; Zimmermann, Karl (1992). The Western Maryland Railway: Fireballs and Black Diamonds (2nd ed.). Laurys Station, PA: Garrigues House. pp. 33–34. ISBN   0-9620844-4-1. OCLC   26302871.
  18. ↑ National Park Service. "Canal Operation". Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  19. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  20. ↑ Williamsport Budget, Andrew Schotz June 14, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 20, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 20, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  23. ↑ "$3.91 million budget proposed for Williamsport". herald-mail.com. June 5, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  24. 1 2 "Williamsport briefs". herald-mail.com. March 15, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Town Gets Grant to Help Update Sewer System". Your4State.com. March 10, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  26. ↑ "Bike-and-boat rental facility in Williamsport tops list of federal grant requests". herald-mail.com. May 4, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  27. 1 2 3 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 20, 2011. Retrieved August 26, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. ↑ "Canal Trust". Canal Trust. June 15, 2010. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  29. ↑ "Williamsport considers restricting truck weight". herald-mail.com. March 7, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  30. ↑ "Williamsport Overtaken by Pirates". Your4State.com. September 19, 2010. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  31. ↑ "Pirates Set to Take Over Williamsport". Your4State.com. September 17, 2010. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  32. ↑ "Pirates plunder Williamsport – Herald-Mail". Articles.herald-mail.com. September 19, 2010. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  33. ↑ "Williamsport students honored for International Youth Day – Herald-Mail". Articles.herald-mail.com. August 12, 2010. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  34. ↑ "Williamsport gives youths Last Blast of summer – Herald-Mail". Articles.herald-mail.com. August 15, 2010. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  35. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 31, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  36. ↑ "Business owners: Williamsport's plan to attract tourists is working". herald-mail.com. February 15, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  37. ↑ "Small Change Creates Big Boom in Business for Cafe Owner". Your4State.com. August 3, 2010. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  38. ↑ "Williamsport, MD – Potomac Heritage Explorer". Potomacheritage.net. April 11, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  39. ↑ Maryland Department of the Environment, Baltimore, MD (April 5, 2013). "Notice of Proposed Action: 26.11.27 Emission Limitations for Power Plants." Maryland Register, Vol. 40, Issue 7. pp. 626-7.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.