Carroll County is a diverse region, with a population of approximately 166,159. The towns, villages, and neighborhoods, are steeped in the area’s history and rural heritage. Residents can enjoy scenic views, family-oriented communities, safe, affordable housing, state-of-the-art medical facilities and a high performing school system. In Carroll County you can escape the hustle and bustle of the big city while enjoying a lifestyle rich with modern day amenities. Here, you have it all!
Location
Carroll County is located in the northern portion of the State of Maryland. It is one of 23 counties in Maryland and is one of the seven jurisdictions defining the Baltimore metropolitan area. The County seat is Westminster and includes seven other incorporated towns.
Carroll County, Maryland, is just a short drive from Gettysburg, PA (35 minutes), and lies 31 miles northwest of Baltimore and 56 miles north of Washington D.C.
It is conveniently accessed via I-795 into the northern part of the county or by using I-70 to enter the southern portion of the County.
Geography/Terrain
Carroll County has a total area of 452 square miles of rolling terrain. 449 square miles of it is land and 3 square miles, or 0.72% of it, is water.
Carroll County is characterized by low, rolling landscapes and fertile valleys. The County has no large natural lakes, but Piney Run Park Nature Center in Sykesville features a 300-acre lake surrounded by 500 acres of beautiful woods and open space. The 58-mile long Monocacy River rises in Carroll County, west of the town of Harney, near the Maryland-Pennsylvania border. It is the longest Maryland tributary of the Potomac River. The County enjoys Chesapeake Bay and the renowned Baltimore Harbor a short distance southeast of it and the Potomac River to its west.
Jobs
Carroll County's central location in the state provides proximity to major transportation hubs and attracts a diversity of businesses. There are a significant number of firms in manufacturing, transportation, health and business service sectors, and agriculture remains an important industry. Tourism also has a strong role in the success of the local economy. Carroll County employers have access to productive, skilled and educated workers, as well as to the country's largest concentration of scientists, engineers and computer professionals.
Many national and international corporations have either their headquarters or their regional facility within the county borders. Several major distribution centers, manufacturers, office operations and service industries call Carroll County home. There are more than 4,250 businesses, employing 43,000 workers; approximately 62 of these businesses have 100 or more workers.
Major manufacturing and distribution firms in the county include English American Tailoring, EVAPCO, Flowserve, General Dynamics Robotic Systems, Knorr Brake, Lehigh Cement, Marada Industries, Northrop Grumman, Random House and Solo Cup. Many of these are Fortune 500 companies.
Some of the major employers in the area include Carroll County Public Schools Education, Carroll Hospital Center Health Care, Springfield Hospital Center Mental health services, Random House Book warehousing and distribution, Carroll County Commissioners Local Government, McDaniel College Higher Education, EMA/Fairhaven Retirement/Assisted Living, Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Corporate HQ / Distribution, Northrop Grumman Electronic Manufacturing & Testing, and English American Tailoring.
Carroll County has a median household income of $66,817 and a low unemployment rate of 2.6%.
Housing
Carroll County provides housing for every taste and need. Townhouses set in rural environments attract young families. There is a wide range of affordable single-family housing for growing families. Golf course communities such as Wakefield Valley, Challedon, Oakmont Green and River Downs are known for their prestigious executive homes. Agricultural settings are plentiful in Carroll County, and family farms can range from small acreage farms to multi-acre operations.
The median home price in Carroll County is approximately $349,900.
Recreation
Carroll County has an abundance of recreational activities, from walking the pastoral scenes of the family farms, to exploring the parks, traversing the Civil War sites, horse and bike trails, playing golf on one of the challenging courses or fishing in a local stream.
There are 28 public parks and over 50 recreational programs for all ages and interests. Each municipality provides a variety of programs throughout the year, including sports such as baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, football, basketball, martial arts, crafts and dance.
The County's parks feature numerous equestrian trails and bike and hiking paths. Several miles of trails are available in the Union Mills Reservoir Area, Piney Run Park, Gillis Falls Reservoir Area, Patapsco Valley State Park-Morgan Run Natural Environment Area and McKeldin Area, as well as Liberty Reservoir.
Fishermen can enjoy Piney Run Lake, a 300-acre lake in southern Carroll County. It is surrounded by the 500 acres of woods and open space of Piney Run Park. Piney Run and Bear Branch Nature Centers attract the most avid outdoors person.
Cascade Lake is a privately owned six-acre, spring-fed lake, which has waterslides, paddleboats, a high dive platform and floating rafts for swimming, as well as a new swimming pool and picnic facility.
The county’s gently rolling hills add to the fun and challenge of a round of golf. Six golf courses provide hours of relaxation and diversion for golfers of all levels. Courses range from the convenient 9-hole course at McDaniel College to the expansive 27-hole course at Wakefield Valley. Other courses nearby include Bear Creek Golf Club in Westminster, Francis Scott Key Golf Club in Finksburg, The Links at Challedon at Mt. Airy, and Oakmont Green at Hampstead.
Special Attractions/Events
There is so much to do in Carroll County. Entertainment, cultural opportunities, unparalleled museums and other theatre events are easily accessible.
You can visit a farmer’s market or fireman’s carnival, shop at quaint and unique stores or modern malls, stroll through art galleries and antique shops or walk along one of the towns’ quaint main streets.
There are numerous historical attractions including walking tours, an operating grist mill, a Civil War driving and walking tour, winery tours, an old-fashioned swimming lake, and local theatre. And, for sports fans, there are year-round athletics, including NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and PGA events.
Carroll County's charming main streets are the sites for a number of celebrations held throughout the year, including Civil War reenactments, theatrical performances, concerts in the park and arts & crafts shows.
Events and attractions range from community fairs and carnivals to The Maryland Wine Festival and the NFL's Baltimore Raven's training camp. There are strawberry or peach festivals in the spring and oyster and ham suppers in the fall.
From May through August, volunteer fire companies sponsor community carnivals and parades. In the spring there is the Jazz and Flower Mart, showcasing the early blooms of the season.
During the summer, the Independence Day parades and fireworks are held.
Fallfests are celebrated in several towns, making much of the harvest season.
In December, shoppers are enchanted by the decorated shops and seasonal display of lights.
The Carroll County Farm Museum provides a glimpse into the farming practices of years ago. The Museum is also the site of cultural events such as art and music fairs, and the Maryland Wine Festival.
The Ag Center houses Carroll County’s famous farmers' markets, where shoppers can find beautiful produce as well as unique craft exhibits.
Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
Carroll County has a consistently high performing public school system with nationally recognized programs. Its location provides easy access to world-class education institutions including Johns Hopkins, Georgetown and University of Maryland.
Carroll County was founded in 1837. It was created from parts of Baltimore and Frederick Counties. It was named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the only Roman Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Wheat was the crop that drew the first 3,700 German settlers to the county.
Carroll County is rich in history and tradition. Civil War troops from both sides walked and camped along the roads on their march to Gettysburg.
The Western Maryland Railroad was used by Lincoln on his way to deliver the Gettysburg Address.
Some other historic sites in the area are the Carroll County Farm Museum, the Union Mills Homestead and Grist Mill, and the Uniontown Historic District.
At the Historical Society of Carroll County in Westminster, be sure to visit the historic houses, the 19th-century garden and research library.
Some famous residents of Carroll County have included Elizabeth Patterson, who married Jerome Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother, in 1803; William Henry Rinehart, one of America's most famous sculptors; Francis Scott Key, the author of the "Star-Spangled Banner"; Robert Wyndam Walden, the greatest horse trainer of the nineteenth century; and Fred Gwynn, the actor.
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