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Garrett County is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Maryland and part of the Pittsburgh DMA. As of 2000, the population was 29,846. It was named for John Work Garrett (1820-1884), president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad from 1858 until his death in 1884. Its county seat is Oakland. Garrett County lies on the Allegheny Plateau, which forms the western portion of the Appalachian Mountains. The western part of the county, drained by the Youghiogheny River, is the only part of Maryland within the Mississippi River watershed.
History The western part of Maryland (including the present Garrett County) was incorporated into Prince George's County in 1696. This county included six current counties, and by repeated splitting, new ones were generated: Frederick from Prince George's in 1748; Montgomery and Washington from Frederick in 1776; and Allegany from Washington in 1789. Finally, Garrett County was split off from Allegany County in 1872, making it the last county to be formed in the state. Law and government Garrett County is governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland. County Executive The county commissioners exercise such executive powers as exist in the government of the county. Cities and towns
Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,699 km² (656 mi²). 1,678 km² (648 mi²) of it is land and 21 km² (8 mi²) of it (1.21%) is water. Adjacent Counties Demographics As of the census² of 2000, there were 29,846 people, 11,476 households, and 8,354 families residing in the county. The population density was 18/km² (46/mi²). There were 16,761 housing units at an average density of 10/km² (26/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.83% White, 0.43% Black or African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.37% from two or more races. 0.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 11,476 households out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.00. In the county the population was spread out with 25.10% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.80 males. The median income for a household in the county was $32,238, and the median income for a family was $37,811. Males had a median income of $29,469 versus $20,673 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,219. 13.30% of the population and 9.80% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 16.60% are under the age of 18 and 13.90% are 65 or older. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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