Editing Allegany County, Maryland

{{short description|County in Maryland, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Allegany County
 | state                = Maryland
 | type                 = [[County (United States)|County]]
 | official_name        = 
 | flag                 = Flag of Allegany County, Maryland.png
 | seal                 = Seal of Allegany County, Maryland.png
 | founded date         = December 25
 | founded year         = 1789
 | seat wl              = Cumberland
 | largest city wl      = Cumberland
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 430
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 424
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 5.8
 | area percentage      = 1.3
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 68106
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 67273 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | web                  = https://www.alleganygov.org/
 | named for            = [[Allegheny Mountains]]
 | ex image             = Allegany County Courthouse (25181526054).jpg
 | ex image cap         = Allegany County Courthouse
 | district             = 6th
 | time zone        = Eastern }}

'''Allegany County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the northwestern part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Maryland]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 68,106.<ref>{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/alleganycountymaryland/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 16, 2021}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Cumberland, Maryland|Cumberland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The name ''Allegany'' may come from a local [[Lenape language|Lenape]] word, ''welhik hane''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.talk-lenape.org/detail.php?id=10687 |title=welhik |work=Lenape Talking Dictionary |access-date=December 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911013451/http://www.talk-lenape.org/detail.php?id=10687 |archive-date=September 11, 2012 }}</ref><ref>"Heckewelder here does not give the strict meaning of ''hanne''. The word in common use among Algonkin [i.e., Algonquian] tribes for river is ''sipu'', and this includes the idea of 'a stream of flowing water'. But in the mountainous parts of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia ''sipu'' did not sufficiently convey the idea of a rapid stream, roaring down mountain gorges, and ''hanne'' takes its place to designate not a mere ''sipu'', or flowing river, but a rapid mountain stream." {{cite journal |last=Russell |first=Erret |year=1885 |title=Indian Geographical Names |journal=The Magazine of Western History |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=53–59 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p2oKAQAAMAAJ |access-date=December 14, 2011}}</ref> or ''oolikhanna,'' which means 'best flowing river of the hills' or 'beautiful stream'.<ref>Alleghany, or as some prefer to write it, Allegheny,—the Algonkin name of the Ohio River, but now restricted to one of its branches,—is probably (Delaware) ''welhik-hanné'' or ''[oo]lik-hanné'', 'the best (or, the fairest) river.' ''Welhik'' (as Zeisberger wrote it) is the inanimate form of the adjectival, meaning 'best,' 'most beautiful.' In his Vocabulary, Zeisberger gave this synthesis, with slight change of orthography, as "''Wulach'neü''" [or ''[oo]lakhanne[oo]'', as Eliot would have written it,] with the free translation, "a fine River, without Falls." The name was indeed more likely to belong to rivers 'without falls' or other obstruction to the passage of canoes, but its literal meaning is, as its composition shows, "best rapid-stream," or "finest rapid-stream;" "La Belle Riviere" of the French, and the ''Oue-yo´'' or ''O hee´ yo Gä-hun´-dä'', "good river" or "the beautiful river," of the Senecas. For this translation of the name we have very respectable authority,—that of Christian Frederick Post, a Moravian of Pennsylvania, who lived seventeen years with the Muhhekan Indians and was twice married among them, and whose knowledge of the Indian languages enabled him to render important services to the colony, as a negotiator with the Delawares and Shawanese of the Ohio, in the French war. In his "Journal from Philadelphia to the Ohio" in 1758, after mention of the 'Alleghenny' river, he says: "The Ohio, as it is called by the Sennecas. ''Alleghenny'' is the name of the same river in the Delaware language. Both words signify the fine or fair river." La Metairie, the notary of La Salle's expedition, "calls the Ohio, the ''Olighinsipou'', or ''Aleghin''; evidently an Algonkin name,"—as Dr. Shea remarks. Heckewelder says that the Delawares "still call the Allegany (Ohio) river, ''Alligéwi Sipu'',"—"the river of the Alligewi" as he chooses to translate it. In one form, we have ''wulik-hannésipu'', 'best rapid-stream long-river;' in the other, ''wuliké-sipu'', 'best long-river.' Heckewelder's derivation of the name, on the authority of a Delaware legend, from the mythic 'Alligewi' or 'Talligewi,'—"a race of Indians said to have once inhabited that country," who, after great battles fought in pre-historic times, were driven from it by the all-conquering Delawares,—is of no value, unless supported by other testimony. {{cite book |title=The Composition of Indian Geographical Names |last=Trumbull |first=J. Hammond |author-link=James Hammond Trumbull |year=1870 <!-- omit location without publisher |location=Hartford, Conn. --> |pages=13–14 |url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18279/18279-h/18279-h.htm |access-date=December 14, 2011}}</ref> A number of counties and a [[Allegheny River|river]] in the [[Appalachia]]n region of the U.S. are named ''Allegany'', ''Allegheny'', or ''Alleghany''. Allegany County is part of the [[Western Maryland]] region of the state, and is part of the [[Cumberland metropolitan area]].

==History==
The western part of Maryland (including the present Allegany County) was originally part of [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's County]] when Maryland was formed in 1696.<ref>Thomas, James W., and Williams, Thomas J. C. ''History of Allegany County, Maryland.'' Baltimore, Md.: Regional Publishing Co., 1969, p. 289.</ref> This county included six current counties, and by repeated splitting, new ones were generated: [[Frederick County, Maryland|Frederick]] from Prince George's in 1748;<ref name="Bentley128">Bentley, Elizabeth Petty. ''County Courthouse Book.'' Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2009, p. 128.</ref> and [[Montgomery County, Maryland|Montgomery]] and [[Washington County, Maryland|Washington]] from Frederick in 1776.<ref>Bentley, Elizabeth Petty. ''County Courthouse Book.'' Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2009, p. 129.</ref>

Allegany County was formed in 1789 by the splitting of [[Washington County, Maryland|Washington County]].<ref>Bentley, Elizabeth Petty. ''County Courthouse Book.'' Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2009, p. 126.</ref> At the time it was the westernmost county in Maryland, but a split in 1872 created [[Garrett County, Maryland|Garrett County]], the current westernmost county.<ref name="Bentley128" />
[[File:Recto Allegany County Bank 10 dollars 1860 urn-3 HBS.Baker.AC 1141921.jpeg|alt=A 10-dollar note inscribed "THE ALLEGANY COUNTY BANK Will pay TEN DOLLARS to the bearer on demand. Cumberland." The note has illustrations of a young woman, a girl, and three men on a boat.|thumb|A 10-dollar note from the Allegany County Bank from 1860.]]
Prior to 1789, the Virginia Commonwealth claimed the area of present-day Garrett and Allegany Counties, of Maryland. A 1771–1780 map of Virginias counties, shows Hampshire County, but the Virginia State boundary has Hampshire outside that boundary line. When conducting genealogical research, it is possible to find tax records for Hampshire County, Virginia included in Maryland records, and Maryland records in Hampshire County... Hampshire County was formed in 1758 by the Virginia Commonwealth and at its founding, included the present day counties of Garrett and Allegany Counties in Maryland, and Hardy, Grant, Mineral, and part of Morgan Counties in what is now West Virginia.<ref>Virginia Counties Map of 1771–1780; Henry Howe's 1845 History of Virginia.</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|430|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|424|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|5.8|sqmi}} (1.3%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_24.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 12, 2014 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913171515/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_24.txt |archive-date=September 13, 2014 }}</ref>

Allegany County lies primarily in the [[Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians|Ridge-and-Valley Country]] of the [[Appalachian Mountains]]. It is bordered to the north by the [[Mason–Dixon line]] with [[Pennsylvania]], to the south by the [[Potomac River]] and [[West Virginia]], to the east by [[Sideling Hill Creek (Potomac River)|Sideling Hill Creek]] and [[Washington County, Maryland]], and to the west by a land border with [[Garrett County, Maryland]]. The western part of the county contains a portion of the steep [[Allegheny Front]], which marks the transition to the higher-elevation [[Appalachian Plateau]] and [[Allegheny Mountains|Allegheny Mountain]] region. The town of [[Frostburg, Maryland|Frostburg]] is located west of the Front at an elevation of nearly 2,100 feet above sea level, while the county seat of [[Cumberland, Maryland|Cumberland]], only eight miles away, has an elevation of only 627 feet.

===Mountains===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Breakneck Hill]] (1,872&nbsp;ft)
* [[Collier Mountain]] (1,460&nbsp;ft)
* [[Dans Mountain]] (2,898&nbsp;ft)
* [[Evitts Mountain]] (1,959–2,260&nbsp;ft.)
* [[Green Ridge Mountain]]
* [[Haystack Mountain (Maryland)|Haystack Mountain]] (1,240+ ft.)
* [[Irons Mountain]]
* [[Martin Mountain]] (1,974&nbsp;ft)
* [[Nicholas Mountain]] (1,760&nbsp;ft)
* [[Piney Mountain]]
* [[Polish Mountain]] (1,783&nbsp;ft)
* [[Ragged Mountain (Maryland)|Ragged Mountain]] (1,740&nbsp;ft)
* [[Town Hill (Maryland−Pennsylvania)|Town Hill]] (2,039&nbsp;ft)
* [[Warrior Mountain]] (2,185&nbsp;ft)
* [[Wills Mountain]] (1,960+ ft.)
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Somerset County, Pennsylvania]] (northwest)
* [[Bedford County, Pennsylvania]] (north)
* [[Fulton County, Pennsylvania]] (northeast)
* [[Washington County, Maryland|Washington County]] (east)
* [[Morgan County, West Virginia]] (southeast)
* [[Hampshire County, West Virginia]] (south)
* [[Mineral County, West Virginia]] (southwest)
* [[Garrett County, Maryland|Garrett County]] (west)
{{div col end}}

===National protected areas===
* [[Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 4809
|1800= 6303
|1810= 6909
|1820= 8654
|1830= 10609
|1840= 15690
|1850= 22769
|1860= 28348
|1870= 38536
|1880= 38012
|1890= 41571
|1900= 53694
|1910= 62411
|1920= 69938
|1930= 79098
|1940= 86973
|1950= 89556
|1960= 84169
|1970= 84044
|1980= 80548
|1990= 74946
|2000= 74930
|2010= 75087
|2020= 68106
|estyear=2023
|estimate=67273
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 3, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 12, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/md190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 12, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 12, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Allegany County, Maryland - Demographic profile<br /> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')
!Race / Ethnicity
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Allegany County, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US24001&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Allegany County, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US24001&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|66,195
|57,953
|88.16%
|85.09%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|5,959
|5,286
|7.94%
|7.76%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|90
|115
|0.12%
|0.17%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|566
|733
|0.75%
|1.08%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|26
|22
|0.03%
|0.03%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|59
|185
|0.08%
|0.27%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|1,107
|2,663
|1.47%
|3.91%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,085
|1,149
|1.44%
|1.69%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''75,087'''
|'''68,106'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}
''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 75,087&nbsp;people, 29,177&nbsp;households, and 17,959&nbsp;families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
 |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US24001
 |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
 |access-date=January 22, 2016
 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213015857/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US24001
 |archive-date=February 13, 2020
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|177.0|PD/sqmi}}. There were 33,311 housing units at an average density of {{convert|78.5|/sqmi}}.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US24001
 |access-date=January 22, 2016
 |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213183237/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US24001
 |archive-date=February 13, 2020
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 89.2% white, 8.0% black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 31.8% were [[Germans|German]], 14.6% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 11.9% were [[English people|English]], 11.8% were [[Americans|American]], and 5.6% were [[Italians|Italian]].<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US24001
 |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
 |access-date=January 22, 2016
 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213034353/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US24001
 |archive-date=February 13, 2020
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>

Of the 29,177&nbsp;households, 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.4% were non-families, and 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 40.9 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $37,747 and the median income for a family was $52,680. Males had a median income of $42,322 versus $29,594 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,764. About 9.6% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.3% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US24001
 |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
 |access-date=January 22, 2016
 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213025308/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US24001
 |archive-date=February 13, 2020
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|census of 2000]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 74,930 people, 29,322 households, and 18,883 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|176|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 32,984 housing units at an average density of {{convert|78|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 93.02% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 5.35% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.15% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.52% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.19% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.75% from two or more races. 0.76% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race. 29.0% were of German, 16.7% US or American, 12.8% [[Irish people|Irish]], 10.7% English and 5.3% [[italian people|Italian]] ancestry according to the 2000 census.<ref>The last five National Origin figures are taken from the Long Form, which was given to less than 20% of respondents but then extrapolated to the whole. Besides this problem in making a comparison, the long form also limits people to only two stated ancestries, but unlike racial counts, if someone states two ancestries they are counted in both, while in racial counts they are grouped as "some other race."</ref>

There were 29,322 households, out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.60% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.60% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.60% under the age of 18, 11.20% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,821, and the median income for a family was $39,886. Males had a median income of $31,316 versus $21,334 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,780. About 9.70% of families and 14.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.70% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

{{as of|2010}}, Allegany County had a racial and ethnic population composition of 88.16% Non-Hispanic whites, 8.03% Blacks, 0.14% Native Americans, 0.76% Asians, 0.04% Pacific Islanders, 0.08% Non-Hispanics who reported some other race, 1.47% Non-Hispanics who reported two or more races and 1.44% Hispanics.

==Economy==
According to the county's [[comprehensive annual financial report]]s, the top employers by number of employees in the county are the following. ("NR" indicates the employer was not ranked among the top ten employers that year.)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Employer
! Employees<ref name= cafr-2021>{{cite web |url= https://www.alleganygov.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/277 |title=Comprehensive Annual Financial Report |work=Department of Finance |publisher=Allegany County, Maryland |date=March 8, 2022}}</ref><br/> (2021)
! Employees<ref name= cafr-2021/><br/> (2012)
|-
|[[UPMC Western Maryland]]
| align=right |2,200
| align=right |2,290
|-
|[[Allegany County Public Schools|Allegany County Board of Education]]
| align=right |1,350
| align=right |1,346
|-
|[[Northrop Grumman]]
| align=right |1,050
| align=right |1,396
|-
|[[Frostburg State University]]
| align=right | 1,003
| align=right | 922
|-
|[[Hunter Douglas]]
| align=right | 900
| align=right | 580
|-
|[[Verso Corporation|New Page Corporation]]
| align=right | {{abbr|NR|not ranked among the top ten employers this year}}
| align=right | 870
|-
|[[CSX Transportation]]
| align=right | 635
| align=right | 900
|-
|[[Western Correctional Institution]]
| align=right | 588
| align=right | 552
|-
|[[North Branch Correctional Institution]]
| align=right | 574
| align=right | 557
|-
| [[American Woodmark]]
| align=right | 572
| align=right | {{abbr|NR|not ranked among the top ten employers this year}}
|-
|[[Allegany College of Maryland|Allegany College]]
| align=right | 509
| align=right | 559
|}

==Communities==
[[File:Allegany County Urban Areas.jpg|thumb|right]]

===Cities===
* [[Cumberland, Maryland|Cumberland]] (county seat)
* [[Frostburg, Maryland|Frostburg]]

===Towns===
* [[Barton, Maryland|Barton]]
* [[Lonaconing, Maryland|Lonaconing]]
* [[Luke, Maryland|Luke]]
* [[Midland, Maryland|Midland]]
* [[Westernport, Maryland|Westernport]]

===Census-designated places===
Occupying a middle ground between incorporated and unincorporated areas are Special Tax Districts, quasi-municipal unincorporated areas created by legislation passed by the [[Maryland General Assembly]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://mlis.state.md.us/other/Legislative_Handbooks/Volume%20VI/chapter4.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311023032/http://mlis.state.md.us/other/Legislative_Handbooks/Volume%20VI/chapter4.htm | archive-date=March 11, 2007 | title=1998 Legislative Handbook Series, Volume VI, Chapter 4 }}</ref> They lack home rule authority and must petition the General Assembly for changes affecting the authority of the district. There are eight Special Tax Districts in the county:

* [[Bel Air, Allegany County, Maryland|Bel Air]]
* [[Bowling Green, Maryland|Bowling Green]]
* [[Cresaptown, Maryland|Cresaptown]]
* [[Ellerslie, Maryland|Ellerslie]]
* [[LaVale, Maryland|LaVale]]
* [[McCoole, Maryland|McCoole]]
* [[Mount Savage, Maryland|Mount Savage]]
* [[Potomac Park, Maryland|Potomac Park]]

Other [[census-designated place]]s in the county include:
{{Div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Barrelville, Maryland|Barrelville]]
* [[Bier, Maryland|Bier]]
* [[Borden Shaft, Maryland|Borden Shaft]]
* [[Bowmans Addition, Maryland|Bowmans Addition]]
* [[Carlos, Maryland|Carlos]]
* [[Clarysville, Maryland|Clarysville]]
* [[Corriganville, Maryland|Corriganville]]
* [[Danville, Allegany County, Maryland|Danville]]
* [[Dawson, Maryland|Dawson]]
* [[Detmold, Maryland|Detmold]]
* [[Eckhart Mines, Maryland|Eckhart Mines]]
* [[Flintstone, Maryland|Flintstone]]
* [[Franklin, Maryland|Franklin]]
* [[Gilmore, Maryland|Gilmore]]
* [[Grahamtown, Maryland|Grahamtown]]
* [[Klondike, Maryland|Klondike]]
* [[Little Orleans, Maryland|Little Orleans]]
* [[Midlothian, Maryland|Midlothian]]
* [[Moscow, Maryland|Moscow]]
* [[National, Maryland|National]]
* [[Nikep, Maryland|Nikep]]
* [[Ocean, Maryland|Ocean]]
* [[Oldtown, Maryland|Oldtown]]
* [[Pleasant Grove, Maryland|Pleasant Grove]]
* [[Rawlings, Maryland|Rawlings]]
* [[Shaft, Maryland|Shaft]]
* [[Spring Gap, Maryland|Spring Gap]]
* [[Vale Summit, Maryland|Vale Summit]]
* [[Woodland, Maryland|Woodland]]
* [[Zihlman, Maryland|Zihlman]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Amcelle, Maryland|Amcelle]]
* [[Dickens, Maryland|Dickens]]
* [[Evitts Creek, Maryland|Evitts Creek]]
* [[George's Creek, Maryland|George's Creek]]
* [[Loartown, Maryland|Loartown]]
* [[McKenzie, Maryland|McKenzie]]
* [[Narrows Park, Maryland|Narrows Park]]
* [[Pinto, Maryland|Pinto]]
* [[Town Creek, Maryland|Town Creek]]
{{div col end}}

==Government and infrastructure==

===Current government===
The Allegany County Government is governed by a 3-member board of County Commissioners.
{| class=wikitable
|+Board of County Commissioners
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Position
! style="text-align:center;" | Name
! valign=bottom | Affiliation
! style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| President
| David J. Caporale
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | At-large
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Commissioner
| Creade V Brode Jr
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | At-large
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Commissioner
| William R. Atkinson
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | At-large
|}

{| class=wikitable
|+Orphans Court
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Position
! style="text-align:center;" | Name
! valign=bottom | Affiliation
! style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Chief Judge
| Donna May
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | At-large
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Judge
| Edward Crossland
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | At-large
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Judge
| Albert Feldstein
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | At-large
|}

{| class=wikitable
|+Sheriff
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Position
! style="text-align:center;" | Name
! valign=bottom | Affiliation
! style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Sheriff
| Craig Robertson
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | At-large
|}

{| class=wikitable
|+Clerk of the Court
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Position
! style="text-align:center;" | Name
! valign=bottom | Affiliation
! style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Clerk of the Court
| Dawne D Lindsey
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | At-large
|}

{| class=wikitable
|+Register of Wills
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Position
! style="text-align:center;" | Name
! valign=bottom | Affiliation
! style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Register of Wills
| Mary Beth Pirolozzi
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | At-large
|}

{| class=wikitable
|+States Attorney
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Position
! style="text-align:center;" | Name
! valign=bottom | Affiliation
! style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| States Attorney
| James Elliott
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | At-large
|}

{| class=wikitable
|+General Assembly
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Position
! style="text-align:center;" | Name
! valign=bottom | Affiliation
! style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Senate
| [[Mike McKay (politician)|Mike McKay]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | District 1
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| House of Delegates
| [[Jim Hinebaugh]] 
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Maryland House of Delegates District 1A|District 1A]]
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| House of Delegates
| [[Jason C. Buckel]] 
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Maryland House of Delegates District 1B|District 1B]]
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| House of Delegates
| [[Terry Baker (politician)|Terry Baker]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Maryland House of Delegates District 1C|District 1C]]
|}

{| class=wikitable
|+U.S Congress
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Position
! style="text-align:center;" | Name
! valign=bottom | Affiliation
! style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| House of Representatives
| [[April McClain Delaney]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Maryland's 6th congressional district|District 6]]
|}

===Libraries===
The library system was created in 1960, when libraries in Cumberland, Frostburg, LaVale, Pennsylvania Avenue School, and Westernport were merged to form a unified library system. The first of the libraries which would make up the library system was the Washington Street library, founded in 1924. The most recent addition to the library system was the Georges Creek library, which opened in March 2001. The Allegany County Library System currently has six branches: Frostburg Library, Georges Creek Library, LaVale Library, South Cumberland Library, Washington Street Library, and Westernport Library.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Allegany County Library System A Brief History {{!}} Allegany County Library System|url=https://www.alleganycountylibrary.info/allegany-county-library-system-a-brief-history/|access-date=October 19, 2020|website=www.alleganycountylibrary.info}}</ref>

===Infrastructure===
The [[North Branch Correctional Institution]], (opened 2003), and the earlier adjacent [[Western Correctional Institution]] are operated by the Division of Corrections of the [[Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services]], (with its headquarters in [[Baltimore]]) is located in an [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] area of Allegany County, just southwest of [[Cumberland, Maryland|Cumberland]].<ref>"[http://www.dpscs.state.md.us/locations/nbci.shtml North Branch Correctional Institution]." North Branch Correctional Institution. Retrieved on September 22, 2010.</ref> The prison housed male death row inmates, who were moved from the [[Maryland Correctional Adjustment Center]], from June 2010 until death row was closed in 2014.<ref>Calvert, Scott and Kate Smith. "[https://archive.today/20121205173707/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-death-row-relocated-20100625,0,722126.story Death row inmates transferred to W. Maryland]." ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]''. June 25, 2010. Retrieved on September 22, 2010.</ref>

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Allegany County, Maryland|source1=<ref>Leip, David. [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections"]. ''uselectionatlas.org''.</ref>|source2=<ref>The leading "other" candidate, [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]], received 2,631 votes, while Socialist candidate [[Eugene V. Debs|Eugene Debs]] received 1,036 votes, [[Prohibition Party|Prohibition]] candidate [[Eugene W. Chafin|Eugene Chafin]] received 121 votes, and Labor candidate [[Arthur Reimer]] received 27 votes.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|22,141|9,231|765|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|20,886|9,158|597|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|21,270|7,875|1,509|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|19,230|9,805|815|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|18,405|10,693|644|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|18,980|10,576|299|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|14,656|10,894|821|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|12,136|11,025|2,840|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|13,862|11,501|5,232|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|17,462|11,844|197|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|19,763|11,143|317|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|17,512|12,167|1,805|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|15,435|15,967|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|20,687|10,808|553|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|13,561|13,227|5,122|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|12,384|20,425|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|20,489|13,701|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|20,239|10,775|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|19,186|14,529|47|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|14,375|14,398|562|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|15,589|15,345|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|14,804|18,456|188|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|11,191|19,721|291|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|12,911|12,033|1,378|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|19,443|9,026|234|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|9,042|4,442|2,886|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|9,595|5,643|1,487|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|5,760|4,859|553|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,396|3,382|3,815|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|5,178|4,791|622|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|5,232|3,326|731|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|5,944|4,527|409|Maryland}}
{{United States presidential election results table row|1896|Republican|5,464|3,907|309|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|4,415|3,638|259|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|4,072|3,299|167|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|3,328|2,880|458|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1880|Republican|3,338|3,083|302|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1876|Democratic|3,217|3,303|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1872|Republican|3,301|2,695|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1868|Democratic|2,428|2,721|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1864|Republican|2,455|1,990|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1860|Constitutional Union|522|1,203|2,500|Maryland}}
{{PresFoot|1856|Democratic|0|2,248|1,938|Maryland}}

Allegany County was granted a [[home rule]] form of government in 1974. It is a strongly Republican county, the last Democrat to win a majority being [[Jimmy Carter]] in [[1976 United States presidential election|1976]].<ref>Sullivan, Robert David; [http://www.americamagazine.org/content/unconventional-wisdom/how-red-and-blue-map-evolved-over-past-century ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’]; ''America Magazine'' in ''The National Catholic Review''; June 29, 2016.</ref> The only other Democrats to carry the county since 1880 have been [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] (twice), and by very narrow margins [[Harry S. Truman]] in 1948 and [[Woodrow Wilson]] in 1912.

===Voter registration===
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024<ref name="MDBOE">{{cite web |title=Maryland Board of Elections Voter Registration Activity Report March 2024 |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/pdf/vrar/2024_03.pdf |website=Maryland Board of Elections |access-date=April 9, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 22648}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |22648 |43,427 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 10946}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |10946 |43,427 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Unaffiliated
| align = center | {{formatnum: 9001}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |9001 |43,427 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 261}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |261 |43,427 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|None}}
| [[Third party (U.S. politics)|Other parties]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 571}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |571 |43,427 |2}}
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | {{formatnum: 43,427}}
! align = center | {{Percentage |100}}
|}

==Transportation==
[[File:2019-07-14 12 10 53 View west along Interstate 68 and U.S. Route 40 (National Freeway) from the overpass for Maryland State Route 948 (Mountain Road Northeast) in Pratt, Allegany County, Maryland.jpg|thumb|right|I-68 and US 40 in Allegany County]]
Allegany County has been, since colonial times, an important node on the nation's transportation network as a key transition point in the movement of goods and people to and from the ports of the Mid-Atlantic and the agricultural and industrial production centers of the Ohio Valley and Midwest. The Cumberland Narrows, a naturally-occurring watergap separating Wills and Haystack Mountains, serves as one of the few passages through what is otherwise one of the steepest rushes of the Ridge and Valley province. Because of this, Cumberland has been the site of both planned and completed transportation projects focused on connecting east and west.

On his fateful march from [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]] to [[Fort Duquesne]] in modern-day [[Pittsburgh]] during the [[French and Indian War]], British General [[Edward Braddock]] and his men, including then-Lieutenant Colonel and Braddock's aide-de-camp [[George Washington]], carved a road, closely following the Native American [[Nemacolin's Path]], from the British encampment at [[Fort Cumberland (Maryland)|Fort Cumberland]], through the Allegheny Mountains all the way to Fort Duquesne.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.historynet.com/braddocks-defeat-1755-french-indian-war.htm|title=Braddock's Defeat, 1755: French and Indian War|last=JessJuanDring says|date=February 7, 2017|website=HistoryNet|language=en-US|access-date=May 5, 2019}}</ref> This road, known in early America as [[Braddock Road (Braddock expedition)|Braddock's Road]], became the guidelines for the earliest sections of the Cumberland Road, or what later became known as the [[National Road]]. Specifically, the section on Braddock's Road from Cumberland to [[Uniontown, Pennsylvania]] was followed nearly exactly in the early construction of the National Road.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/fone/learn/historyculture/nationalroad.htm |title=The National Road - Fort Necessity National Battlefield |publisher=U.S. National Park Service) |language=en |access-date=May 5, 2019}}</ref> A monument to the start of the National Road now stands on Greene Street in Cumberland, very near the spot Braddock and his men began their expedition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canaltrust.org/pyv/national-road-and-monument/|title=National Road and Monument|website=C&O Canal Trust|language=en-US|access-date=May 5, 2019}}</ref>

In modern times, Allegany County is an important regional crossroads. It is crossed from east to west by [[Interstate 68]] and [[U.S. Route 40 in Maryland|US Route 40]], and from north to south by [[U.S. Route 220 in Maryland|US Route 220]], which from Cumberland to the [[Mason–Dixon line]] is part of the Appalachian Development Highway System's [[Corridor O]].

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[File:I-68.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 68 (Maryland)|Interstate 68]]
* [[File:US 40.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 40 in Maryland|U.S. Route 40]]
* [[File:Alt plate.svg|20px]]<br />[[File:US 40.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 40 Alternate (Keyser's Ridge-Cumberland)|US 40 Alt.]]
* [[File:Scenic plate.svg|20px]]<br />[[File:US 40.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 40 Scenic]]
* [[File:US 220.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 220 (Maryland)|U.S. Route 220]]
* [[File:MD Route 35.svg|20px]] [[Maryland Route 35]]
* [[File:MD Route 36.svg|20px]] [[Maryland Route 36]]
* [[File:MD Route 47.svg|20px]] [[Maryland Route 47]]
* [[File:MD Route 49.svg|20px]] [[Maryland Route 49]]
* [[File:MD Route 51.svg|20px]] [[Maryland Route 51]]
* [[File:MD Route 53.svg|20px]] [[Maryland Route 53]]
* [[File:MD Route 55.svg|20px]] [[Maryland Route 55]]
* [[File:MD Route 135.svg|25px]] [[Maryland Route 135]]
* [[File:MD Route 144.svg|25px]] [[Maryland Route 144]]
* [[File:MD Route 638.svg|25px]] [[Maryland Route 638]]
* [[File:MD Route 657.svg|25px]] [[Maryland Route 657]]
* [[File:MD Route 658.svg|25px]] [[Maryland Route 658]]
* [[File:MD Route 935.svg|25px]] [[Maryland Route 935]]
* [[File:MD Route 936.svg|25px]] [[Maryland Route 936]]
* [[File:MD Route 956.svg|25px]] [[Maryland Route 956]]
{{div col end}}

===Rail===
* [[Amtrak]]
* [[Western Maryland Scenic Railroad]]

===Public transportation===
* [[Allegany County Transit]]

==Education==
[[File:Allegany Museum, Cumberland, Maryland, USA.jpg|thumb|Allegany Museum in Cumberland, Maryland]]
Public K–12 education in the county is handled by [[Allegany County Public Schools]] (ACPS). ACPS is governed by an elected, five-member Board of Education, plus an appointed superintendent. ACPS manages three high schools (grades 9–12), three middle schools (grades 6–8), 13 elementary schools (grades K–5), and one K–8 school, plus the Center for Career and Technical Education in [[Cresaptown, Maryland|Cresaptown]], and the Eckhart Alternative School in [[Eckhart Mines, Maryland|Eckhart Mines]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.acpsmd.org/site/default.aspx?DomainID=4|title=Allegany County Public Schools / Homepage|website=www.acpsmd.org|language=en|access-date=May 5, 2019}}</ref>

Allegany County is also home to three Christian [[parochial school]]s: [[Bishop Walsh School]] (Catholic) in Cumberland, Lighthouse Christian Academy (non-denominational) in Cumberland, and Calvary Christian Academy (non-denominational) in Cresaptown.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.alleganycountychamber.com/community-info/education/private-schools/|title=Private Schools {{!}} Allegany County, Maryland Chamber of Commerce {{!}} AlleganyCountyChamber.com|language=en-US|access-date=May 5, 2019}}</ref>

Allegany County is home to [[Frostburg State University]], one of the eleven member universities of the [[University System of Maryland]], and the only public, four-year university in Maryland west of the [[Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area]]. The university, founded in 1898 as the Frostburg State Normal School, FSU, as the university is known to students and alumni, now offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and has a yearly enrollment consistently over 5,000 students.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.frostburg.edu/index.php|title=Frostburg State University|website=www.frostburg.edu|language=en|access-date=May 5, 2019}}</ref>

A junior college experience is available in Allegany County with the [[Allegany College of Maryland]], located in Cumberland. Allegany College provides more than 50 associate degree programs and more than 20 certificate programs, and has more than 3,500 enrollees and more than 16,000 registrants in its Continuing Education programs. ACM also operates a satellite campus in [[Everett, Pennsylvania]], about 30 miles north of Cumberland in [[Bedford County, Pennsylvania|Bedford County]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allegany.edu/|title=Home {{!}} Allegany College of Maryland|website=www.allegany.edu|access-date=May 5, 2019}}</ref>

==Natural resources==
The primary mineral resources extracted for use in Allegany County are coal, iron, sandstone, and limestone. Coal-bearing formations are concentrated in the [[Georges Creek Basin]] in the western part of the county.

==Notable residents==
* [[Thomas Cresap]] (c. 1702 – c. 1790), frontiersman and militia leader, who founded [[Oldtown, Maryland|Oldtown]] and widened [[Nemacolin's Trail]], which led west from Cumberland.
* [[Michael Cresap]] (1742–1775), born in Allegany County, [[American Revolutionary War]] officer.<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896">{{cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location = Chicago | year = 1963}}</ref>
* [[Patrick Hamill]] (1817–1895), born in Allegany County, [[United States Congressman]] from Maryland.<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896"/>
* [[Lloyd Lowndes Jr.]] (1845–1905), former Governor of Maryland.
* [[Lefty Grove]] (1900–1975), born and raised in [[Lonaconing, Maryland|Lonaconing]]; Hall of Fame baseball pitcher with the [[Philadelphia Athletics]] and [[Boston Red Sox]].
* [[William H. Macy]] (born 1950), American actor.
* [[Sam Perlozzo]], former manager of the [[Baltimore Orioles]] (2005–2007).
* [[Leo Mazzone]], former pitching coach of the [[Baltimore Orioles]] and the [[Atlanta Braves]].
* [[Casper R. Taylor Jr.]], former Speaker of the House in the [[Maryland House of Delegates]].
* [[Eddie Deezen]], (born 1957), American actor.
* [[Ty Johnson (American football)|Ty Johnson]] (born 1997), running back - [[Detroit Lions]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.times-news.com/sports/local_sports/something-so-good-so-true-from-the-start/article_0eb937df-e7df-5249-a9c8-c2440b48a437.html | title=Something so good, so true from the start | date=April 25, 2019 }}</ref>
* [[Drew Hankinson]], AKA "Luke Gallows" (born 1983), American professional wrestler
* [[Bob Robertson]] (Born 1946) - Played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman between 1967 and 1979, most notably as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Robertson was born in Frostburg, Maryland in 1946 where he graduated from Mount Savage High School in Maryland. Robertson lives in LaVale, Maryland with his wife, Carolyn.

==See also==
{{Portal|Maryland}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Allegany County, Maryland]]
Sandy Creek may not be mentioned here. Here is a reference that it existed (the letter symbols at the end of the reference are defined in a table at the end of Keegan's book)
A Third Rutan Family Index p 177 By James J. Keegan
Maryland Listings:
Peter Rutan - (1776-1848_ p/John Rutan-Catherine Jones of Morris Co. NJ; m (1) Elizabeth McIlrath (1771–1845) (2) Mary Webb (1788–1855) in 1846; he was living in Sandy Creek, Allegany Co. in 1880 and moved to Markleysburg, Fayette Co. PA in 1812; they later (lived) in Caroll Co. OH; GSNJ; LDS; MEACH

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Allegany County, Maryland}}
{{Wikivoyage|Allegany County (Maryland)| Allegany County}}
* [https://www.alleganygov.org/ Allegany County government]
* [https://www.mdmountainside.com/ Official travel and tourism site for Allegany County]
{{Adjacent communities
|Centre    = Allegany County, Maryland
|North     = [[Bedford County, Pennsylvania]]
|Northeast = [[Fulton County, Pennsylvania]]
|East      = [[Washington County, Maryland|Washington County]]
|Southeast = [[Morgan County, West Virginia]]
|South     = [[Hampshire County, West Virginia]]
|Southwest = [[Mineral County, West Virginia]]
|West      = [[Garrett County, Maryland|Garrett County]]
|Northwest = [[Somerset County, Pennsylvania]]
}}
{{Allegany County, Maryland}}
{{Maryland}}

{{authority control}}
{{coord|39.63|-78.69|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MD_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Allegany County, Maryland| ]]
[[Category:Maryland counties]]
[[Category:Maryland counties on the Potomac River]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1789]]
[[Category:1789 establishments in Maryland]]