Garrett County is the westernmost
county of the
U.S. State of
Maryland. As of
2000, the population is 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.
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 to be formed in the state.
Garrett County is still governed by county commissioners, the traditional form of county government in Maryland.
The county commissioners exercise such executive powers as exist in the government of the county.
Garrett County includes eight municipalities, all classified as
towns under Maryland law:
- Accident (incorporated 1916)
- Deer Park (incorporated 1884)
- Friendsville (incorporated 1902)
- Grantsville (incorporated 1864)
- Kitzmiller (incorporated 1906)
- Loch Lynn Heights (incorporated 1896)
- Mountain Lake Park (incorporated 1931)
- Oakland (incorporated 1862)
The
United States Census Bureau recognizes no
Census-Designated Places in Garrett County, which is unusual for Maryland counties, which usually have many unincorporated population centers.
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 is water. The total area is 1.21% water.
As of the
census of
2000, there are 29,846 people, 11,476 households, and 8,354 families residing in the county. The
population density is 18/km² (46/mi²). There are 16,761 housing units at an average density of 10/km² (26/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 98.83% White, 0.43%
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 are
Hispanic or
Latino of any race.
There are 11,476 households out of which 32.60% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.70% are married couples living together, 8.40% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.20% are non-families. 23.50% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.60% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.55 and the average family size is 3.00.
In the county the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 97.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 93.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $32,238, and the median income for a family is $37,811. Males have a median income of $29,469 versus $20,673 for females. The per capita income for the county is $16,219. 13.30% of the population and 9.80% of families are 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.