Washington County, Maryland

Washington County is a located in the  of. In 2006, its population was 143,748. It was the first county in the to be named for the  general (and later ). Its is.

This county is a part of the. The county is also one of the three counties in the.

History
The western part of Maryland (including the present Washington County) was incorporated into in. This county included six current counties, and by repeated splitting, new ones were generated. The first was from Prince George's in.

Washington County was formed on October 1, by the splitting of. At the same time, another county,, was also split off from Frederick County and named for another general,. Washington County as created included the areas later to become (split off in ) and  (included in Allegany County when it was split off in 1789, later split from Allegany County), so included the entire westernmost part of the state of Maryland.

Geography
According to the, the county has a total area of 1,211 (468 ). 1,187 km² (458 sq mi) of it is land and 24 km² (9 sq mi) of it (2.01%) is water. Washington County is bordered to the North by the Mason-Dixon Line; to the South by the Potomac River; to the East by South Mountain; and to the West by Sideling Hill Creek.

Adjacent Counties

 * (northwest)
 * (west)
 * (southwest)
 * (south)
 * (south)
 * (southeast)
 * (east)
 * (northeast)

Highways

 * [[Image:I-68.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:I-70.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:I-81.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:US 11.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:US 40.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:Alternate plate.svg|40px]][[Image:US 40.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:US 340.svg|23px]]
 * [[Image:US 522.svg|23px]]


 * [[Image:MD Route 34.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 56.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 57.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 58.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 60.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 62.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 63.svg|20px]]


 * [[Image:MD Route 64.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 65.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 66.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 67.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 68.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 77.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 144.svg|25px]]


 * [[Image:MD Route 180.svg|25px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 418.svg|25px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 491.svg|25px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 494.svg|25px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 550.svg|25px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 615.svg|25px]]
 * [[Image:MD Route 632.svg|25px]]

Law and government
Washington 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.

Demographics
As of the of 2000, there were 131,923 people, 49,726 households, and 34,112 families residing in the county. The was 111/km² (288/sq mi). There were 52,972 housing units at an average density of 45/km² (116/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 89.71%, 7.77% or , 0.18% , 0.80% , 0.04% , 0.46% from , and 1.04% from two or more races. 1.19% of the population were or  of any race. 32.1% were of, 21.4% , 8.8% and 8.4%  ancestry according to.

There were 49,726 households out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.00% were living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.40% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 31.30% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 104.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,617, and the median income for a family was $48,962. Males had a median income of $34,917 versus $24,524 for females. The for the county was $20,062. About 7.00% of families and 9.50% of the population were below the, including 12.30% of those under age 18 and 9.50% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns
This county contains the following incorporated municipalities:


 * 1 City:
 * (incorporated )
 * 8 Towns:

Unincorporated areas are also considered as towns by many people and listed in many collections of towns, but they lack local government. Various organizations, such as the, the , and local chambers of commerce, define the communities they wish to recognize differently, and since they are not incorporated, their boundaries have no official status outside the organizations in question. The Census Bureau recognizes the following s in the county:


 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 2) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 3) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 4) (a combination of the communities of Wilson and Conococheague recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 2) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 3) (a combination of the communities of Wilson and Conococheague recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 2) (a combination of the communities of Wilson and Conococheague recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 2) (a combination of the communities of Wilson and Conococheague recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of Wilson and Conococheague recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of Wilson and Conococheague recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of Wilson and Conococheague recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of Wilson and Conococheague recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of Wilson and Conococheague recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)

Other unincorporated areas not listed as CDP's include:

Other recreation

 * man-made mountain pass on Interstate 68/U.S. Route 40 roughly 5 miles west of Hancock shows off 100 million years+ of rock formation with Information Center and walkways on the premises.
 * Washington County Rural Heritage Museum

High schools

 * , Hancock
 * , Boonsboro
 * , Clear Spring
 * Highland View Academy, Hagerstown
 * , Hagerstown
 * , St. James
 * , Hagerstown
 * , Hagerstown


 * , Smithsburg
 * , Hagerstown
 * , Hagerstown
 * , Williamsport
 * Grace Academy, Hagerstown
 * Heritage Academy, Hagerstown
 * Broadfording Academy, Hagerstown
 * Truth Christian Academy, Hagerstown

Colleges and universities

 * , a branch of the University of Maryland offering various associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree programs in connection with other state colleges and universities in Maryland.


 * Hagerstown Community College


 * , formerly known as Hagerstown Business College.


 * , Hagerstown Campus, offers Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degrees.

Notable residents and natives

 * See People from Washington County.