Frostburg, Maryland

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Frostburg, Maryland
Location in Maryland
Location in Maryland
Coordinates: 33°39′17″N, 78°55′40″W
County Allegany County
Incorporated 1839
Government
 - Mayor
Area
 - City 7.9 km²  (3.1 sq mi)
Population (2000)
 - City 7,873
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
Website: www.ci.frostburg.md.us
For the NSA computer, see FROSTBURG.

Frostburg is a city in Allegany County, Maryland, United States located at the head of the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the 'Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 7,873 at the 2000 census. Located eight miles west of Cumberland, Maryland, the town is one of the first cities on the "National Road", US 40, and the western terminus of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. Since 1991, the city has been served by Interstate 68.

Frostburg is the home of Frostburg State University, an institution within the University System of Maryland.

The City of Frostburg is a community with a population of approximately 8,075 year round residents. In addition, 5,400 students attend Frostburg State University, which is the only four year state higher education institution west of the University of Maryland College Park.

Contents

[edit] History

The history of Frostburg has been marked by several major shifts in the basic economy of the area.

Three major events have shaped the development of the town; the first of these was the coming of the National Pike. This road was the principal route along which the westward migration took place during the first half of the nineteenth century. It was also the route along which the agricultural products and raw materials of the west moved to eastern markets. After the National Pike was surveyed, in about 1811, Josiah Frost, laid off building lots just west of the house which had been built a few years before by George & Mary Clark McCulloh , and called Mt. Pleasant.

As trade began to flow over the new road, the town began to grow and prosper. Meshach Frost built a house in 1812 which he rented a few years later to the Stockton Stagecoach Company. They named it Highland Hall, and it soon became a famous stopping place for east-west travelers and catered to both celebrities and laborers using the National Pike. Over the years, Highland Hall was joined by the Franklin Hotel, and other hostelries, and Frostburg became a regular stopping point for travelers until the coming of the railroad in the 1840s and 1850s. The growth of the town took place in a slow but steady fashion. Since there was already one Mount Pleasant in Maryland, the name of the town was changed to "Frostburg" by the government when a post office was established there in 1820.

The development of the railroad and the C&O Canal brought a decline in the traffic using the National Pike, but it also brought new opportunity for economic development. Coal was discovered near the town as early as 1782, but difficulties in transportation made mining in Western Maryland seem quite unlikely. The first shipment east from the Maryland coal fields was not made until 1820. The first mined in the Western Maryland region was taken from a location about a mile and one-half from Frostburg. this early coal was taken to Cumberland by wagon for use there in the Cumberland glass industry. Some other mines opened in the area, but mining was still a relatively small operation until the completion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to Cumberland in 1842, and the Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad to Frostburg in 1852.

It was Meshach Frost who took the lead. He and his brother owned 1,355 acres of coal land, and in 1845 they incorporation as the Frostburg Coal Company, and in 1846, the first shipment of coal began. In 1864, the Frostburg Mining Company was sold to the Consolidated Coal Company, which ultimately became the largest operator in the Maryland coal fields. By 1850, the Borden Mining Company, the Allegany Coal Company, the Maryland Coal Company, and Washington County Coal Company were also active in the area. In 1863, the last stage traveled over the National Road; the economy of Frostburg was now firmly tied to coal mining.

Another industry to develop during this period was the manufacture of fire bricks from the extremely high grade fire clays which were found in the area. Beginning in 1864, the clay was removed and hauled to town by wagon and there made into bricks. In 1902, the Big Savage Fire Brick Company was formed and is still one of the major manufacturers of fire bricks in the east.

It was during the height of the coal mining period, between 1870 and 1915, that Frostburg developed most of its major institutions. The newspaper and churches were established during this period as well as the school system (1868), the fraternal organizations, banks and many local businesses. The Fire Department came into being in 1878, the water company began operation in 1884, and by 1895, both gas and electricity were available to the citizens of Frostburg. Public transportation to Cumberland and Westernport was established in 1902 by an electric railway and the Miners' Hospital was built in 1913.

A major factor in Frostburg's economy was the growth of the State College. Originally legislated as State Normal School #2 in 1898, the facility was intended to train teachers for the public schools of the State. The site for the school was donated to the state by the citizens of Frostburg, since the General Assembly provided no funds for land. The school grew slowly from an original enrollment of 91 students, and the campus was expanded in keeping with the needs of the students. To the original building, erected in 1900, were added a gymnasium and a campus elementary school in 1913, a dormitory in 1915, a new auditorium-gymnasium in 1927, and a new six room elementary practice school in 1930. In 1934, the school became a four year teacher's college. In 1964, the college expanded its general curriculum to four years. The college was named a University in 1988 and had an enrollment of 3,800 students. The university, of course, provides jobs for local citizens and contributes to the welfare of local merchants through the purchasing power of its students and faculty. Thus, the university contributes significantly to the community, economically as well as culturally.

Today, Frostburg is a combined residential-academic community with very little industrial employment of its own. The majority of the wage earners commute to jobs in the surrounding region; therefore, the development of the economy of the entire region has direct bearing on the prosperity of Frostburg.

[edit] Geography

Frostburg is located at 39°39′17″N, 78°55′40″W (39.654687, -78.927773)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.9 km² (3.1 mi²), all land.

Frostburg is located in the Allegheny Mountains on the eastern slope of Big Savage Mountain. The closest cities to Frostburg are Cumberland, Maryland, 8 miles to the east, and Morgantown, West Virginia, 62 miles to the west.

[edit] Schools and Universities

  • Beall Elementary School, Grades K-5
  • Beall High School, Grades 9-12
  • Frost Elementary School, Grades K-5
  • Mount Savage School, Grades K-5 6-8 (in Mount Savage, Maryland but also attended by Frostburg residents(K-5 are part of the elementary wing of the school)
  • Mountain Ridge High School, Grades 9-12 (under construction, will replace Beall High School and nearby Westmar High School in Fall 2007)
  • St. Michael's Elementary School
  • Frostburg State University - originally named "Frostburg State College".

[edit] Weather

Frostburg is located in the Allegheny Mountains and has an elevation of about 1600 feet above sea level. Because of the elevation and location near the Allegheny Front, Frostburg has a colder, wetter climate than the rest of Allegany County. Average summer temperatures peak at only 79°F in July. In December, January, and February, average monthly temperatures range from 32-37°F, which combined with moderate precipitation can leave large portions of the town and surrounding landscape to be snow and ice-covered for weeks or even months straight. Driving conditions on I-68 and US 40 can be very hazardous despite timely state and local road maintenance services. Frostburg averages over 100 inches of snowfall a year and significant amounts can fall as early as October and as late as May.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 7,873 people, 2,840 households, and 1,252 families residing in the city. The population density was 993.4/km² (2,576.5/mi²). There were 3,123 housing units at an average density of 394.1/km² (1,022.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.42% White, 6.40% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.98% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.

There were 2,840 households out of which 18.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.0% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 55.9% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city the population was spread out with 12.4% under the age of 18, 41.0% from 18 to 24, 17.2% from 25 to 44, 14.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 81.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,215, and the median income for a family was $53,234. Males had a median income of $35,417 versus $26,094 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,821. About 6.1% of families and 30.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Notable Residents

[edit] Notable Landmarks

  • Frostburg is home to the God's Ark of Safety ministry and its associated roadside landmark, a replica of Noah's Ark being built on the highway hillside since 1976.

[edit] Nearby Places

[edit] Cities

[edit] Smaller communities

[edit] References

[edit] Local Art & Culture

  • Frostburg Palace Theatre Mission
  • Arion Band a community band based in Frostburg, Maryland. Established in 1877, the band has now been performing for 129 years. The band gives 5-10 performances in the Frostburg and Cumberland area during the summer.

[edit] External links

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