Cumberland, Maryland

City of Cumberland
—  City  —
Downtown Cumberland
Seal
Nickname(s): "Queen City"
Motto: Come for a Visit, Stay for Life!
Location in Allegany County and in Maryland
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Allegany
Founded	1787
Incorporated	1815
Government
- Mayor	Lee N. Fiedler
Area
- City	9.1 sq mi (23.5 km2)
- Land	9.1 sq mi (23.5 km2)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	627 ft (191 m)
Population (2000)
- City	21,591
- Density	2,372.7/sq mi (916.0/km2)
- Metro	102,008
- Demonym	Cumberlander
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	21501-21505
Area code(s)	301, 240
FIPS code	24-21325
GNIS feature ID	0590057
Website	www.ci.cumberland.md.us

Cumberland is a city in the far western portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 21,591. Cumberland is a regional business and commercial center for Western Maryland and the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia.

Demographics

A graph showing the population in Cumberland and Allegany County

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 21,518 people, 9,538 households, and 5,436 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,372.7 people per square mile (916.0/km²). There were 11,143 housing units at an average density of 1,228.7/sq mi (474.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.54% White, 5.06% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.

There were 9,538 households out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.90.

City residents have an older demographic profile than the U.S. 22.7% is under the age of 18, 8.2% is from 18 to 24, 25.1% is from 25 to 44, 23.3% is from 45 to 64, and 20.7% is 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years compared to a U.S. average of 35.3. Females outnumber males. For every 100 females there are 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,142, and the median income for a family was $34,500. Males had a median income of $29,484 versus $20,004 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,813. About 15.3% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.4% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over. The Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area ranked 305th out of 318 metropolitan areas in per capita income.^[4][5]

In 2007, Forbes ranks the Cumberland Metro as having the 6th lowest cost of living in the country based on an index of cost of housing, utilities, transportation and other expenditures^[6]

In 2007, The Baltimore Sun newspaper citing the National Association of Realtors figures on home prices stated that while most areas currently stagnant, Cumberland home prices are rising by more than 17%, the highest in the country. (The Sun, 06/29/07)

In July 2007, Washington Post writer Stephanie Cavanaugh wrote that the great quality of living in Cumberland has attracted many urbanities to the area. (07/14/2007, Real Estate Section)

According to the 2000 Census, educational achievement levels of the city residents lag behind those of Allegany County and the state of Maryland. High school diploma attainment figures for residents 25 years of age and older are lower than the state average (83.8%), with Allegany County at 79.9% and Cumberland at 79.3%. Furthermore, only 13.0% of city residents 25 years of age and older hold at least an undergraduate degree. The comparable figures for Allegany County and Maryland residents are 14.1% and 31.4% respectively.

Ancestries are:

• 27.7% German
• 14.5% Irish
• 12.3% American
• 9.7% English
• 5.9% African
• 4.7% Italian
• 2.6% Dutch

Population trends

Population decline from 1950-1990 was due to a string of industrial plant closures. Unwilling to meet union demands plants such as Pittsburgh Plate Glass, Allegany Munitions, Celanese and others closed their doors and relocated. The 1987 closure of the Kelly Springfield Tire Plant marks a turning point, as the last major manufacturing plant in the city limits to close its doors.

The year 2004 marked the first year in several decades where the population of Cumberland actually increased year-over-year by 0.61 percent.^[7] This is due largely to the fact that inmates at the areas new prisons are included in the census. Today, the population of the Cumberland area has stabilized with a 0.02% change in the County's population from 1990 to 2000. A small decline in city's population occurred between 1990 and 2000 and again between 2000 and 2005.^[8]

References:

• For 1870-1960: Allegany County data Historical Census Browser
• For 1930-2000: See Geostat Center Collection: County and City Data Books (1930-2000)
• For 1830-1873: See Lowdermilk
• For 1900-1920: See Maryland Manual, 1928, Volume 144, page 202

Geography

View of the Cumberland Narrows from Artmor Plastics

Overview

Cumberland is located in the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians at (39.647687, -78.762869),^[9] at the junction of the North Branch of the Potomac River, and Wills Creek. Interstate 68 runs through the city in an east/west direction. U.S. Highway 220 runs north/south.

The majority of the land within the city lies in a valley created by the junction of the previously mentioned streams. Parts of Wills Mountain, Haystack Mountain and Shriver Ridge are also within the city limits. Cumberland is situated at the entrance to Cumberland Narrows, a natural gateway carved by Wills Creek through the Allegheny Mountains west to the Ohio River Valley.

The abandoned Chesapeake and Ohio Canal has its Western Terminus here, and it is possible to travel by foot or on bike from here to Washington, D.C. along the canal towpath - a distance of roughly 185 miles (298 km).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.1 square miles (23.5 km²), of which, 9.1 square miles (23.5 km²) of it is land and 0.11% is water.

This was the terminus, and namesake, of the Cumberland Road.

Neighborhoods and surrounding areas

• North End is a neighborhood in Cumberland bounded by Wills Creek to the south, Frederick Street to the East, and the city line on the west and north. Once known as "The Queen City", the neighborhood is a mix of residential, industrial, and commercial buildings. Some of the large industries found in this neighborhood include breweries, glass factories, and tanneries. These industries are now defunct, although many of the industrial buildings are still used for warehousing.

Most of the residential housing stock in North End was constructed to house industrial workers, and date from the middle and late 19th century. The housing stock is characterized by adjoining brick rowhouses and duplexes, set on small lots with narrow streets. As you move east to west through the neighborhood, the house lots become larger, the streets wider, and the housing stock more recent. Due to the age of the housing stock, many North End streets contain large numbers of vacant and deteriorating buildings. This neighborhood has been targeted by the City Government for housing rehabilitation and blight removal.
Most of the commercial businesses in North End are located on Mechanic and Centre streets. Included among them are convenience stores, restaurants, car dealerships, and small boutiques.

• South Cumberland, also known as South End, is the largest neighborhood in Cumberland both geographically and by population. It is bounded by the CSX mainline to the south, Williams Street to the north, the Potomac River to the west, and the city line to the east. The neighborhood is historically and currently a mix of residential, industrial, and commercial buildings.

The residential character of the neighborhood is highly varied. Much of the housing stock in the area around Virginia Ave dates from the late 19th and early 20th century and was constructed to house workers from the neighborhood's industrial concerns. As with many of the city's older neighborhoods, this area contains many vacant and deteriorating structures. Local community groups, such as the Chapel Hill West neighborhood group, have taken positive steps to help improve aging structures, and beautify the area. The streets around Memorial Hospital are characterized by larger lots and sizeable free-standing homes. Many of the health care professionals that work at the hospital live in this area. Lastly, the blocks near the eastern edge of the neighborhood were developed in the middle of the 20th century and contain wider streets and a variety of housing styles and materials.
There are still many industrial enterprises located in South End. The western part of the neighborhood specifically contains many warehouses and other small industries.
The commercial mainstreet of South End is Virginia Ave. Virginia Avenue historically acted as the main shopping area for the residents of South End and contained men's and women's clothing stores, movie theaters, and specialty retail stores. Virginia Avenue's commercial importance has declined since the middle of the 20th century due to the opening of enclosed shopping centers and strip malls. The Avenue (as locals call it) still contains numerous antique shops, bars, and specialty stores. Location of Greenway Avenue Stadium, the joint home of the Fort Hill Sentinels and Allegany Campers..

• West Side is a neighborhood in Cumberland bounded by the Potomac River to the south, Wills Creek to the north and east, the city line on the west. The neighborhood is a mix of residential, governmental, and some commercial buildings. West Side was the first part of Cumberland to be settled by the British colonists. Fort Cumberland, a military and trade outpost was built on a hill just west of Wills Creek in the 1750s. The early growth of the city was centered around the fort. The oldest existing building in West Side, and for that matter, all of Cumberland, The Headquarters of George Washington was built during this time period. The ground formerly occupied by Fort Cumberland is known home to many county government offices. The Allegany County Courthouse, County Library, and County Board of Education are among the most government buildings. The majority of the buildings surrounding these governmental offices are used for commercial purposes. Many law offices, accounting firms, real estate offices, doctor's office, and many other small businesses are located in this area. Allegany High School, which serves Cumberland's North and West sides, as well as the outlying communities of LaVale and Cresaptown, is located in this area on Rose Hill.

Residential land use becomes dominant as you move west from the site of former fort. Many of Cumberland's largest and most valuable houses are located here. The housing stock ranges in age from the mid 19th century closer to the former fort, to the middle of the 20th century near the city line to the west. Some of Cumberland's newest developments are located on Haystack Mountain near the city line.
The only substantial industrial land use in West Side is Riverside Industrial Park. This site was the former location of the Kelly Springfield Tire factory. Most of the factory has been torn down, including its impressive twin smoke stacks. Some of the outbuildings are still standing and used for warehousing.

• East Side is a neighborhood in Cumberland bounded by Williams St. to the south, Frederick St. to the west, and the city line to the north and east. The predominate land uses in East Side are residential and recreational. Two large hills, McKaig's Hill and Fort Hill dominate the landscape of East Side. There is little flat land and thus the residential development is less dense in East Side when compared to other parts of the city. The small amount of at-grade land is located at the western edge of the neighborhood. This area, now know as Decatur Heights, is a mid to late 19th century residential neighborhood contains both rowhouses and impressive free standing homes. East Side contains several new housing developments, one located on Decatur St., the other located towards the top of McKaig's Hill.
  Due to its steep topography, East Side is heavily forested. The largest park in the city, Constitution Park is located in this neighborhood. Constitution Park contains a public swimming pool, basketball courts, tennis courts, and playground equipment.
• Downtown
• Little Egypt
• Bowling Green
• Wills Mountain
• Haystack Mountain
• Shriver Ridge

Nearby cities and towns

All cities are in Maryland, unless otherwise noted^[10] and are in order of distance.

History

Cumberland, Maryland is named after the son of King George II, Prince William, the Duke of Cumberland. It is built on the site of the old Fort Cumberland, the starting point for British General Edward Braddock's ill-fated attack on the French strong-hold of Fort Duquesne (located on the site of present-day Pittsburgh) during the French and Indian War. (See Braddock expedition.)

Cumberland was also an outpost of Colonel George Washington during the French and Indian War and his first military headquarters was built here. Washington later returned to Cumberland as President in 1794 to review troops that had been assembled to thwart the Whiskey Rebellion.

map of Braddock's Military Road

Cumberland was a key road, railroad and canal junction during the 1800s and at one time the second largest city in Maryland (second to the port city of Baltimore—hence its nickname "The Queen City"). The surrounding hillsides provided coal, iron ore, and timber that helped supply the Industrial Revolution. In addition, the city was a major manufacturing center, with industries in glass, breweries, fabrics, and tinplate. However, following World War II, it began to lose much of its industrial importance and its population declined from 39,483 residents in the 1940 census to fewer than 22,000 today.^[11]
[12]

Climate

Cumberland experiences four distinct seasons, including warm summers and cold winters. Temperatures around 20 °F (−7 °C) are common in the winter months, while temperatures can reach 95 °F (35 °C) in the summer.^[13]

Education

The offices of Allegany County Public Schools are located in Cumberland. ACPS compete in a number of academic competitions for students, including the Stock Market Game, Science Olympiad, Science Fair, Spell-A-Thon, Maryland Facts Quiz Bowl, the National Children's Creative Writing Contest Elementary and Middle School Spectra Quiz Bowl, Math Counts, Mock Trial Teams, Secretarial Science Contest Scripps-Howard Spelling Bee, Voice of Democracy, and the Maryland Science Quest.

Athletic programs also abound, with competition in everything from football, soccer, baseball, volleyball and track to tennis, bowling, wrestling and golf.

Schools

Area colleges and universities

All four listed are within a short drive from Cumberland, though only one is located in Cumberland itself.

• Allegany College of Maryland (Cumberland and Bedford, Pennsylvania)
• Robert C. Byrd Institute (Rocket Center, West Virginia)
• Frostburg State University (Frostburg, Maryland)
• Potomac State College of West Virginia University (Keyser, West Virginia)
• Garrett College (McHenry, Maryland)

Libraries

Approximately 39,000 people hold library cards in Allegany County ("Most citizens give libraries high grades", Cumberland Times News, October 10, 2006). Regional Libraries include:

• Washington Street Library
• Frostburg Public Library
• Lavale Public Library
• South Cumberland Public Library, Allegany County
• Westernport Public Library, Allegany County
• Lewis J. Ort Library (Frostburg State University)
• Allegany College Library
• Western Maryland Public Library System

Employers

Significant city employers include:

• Western Maryland Health System, which employs approximately 2,300 people, making it Cumberland's largest employer.
• Allegany County government.
• CSX: Located 177 miles (285 km) west of Baltimore, Md., the Cumberland Locomotive Maintenance Facility is a vital point on CSX's Chicago to Baltimore mainline. It employs 273 people at Cumberland shops and 600 men and women in Cumberland.
• Allegany College of Maryland employs approximately 800 people.
• the call center of ACS Inc., which employs about 400 people.
• City of Cumberland, employing approximately 300 people.
• Hunter Douglas: a 378,000-square-foot (35,100 m²) facility, with 580 plus employees, which makes this location the largest Hunter Douglas fabrication plant in the world. The company is Allegany County's sixth largest employer.
• Western Correctional Institution State Prison, employs 550 people; a number of other people are employed at the Federal Prison and the new Maximum Security Prison all in close proximity to Cumberland
• Infospherix employs approximately 375 - 400 people. Infospherix is a call center that handles inbound reservations for state camp grounds, as well as several Federal contracts. Infospherix was formerly known as BioSpherics.
• Ray Of Hope, Inc. an organization that provides assisted living units for mentally and physically handicapped adults for over 20 years.

Hospitals

• Western Maryland Regional Medical Center (Cumberland)
• Thomas B. Finan Center

Utilities

Water and sewer service is supplied by the City of Cumberland. The municipal watershed is located to the north within the State of Pennsylvania. Water is drawn from two lakes on city land, Gordon and Koon.^[14] Electricity service supplied by Allegheny Power, while natural gas service is supplied by Columbia Gas of Maryland. There was once a working oil well that pumped crude oil from a location near the Fruit Bowl in the Cumberland Narrows.

Law enforcement

Badge of the Cumberland Police Department.

The city is primarily policed by the Cumberland Police Department (CPD). The CPD is a full-service agency consisting of a patrol section, detective bureau, specialized services, and other services. It is occasionally aided by the Maryland State Police and the Allegany County Sheriff's Office as directed by authority.

History

The Cumberland Police Department was founded by an act of legislation in March 1852. In 1907, Officer August Baker was killed by gunfire while trying to apprehend a drunk and disorderly William Burns from an area that is now known as South Wineow Street. Subsequently, after the officer's death, an angry mob broke Burns out of jail using a telephone pole. After gaining entry into the jail, the mob beat the murder suspect, Burns, almost to death. They then drug him into the street, and shot him twelve times to death.^[15][16] In 2009, the CPD was involved in the investigation of a local homicide, which is uncommon for the area.^[17] The suspect was investigated by CPD C3I detectives and ultimately plead guilty to the first-degree murder.^[18][19] In February of 2010, the CPD in conjunction with C3I investigated a double-homicide that garnered state-wide attention.^[20]

Organization

The Cumberland Police Department is currently headed by Chief Charles H. Hinnant, who is assisted by one Deputy Chief and five Lieutenants.^[21] The CPD is a progressive department and has a diverse Specialized Unit Section with the following teams:^[22]

• K-9 Unit
• Bicycle Patrol
• Motorcycle Patrol
• Cumberland Emergency Response Team (CERT)
• Combined County Criminal Investigation Unit (C3I)
• School Resources C3I Narcotics Task Force
• Honor Guard

Transportation

Within the city

The primary public transportation in the City of Cumberland is bus service provided by Allegany County Transit. This service is fairly extensive, consisting of five scheduled routes that reach most areas of the City and providing access to most public facilities. The bus depot is located in the South End to the west of Virginia Avenue on Lafayette Avenue. The Allegany County Transit Authority also serves LaVale, Frostburg, and Cresaptown.

Highways

Cumberland's roadway system consists of a series of interconnected grids defined by natural and man-made barriers including steep slopes, the Potomac River, Wills Creek, rail lines, and I-68. Originally developed for a larger population than currently lives in Cumberland, the overall system is generally adequate to accommodate existing levels of traffic. Major highway arteries serving the Cumberland area include:

• Interstate 68
• U.S. Route 40
• U.S. Route 220

Railways

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides intercity service to Cumberland over the Capitol Limited rail line, which connects Washington, D.C. to Chicago, Illinois. The Cumberland Amtrak Station is located downtown at Queen City Drive and East Harrison Street.

Airports

Cumberland is almost equidistant from four major airports: Washington National Airport, Dulles International Airport, Baltimore Washington International Airport, and Pittsburgh International Airport, all of which are at least two and one-half hours by car from the city. The Greater Cumberland Regional Airport (Airport-ID: CBE) provides local air transportation to the Cumberland area. The airport is located in West Virginia, to the south of the Potomac River, which forms the boundary between the City of Cumberland and Mineral County, West Virginia. Formerly owned by the City of Cumberland, the airport is now owned and operated by a bi-state intergovernmental airport authority whose members are four representatives from West Virginia and five from Maryland. In addition, Mexico Farms Airport (Airport-ID: 1W3) is also located in Cumberland.

Local media

Cumberland has several media outlets, most carry some form of satellite programming. WCBC-AM and the Cumberland Times-News, while WFRB-FM have some local news content, but do not actively collect it. The closest public radio station is WFWM, Frostburg, MD. Allegany Magazine is a recent media addition.

Aside from some local news programming, virtually no mass media content originates from Cumberland. The local media tends to rebroadcast Hagerstown and Washington, D.C. television stations for news coverage.

Cable customers of Cumberland mainly receive service from Atlantic Broadband. Cumberland's Atlantic Broadband customers receive 2 NBC affiliates, WJAC-TV, from Johnstown, PA, and WHAG-TV, from Hagerstown, MD. ABB customers also receive 3 CBS affiliates, WTAJ-TV, from Altoona, PA, WJZ-TV, from Baltimore, MD, and WUSA (TV), from Washington, DC. ABB customers can also receive 2 Fox affiliates, WTTG-TV, from Washington, DC, and WWCP-TV, from Altoona, PA, and 1 ABC affiliate, WJLA-TV, from Rosslyn, VA.

Tourism

Wills Creek

Tourist attractions in the area include:

• Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
• Canal Place
• Allegheny Highlands Trail of Maryland
• Allegany Arts Council
• Rocky Gap State Park
• Cumberland Narrows of Wills Creek (North Branch Potomac River)
• New Embassy Theater

Annual and seasonal events

• Heritage Day Festival, Washington St. (Mid June)
• Farmer's Market, every Saturday downtown (From June to November)
• Sunday in the Park: free concerts every Sunday evening in Constitution Park Amphitheater in South Cumberland, sponsored by the Allegany Arts Council. (From May to September)
• Canal/Rail Fest, located at Canel Place (mid July)
• Allegany County Fair and Expo (mid July)
• Homecoming: ALCO v. FHS: First or second weekend before Thanksgiving at Greenway Ave Stadium. Homecoming is the final regular season football game for Cumberland's two public high schools Allegany High School and Fort Hill High School. Attendance at the game averages between 8,000 - 10,000 (approximately one-half of the population of the city).
• Tri-State Concert Series concerts throughout the year from the golden age of rock-n-roll, swing, and big-band as well as popular country and choral music.
• Western Maryland Street Rod Roundup: Over 1000 pre-1949 street rods featuring rod jousting, crafts, food, entertainment, parts vendors, vote for your favorite car. Allegany County Fairgrounds (Labor Day Weekend)
• Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Open-House: This event centers around the annual lighting of the City Christmas Tree in the heart of Downtown Cumberland where streets filled with Cumberland residents come to see the mayor throw the switch on the tree and participate in the sights, sounds and joy of the holiday season. During the event there are several live musical performances at prominent businesses in the city center, including holiday choral and jazz vocal performances; as well as, galleries exhibiting local artists, including ceramics, photography, metal sculpture, jewelry and water color. (First day after Thanksgiving, aka Black Friday)
• "The Ball Drop" every New Year's Eve in Downtown Cumberland.
• Bluegrass Jam Session: Every Sunday evening at the Queen City Creamery from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm or later. Free admission.
• The Great Allegany Run: Every October. 15K run from Mount Savage, Maryland to Downtown Cumberland; 5K run in Cumberland; 2-mile (3.2 km) walk on C&O Canal; and Kids' Run.
• Halloween Parade: Every October in South Cumberland.
• Homecoming Parade: Every November in downtown Cumberland.

Architecture

Allegany County Courthouse

Some of Cumberland's most architecturally significant homes are located in the Washington Street Historic District. Considered the elite residential area when the city was at its economic peak, Washington Street was home to the region's leading citizens including the president of the C&O Canal. Significant public buildings include the Allegany County Courthouse, Allegany County Library, and Emmanuel Episcopal Church, located on the site of Fort Cumberland. It features Gothic Revival architecture with three large Tiffany windows, fort tunnels, and ammunition magazine cellars.^[23]

The 1850 Emmanuel Episcopal Church, standing at the eastern end of the Washington Street Historic District, is one of Maryland's most outstanding examples of early Gothic Revival architecture.

The Allegany County Courthouse dominates the city's skyline. It was designed in 1893 by local architect Wright Butler.

The Queen City Hotel was built by the B&O during the 1870s. The battle to preserve it was lost when the building was demolished in 1972.

The Stone Cottage, which is just outside of Cumberland, is an architecturally significant structure resembling an early medieval country French rural cottage built in 2006.

Temple B’er Chayim's 1865 gothic revival building is one of the oldest surviving synagogue buildings in the United States.

Sister city

• Tapa, Lääne-Viru County, Estonia^[24]

Popular culture

• In the classic 1960s horror film Night of the Living Dead, Barbara listens transfixed to a radio broadcast from civil defense officials in the City of Cumberland, Maryland. The Cumberland officials emphasize the predatory nature of the cannibalistic ghouls, and their unsavory appetite for human flesh.
• Cumberland is mentioned in the NBC television show The Office (Season 2, Episode 5, Title "Halloween"). A job opening at "Cumberland Mills" is mentioned several times, with Maryland identified as the location. The character Jim Halpert says that he didn't apply even though he enjoys soft shell crabs. Jim's main goal was to get Dwight Schrute hired there so he would be out of state, but Dwight fouls up the interview by talking about martial arts.
• In the webcomic The Adventures of Dr. McNinja, the title character lives in Cumberland, where fictional mayor Chuck Goodrich has installed a citywide zombie defense system.^[25] It is also revealed that the town has a mafia, much to the titular Doctor's surprise (Hastings states that his neighborhood has over three times the city's population).
• The city was mentioned briefly on Viva La Bam when they are on their way to Mardi Gras.
• The city is the main setting of the medical video game, Trauma Team.

Noted residents and natives

• Jack Nelson, Director of MWCoA
• Brendan Ekstrom (born 1978) musician (Circa Survive)
• Michael Nau musician (Page France)
• Rebeca Arthur (born 1963) actress (Perfect Strangers (television show), Get Shorty)
• Frank E. Bittinger is a horror novelist who currently lives in Cumberland, MD; his novels include Into the Mirror Black, Angels of the Seventh Dawn, and Angels of the Mourning Light.
• J. Glenn Beall, Jr. (1927–2006) former U.S. Senator
• Rob Breedlove (born 1938) former American Football linebacker who played eight seasons in the National Football League with the Washington Redskins and the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1960 to 1967
• Grant Garland, Radio announcer, television host and newspaper columnist.
• Wright Butler architect of Allegany Courthouse
• Kia Corthron (born 1961) playwright, screenwriter, attended Allegany High School
• James Deetz (1930–2000) father of historical archeology
• Eddie Deezen (born 1958) comic actor
• Patrick Hamill (1817–1895), U.S. Congressman for Maryland's 4th District 1869-1871, buried in Odd Fellow's Cemetery
• Drew Hankinson (born 1983), wrestles for the World Wrestling Entertainment as Festus
• William H. Macy (born 1950) actor, attended Allegany High School. While at Allegany High School William was a junior and senior class president of his graduating class.
• Mark Manges (born 1956) quarterback for the University of Maryland, College Park (1974–77), appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine Oct 1976 issue
• John Van Lear McMahon (1800–1871) Maryland legislature and historian
• Donald E. Moran (born 1931) attended University of Maryland on a basketball scholarship - a starter in every game from 1949–1953, played professional ball in the Eastern League before being signed by the NBA Detroit Pistons in 1956. Invited to try out for the Olympics Basketball team in 1956 but refused due to his 'professional' status. Assistant coach in the NBA team the San Diego Clippers in 1979, after two years went on to Washington Wizards (called Washington Bullets at the time) of Washington, D.C. for 6 seasons.

• Kelly L. Moran (born 1960) author of the book Shelley Chintz which was published in 2001 ISBN 0-9676925-0-4. Designer/Builder of the Stone Cottage. Attended Bruce High School.
• Sam Perlozzo (born 1951) former Major League Baseball player and former manager of the Baltimore Orioles (2005–2007) attended Bishop Walsh High School
• Bruce Price (1845–1903) architect of Cumberland Emmanuel Church
• Rosenbaum founders of Rosenbaum Brothers Department Store in 1849
• Casper R. Taylor, Jr (born 1934), Member of House of Delegates 1975-2003, Speaker of House 1994-2003
• J. Frederick Sharer (born 1937), Deputy State's Attorney, Allegany County, 1965-66. City Solicitor, City of Cumberland, 1966-80. Board of Trustees, Allegany Community College, 1970-80 (chair, 1970–77). Member, State Board of Law Examiners, 1978-80. Founding member, Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect, and Task Force on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Allegany County. County Administrative Judge, Allegany County Circuit Court, 4th Judicial Circuit, from 1983 to January 4, 2002 (Associate Judge, December 1980 to January 2002). Chair, Executive Committee, Maryland Judicial Conference, 1988-89. Circuit representative, Conference of Circuit Judges, 1996-2002. Member, Maryland Judicial Commission on Pro Bono, 1998-2000. Former member, Judicial Compensation Committee, Maryland Judicial Conference. Chair, Council on Jury Use and Management, 1999-2000. 3rd Appellate Circuit (Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard & Washington Counties), January 4, 2002 to April 12, 2008. Retired April 12, 2008.
• George L. Wellington (1852–1927) Former United States Senator
• Steve Whiteman- Singer of 80s metal band KIX
• Jane Frazier lived in a log house built in 1754 just beyond the Cumberland city limits. It was while returning to her home from the Fort Cumberland Trading Post several miles away that Jane was captured by Indians and taken to the Great Miami River in Ohio. A Frazier family member later wrote a book about the incident call "Red Morning"
• Indian Will a well-known Native American who lived in a former settlement of the Shawnee Indians at the site of present day Cumberland, Maryland in the 1700s. Both Wills Creek and Wills Mountain are named after him.
• Frederick John Bahr (1837–1885) an immigrant from Baden, Germany, who bought Wills Mountain including the narrows and Lovers Leap to avoid the encroachment of the Civil War and settled there with his family in a cabin on the top of the mountain.
• Herman J. Miller was a historical photo collector and Cumberland resident who had a great interest in the history of Cumberland, serving on the City's Advisory Commission on Historical Matters and the Historic Preservation Commission during the 1970s. In 1982 the city of Cumberland purchased a collection of over 2000 photos from Miller. The Herman and Stacia Miller Photo Collection is provided free to the public for non-profit use.^[26]
• Cunningham James Vincent (1911–1985). poet, writer, and professor for Standford University. Born in Cumberland. (See Oxford Companion to Twentieth-Century Poetry, page 110)
• Edward Otho Cresap Ord (1818–1883). Born in Cumberland. He was the designer of Fort Sam Houston, and a U.S. Army officer who saw action in the Seminole War, the Indian Wars, and the American Civil War
• Samuel Magill, established the first newspaper in Cumberland the Allegany Freeman published weekly from 1813 to 1816 (See Lowdermilk, page 301)
• William Brown, established the second newspaper in Cumberland called the Cumberland Gazette in 1814, a 16 column Federalist paper published weekly (See Lowdermilk, page 301)
• List of mayors of Cumberland, Maryland
• Francis Xavier Seelos (1819–1867), pastor of SS. Peter & Paul's Catholic Church 1857-1862, beatified by the Vatican in 2000 (final stage of canonization process)

See also

• Cumberland Police Department

Notes

References

• Will H. Lowdermilk, History of Cumberland, first published 1878, reprinted by Clearfield Co., October 1997, Paperback, ISBN 0-8063-7983-9. Full Text Online
• Amanda Paul, Tom Robertson, Joe Weaver, Cumberland, Arcadia Publishing, Copyright Oct 1, 2003, Paperback, ISBN 0-7385-1498-5
• Joseph H Weaver, Cumberland, 1787-1987: A Bicentennial History, Published by the City of Cumberland and the Cumberland Bicentennial Committee, January 1, 1987, ASIN B0007165K6
• Mike High, The C&O Canal Companion, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-8018-6602-2
• Mark D. Sabatke, Discovering The C&O Canal, Schreiber Publishing, 2003, ISBN 1-887563-67-9
• Allan Powell, Fort Cumberland, Publisher Allan R Powell, 1989, ISBN 0-9619995-2-7
• Albert L Feldstein, Feldstein's Historic postcard album of Allegany County, Commercial Press Print. Co, 1984, ASIN B0006YQW5C
• Albert L. Feldstein, Feldstein's Historic Coal Mining and Railroads of Allegany County, Maryland, Publisher Albert L Feldstein, 2000, ISBN 0-9701605-0-X (This book consists of 135 historic Allegany County, Maryland coal mining and railroad related photographs. These are primarily from the early 1900s. Accompanying each depiction is a historical narrative with facts, figures, dates and other information. Included within this number are 23 biographies of individuals associated with the history of coal mining in the region.)
• Albert L. Feldstein, Allegany County (Images of America: Maryland), Arcadia Publishing, 2006, ISBN 0-7385-4381-0 (features Allegany's towns and communities, downtown business scenes, residential areas, industries, historic buildings, churches, schools, hospitals, floods, parades, coal mining, railroad stations, and historic and natural landmarks. In some cases, the personal messages sent on the back of the postcards are included.)
• Census of population and housing (2000): Maryland Summary Social, Economic, and Housing Summary, DIANE Publishing, ISBN 1-4289-8582-4

External links

• Official site of the municipal government of Cumberland, Maryland
• Official site of Downtown Cumberland, Maryland
• Allegany County Chamber of Commerce Organization that promotes the economic and business development of Allegany County
• Allegany Arts Council The official "umbrella" organization for the arts in Allegany County.
• Allegany County Health Dept
• Allegany County Library System
• AllcoNet A joint effort of the City of Cumberland, Allegany County, Allegany County Board of Education, and Allegany County Libraries.
• Allegheny Highlands Trail Maryland
• All Aboard for Cumberland Maryland, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Cumberland US Geological Survey
• Cumberland, Maryland at the Open Directory Project
• Cumberland Police Department Official Homepage

Local heritage

• Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Official website for the Scenic Railroad and Canal Place.
• All Aboard for Cumberland Description of Historical Buildings in Cumberland.
• The Genealogical Society of Allegany County
• Reminiscences: Growing up in Cumberland Md. 1921-1947 Cumberland native Bill Rohrer's illustrated memoirs.

Area State Parks

• Rocky Gap State Park
• Green Ridge State Park
• Dans Mountain State Park

Local maps

City of Cumberland Subject areas Attractions • Climate • Demographics • Festivals/Events • Education • Geography • History • Media • People • Sports • Major employers • Transportation Top subjects Allegany Arts Council • Allegany College of Maryland • Allegany Community Symphony Orchestra • Allegany Magazine • Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park • Constitution Park • Cumberland Times-News • Cumberland Theatre • Greater Cumberland Regional Airport • Mountain Discoveries • Railfest • Western Maryland Scenic Railroad Neighborhoods Bowling Green • Downtown • East Side • Little Egypt • Haystack Mountain • North End • Shriver Ridge • South Cumberland • West Side • Wills Mountain

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