Adamstown, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Adamstown is an unincorporated community located in Frederick County
, Maryland
, USA. It is named for Adam Kohlenberg (March 11, 1819 - January 1, 1868), a station agent and first town merchant who owned much of present-day Adamstown.
on Carrollton Manor
, a 17000 acres (68.8 km²) estate originally owned by Charles Carroll of Carrollton
. Until 2000, it was a little-altered representative of mid-19th century linear town planning. It is significant in architecture for its variety of structures, including residential, commercial, industrial, educational, agricultural, and religious buildings. The late 18th century road from Jefferson to Greenfield Mills on the Monocacy River
, originally called the Bridal Road, followed the route of the present-day Mountville Road. The 1832 arrival of the railroad to the Manor created the economic and transportation impetus for the development of the community.
Adamstown was first known as Davis' Warehouse because Dr. Meredith Davis, a leading county miller, built a warehouse about 1835 where Mountville Road, by then called Jefferson Road, crosses the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (nine miles westward from Frederick, Maryland
) to store flour from his Greenfield Mills. The first settler in Adamstown was Robert Palmer, an African American "post and railer" who also ran a general store around 1835. In 1840 when Adam Kohlenburg was appointed the first B&O railway agent, the community became Adamstown after his given name. He was also the first postmaster and ran a general store located in the lot between his home and the railroad. Edward Hebb laid off lots on the north side of the railroad in the 1840s. Daniel Rhodes of Pennsylvania, the first white settler, was so impressed with the location, he bought a tract of land and laid it off into 12 building lots on the south side of the railroad in 1856.
With Adamstown located so close to the Potomac River
and Virginia
, its citizens were almost exclusively loyal to the South; however both Federal and Confederate troops were constantly moving on Carrollton Manor. For several months in the spring of 1861, the Minute Men of Adamstown, a secession militia company composed of three officers (Captain Robert H. E. Boteler; 1st Lieutenant Jacob G. Thomas; and 2nd Lieutenant William Hilleary Johnson, all local doctors) planted a pole and flew the Confederate flag adjacent to their guard post next to the B&O railroad. Many skirmishes in the American Civil War
were fought here and the town was often raided, most notoriously by the 43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry
, also known as Mosby's Rangers, on July 30 and October 14, 1864. On one of these raids, Adam Kohlenburg's entire stock was taken. Local folklore holds that one family had a son fighting for the North and one fighting for the South.
In 1902, Jacob Klein's Addition to Adamstown included the area of Washington, Adams, and Tuscarora Streets. The Adamstown Bank was established in 1917 and the building opened in 1919. In 1921 Adamstown had two large grain elevators (Farmers Exchange of Frederick and Thomas & Co.), a blacksmith shop, a carriage works, two garages, a general store, a hardware store, a butcher shop and the Bank. 1921 was also the year that electric lights were first installed in the town.
The population in 1880 was 66 and approximately 500 in 1971. As of the census
of 2000, there are 2,920 people, 1,049 households and 829 families residing in Adamstown. The racial makeup of the county is 92.7% White, 4.9% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. 1.6% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 1,049 households out of which 36.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.3% are married couples
living together, 5.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 21.0% are non-families. 20.10% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.77 and the average family size is 3.12.
Adamstown's population is spread out with 28.8% under the age of 19, 2.9% from 20 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39.5 years. For every 100 females there are 96.46 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 97 males.
in the State of Maryland. Other businesses include Trans-Tech (manufactures RF microwave components), Stups Market, C&H Supply Company and Adamstown Subs & Pizza.
]. Current school district boundaries designate Ballenger Creek Middle School and Tuscarora High School for continued education.
Frederick County, Maryland
Frederick County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 233,385....
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, USA. It is named for Adam Kohlenberg (March 11, 1819 - January 1, 1868), a station agent and first town merchant who owned much of present-day Adamstown.
Events
The largest area-wide event is the Carroll Manor Fire Company Carnival which occurs every June.History
Adamstown lies in the fertile valley between Sugarloaf and Catoctin MountainCatoctin Mountain
Catoctin Mountain, along with the geologically associated Bull Run Mountains, comprises the easternmost mountain ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are in turn a part of the Appalachian Mountains range...
on Carrollton Manor
Carrollton Manor
Carrollton Manor was a 17,000 acre tract of land in Frederick County, Maryland which extended from the Potomac River on the south, Catoctin Mountain to the west, the Monocacy River to the east, and Ballenger Creek to the north...
, a 17000 acres (68.8 km²) estate originally owned by Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Charles Carroll of Carrollton was a wealthy Maryland planter and an early advocate of independence from Great Britain. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later as United States Senator for Maryland...
. Until 2000, it was a little-altered representative of mid-19th century linear town planning. It is significant in architecture for its variety of structures, including residential, commercial, industrial, educational, agricultural, and religious buildings. The late 18th century road from Jefferson to Greenfield Mills on the Monocacy River
Monocacy River
The Monocacy River is a free-flowing tributary of the Potomac River, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean via the Chesapeake Bay. The river is long, with a drainage area of about...
, originally called the Bridal Road, followed the route of the present-day Mountville Road. The 1832 arrival of the railroad to the Manor created the economic and transportation impetus for the development of the community.
Adamstown was first known as Davis' Warehouse because Dr. Meredith Davis, a leading county miller, built a warehouse about 1835 where Mountville Road, by then called Jefferson Road, crosses the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (nine miles westward from Frederick, Maryland
Frederick, Maryland
Frederick is a city in north-central Maryland. It is the county seat of Frederick County, the largest county by area in the state of Maryland. Frederick is an outlying community of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of a greater...
) to store flour from his Greenfield Mills. The first settler in Adamstown was Robert Palmer, an African American "post and railer" who also ran a general store around 1835. In 1840 when Adam Kohlenburg was appointed the first B&O railway agent, the community became Adamstown after his given name. He was also the first postmaster and ran a general store located in the lot between his home and the railroad. Edward Hebb laid off lots on the north side of the railroad in the 1840s. Daniel Rhodes of Pennsylvania, the first white settler, was so impressed with the location, he bought a tract of land and laid it off into 12 building lots on the south side of the railroad in 1856.
With Adamstown located so close to the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, its citizens were almost exclusively loyal to the South; however both Federal and Confederate troops were constantly moving on Carrollton Manor. For several months in the spring of 1861, the Minute Men of Adamstown, a secession militia company composed of three officers (Captain Robert H. E. Boteler; 1st Lieutenant Jacob G. Thomas; and 2nd Lieutenant William Hilleary Johnson, all local doctors) planted a pole and flew the Confederate flag adjacent to their guard post next to the B&O railroad. Many skirmishes in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
were fought here and the town was often raided, most notoriously by the 43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry
43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry
The 43rd Battalion, Virginia Cavalry, also known as Mosby's Rangers, Mosby's Raiders or Mosby's Men, was a battalion of partisan cavalry in the Confederate army during the American Civil War...
, also known as Mosby's Rangers, on July 30 and October 14, 1864. On one of these raids, Adam Kohlenburg's entire stock was taken. Local folklore holds that one family had a son fighting for the North and one fighting for the South.
In 1902, Jacob Klein's Addition to Adamstown included the area of Washington, Adams, and Tuscarora Streets. The Adamstown Bank was established in 1917 and the building opened in 1919. In 1921 Adamstown had two large grain elevators (Farmers Exchange of Frederick and Thomas & Co.), a blacksmith shop, a carriage works, two garages, a general store, a hardware store, a butcher shop and the Bank. 1921 was also the year that electric lights were first installed in the town.
Demographics
Adamstown is a rapidly growing area with three new developments (540 homes total in Green Hill Manor, Saddle Ridge and Adamstown Commons) under construction since 2000. A fourth development to be constructed on the Carroll Manor Fire Company carnival grounds (including 20-25 single family units and 25-30 multi-family units in the old Adamstown Elementary School) has completed the first phase of the County approval process. Near the end of 2006, 99% of the 300 homes in Green Hill Manor were completed and about a third of the 200 homes in Adamstown Commons, the former Wade Sod Farm, were occupied.The population in 1880 was 66 and approximately 500 in 1971. As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there are 2,920 people, 1,049 households and 829 families residing in Adamstown. The racial makeup of the county is 92.7% White, 4.9% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. 1.6% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 1,049 households out of which 36.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.3% are married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 21.0% are non-families. 20.10% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.77 and the average family size is 3.12.
Adamstown's population is spread out with 28.8% under the age of 19, 2.9% from 20 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39.5 years. For every 100 females there are 96.46 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 97 males.
Local Business
The largest local business is Eastalco (an aluminum smelting plant). The plant curtailed operations in December 2005 when it was unable to continue purchasing electricity at a price they could afford due to electric deregulationMaryland Electric Deregulation
Maryland Electric Deregulation is the result of a bill passed in 1999 by the Maryland General Assembly. This bill changed the entire face of the Maryland utility industry.The past several years have seen a flurry of changes in the energy industry in Maryland...
in the State of Maryland. Other businesses include Trans-Tech (manufactures RF microwave components), Stups Market, C&H Supply Company and Adamstown Subs & Pizza.
Education
Carroll Manor Elementary School services area children from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade. The school also houses part of Frederick County's Challenges Program, a special program for children with autism and other severe communication disorders, and a special education pre-kindergarten. The school is supported by the http://www.cmespta.com/Carroll Manor Elementary School PTAParent-Teacher Association
In the U.S. a parent-teacher association or Parent-Teacher-Student Association is a formal organization composed of parents, teachers and staff that is intended to facilitate parental participation in a public or private school. Most public and private K-8 schools in the U.S. have a PTA, a...
]. Current school district boundaries designate Ballenger Creek Middle School and Tuscarora High School for continued education.
Geography
Adamstown is located at 39°18.675' North, 77°28.504' West (39.311233, -77.475067).Highways
Maryland Route 85Maryland Route 85Maryland Route 85 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Buckeystown Pike, the state highway runs from MD 28 in Tuscarora north to the Frederick city limit north of Interstate 70 , where the highway continues north as East Street. MD 85 connects Tuscarora and Buckeystown in...
Maryland Route 351Maryland Route 351Maryland Route 351 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Ballenger Creek Pike, the state highway runs from the beginning of state maintenance near Adamstown north to MD 180 and Interstate 70 in Frederick. MD 351 connects Frederick with its suburb of Ballenger Creek and the...