Barton, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Barton is a town in Allegany County, Maryland
, United States, located along the Georges Creek Valley
. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 478 at the 2000 census.
, a Methodist minister
settled on the site of Barton in 1794. His son, William Shaw Jr. laid out the town in 1853, naming it for his father's hometown, Barton-upon-Humber
, England.
The discovery of coal
in the area attracted more settlers. They came from Scotland
, Ireland
and Germany, eager to work in the mines. In 1853, the first shipment of coal was made on the newly-built Georges Creek Railroad
. Eventually, all the deep coal mines
had been abandoned and replaced by strip mines
, several of which are still in operation and can be seen from the town. Today, most families in Barton are supported by other types of employment.
The first gristmill
powered by a water wheel
was built on Moores Run by Henry Ingram. It was about 200 to 300 ft. from the confluence of Georges Creek
. The mill at Moores Run was owned and tended by Mathias Ball. Ball also owned and ran a tannery
at Butcher Run in Barton. The second gristmill was built at Mill Run south of Barton, it was called the Morrison Mill, and was owned by John Morrison. The Morrison Mill was located where Mill Run flows into Georges Creek. John Haymaker also tended the Hockenberry Mill before Hockenberry took over. The third mill was the Shaw Mill, built by the Shaw family. It was a large mill built of stone at Moscow
. It was torn down in the summer or fall of 1961.
Major Barton-area coal companies in the 19th century:
The Barton Coal Company plane (or cable railway
) was built in 1854 and was engineered by O.D. Robbins. It remained in operation until March 21, 1898. The next week the tract, cables and mining equipment were removed. Along with the major mines, there were also many small family-owned mines on the family farms, which catered to the local coal trade.
The Pickell Mine was located on the west side of Barton towards Moscow. Its tipple was not located in town.
The Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad
, successor to the Georges Creek Railroad, opened a train station
in Barton in 1889. The station was demolished in the mid-20th century.
Today Barton has four churches and many volunteer groups. There is a lighted ball field, a playground, and two parks for use by citizens. Barton has survived floods and fires and still maintains its peaceful and congenial atmosphere. Each year the town celebrates itself with a Party in the Park. That get-together showcases crafts, food, entertainment, and a parade through the center of town.
Shaw Mansion
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1985.
, the town has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 478 people, 200 households, and 142 families residing in the town. The population density
was 2,129.8 people per square mile (838.9/km²). There were 233 housing units at an average density of 1,038.2 per square mile (408.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.58% White and 0.42% African American.
There were 200 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples
living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 27.5% 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 2.39 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,104, and the median income for a family was $33,333. Males had a median income of $29,844 versus $14,196 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,453. About 13.1% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
Allegany County, Maryland
Allegany County is a county located in the northwestern part of the US state of Maryland. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 75,087. Its county seat is Cumberland...
, United States, located along the Georges Creek Valley
Georges Creek Valley
Georges Creek Valley is located in Allegany County, Maryland along the George's Creek. The valley is rich in wide veins of coal, known historically as the "The Big Vein." Coal was once extracted by deep mines but is only mined today through surface mining...
. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area
Cumberland, MD-WV MSA
Cumberland, MD-WV MSA, or Cumberland Metro for short, denotes the Metropolitan Statistical Area of Cumberland, Maryland and the surrounding economic region of Allegany County, Maryland and Mineral County, West Virginia, in the United States....
. The population was 478 at the 2000 census.
History
The Reverend William ShawWilliam Shaw (Reverend)
William Shaw was a minister in the Christian Church. He was born in Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire, England and founded the town of Barton, Maryland in the United States in 1794....
, a Methodist minister
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
settled on the site of Barton in 1794. His son, William Shaw Jr. laid out the town in 1853, naming it for his father's hometown, Barton-upon-Humber
Barton-upon-Humber
Barton-upon-Humber or Barton is a small town and civil parish in North Lincolnshire, England located on the south bank of the Humber Estuary, and at the end of the Humber Bridge. It lies east of Leeds, southwest of Hull and north northeast of the county town of Lincoln...
, England.
The discovery of coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
in the area attracted more settlers. They came from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and Germany, eager to work in the mines. In 1853, the first shipment of coal was made on the newly-built Georges Creek Railroad
Georges Creek Railroad
The Georges Creek Railroad was a railroad operated by the Georges Creek Coal and Iron Company in Western Maryland. The railroad operated from 1853 to 1863, when it was acquired by the Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad .- History :...
. Eventually, all the deep coal mines
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
had been abandoned and replaced by strip mines
Surface mining
Surface mining , is a type of mining in which soil and rock overlying the mineral deposit are removed...
, several of which are still in operation and can be seen from the town. Today, most families in Barton are supported by other types of employment.
The first gristmill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
powered by a water wheel
Water wheel
A water wheel is a machine for converting the energy of free-flowing or falling water into useful forms of power. A water wheel consists of a large wooden or metal wheel, with a number of blades or buckets arranged on the outside rim forming the driving surface...
was built on Moores Run by Henry Ingram. It was about 200 to 300 ft. from the confluence of Georges Creek
Georges Creek
Georges Creek is a tributary stream of the North Branch Potomac River in western Maryland. The creek has its headwaters near Frostburg and empties into the North Branch Potomac River at Westernport, all in western Allegany County. Along the Georges Creek Valley, there exists a series of small...
. The mill at Moores Run was owned and tended by Mathias Ball. Ball also owned and ran a tannery
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
at Butcher Run in Barton. The second gristmill was built at Mill Run south of Barton, it was called the Morrison Mill, and was owned by John Morrison. The Morrison Mill was located where Mill Run flows into Georges Creek. John Haymaker also tended the Hockenberry Mill before Hockenberry took over. The third mill was the Shaw Mill, built by the Shaw family. It was a large mill built of stone at Moscow
Moscow, Maryland
Moscow is an unincorporated community in Allegany County, Maryland, United States....
. It was torn down in the summer or fall of 1961.
Major Barton-area coal companies in the 19th century:
- American Coal Company, owner of the Swanton and Caledonia Mines. Their coal tipples were located right in Barton and the mines were located on the mountain on the west side of Barton.
- Davis & Rieman Co.
- Piedmont Coal & Iron Co., located up Temperance Row on the east side of the mountain.
- Potomac Coal Co., located up Moore’s Run. The first mine was located about ½ mile from Dogwood Flat and the No. 2 mine was about 1-1/4 mile up the run. Owned by the Union Mining Co.
- Swanton Mining Co.
- George’s Creek Mining Co.
- Barton Coal Mining Co., located at in the top of Moores Run.
The Barton Coal Company plane (or cable railway
Cable railway
A cable railway is a steeply graded railway that uses a cable or rope to haul trains.-Introduction:...
) was built in 1854 and was engineered by O.D. Robbins. It remained in operation until March 21, 1898. The next week the tract, cables and mining equipment were removed. Along with the major mines, there were also many small family-owned mines on the family farms, which catered to the local coal trade.
The Pickell Mine was located on the west side of Barton towards Moscow. Its tipple was not located in town.
The Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad
Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad
The Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad was an American railroad which operated in Western Maryland. Primarily a coal hauler, it was owned by the Consolidation Coal Company, and was absorbed into the Western Maryland Railway in 1944....
, successor to the Georges Creek Railroad, opened a train station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
in Barton in 1889. The station was demolished in the mid-20th century.
Today Barton has four churches and many volunteer groups. There is a lighted ball field, a playground, and two parks for use by citizens. Barton has survived floods and fires and still maintains its peaceful and congenial atmosphere. Each year the town celebrates itself with a Party in the Park. That get-together showcases crafts, food, entertainment, and a parade through the center of town.
Shaw Mansion
Shaw Mansion (Barton, Maryland)
The Shaw Mansion is an Italianate style house in the George's Creek Valley of Allegany County, Maryland, built in 1872. The house is significant as an unusually large and well-preserved example of the style for its area, with stone trim, detailed brick bonding, cast-iron mantels and much of the...
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1985.
Nearby communities
- Cumberland, MarylandCumberland, MarylandCumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian 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. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
- Lonaconing, MarylandLonaconing, MarylandLonaconing is a town in Allegany County, Maryland, United States located along the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,205 at the 2000 census.- History :...
- Westernport, MarylandWesternport, MarylandWesternport is a town in Allegany County, Maryland, United States, located along the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,104 at the 2000 census.-History:...
- Piedmont, West VirginiaPiedmont, West VirginiaPiedmont is a town in Mineral County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the 'Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 1,014 at the 2000 census. Piedmont was chartered in 1856...
- Luke, MarylandLuke, MarylandLuke is a town in Allegany County, Maryland, United States located along the Georges Creek Valley. Known originally as West Piedmont, the town is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 80 at the 2000 census....
- Midland, MarylandMidland, MarylandMidland is a town in Allegany County, Maryland, United States, located along the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 473 at the 2000 census....
- Keyser, West VirginiaKeyser, West VirginiaKeyser is a city in and the county seat of Mineral County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,303 at the 2000 census.- History :...
- Frostburg, MarylandFrostburg, MarylandFrostburg 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...
- Cresaptown-Bel Air, MarylandCresaptown-Bel Air, MarylandCresaptown-Bel Air is a census-designated place in Allegany County, Maryland, United States. The population was 5,884 at the 2000 census.It is a combination of the communities of Cresaptown and Bel Air recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau....
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 were 478 people, 200 households, and 142 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,129.8 people per square mile (838.9/km²). There were 233 housing units at an average density of 1,038.2 per square mile (408.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.58% White and 0.42% African American.
There were 200 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were 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, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 27.5% 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 2.39 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,104, and the median income for a family was $33,333. Males had a median income of $29,844 versus $14,196 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $14,453. About 13.1% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Barton, Allegany County, Store Ledger 1895-1897 from Western Maryland Public Libraries
- Maryland Coal Mine Mapping Project - Frostburg State UniversityFrostburg State UniversityFrostburg State University is a four-year university located on a campus in Frostburg, Maryland, in Western Maryland, and is part of the University System of Maryland. FSU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.-History:...
- Barton-upon-Humber, England