Burkittsville, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Burkittsville is a town in Frederick County
, Maryland
, United States
. The population was 171 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
On September 13, 1862, Confederate cavalry under command of Colonel Thomas Munford (under General J.E.B. Stuart
) occupied Burkittsville. On Sunday, September 14, the forces of the Union and Confederate armies engaged in the Battle of Crampton's Gap
, a bloody prelude to the Battle of Antietam
. The Reformed and Lutheran churches and adjacent schoolhouse were used as hospitals for the more than 300 wounded of both sides. These buildings still stand today.
Routinely characterized as the trigger to Antietam, victory at Crampton’s Gap embodied Union Gen. George B. McClellan’s strategic reaction to his acquiring the legendary “Lost Order” at Frederick which disclosed Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s campaign movements. It was McClellan’s intention to “cut the enemy in two and beat him in detail”.
After seizing Crampton’s Gap Gen. William B. Franklin failed to relieve the besieged Union garrison at Harpers Ferry, and more importantly to prevent Confederate generals James Longstreet and “Stonewall” Jackson from reuniting at Sharpsburg. There Lee hastily stood his ground in the mammoth battle of Antietam, the war’s bloodiest day. President Abraham Lincoln then used the marginal Union victory at Antietam as a springboard to his Emancipation Proclamation which changed war aims. Without the fall of Crampton’s Gap there would have been no Antietam.
Nearly all of Burkittsville is a historic district, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on November 20, 1975. The 300 acres (121.4 ha) district includes about 70 contributing structures. The Burkittsville Historic District is itself part of the larger Crampton's Gap Historic District
, which comprises the southern portion of the lands involved in the Battle of South Mountain, extending from the western side of Crampton's Gap, over South Mountain
and about a mile to the east of Burkittsville.
release of the film The Blair Witch Project
, and its follow-ups: a film sequel (Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2
), a series of video games
, a Showtime special (The Burkittsville 7), and many Internet fan sites. "The poor town of Burkittsville suddenly found itself overrun with Blair Witch groupies, wandering around in the woods, trying to find the 'real' places where the story had happened." Contrary to popular belief, however, the majority of the film was not filmed in Burkittsville, but rather in Maryland's Seneca Creek State Park
, about 25 miles (40 km) away, and the events depicted in the film and the legend of the Blair Witch itself were entirely fabricated by the producers themselves. Furthermore, other potentially identifiable landmarks from the Blair Witch story - Coffin Rock, the Black Hills, Black Rock Road, and the local convenience store - are not found in the real Burkittsville or the immediately surrounding area. A Black Rock Road, Black Hills, and the "Blair High School" the interviewed girl mentioned can, however, all be found in Montgomery County, Maryland
, which is very possibly not a coincidence as Blair Witch filmmaker Eduardo Sanchez grew up there and is an alumnus of Montgomery College
.
Souvenir seekers repeatedly stole the Burkittsville town welcome sign, which appeared briefly in the film, and which featured cursive script with black and white coloring. In an effort to deter thieves, the sign was radically redesigned to feature white letters and red stars against a blue background. The new sign also notes that the town has fewer than 200 people, was established in 1824, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
of 2000, there were 171 people, 72 households, and 49 families residing in the town. The population density
was 415.8 people per square mile (161.0/km²). There were 76 housing units at an average density of 184.8 per square mile (71.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.74% White, 1.17% African American and 4.09% Asian. Zero percent of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 72 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% were married couples
living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 2.3% from 18 to 24, 38.6% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,313, and the median income for a family was $53,125. Males had a median income of $45,833 versus $30,417 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $24,919. About 4.1% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 5.6% of those sixty five or over.
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 171 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Burkittsville is located at 39°23′29"N 77°37′38"W (39.391459, -77.627099).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 0.4 square miles (1 km²), all of it land.
History
Burkittsville was first founded by two property owners: Major Joshua Harley and Henry Burkitt. The western half was first founded as "Harley's Post Office" in 1824. After Harley's passing in 1828, Burkitt renamed it Burkittsville. Over the next thirty years it grew as a community with stores, shops, blacksmiths, a schoolhouse, and a tannery.On September 13, 1862, Confederate cavalry under command of Colonel Thomas Munford (under General J.E.B. Stuart
J.E.B. Stuart
James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart was a U.S. Army officer from Virginia and a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War. He was known to his friends as "Jeb", from the initials of his given names. Stuart was a cavalry commander known for his mastery of reconnaissance and the use...
) occupied Burkittsville. On Sunday, September 14, the forces of the Union and Confederate armies engaged in the Battle of Crampton's Gap
Battle of Crampton's Gap
The Battle of Crampton's Gap or Battle of Burkittsville was a battle fought between forces under Confederate Brig. Gen. Howell Cobb and Union Maj. Gen. William B...
, a bloody prelude to the Battle of Antietam
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam , fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, as part of the Maryland Campaign, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000...
. The Reformed and Lutheran churches and adjacent schoolhouse were used as hospitals for the more than 300 wounded of both sides. These buildings still stand today.
Routinely characterized as the trigger to Antietam, victory at Crampton’s Gap embodied Union Gen. George B. McClellan’s strategic reaction to his acquiring the legendary “Lost Order” at Frederick which disclosed Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s campaign movements. It was McClellan’s intention to “cut the enemy in two and beat him in detail”.
After seizing Crampton’s Gap Gen. William B. Franklin failed to relieve the besieged Union garrison at Harpers Ferry, and more importantly to prevent Confederate generals James Longstreet and “Stonewall” Jackson from reuniting at Sharpsburg. There Lee hastily stood his ground in the mammoth battle of Antietam, the war’s bloodiest day. President Abraham Lincoln then used the marginal Union victory at Antietam as a springboard to his Emancipation Proclamation which changed war aims. Without the fall of Crampton’s Gap there would have been no Antietam.
Nearly all of Burkittsville is a historic district, 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...
on November 20, 1975. The 300 acres (121.4 ha) district includes about 70 contributing structures. The Burkittsville Historic District is itself part of the larger Crampton's Gap Historic District
Crampton's Gap Historic District
The Crampton's Gap Historic District comprises the Civil War-era battlefield involved in the Battle of Crampton's Gap, which took place on September 14, 1862, part of the larger Battle of South Mountain. The district extends on the west to the foot of South Mountain, and to the east of...
, which comprises the southern portion of the lands involved in the Battle of South Mountain, extending from the western side of Crampton's Gap, over South Mountain
South Mountain (Maryland and Pennsylvania)
South Mountain is the northern extension of the Blue Ridge Mountain range in Maryland and Pennsylvania. From the Potomac River near Knoxville, Maryland in the south, to Dillsburg, Pennsylvania in the north, the long range separates the Hagerstown and Cumberland valleys from the Piedmont regions of...
and about a mile to the east of Burkittsville.
The Blair Witch Project
Burkittsville gained notoriety with the 19991999 in film
The year 1999 in film involved several noteworthy events and has been called "The Year That Changed Movies". Several significant feature films, including Stanley Kubrick's final film Eyes Wide Shut, Pedro Almodóvar's first Oscar-winning film All About My Mother, science fiction The Matrix, Deep...
release of the film The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project
The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film pieced together from amateur footage. The film was produced by the Haxan Films production company. The film relates the story of three student filmmakers The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film pieced together from amateur...
, and its follow-ups: a film sequel (Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2
Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2
Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 is the 2000 American horror film and the sequel to the film The Blair Witch Project, directed by Joe Berlinger...
), a series of video games
The Blair Witch Project (video games)
The Blair Witch video games are a trilogy of Survival Horror action-adventure games , based on the backstory of the movie The Blair Witch Project...
, a Showtime special (The Burkittsville 7), and many Internet fan sites. "The poor town of Burkittsville suddenly found itself overrun with Blair Witch groupies, wandering around in the woods, trying to find the 'real' places where the story had happened." Contrary to popular belief, however, the majority of the film was not filmed in Burkittsville, but rather in Maryland's Seneca Creek State Park
Seneca Creek State Park
Seneca Creek State Park encompasses approximately 6,300 acres in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, and extends along 14 miles of Seneca Creek to the Potomac River.-Clopper Lake Day Use Area:...
, about 25 miles (40 km) away, and the events depicted in the film and the legend of the Blair Witch itself were entirely fabricated by the producers themselves. Furthermore, other potentially identifiable landmarks from the Blair Witch story - Coffin Rock, the Black Hills, Black Rock Road, and the local convenience store - are not found in the real Burkittsville or the immediately surrounding area. A Black Rock Road, Black Hills, and the "Blair High School" the interviewed girl mentioned can, however, all be found in Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
, which is very possibly not a coincidence as Blair Witch filmmaker Eduardo Sanchez grew up there and is an alumnus of Montgomery College
Montgomery College
Montgomery College is a public, open access community college located in Montgomery County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. in the United States. The college has three campuses, the largest of which is in Rockville; the other campuses are in Takoma Park/Silver Spring and Germantown...
.
Souvenir seekers repeatedly stole the Burkittsville town welcome sign, which appeared briefly in the film, and which featured cursive script with black and white coloring. In an effort to deter thieves, the sign was radically redesigned to feature white letters and red stars against a blue background. The new sign also notes that the town has fewer than 200 people, was established in 1824, and is 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...
.
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 171 people, 72 households, and 49 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 415.8 people per square mile (161.0/km²). There were 76 housing units at an average density of 184.8 per square mile (71.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.74% White, 1.17% African American and 4.09% Asian. Zero percent of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 72 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% 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, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 2.3% from 18 to 24, 38.6% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 85.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,313, and the median income for a family was $53,125. Males had a median income of $45,833 versus $30,417 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 $24,919. About 4.1% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 5.6% of those sixty five or over.
External links
- burkittsville.com Introduction to the town
- The Real 'Blair Witch' Ghosts Burkittsville's haunted sites
- Burkittsville Historic District at the Maryland Historical Trust