Oakland, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Oakland is a town in the west-central part of Garrett County
, Maryland
, United States
. With a population of 1,925 according to United States Census 2010 figures, it is the most populated community in Garrett County. The town is also the county seat of Garrett County and is located within the Pittsburgh DMA.
Oakland is situated only miles from the source of the Potomac River
, which flows directly into the Chesapeake Bay
. It is also near the Wisp Resort at Deep Creek Lake
, a major ski resort
for many Marylanders and other visitors. The Autumn Glory Festival, a fall festival that attracts a great number of tourists, takes place in Oakland every October.
The town was named after a large oak tree on 2nd street. A prominent landmark and historical site is the Oakland Train Station. A gift shop is located within the station. In front of the station, there are a plethora of festivities that go on, mainly seasonal activities such as housing the town Christmas tree
, decorating the plaza
for a holiday, and sometimes parties.
Main Street of Oakland consists mainly of historic two to four story buildings that house the main shopping in the area, such as a theatre
, museum
, book store, a local pharmacy
, antique shop
s, clothing stores and bank
s. Many of the homes and businesses in the downtown area are examples of Victorian architecture
. Much of the central section of Oakland is part of the Oakland Historic District
, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1984. Also listed on the National Register are the Garrett County Courthouse
and Hoye Site
.
One of the most prominent and historic churches in Oakland is St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, where U.S. Presidents Ulysses S. Grant
, James Garfield
, Grover Cleveland
, and Benjamin Harrison
have all attended services. Because of this, it is now called the "Church of Presidents." A large neoclassical
courthouse
is also very prominent and dominates the town center.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, a large hotel named the Oakland Hotel was located near the downtown train station
. It was constructed in 1878 by the B&O Railroad
. The hotel was a major tourist attraction for that time period until it was torn down in the early 20th Century.
The town has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), with 99.53% of it being land and 0.47% of it being water. It is only 6.61 miles from Second Street to Deep Creek Lake
.
of 2010, there were 1,925 persons, 875 households, and 470 families residing in the town. The population density
was 915.7 PD/sqmi. There were 875 occupied housing units at an average density of 435.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.0% White, 0.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% from other races
, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.
There were 875 households out of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples
living together, 10.5% were a female householder with no husband present, and 46.3% were non-family households. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals under the age of 18 and 32.1% were senior citizens (ages 65 and up) living without assistance. The average household size was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the town, the population was spread out with 19.3% under the age of 19, 5.5% from 20 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.7 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,728, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $29,625 versus $21,542 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,872. About 13.3% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 21.0% of those age 65 or over.
Garrett County, Maryland
Garrett County is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Maryland. Created from Allegany County, Maryland in 1872 it was the last Maryland county to be formed. It was named for John Work Garrett , railroad executive, industrialist, and financier. Garrett served as president of the Baltimore...
, 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...
. With a population of 1,925 according to United States Census 2010 figures, it is the most populated community in Garrett County. The town is also the county seat of Garrett County and is located within the Pittsburgh DMA.
Oakland is situated only miles from the source of 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...
, which flows directly into the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
. It is also near the Wisp Resort at Deep Creek Lake
Deep Creek Lake
Deep Creek Lake is the largest inland body of water in the state of Maryland. It covers approximately and has of shoreline. Like all lakes in Maryland, it is man-made. The lake is home to a wide variety of freshwater fish and aquatic birds. The Wisp ski resort is located nearby...
, a major ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
for many Marylanders and other visitors. The Autumn Glory Festival, a fall festival that attracts a great number of tourists, takes place in Oakland every October.
History
Oakland was formally incorporated as a town in 1862.The town was named after a large oak tree on 2nd street. A prominent landmark and historical site is the Oakland Train Station. A gift shop is located within the station. In front of the station, there are a plethora of festivities that go on, mainly seasonal activities such as housing the town Christmas tree
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century...
, decorating the plaza
Plaza
Plaza is a Spanish word related to "field" which describes an open urban public space, such as a city square. All through Spanish America, the plaza mayor of each center of administration held three closely related institutions: the cathedral, the cabildo or administrative center, which might be...
for a holiday, and sometimes parties.
Main Street of Oakland consists mainly of historic two to four story buildings that house the main shopping in the area, such as a theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
, museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
, book store, a local pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
, antique shop
Antique shop
An antique shop is a retail store specializing in the selling of antiques. Antiques shops can be located either locally and with the advent of the Internet found online...
s, clothing stores and bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
s. Many of the homes and businesses in the downtown area are examples of Victorian architecture
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
. Much of the central section of Oakland is part of the Oakland Historic District
Oakland Historic District (Oakland, Maryland)
Oakland Historic District is a national historic district in Oakland, Garrett County, Maryland. It is an L-shaped area in the central and older section of Oakland, containing 206 buildings. They reflect the evolution of this rural county seat from the mid 19th to the mid 20th centuries...
, 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 1984. Also listed on the National Register are the Garrett County Courthouse
Garrett County Courthouse
The Garrett County Courthouse is a historic county courthouse located at Oakland, Garrett County, Maryland, United States. It is a three story, 1907-1908 neo-classical Renaissance Revival masonry structure in the form of a Latin Cross with a central rotunda and dome...
and Hoye Site
Hoye Site
Hoye Site or Hoye Prehistoric Indian Village site, is an archaeological site near Oakland in Garrett County, Maryland. It is located on the east bank of Youghiogheny River and occupied from about 1000-1500...
.
One of the most prominent and historic churches in Oakland is St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, where U.S. Presidents Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
, James Garfield
James Garfield
James Abram Garfield served as the 20th President of the United States, after completing nine consecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Garfield's accomplishments as President included a controversial resurgence of Presidential authority above Senatorial courtesy in executive...
, Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
, and Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
have all attended services. Because of this, it is now called the "Church of Presidents." A large neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
courthouse
Courthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
is also very prominent and dominates the town center.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, a large hotel named the Oakland Hotel was located near the downtown 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...
. It was constructed in 1878 by the B&O Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
. The hotel was a major tourist attraction for that time period until it was torn down in the early 20th Century.
Geography
Oakland is in the south-central to western portion of Garrett County, located at 39°24′38"N 79°24′16"W (39.410480, -79.404380). It is set in a small valley.The town has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), with 99.53% of it being land and 0.47% of it being water. It is only 6.61 miles from Second Street to Deep Creek Lake
Deep Creek Lake
Deep Creek Lake is the largest inland body of water in the state of Maryland. It covers approximately and has of shoreline. Like all lakes in Maryland, it is man-made. The lake is home to a wide variety of freshwater fish and aquatic birds. The Wisp ski resort is located nearby...
.
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 2010, there were 1,925 persons, 875 households, and 470 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 915.7 PD/sqmi. There were 875 occupied housing units at an average density of 435.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.0% White, 0.2% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.
There were 875 households out of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% 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, 10.5% were a female householder with no husband present, and 46.3% were non-family households. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals under the age of 18 and 32.1% were senior citizens (ages 65 and up) living without assistance. The average household size was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.73.
In the town, the population was spread out with 19.3% under the age of 19, 5.5% from 20 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.7 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,728, and the median income for a family was $38,750. Males had a median income of $29,625 versus $21,542 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 $16,872. About 13.3% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 21.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Maurice BrookhartMaurice BrookhartMaurice S. Brookhart is the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of North Carolina....
, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of North CarolinaUniversity of North CarolinaChartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
, Member of the National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of SciencesThe National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
, was born and raised in Oakland. - Darvin MoonDarvin MoonDarvin Moon is an American self-employed logger and amateur poker player who was the runner-up of the 2009 World Series of Poker US$10,000 no-limit Texas hold'em main event. It was his first time playing in the World Series of Poker...
, runner-up at the 2009 World Series of Poker2009 World Series of PokerThe 2009 World Series of Poker was the 40th annual World Series of Poker . It was held at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and ran from May 27 to July 15. There were 57 bracelet events, culminating in the $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event...
Main Event. - Crellin School, the school has won several awards and has been given several awards from the presidents, like the Green School award several years in a row and has been very inspirational to other schools in the country. The school given its success only has 80-90 students.
External links
- Oakland, MD
- Garrett Lake Arts Festival
- Deerfield Community Local InformationDeerfield, MarylandDeerfield is a community located in rural western Maryland. The community comprises 35 lots located in scenic Garrett County.The community was originally formed and developed by the Frye/Gross Partnership in 1980 and largely remained undeveloped until a trailblazer by the name of John Case built a...
- St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
- Ruth Enlow Library