Duane Yoder, President

Phone: (301) 334-9431
Fax: (301) 334-8555
dyoder@garrettcac.org www.garrettcac.org

Incorporated: 1966

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Garrett County is the westernmost county in Maryland. It was named after the president of the B&O Railroad, John Work Garrett. The railroad provided prosperity to the county, and spurred its growth during the end of the 19th century. Coalmining and the timber industry became the largest employers in the area, and the local population swelled. The railroad also brought vacationers to the beautiful and scenic area, leading to the building of large summer resorts among the high mountains and lush valleys.

However, as the railroad began to decline in the 1900s, tourism, coalmining, and timber production fell with it. Tourism is the county's mainstay today; the state operates several large state parks and is the largest landowner in the Garrett County. Due to the area's cool climate and lack of urban hubs, the county has remained rural and sparsely populated, affecting its economy severely. In 2000, the population was 30,000.