CARROLL COUNTY

County Offices
225 N. Center Street
Westminster 410-386-2400
https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/

Chamber of Commerce
247 E. Main Street
Westminster 410-848-9050
http://carrollcountychamber.org

Scenic and historic, Carroll County lies 31 miles northwest of Baltimore and 56 miles north of Washington, D.C. This formerly agricultural region is one of the seven jurisdictions that define the Baltimore metropolitan area. Through the decades, farm land blended with small commercial developments and railroading activity. Landmarks were set, including the first county-wide rural postal system in the nation that was free of charge. Modern Carroll County still reflects much of the country charm of yesterday in spite of considerable growth and development.

Westminster serves as the county seat, joining seven other incorporated towns and growing population centers that offer variety and friendly residential developments. From rural villages to tranquil small towns and thriving municipalities, Carroll County’s communities have evolved into growth centers that offer affordable residential havens. Residents of all ages and stages of life discover a high quality of life and a comparatively low cost of living in this dynamic region. The southern and eastern sections of Carroll County are especially popular with people who appreciate the region’s convenience to many places of employment as well as the opportunity to enjoy open space and a relaxed country atmosphere. The new industrial parks and corporate centers that continue to spring up in this section of the county are ensuring many residents of a very brief commute.

Services
State-of-the-art, comprehensive healthcare is available to Carroll County residents in the centrally located Carroll County General Hospital. The hospital provides a wide array of programs and services that include specialties from pediatrics to geriatrics as well as inpatient and outpatient care and community education. This Westminster institution provides clinical programs that are competitive with those found in larger hospitals, enabling residents to access leading-edge diagnostics and treatment close to home. The hospital’s commitment to Carroll County residents encompasses everything from classes and seminars at The Women’s Place and The Learning Center to public health screenings and a wide range of volunteer opportunities.

Educational facilities in Carroll County are also highly respected, from public and private schools to two-year and four-year  institutions of higher education. McDaniel College is located in Westminster. As a private, liberal arts and sciences institution, McDaniel attracts a diverse student body  from across the nation and from nearly 20 foreign countries. Flexible programs of study at undergraduate and master’s degree levels combine with strong instruction to provide outstanding learning experience. A two-year branch campus in Budapest, Hungary, gives McDaniel College a global perspective. For an affordable beginning to a four-year degree or continuing education, Carroll Community College provides programs for professional development and personal enrichment. Class scheduling is designed to meet the needs of full-time students as well as working adults, covering a wide spectrum of subjects and programs.

Quality of Life
Newcomers to Carroll County will discover an active lifestyle that contrasts outdoor adventure and recreational activity with appreciate for the arts. Golfing, tennis, league sports, hiking, biking, camping, and nature study are just a few of the popular pastimes. Carroll County has more than 28 parks with amenities like equestrian trails and bike or hiking paths. The Carroll County Farm Museum is the site of many special events and colorful annual festivals; while Piney Run Park features a 300-acre lake, tennis, boating, picnic areas, playgrounds, and a nature center.

Golfers can choose from a number of outstanding golf courses, and water-sport enthusiasts can look forward to visiting Cascade Lake. This privately owned, spring-fed lake offers waterslides, paddleboats, high diving, and relaxing “float rafts” for swimming. Each municipality as well as the surrounding communities are served by a recreation council that provides a variety of programs, including baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, football, basketball, martial arts, crafts, and dance.

Carroll County is ideal for those who desire a more quiet, rural lifestyle that remains convenient to the excitement of professional sports and world-class cultural venues. Fine museums, professional sports, Broadway shows, live entertainment, performing arts, and fine art centers are all accessible. At the same time, Carroll County residents can enjoy first-rate attractions just beyond their front doors in Carroll County. Events from community fairs and carnivals to the NFL’s Baltimore Raven’s training camp or the Maryland Wine Festival draw crowds that near the half-million mark. Newcomers and visitors alike are drawn to the region’s rural heritage and rolling, green scenic views.

So much of Carroll County preserves the region’s country heritage, reflected in sprawling horse properties and picturesque small farms. Suburban development is still slowly evolving in Carroll County, so many communities offer the friendly and intimate atmosphere of small-town living. Farmers markets display fresh produce, bakery items, and hand-crafted goods. At the same time, the well-developed amenities in Westminster and those that dot the region ensure conveniences like enclosed regional malls and shopping plazas. The home values are excellent, and the towns that make up Carroll County share an emphasis on strong community ties for an exceptional quality of life.

Hampstead, Manchester
Municipal Offices
Hampstead Town Hall
410-239-7408
https://hampsteadmd.gov/
Manchester Town Hall
410-239-3200
http://manchestermd.gov

Chamber of Commerce
410-848-9050
http://carrollcountychamber.org

Located close to the Baltimore County line and easily accessible to Baltimore and Pennsylvania via Route 140, Hampstead offers a small-town atmosphere in close proximity to metropolitan amenities. The town sponsors frequent activities and events that range from flea markets to carnivals and bake sales, evidence of the underlying strength of community support. Residents often shop at the elegant stores at Owings Mill located to the south of town. Although Hampstead claims colonial heritage and a rich sense of history, housing is available in all styles from established brick traditionals to contemporaries. Steeped in history and appealing to many newcomers, Manchester is characterized as a small town where reverence for the past harmonizes with a progressive attitude. The town is located on Maryland Route 30, a well-traveled route for commuters that forms a connection between Hanover in Pennsylvania, and Maryland’s Baltimore County. Combining tidy older neighborhoods shaded by mature greenery with newer construction, the Manchester cityscape is becoming more suburban in character. Still, the quaint downtown district and historic sites preserve the charm of yesterday.

New Windsor, Union Bridge
Municipal Offices
New Windsor Town Hall
410-635-6575
http://newwindsormd.gov
Union Bridge Town Hall
410-775-2711
https://www.townofub.org/

Chamber of Commerce
410-848-9050
http://carrollcountychamber.org

Located in central Carroll County just six miles southwest of Westminster, the Town of New Windsor claims the charm of historic architecture. Many elegant, stately homes harmonize Colonial or Classical Revival and Queen Anne architecture with bungalow styling. New Windsor is proud of its history of higher education, beginning with the Roman Catholic Calvert College in 1851. This historic building changed names and ownership over the decades, most recently becoming the New Windsor Service Center in 1944. New Windsor has managed to preserve its small-town feeling while welcoming many new residents to the charming atmosphere that prevailed 200 years ago. The nearby community of Union Bridge maintains the serenity and charm of yesterday. Ideally located 40 miles from Baltimore and 60 miles from Washington, D.C., residents have the advantage of a quiet hometown in close proximity to some of the nation’s most celebrated attractions. Union Bridge is home to several historic sites and a museum complex housed in turn-of-the-century railroad buildings. The community center provides a hub for local gatherings and recreational facilities.

Mt. Airy
Town Hall
301-829-1424
www.mountairymd.org

Chamber of Commerce
410-848-9050
http://carrollcountychamber.org

The hometown community of Mt. Airy provides a welcoming residential haven that straddles Frederick and Carroll counties. Although Mt. Airy maintains several parks and recreation areas, residents enjoy quick and easy access to amenities and advantages in both counties. The town hosts a number of special events and seasonal celebrations throughout the calendar year, including the Spring Fling, the Festival on the Ridge, and Christmas in Old Town. Newcomers to Mt. Airy will discover the charm of a friendly, family-oriented setting as well as tranquil, tree-shaded neighborhoods. Residents and planners of Mt. Airy place a great deal of emphasis on volunteerism and community pride. Many active clubs and organizations are available for new residents to join, enabling them to feel immediately involved in their new home.

Sykesville, Eldersburg
Town Hall
410-795-8959
www.townofsykesville.org

Chamber of Commerce
410-848-9050
http://carrollcountychamber.org

The Town of Sykesville and the neighboring unincorporated community of Eldersburg are located in the southwestern corner of Carroll County along Maryland Route 26. These small rural communities with their relaxed lifestyles are rapidly emerging as growing suburbs of Baltimore. Commuters are often attracted to this prime location with its easy drive into the city and the western suburbs of Baltimore. Housing options blend well-kept traditional homes with newer construction in a wide variety of architectural styles. When compared to Sykesville, the atmosphere in Eldersburg is more contemporary. Historic Sykesville is enjoying a renaissance, drawing newcomers and visitors to its wonderful restaurants, antique shops, local parks, Little Sykes Railway, and the Sykesville Gate House Museum of History. The prime recreational destination of Piney Run Park is available less than a mile from home for fishing, boating, and hiking. Many of the daily activities in these communities center around programs sponsored by schools, churches, and the community.

Taneytown
Town Hall
410-751-1100
www.taneytown.org

Chamber of Commerce
410-756-4234
www.taneytownchamber.org

Providing a pleasant, small-town setting, Taneytown offers a selection of well-kept older neighborhoods where single-family homes predominate. At the same time, this area has welcomed many newer planned developments. Convenient services and shops are available locally, although many residents drive to nearby Westminster or across the border into Pennsylvania for expanded shopping and entertainment at regional malls. Among the recreational facilities are a community swimming pool, tennis courts, playgrounds, and sports fields. Newcomers will sense an intangible magnetism about Taneytown, a mixture of hometown spirit, reverence for the past, and community pride. The community is located in northwest Carroll County just two miles east of Frederick County and three miles south of Adams County, Pennsylvania. Relying on its deep roots and heritage, Taneytown has been quite successful in encouraging major employers to join the area’s business-friendly environment. In addition to larger enterprises, more than 160 smaller businesses call Taneytown home.

Westminster, Finksburg
City Hall
410-848-9000
www.westminstermd.gov

Chamber of Commerce
410-848-9050
http://carrollcountychamber.org

Originally a stopover on the trade route between Pennsylvania and Baltimore, the historic City of Westminster preserves early colonial roadside inns that are still in business today. Many city buildings are listed in the National Register of Historic Places, adding to the charm of this vibrant center for government and commerce. The new Northwest Expressway assures a quick 35-minute trip into downtown Baltimore, although commuter buses are available. Residents enjoy shopping in local shops and the regional Cranberry Mall. Westminster is the site of the annual Blue Grass Festival, the Fiddlers Convention, and the Maryland Wine Festival. The unincorporated rural community of Finksburg is situated along Route 140 southwest of Westminster. New residents who are looking for open space, a tranquil atmosphere, affordable homes, and abundant land will be drawn to Finksburg. Estate-style residences, farms, and horse properties are also available in this growing community, which has developed its own art and theater association.