Altamont, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Altamont, Maryland
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 Altamont, Maryland
Location in Maryland
Altamont, Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maryland |
| County | Garrett |
| Elevation | 2,628 ft (801 m) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 589639 |
Altamont is a small, unincorporated community located in Garrett County, Maryland, in the United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it's governed by the larger county.
Altamont is special because it sits right on the Eastern Continental Divide. Think of this as a high ridge or line across the land. Rainwater that falls on one side of this line flows towards the Atlantic Ocean. Water that falls on the other side flows towards the Gulf of Mexico. For Altamont, water from Crabtree Creek goes to the Savage River and then to the Atlantic. Water from the Little Youghiogheny River goes to the Youghiogheny River and then to the Gulf of Mexico.
This location made Altamont an important spot for transportation. The historic B&O Railroad once crossed this divide here. Today, CSX Transportation trains use the same path, known as the Mountain Subdivision. Altamont is also where two important roads, Maryland Route 135 and Maryland Route 495, meet.
History of Altamont
The name "Altamont" has an interesting origin. It comes from the Spanish language. In Spanish, "Altamont" means "High Mountain." This name perfectly describes the community's location. It sits high up on the Eastern Continental Divide.
