Boring, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Boring, Maryland
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Fire hall in Boring, Maryland
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 Boring, Maryland
Location in Maryland
Boring, Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maryland |
| County | Baltimore |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
21020
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| Area code(s) | 410, 443 and 667 |
Boring is a small, unincorporated community in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is located where Old Hanover and Pleasant Grove Roads meet. This spot is about 8 kilometers (5 miles) north of Reisterstown.
Boring used to be a stop on the Western Maryland Railroad. Today, it has about 40 houses and the Boring Post Office. The post office uses the ZIP Code: 21020. In the past, it also had the Boring Volunteer Fire Company and the Boring Methodist Church.
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The Story Behind the Name
Boring is famous for its unusual name. But don't worry, the name doesn't mean the town is boring! It was actually named after a person. The community's first postmaster was named David Boring.
The town was originally called Fairview. However, the railroad company asked the community to change its name. This was because there was more than one Fairview along the rail line. No one knows exactly when this change happened, but it was likely in the late 1800s.
A Popular Photo Spot
The steps in front of the old country store are a popular place for visitors. This is where the community's post office is now located. People love to take photos there next to a sign that shows the community's unique name. The post office, with its distinctive name, first opened on August 9, 1880.
Changes to the Fire Company
The Boring Volunteer Fire Company was started in 1907. In 2017, it joined with the Arcadia Volunteer Fire Company. Arcadia is in Upperco, just two miles away. Both companies were finding it hard to have enough people working.
Now, they are known as the Upperco Voluntary Fire Company. Members started working out of the Arcadia location. They plan to build a new facility. The old fire hall in Boring is now used for social events.
Fun Events and History
Besides its name, Boring was well known for a special event. This was the annual Boring Gas Engine Show and Flea Market. The Boring Volunteer Fire Department used to hold it every June.
The Gas Engine Show
At the show, you could see old tractors, gas engines, and steam engines. These machines were used by Maryland's farmers in the early 1900s. The show also featured antique tractor pulls. Modern garden tractor pulls were part of the fun too. These pulls had different weight classes, from 1,134 to 4,536 kilograms (2,500 to 10,000 pounds). The fire department even showed off two of its own old vehicles. These included a 1909 horse-drawn wagon and a 1936 Dodge Boyer engine.
