Cumberland Valley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cumberland Valley
The Great Appalachian Valley includes the Cumberland Valley (7) depicted southeast of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians and between the Lebanon (6) and Shenandoah (8) valleys.
Location in Pennsylvania
Floor elevation	600 ft (180 m)
Length	73 miles (117 km) northeast-southwest
Width	12 miles (19 km)
Geography
Location	Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Franklin County, Pennsylvania Washington County, Maryland
Population centers	In Pennsylvania: Harrisburg, Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Shippensburg, Chambersburg, Greencastle, Waynesboro In Maryland: Hagerstown
Borders on	Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians (west/north) South Mountain (east/south) Susquehanna River (east) Potomac River (south)

The Cumberland Valley is a long, flat area of land. It is part of the larger Great Appalachian Valley. This valley stretches across parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland. It is located in the eastern United States. The famous Appalachian Trail also passes through this valley.

Exploring the Cumberland Valley's Geography

The Cumberland Valley has clear natural borders.

• To the west and north, you'll find the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians. These include mountains like the Bear Pond Mountains and Blue Mountain.
• To the east and south, it's bordered by South Mountain.
• The Susquehanna River forms its border to the northeast near Harrisburg.
• To the south, the Potomac River marks its edge.

The part of the valley in Maryland is sometimes called the Hagerstown Valley. Many things in the area are named after the valley. These include the Cumberland Valley Railroad, the Cumberland Valley AVA (a wine region), and the Cumberland Valley School District.

Towns and Cities in the Valley

Many towns and cities are located in the Cumberland Valley.

• In Pennsylvania, important cities include Harrisburg.
• Other towns in Pennsylvania are Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, Shippensburg, Chambersburg, Waynesboro, and Greencastle.
• In Maryland, the main city is Hagerstown.