Keedysville, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Keedysville, Maryland
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_between_Park_Lane_and_Antietam_Drive_in_Keedysville,_Washington_County,_Maryland.jpg)
Main Street in Keedysville
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Location of Keedysville, Maryland
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Maryland | ||
| County | Washington | ||
| Incorporated | 1872 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 0.91 sq mi (2.35 km2) | ||
| • Land | 0.91 sq mi (2.35 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 371 ft (113 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,213 | ||
| • Density | 1,337.38/sq mi (516.60/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
21756
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| Area code(s) | 301, 240 | ||
| FIPS code | 24-43100 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2391249 | ||
| Website | http://www.keedysvillemd.com/ | ||
Keedysville is a small town in Washington County, Maryland, United States. In 2020, about 1,213 people lived there. It's a quiet place with a rich history.
Contents
History of Keedysville
Early Settlement and Growth
The first known house in the Keedysville area was built in 1738. This was part of a land area called "Gordon's Purchase." The main road at that time was the Conococheague Road. It connected to the Great Wagon Road and passed right through where Keedysville is now.
As more people moved to the area, a grist mill was built around 1765. This mill helped farmers grind their grain. Many of these early farmers were German and Swiss immigrants from Pennsylvania. Jacob Hess bought the mill in 1770. He owned the mill and much of the land that would become the town until he died in 1815. Because of him, the growing community was known as "Hess's Mill."
Becoming a Town
Around 1820, a new road was built. This road connected Sharpsburg to Boonsboro and became Keedysville's main street. The town was located exactly halfway between these two places. So, it was called Centerville.
However, there was already another Centerville, Maryland in the state. To avoid confusion, the town's name officially changed to Keedysville when its first post office opened. This happened because of the Keedy family, who were important in the area.
In the mid-1860s, the B&O Railroad started building a train line. By the early 1870s, a branch line ran through Keedysville. The town had a busy train depot, which brought new business and helped the town grow after the American Civil War.
Modern Keedysville
Keedysville officially became a town in 1872. For the first half of the 1900s, it had many local businesses. But as cars became common, people could travel to larger stores and factories. This caused the town's local businesses to slow down.
For most of the 20th century, Keedysville stayed pretty much the same size. Its population was around 400 people for many years. However, around the year 2000, the town started to grow much faster. Its population more than doubled in just ten years!
Many historic places in Keedysville are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Bridge, Antietam Creek, Baker Farm, and Keedysville Historic District.
Geography
Land and Caves
Keedysville covers about 0.92 square miles (2.35 square kilometers) of land. It sits on a type of rock called Tomstown Dolomite. This rock is known for forming many caves in Washington County, especially around Keedysville.
In the past, there were eight different caves in the area. Some were found when people were digging for highway construction. The most famous cave is Crystal Grottoes. It was discovered in 1920 and is the only cave in Maryland that you can visit on a tour.
The many caves here might be because groundwater drains easily through the rock. The water in the ground flows into the Little Antietam Creek and its smaller streams. Many caves can be found in the cliffs and hills east of town.
Climate
Keedysville has a climate with hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters. This is known as a humid subtropical climate.
Getting Around
_at_Maryland_State_Route_845_(Keedy_Drive)_in_Keedysville,_Washington_County,_Maryland.jpg)
The main way to travel to and from Keedysville is by road. Maryland Route 34 is the most important highway. It goes east to Boonsboro and west to Sharpsburg. Another state highway, Maryland Route 845, also goes through the town. It follows the old path of MD 34 along Main Street.
People of Keedysville
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 389 | — | |
| 1890 | 420 | 8.0% | |
| 1900 | 426 | 1.4% | |
| 1910 | 367 | −13.8% | |
| 1920 | 394 | 7.4% | |
| 1930 | 393 | −0.3% | |
| 1940 | 404 | 2.8% | |
| 1950 | 417 | 3.2% | |
| 1960 | 433 | 3.8% | |
| 1970 | 431 | −0.5% | |
| 1980 | 476 | 10.4% | |
| 1990 | 464 | −2.5% | |
| 2000 | 482 | 3.9% | |
| 2010 | 1,152 | 139.0% | |
| 2020 | 1,213 | 5.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Changes
The population of Keedysville has changed over the years. For a long time, it stayed around 400 people. But between 2000 and 2010, the population grew a lot, from 482 to 1,152 people. By 2020, it had grown even more, to 1,213 residents.
Who Lives Here?
In 2010, there were 1,152 people living in Keedysville. Most people (about 94.5%) were White. About 3.5% were African American, and other groups made up smaller percentages. About 2.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
There were 391 households in the town. Many households (41.9%) had children under 18 living with them. Most families (71.4%) were married couples. The average household had about 2.95 people. The average age of people in Keedysville was 37.2 years old.
Famous Faces
The famous novelist Nora Roberts lived in Keedysville in 1979. This is when she started her writing career.
See also
In Spanish: Keedysville para niños
