Manchester, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manchester, Maryland
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Town
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Looking north in downtown Manchester, Maryland
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Location of Manchester, Maryland
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Maryland | ||
| County | Carroll | ||
| Incorporated | 1833 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 2.33 sq mi (6.04 km2) | ||
| • Land | 2.33 sq mi (6.02 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 991 ft (302 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,408 | ||
| • Density | 2,325.02/sq mi (897.82/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP codes |
21088, 21102
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| Area code(s) | 410, 443, 667 | ||
| FIPS code | 24-49950 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0590726 | ||
Manchester is a small town in northeastern Carroll County, Maryland, United States. It is located just south of the Pennsylvania state line and north of Baltimore. In 2020, about 5,408 people lived there.
Manchester became an official town in 1833. It is the second oldest town in Carroll County, after Westminster. The town was first part of Baltimore County. Then, in 1837, Carroll County was created. Manchester is run by an elected mayor and a council of five people.
Manchester has a climate with cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers. This weather is great for growing crops like tomatoes and sweet corn. Many farms are found in the areas around Manchester. Most people who live in Manchester travel to work in bigger cities like Baltimore and Washington, D.C..
Contents
History of Manchester
The town of Manchester officially became a town in 1833. It was first called "Manchester Germantown." However, the name Germantown actually referred to a nearby community. This community later joined with Manchester. The town was originally part of Baltimore County. It stayed that way until Carroll County was formed in 1837.
Early Settlers and Trails
Before Europeans arrived, the Susquehannock people lived in the area where Manchester is now. The center of town has an intersection of two important Native American trails. One trail connected the Potomac and Susquehanna rivers. The other went from the Conewago River to the Patapsco River. This second trail became the first public road in Carroll County in 1737.
The first land grant in the area was called "Steven's Hope." It was given to Samuel Stevens in 1758. The first European settlers were English. Later, many German people moved to the area. In 1765, Captain Richard Richards was given land called "New Market." He then planned the town of Manchester. He named it after his hometown in England.
German Heritage and Nicknames
From the 1700s to the early 1900s, many residents spoke German or Pennsylvania Dutch. German residents used to make noodles and hang them outside to dry. This gave the town the nickname "Noodle Doosey." Later, Manchester was called "Gingercake Town" because of the German custom of making ginger cakes. Manchester also made many cigars after the American Civil War. This continued until about 1930, when machines made cigars faster and cheaper.
Education and the Civil War
Manchester was home to one of Carroll County's first colleges. Irving College opened in 1858. It was named after the poet Washington Irving. The school faced challenges during the American Civil War. It closed in 1893.
During the Civil War, Manchester was a camping spot for the Union Sixth Army Corps. This was on July 1, 1863. The next day, the army marched to the Battle of Gettysburg.
Manchester has had three newspapers over the years. The first was the Manchester Gazette, which started in 1870.
Town Symbols and Growth
The official seal of Manchester shows a church steeple and a large, leafless tree. The tree represents a White Oak. This tree, known as the "Lutheran White Oak," is thought to be over 320 years old. In 1758, King George III allowed German colonists to build a church near this tree. The town's newsletter is named Oaknotes in honor of this famous tree.
Manchester is a typical "Main Street" town. It continues to grow as more people move there. The town has its own post office. Most residents, about 95%, travel outside of town for work. There are no very large employers in Manchester. However, there are many small businesses. Manchester mainly has homes, but also restaurants, a bank, and small shops. Many businesses are on or near Main Street, which is part of Maryland Route 30.
Geography and Climate
Town Location and Landscape
Manchester is located at 39°39′42″N 76°53′17″W / 39.66167°N 76.88806°W. The town covers about 2.35 square miles (6.09 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.
Manchester is on the Piedmont Plateau. This area is west of the lowlands near the Chesapeake Bay. It has rolling hills. The area around Manchester is the highest point in Maryland east of the Appalachian Mountains.
Weather Patterns
Manchester is in a climate zone that mixes humid subtropical and humid continental weather. It gets more snow and colder temperatures than southern Maryland.
- Summer: July is the hottest month. Temperatures average around 87 °F (31 °C) for highs and 63 °F (17 °C) for lows.
- Winter: January is the coldest month. Temperatures average around 38 °F (3 °C) for highs and 21 °F (-6 °C) for lows.
- Rainfall: Manchester receives about 43.67 inches (110.9 cm) of rain each year.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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| Avg high °F (°C) | 38 (3) | 43 (6) | 53 (12) | 65 (18) | 75 (24) | 83 (28) | 87 (31) | 85 (29) | 78 (26) | 67 (19) | 54 (12) | 43 (6) |
| Avg low temperature °F (°C) | 21 (−6) | 22 (−6) | 30 (−1) | 39 (4) | 49 (9) | 58 (14) | 63 (17) | 61 (16) | 55 (13) | 42 (6) | 34 (1) | 26 (−3) |
| Precip in In.(mm.) | 3.64 (92) | 2.90 (73) | 3.77 (95) | 3.45 (87) | 4.28 (108) | 3.62 (92) | 3.57 (90) | 3.71 (94) | 4.14 (105) | 3.44 (87) | 3.61 (91) | 3.54 (89) |
Town Events
Every summer, Manchester hosts the Manchester Volunteer Fire Department Carnival. This carnival lasts several nights. It usually happens around Independence Day. A fireworks show celebrates the holiday.
Once a year, a young woman from the Manchester community is chosen as "Miss Manchester Fire Queen."
Parks and Recreation
Manchester has three main parks. They cover a total of 82 acres (33 hectares) of land. Manchester has more park area than any other town in Carroll County.
- Christmas Tree Park: This park is in northeastern Manchester. It has the largest developed park land in the area. You can find several baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and playgrounds here. There are also picnic and grilling areas. The park has three small to large ponds and many pine trees that look like Christmas trees.
- Pine Valley Park: Located in the northern part of town, this park has over 60 acres (24 hectares) of land. It features more than 4.5 miles (7.2 km) of trails, a natural spring, a pond, and forests. It opened in 1995. It was created as an "open classroom" for Manchester Elementary School. Students named it "Charlotte's Quest" to honor Charlotte B. Collett, a Town Councilwoman who helped with the project.
Education in Manchester
Manchester has three public schools. Two are elementary schools, and one is a high school.
- Manchester Elementary School: This school was built in 1932 as Manchester High School. Today, it serves about 604 students from pre-kindergarten to 5th grade.
- Ebb Valley Elementary School: Opened in 2008, this two-story school has about 467 students. It teaches students from kindergarten through 5th grade.
- Manchester Valley High School: This high school opened in 2009. It helped reduce crowding at North Carroll High School. It teaches grades 9 through 12. In 2016, Manchester Valley and North Carroll high schools joined together.
Transportation and Utilities
Getting Around Town
_just_north_of_Maryland_State_Route_86_(Lineboro_Road)_in_Manchester,_Carroll_County,_Maryland.jpg)
Manchester has three state highways:
Maryland Route 30
Maryland Route 27
Maryland Route 86
Traffic can be heavy in the mornings as people drive south to Baltimore. In the evenings, traffic is heavy as commuters head north to Pennsylvania or southwest to Westminster. There are plans to build a bypass for Route 30 to help with traffic.
Town Services
Telephone service came to Manchester in 1921. Today, Verizon provides landline phone service. Electricity was first brought to town in 1922. Now, residents can choose from different electricity suppliers. Comcast provides cable television. The town's Public Works Department provides water to residents.
Images for kids
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The "Lutheran White Oak" is a symbol of Manchester.
See also
In Spanish: Manchester (Maryland) para niños
