Mercersville, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mercersville, Maryland
Unincorporated community
Mercersville, Maryland Location in Maryland Show map of Maryland Mercersville, Maryland Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Washington
Area
• Total	0.32 sq mi (0.84 km2)
• Land	0.32 sq mi (0.84 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	351 ft (107 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	91
• Density	281.73/sq mi (108.88/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	21782
Area code(s)	301, 240
GNIS feature ID	2583656

Mercersville, also known as Taylor's Landing, is a small community in Washington County, Maryland, USA. It is an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government. Instead, it's part of the larger county. It's also a census-designated place, meaning the U.S. Census Bureau counts its population separately. In 2020, about 91 people lived here. Mercersville is located about 351 feet (107 meters) above sea level.

Exploring Mercersville's Past

Mercersville, often called Taylor's Landing today, has a long history. It is located on one of the first pieces of land officially claimed in what is now Washington County, Maryland.

Early Land Claims and Names

In 1734, a large area of land was surveyed. It was called "Sprigg's Delight." This land stretched from Mercersville to a place called Sharpsburg. The original survey mentioned a "fording place" (a shallow spot in a river where you can cross) used by Charles Anderson.

Later, in 1838, a new road was planned. Documents from that time called the area "Zook's Landing." This name likely came from Henry Zook, who operated a landing spot here. This was before the C&O Canal was fully built. It suggests the area was used by boatmen from an even older company, the Patowmack Company. People still talk about an old iron ring attached to the rocks near the boat ramps at Taylor's Landing. Many believe it's a leftover from those early Patowmack Company days.

The C&O Canal Era

After the C&O Canal was built, Mercersville became an important spot. Boats used it to ship goods in and out. Many boatmen who worked on the canal also lived nearby. The name Mercersville was chosen to honor Charles F. Mercer. He was the first president of the C&O Canal Company.

The more popular name, Taylor's Landing, comes from John William "Jack" Taylor. He ran a store next to the wharf (a place where boats dock) for many years. In the mid-to-late 1800s, many people from nearby Bakersville worked on the canal. There was also a community called Dogtown, closer to Mercersville. Today, only a few houses remain from Dogtown, which was mostly home to canal workers.

Fishing and Recreation

The Potomac River at Taylor's Landing has always been a favorite spot for fishing. You can still see ancient stone structures in the river. Locals call them "fish pots." They show that people have been fishing here for a very long time.

In the mid-1900s, Mercersville became popular for weekend cottages. People would come to relax and enjoy the river. There was even a Rod & Gun Club. In 1972, the National Park Service expanded the C&O Canal park. Many of these small cabins were bought by the park and later removed. However, some of these old weekend cottages still exist today. They give us a peek into a different time in Mercersville's history.

Today, Taylor's Landing (Mercersville) is a quiet rural village. It has mostly family homes. It's best known for its access point to the C&O Canal and the boat ramp for the Potomac River.

Mercersville's Location

Mercersville covers an area of about 0.323 square miles (0.84 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

How Many People Live Here?

In 2020, the population of Mercersville was 91 people. This number comes from the official U.S. Census.

See also

In Spanish: Mercersville (Maryland) para niños