Oakland, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oakland, Maryland
Town
Second Street in Oakland, part of the Oakland Historic District
Flag Seal
Location of Oakland, Maryland
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Garrett
Incorporated	1862
Government
• Type	Mayor-council government
Area
• Total	2.72 sq mi (7.05 km2)
• Land	2.71 sq mi (7.02 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2)
Elevation	2,451 ft (747 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,851
• Density	682.52/sq mi (263.53/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	21550
Area code(s)	301, 240
FIPS code	24-57650
GNIS feature ID	2391338

Oakland is a small town in Garrett County, Maryland, in the United States. It is the main town, also known as the county seat, for Garrett County. In 2020, about 1,851 people lived here.

Oakland is located just a few miles from where the Potomac River begins its journey to the Chesapeake Bay. It is also close to the Wisp Resort and Deep Creek Lake, which are popular places for outdoor activities.

History of Oakland

Oakland officially became a town in 1862. It has a rich history, especially with railroads.

Historic Railroad Station

Oakland in 1910, with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad passing through town

The town is home to the historic B&O Oakland Station. This station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It was later fixed up in the 2000s. Today, the station is used for special events and meetings. You can also find a gift shop inside. Even though trains still run on the tracks behind it, the station is mostly a community hub. The area in front of the station often hosts fun seasonal events, like lighting the town Christmas tree.

Main Street and Old Buildings

Oakland's Main Street features many historic buildings, some two to four stories tall. These buildings house different shops and businesses. You can find a theatre, a museum, a book store, a pharmacy, antique shops, clothing stores, and banks. Many of these buildings are built in the beautiful Victorian architecture style. A large part of downtown Oakland is recognized as the Oakland Historic District. Other important historic sites include the Garrett County Courthouse and the Hoye Site.

The Oakland Hotel

Oakland Hotel, around 1909

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a large hotel called the Oakland Hotel stood near the downtown station. The B&O Railroad built it in 1878. It was a big attraction for tourists. However, it was taken down in the early 1900s.

Famous Churches

One of Oakland's most important churches is St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. Several U.S. Presidents have attended services there, including Ulysses S. Grant, James Garfield, Grover Cleveland, and Benjamin Harrison. Because of this, it is known as the "Church of Presidents." Another historic church is St. Peter the Apostle Church, a Catholic church. A large, grand neoclassical courthouse also stands proudly in the town center.

Geography and Climate

Oakland is located in the southern part of Garrett County, Maryland. It sits in a small valley. The town covers about 2.72 square miles (7.05 square kilometers) of land. Only a tiny bit of this area is water. Oakland is also very close to Deep Creek Lake, about 6.61 miles away.

Oakland's Weather

Oakland is known for being one of the coldest and snowiest places in Maryland. This is because it is located high up in the mountains and in a valley. It has a climate with warm summers and cold, snowy winters.

The coldest temperature ever recorded in Maryland was in Oakland. It was -40°F (-40°C) on January 13, 1912! In January, the average temperature is around 25.1°F (-3.8°C). In July, it's warmer, averaging about 68.4°F (20.2°C). On average, temperatures stay below freezing for about 34 afternoons each year. They drop to 0°F (-18°C) or lower about 5.8 mornings. The first freezing temperatures usually arrive around September 28, and the last are around May 15.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Oakland was 101°F (38°C) on August 7, 1918. However, temperatures usually don't get that high. From 1981 to 2010, temperatures only reached 90°F (32°C) or higher in thirteen years.

Oakland is the snowiest place in Maryland. It gets an average of about 106.1 inches (2.69 meters) of snow each year. The most snow in one day was 40.0 inches (1.02 meters) on February 16, 1908. The first snowfall usually happens around November 13, and the last around April 7.

Things to See and Do

Oakland has several interesting places to visit.

Post Office Mural

Post office in Oakland

The Oakland post office has a special mural from the Great Depression era. It's called Buckwheat Harvest and was painted by an American artist named Robert Franklin Gates. This mural was part of a government program during President Franklin Roosevelt's time to help artists. It likely shows the importance of buckwheat farming in Garrett County.

Museums in Oakland

You can also visit the Oakland B&O Museum to learn about the railroad's history. The Garrett County Museum of Transportation is another great place to explore how people and goods have moved around the area over time.

Getting Around Oakland

Oakland station, formerly along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad

Several main roads help people travel through Oakland. U.S. Route 219 is the most important. It goes through the town as Garrett Highway, Oak Street, and Third Street. This route connects Oakland to other towns and even to Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Other state roads like Maryland Route 39 and Maryland Route 135 also serve the town.

Famous People from Oakland

• Maurice Brookhart: A chemist and professor at the University of Houston.
• Darvin Moon: Known for being the runner-up in the 2009 World Series of Poker.

Images for kids

• 

  Oakland in 1910, with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad passing through town

• 

  Oakland Hotel, circa 1909

• 

  Post office in Oakland

• 

  Oakland station, formerly along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad

See also

In Spanish: Oakland (Maryland) para niños