Oldtown, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oldtown, Maryland
Census-designated place
U.S. Post Office, December 2011
Oldtown, Maryland Location in Maryland Show map of Maryland Oldtown, Maryland Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Allegany
Area
• Total	0.37 sq mi (0.96 km2)
• Land	0.37 sq mi (0.96 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	646 ft (197 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	116
• Density	312.67/sq mi (120.76/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	21555
FIPS code	24-58775
GNIS feature ID	2583668

Oldtown is a small community in Allegany County, Maryland, United States. It is located along the North Branch Potomac River. In 2010, about 86 people lived there. By 2020, the population grew to 116.

History of Oldtown

Early Beginnings and Native American Roots

Oldtown started in the 1700s during colonial times. It was first called "Opessa's Town" or "Shawanese Old Town." This was because a Shawnee Native American village, led by Opessa Straight Tail, was once there. The village was left around 1725. Later, people just called it "Oldtown."

The town began as a trading post along an old Native American path called the Nemacolin Trail. Traders, especially fur traders, used this path to travel through the Cumberland Narrows mountain pass. They were heading into the Monongahela River valley.

Thomas Cresap and Early Settlement

In 1741, a man named Thomas Cresap set up a trading post at the old village site. Cresap had moved to this frontier area. He and a Delaware chief named Nemacolin helped create a road going west. This road was important for exploring new lands.

Cresap's son, Michael Cresap, was born in Oldtown. He was the first white male born in Allegany County. This was a significant event for the area.

Connecting Oldtown: Post Office and Bridge

A post office opened in Oldtown on May 26, 1870. This helped the community connect with other places. Oldtown is also linked to Green Spring, West Virginia, by a special one-lane toll bridge. This bridge is a low-water type.

Canals and Railroads: Transportation History

Oldtown was an important spot for transportation. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal reached Cumberland, Maryland, in 1850. It passed right by Oldtown. Canals were like water highways for moving goods.

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) was built near Oldtown even earlier, in 1842. It was on the other side of the Potomac River. The canal stopped working in 1924 because of flood damage. However, the B&O Railroad, now called CSX, is still used today. Amtrak's Capitol Limited train uses it daily.

The Western Maryland Railway also had tracks through Oldtown. It built a train station there in 1906. Passenger trains stopped using this line in 1953. Eventually, the tracks were removed in 1976.

Oldtown's School History

In 1924, a brick school with six classrooms was built on Main Street. The first class graduated from this school in 1925. More sections were added to the school over the years, including a high school part in 1939. A new gym and auditorium were added in 1954-55.

In 1977, parts of the old school were taken down, and a new section was built. The last class graduated from Oldtown High School in 2000, and the school closed. Today, the building is privately owned. A restaurant is now located where the school cafeteria used to be.

Historic Places in Oldtown

Several places in Oldtown are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.

• The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park was listed in 1966.
• The Michael Cresap House was listed in 1972.
• The Shawnee Old Fields Village Site was listed in 1975.

Population Data

See also

In Spanish: Oldtown (Maryland) para niños