Sharpsburg, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sharpsburg, Maryland
Town
A street clock in downtown Sharpsburg, October 2007
Seal
Location of Sharpsburg, Maryland
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Washington
Settled	1740
Founded	1763
Incorporated	1832
Area
• Total	0.22 sq mi (0.56 km2)
• Land	0.22 sq mi (0.56 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	427 ft (130 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	560
• Density	2,592.59/sq mi (1,001.67/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	21782
Area code(s)	301, 240
FIPS code	24-71600
GNIS feature ID	2391408

Sharpsburg is a small town in Washington County, Maryland. It is about 13 miles (21 km) south of Hagerstown. In 2020, 560 people lived there.

Sharpsburg is famous for a major event during the American Civil War. The Battle of Antietam happened nearby. Southerners called it the Battle of Sharpsburg. This important battle took place on what is now the Antietam National Battlefield.

History of Sharpsburg

A visitor's sign at the Antietam National Battlefield near Sharpsburg, in June 2005

The first European-American to own land here was Edmund Cartledge. He was a trader with Native Americans. In 1737, Cartledge surveyed his land called "Hickory Tavern." The important Great Wagon Road already passed through this area. This road later became Sharpsburg's main street.

The Hickory Tavern was located between the wagon road and Garrison Spring. This spring is known today as Big Spring. Thousands of settlers used this road. They traveled from Pennsylvania all the way south to the Carolinas.

Early Settlers and Founding

On May 1, 1755, a famous group used this road. Major General Edward Braddock and colonial governor Horatio Sharpe traveled on it. A young George Washington was also with them. They were on their way to Winchester, Virginia.

After the French and Indian War ended in 1763, Joseph Chapline founded the town. He named it after his friend, Horatio Sharpe. Sharpe was the governor of Maryland at the time.

Most of the first settlers were from Germany or Switzerland. They came to the area from Pennsylvania. They helped change farming in the area. Farmers started growing more wheat instead of just tobacco.

Growth and the Civil War

Sharpsburg is located east of the Potomac River. This location helped it attract businesses in the early 1800s. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal reached Sharpsburg in 1836. This made trade much easier. The town officially became a town in 1832.

Sharpsburg became very well known during the American Civil War. In the summer of 1862, Confederate General Robert E. Lee led his army into Maryland. Union General George B. McClellan met Lee's army near Sharpsburg.

The two armies fought on September 17, 1862. This was the Battle of Antietam. It was one of the deadliest single days in American history. Nearly 23,000 soldiers were hurt or died. A few days before, smaller battles happened at South Mountain. Lee's forces tried to stop the Union army there.

Turning Point of the War

The Battle of Antietam was a turning point in the war. The Confederates did not win a clear victory. This meant they could not get help from European countries. Lee's army had to retreat.

This battle gave Abraham Lincoln a chance to act. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This document declared that all enslaved people in Confederate areas were free. This made it even harder for the South to get support from Europe.

Sharpsburg has a long tradition of honoring soldiers. They claim to have one of the first Memorial Day celebrations in the U.S. In 2014, they had their 147th celebration.

Many historic places in Sharpsburg are protected. The town center is part of the Sharpsburg Historic District. Other important sites include the Antietam National Battlefield. This battlefield is a big reason why people visit Sharpsburg today.

Geography and Climate

Sharpsburg is a small town. The United States Census Bureau says it covers about 0.23 square miles (0.60 km²). All of this area is land.

Weather in Sharpsburg

Sharpsburg has a varied climate. Summers are warm and humid. Winters are generally cold. The town gets a good amount of rain throughout the year. Snowfall is common in winter months.

Getting Around Sharpsburg

MD 34 eastbound along Main Street in Sharpsburg

Most people travel to and from Sharpsburg by car. Two main roads serve the town. Maryland Route 34 runs along Main Street. Maryland Route 65 ends where Main Street and Church Street meet.

MD 34 goes east to Boonsboro. Westward, it crosses the Potomac River into Shepherdstown, West Virginia. There, it becomes West Virginia Route 480. MD 65 goes north to Interstate 70. It then continues to Hagerstown.

People of Sharpsburg

In 2010, 705 people lived in Sharpsburg. There were 285 households. Most residents were White (95.7%). About 3.7% of the population identified with two or more races. A small number (2.1%) were of Hispanic or Latino background.

The average age in Sharpsburg was 42.8 years old. About 20.3% of the people were under 18. About 12.8% were 65 years old or older. The town had a nearly even split of males and females.

Famous People from Sharpsburg

• Howell G. Crim was a civil servant. He worked as the White House Chief Usher from 1938 to 1957.

Images for kids

• 

  A street clock in downtown Sharpsburg, October 2007

• 

  Location of Sharpsburg, Maryland

• 

  Seal of Sharpsburg, Maryland

See also

In Spanish: Sharpsburg (Maryland) para niños