Smithsburg, Maryland Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Smithsburg, Maryland

Town

Flag

Seal

Location of Smithsburg, Maryland

United States

Established

1812

Incorporated

1841

Area

• Total

1.16 sq mi (3.02 km²)

• Land

1.16 sq mi (3.00 km²)

• Water

0.01 sq mi (0.02 km²)

Elevation

742 ft (226 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

2,977

• Density

2,570.81/sq mi (992.50/km²)

Time zone

UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))

• Summer (DST)

UTC-4 (EDT)

ZIP code

21783

Area code(s)

301, 240

FIPS code

24-72900

GNIS feature ID

2391415

Smithsburg is a town located in Washington County, Maryland, in the United States. About 3,000 people live there, based on the 2020 census. It's also near the former Fort Ritchie army base and just west of Camp David, a special retreat for the U.S. President.

History of Smithsburg
Geography of Smithsburg
- Climate in Smithsburg
Transportation in Smithsburg
Population and People
- Smithsburg's Population in 2010
Education in Smithsburg
Events and Festivals
Images for kids
See also

History of Smithsburg

How Smithsburg Started

Smithsburg was started in 1812 by a man named Christopher Smith. He bought some land, and soon the town grew. Things like new roads, the arrival of trains, and better farming tools helped it develop. By 1923, many of the buildings you see today were already there. Smithsburg officially became a town in 1846.

Smithsburg During the Civil War

During the American Civil War in 1862, Smithsburg became a hospital town. It helped treat soldiers who were hurt in nearby battles like South Mountain and Antietam.

On July 5, 1863, there was a small fight in Smithsburg. Confederate General James Stuart and Union General Kilpatrick exchanged cannon fire. You can still find a cannonball from this fight stuck in a building wall on Water Street! The next day, Kilpatrick's troops moved on towards Boonsboro, Maryland.

Later, on the afternoon of July 5, 1863, during the Gettysburg Campaign, Union cavalry defended Smithsburg. They protected the town from an attack by General J.E.B. Stuart and his Confederate cavalry as they were retreating from the Battle of Gettysburg.

Presidential Visits and a Famous Roadside Stop

President Lyndon Johnson, his wife Lady Bird Johnson, and their daughter Lynda Bird Johnson visited St. Ann's Episcopal Church in Smithsburg on Easter Sunday, March 26, 1967. President Johnson visited Smithsburg many times because it's so close to Camp David.

In 1963, President and First Lady Johnson were driving from Camp David to a church in Hagerstown, Maryland. Along their way, they passed a junkyard called "Elwoods Auto Exchange." Lady Bird Johnson thought it made the beautiful countryside look bad. She asked the driver to stop the car. She then walked up to the junkyard office and told the owner, Elwoods Grimm, how she felt about the messy yard.

Two years after this, the Highway Beautification Act was passed by the U.S. Congress. This law aimed to make highways look nicer. The Auto Exchange is still there today, but now a line of pine trees hides it from the main road. While there's no official record of Lady Bird's exact words, documents at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum show she was concerned about the junkyard's appearance.

Geography of Smithsburg

Smithsburg covers about 1.06 square miles (2.75 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small amount of water. The only body of water within the town limits is the Smithsburg reservoir, which is no longer active.

The town is known for its rolling hills and open spaces. It has a strong farming community, with many apple orchards and dairy farms.

Climate in Smithsburg

Smithsburg is located between the Appalachian Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This means it has a mild to moderate climate. Summers are warm and humid, while winters usually have temperatures around freezing.

Transportation in Smithsburg

MD 66 entering central Smithsburg

The main way to travel to and from Smithsburg is by road. Maryland Route 66 is the only highway that goes directly through the town. It follows the path of the old Maryland Route 64 through the center of Smithsburg.

MD 66 connects with MD 64 just outside the town on both the north and south sides. Maryland Route 77 ends at MD 64 just southeast of town. You can reach Interstate 70 using MD 66. To get to Hagerstown, you can take MD 64, and to get to Thurmont, you can take MD 77.

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	366	—
1860	475	29.8%
1870	459	−3.4%
1880	433	−5.7%
1890	487	12.5%
1900	462	−5.1%
1910	481	4.1%
1920	586	21.8%
1930	598	2.0%
1940	619	3.5%
1950	641	3.6%
1960	586	−8.6%
1970	671	14.5%
1980	833	24.1%
1990	1,221	46.6%
2000	2,146	75.8%
2010	2,975	38.6%
2020	2,977	0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

Smithsburg's Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 2,975 people living in Smithsburg. These people lived in 1,012 homes, and 791 of those were families. The town had about 2,833 people per square mile.

Most of the people in Smithsburg were White (91.7%). There were also African American (4.2%), Native American (0.2%), and Asian (1.0%) residents. About 4.0% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

In 49.8% of the homes, there were children under 18 living there. About 59.8% of homes had married couples. The average household had 2.94 people, and the average family had 3.35 people.

The average age of people in Smithsburg was 32.9 years old. About 32.6% of residents were under 18, and 7.5% were 65 or older. There were slightly more females (52.1%) than males (47.9%) in the town.

Education in Smithsburg

Smithsburg has four schools for students:

Smithsburg High School
Smithsburg Middle School
Smithsburg Elementary School
Old Forge Elementary

Smithsburg High School is one of seven high schools in Washington County. It currently has 902 students. The school building, which is 116,260 square feet (10,801 square meters), was built in 1965.