Van Lear, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Van Lear, Maryland
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| Community of Van Lear | |
| Nickname(s):
The Manor, VL
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![Location in Maryland (Halfway location [Van Lear is next to Halfway])](/Image:MDMap-doton-Halfway.PNG)
Location in Maryland (Halfway location [Van Lear is next to Halfway])
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maryland |
| County |  Washington |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8 km2 (3 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 164 m (538 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 3,000 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Elevation is of nearby Hagerstown. | |
Van Lear is a small place in Washington County, Maryland, United States. It's not an official city or town with its own government, so it's called an unincorporated community. Van Lear is part of the larger Hagerstown-Martinsburg area. You can find it located between the towns of Halfway and Williamsport.
Contents
History of Van Lear
How Van Lear Started
The community of Van Lear began in the late 1960s. A real estate agent from Hagerstown named Lee Downey owned a lot of farmland here. He started selling parts of his land to people who wanted to build homes.
Growth in the 1980s
By the 1980s, the Hagerstown area started to grow quickly. Because of this growth, Lee Downey created the first two neighborhoods in Van Lear. These were called Van Lear Manor and Tammany Manor. They were some of the first suburban neighborhoods in the area.
Van Lear Today
What Van Lear Looks Like Now
Today, Van Lear is a mix of different types of homes and people. You can see both new and old houses, and modern and historic buildings, all next to each other. In the newer parts of Van Lear, you will often find larger, more modern homes.
Neighborhoods in Van Lear
Exploring Van Lear's Communities
Van Lear is made up of several distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character.
- Van Lear Manor: This was the first and is still the largest neighborhood built in Van Lear.
- Tammany: This is another one of the older neighborhoods in the community.
- Homewood: This area is a special housing complex designed for senior citizens.
- New Van Lear: This is a newer and fairly large neighborhood. It is filled with many modern homes.
- Sterling Oaks: This is a new housing development. It offers homes for people with middle to lower incomes.
- Bratton Hill: This is a small, new neighborhood. It also features newer homes.
- New Tammany: This is a newer neighborhood that is home to many middle-class families.
