Westernport, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Westernport
Town
Downtown looking east on Church St in January 2014
Flag Seal
Location of Westernport, Maryland
Westernport Location in Maryland Show map of Maryland Westernport Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Allegany
Settled	1758
Incorporated	1859
Area
• Total	0.91 sq mi (2.35 km2)
• Land	0.88 sq mi (2.28 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation	971 ft (296 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,812
• Density	2,061.43/sq mi (796.23/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	21562
Area code(s)	301, 240
FIPS code	24-82750
GNIS feature ID	2391482
Website	https://townofwesternport.com/?fs=e&s=cl

Westernport is a town in Allegany County, Maryland, in the United States. It is located along the Georges Creek Valley. Westernport is part of the larger Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2020, about 1,812 people lived there.

History of Westernport

St. Peter Catholic Church on Church St in January 2014

The first time Westernport appeared on a map was in 1758. It was on a French military map, but it didn't have a name yet. By 1774, people called the area "Hardscrabble." This was because the ground was very rocky, making it hard to plant crops.

Around the 1790s, the name changed to Westernport. This name came from the town being the westernmost place on the Potomac River where boats could travel. In the past, people loaded coal and timber onto flatboats here. These boats floated down the river to near Great Falls, Virginia. The goods were unloaded, and the boats were taken apart to sell the wood. The boat operators then walked all the way back to Westernport. The town officially became a town in 1859.

Later, in 1886 and 1887, the Piedmont and Cumberland Railway was built through Westernport. This train line connected the town to Cumberland.

Famous People from Westernport

• Stephen Wheeler Downey: He was born in Westernport. He is known as the "Father of the University of Wyoming."
• Leo Mazzone: He was a pitching coach for famous baseball teams like the Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves.

Westernport's Geography

Westernport covers a total area of about 2.3 square kilometers (0.89 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Nearby Towns and Cities

Westernport is close to several other communities:

• Barton, Maryland
• Cumberland, Maryland
• Elk Garden, West Virginia
• Keyser, West Virginia
• Kitzmiller, Maryland
• Lonaconing, Maryland
• Luke, Maryland
• Midland, Maryland
• Piedmont, West Virginia

Climate in Westernport

The weather in Westernport is generally mild. This means there aren't huge differences between the highest and lowest temperatures. The area also gets enough rain throughout the year.

Getting Around Westernport

The junction of MD 36 and MD 135 in Westernport

Most people travel to and from Westernport by car. The main roads that serve the town are Maryland Route 36 and Maryland Route 135.

• Maryland Route 36: To the south, this road connects Westernport to West Virginia Route 46. This route is across the North Branch Potomac River in Piedmont. If you head north on MD 36, you will pass Interstate 68 on your way to Frostburg.
• Maryland Route 135: This road goes east to U.S. Route 220, just north of Keyser. If you go west on MD 135, you will eventually reach U.S. Route 219 in Oakland.

Inside Westernport itself, Maryland Route 937 also helps people get around. This road used to be part of MD 36.

Westernport's Population

The population of Westernport has changed over the years. In 2010, there were 1,888 people living in the town. There were 810 households, which are groups of people living together.

Most people living in Westernport are White. About 20% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age in the town was 44 years old.

See also

In Spanish: Westernport (Maryland) para niños