Hagerstown, MD

Hagerstown is Maryland's sixth largest city with an area of almost 11 square miles. The city is next to the Potomac River near the edge of the Appalachian Mountains, in the region known as the Cumberland Valley. Because of the high number of railroads and roads that access the city, Hagerstown is one of the fastest growing commercial cities in Washington County.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

There is much to see related to the Civil War a short distance from Hagerstown, including:

• Gettysburg Battlefield
• South Mountain State Battlefield
• Antietam National Battlefield
• Harpers Ferry Battlefield

Mountain biking, fishing and canoeing are also popular in the area. The Appalachian Trail and the & Canal Towpath are close to town. Within the city, there are several parks, including Hagerstown City Park. Fairgrounds Park features recreational facilities such as the Hagerstown Ice & Sports Complex. Other parks include:

• Oak Hill Historic District
• Funkhouser Park
• Doubs Woods Park
• Wheaton Park
• Potterfield Park

The Claude M. Potterfield Swimming Pool in Staley Park is an Olympic-sized pool with a waterslide, diving boards, and a wading pool.

Hagerstown has a thriving art and entertainment district and a busy theater community. Offerings include:

• The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts: Located in the middle of Hagerstown City Park, this museum was opened in 1929.
• Hager House and Museum: Also located in City Park, the Hager House is the original home of German immigrant Jonathan Hager, founder of Hagerstown.
• Western Maryland 202 Locomotive Display and Museum: A disabled steam locomotive in City Park pays tribute to the town's reputation as an industrial hub city.
• Mansion House Art Gallery: Located in a brick mansion perched on a hill overlooking City Park, this gallery features art from local artists.
• Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum: Featuring historical railroad equipment and artifacts.
• Discovery Station: Offering hands-on demonstrations and exhibits in science and technology related areas.
• Maryland Theatre: Built in 1915 by renowned architect Thomas W. Lamb, this restored 1,300 seat theater offers musical and drama performances throughout the year.
• Hagerstown Aviation Museum: Features exhibits covering Hagerstown's traditional aviation economy and several historic aircraft.
• Maryland Symphony Orchestra: Offering performances year-round at the Maryland Theatre.
• Washington County Playhouse: Offering a variety of performances, including Broadway and dinner theater, at the center of Downtown Hagerstown.

There are numerous annual events to attend, particularly in the downtown area. Over one-fifth of Hagerstown's residents boast a German heritage, and the annual Augustoberfest pays tribute to that. It kicks off with a 10K walk/run, followed by a wealth of Bavarian food, music, and dance under a tent in the downtown area's Central Parking Lot. Proceeds raised at Augustoberfest go towards a scholarship fund for exchange students to Hagerstown's Sister City of Wesel, Germany.

Downtown Live! features live music and entertainment several times during the year. Since 1996, thousands have been coming to Hagerstown every year in the spring for the Western Maryland Blues Fest, which includes performances from national blues artists.

Other regular events include:

• Alsatia Mummers' Halloween Parade
• Hagerstown Hispanic Festival

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Earlier, Hagerstown's economy was dependent on railroad transportation and manufacturing companies. Other industries that have growth potential in the city are retail and tourism. The city has an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent. The average salary for jobs in Hagerstown is $26,874 and the median income of households is $30,796.

Major companies that have headquarters and divisions in Hagerstown are Bowman Development, Brethren Mutual Insurance, Citigroup, High Rock Interactive, Horizon Goodwill Industries, Jamison Door, Macro Retail, Maryland Paper, NetConn Solutions, Phoenix Color, Review & Herald Publishing, Susquehanna Bank and Volvo Powertrain.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Downtown Hagerstown centers around the Public Square with a large 1908 clock. The square is the scene for annual events and festivals, such as Augustoberfest. The Roundhouse Museum, The Maryland Theatre and the main branch of the Washington County Library are some of the cultural institutions downtown. Other neighborhoods in Hagerstown include Historic Heights, an area of old homes around Prospect Street and Summit Avenue and Greenwich Park, a planned community off I-70. Hagerstown has about 17,000 houses, of which only about 40% are owner-occupied.

SPORTS TEAMS

The Hagerstown Suns are a local baseball team with the South Atlantic League. They play at the Municipal Stadium, which seats over 6,000. The well-known Hagerstown Speedway, west of town on 40, is a popular dirt-track racing site.

Golf fans can visit the Hagerstown Greens at Hamilton Run. Known for its mountain view, the course was built in 1932 as a way of providing locals with an alternative to a more expensive private club in the area. The city took over operation of the 2,550-yard course in 1947.

EDUCATION

Higher learning institutions in Hagerstown include:

• Antietam Bible College, Biblical Seminary, and Graduate School
• Hagerstown Community College
• Kaplan College, formerly known as Hagerstown Business College
• Mount Saint Mary's University, Hagerstown Campus
• University System of Maryland at Hagerstown
• Vinayaka Missions America University

LOCAL MEDIA

The Hagerstown Herald Mail is the city's primary daily newspaper, with a circulation of nearly 33,000 copies.

Television stations in Hagerstown include:

• WHAG-TV 25 an NBC affiliate
• WWPB-TV 33 a satellite of Baltimore Public Television
• WJAL-TV 68 a public access television station

Radio stations in Hagerstown include:

• WETH 89.1 FM (Classical)
• WAYZ 104.7 FM (Country)
• WARX 106.9 FM (Oldies)
• WJEJ 1240 AM (Easy Listening)
• WARK 1490 AM (Talk Radio)