Allegany County is located in the mountainous western region of the
state. The name Allegany was derived from a Native American word,
oolikhanna, meaning “beautiful stream.” Its mountains, forests, and
trails, which occupy a vast majority of the terrain, provide an
abundance of recreational activities.
Over 50% of the county’s land has slopes of greater than 25%. Its
large areas of forestland are currently exempt from the Maryland Forest
Conservation Act. Agricultural land use and development have largely
been limited to 20% of the county’s total land area.
As of 2000 there were 74,930 people and a population density of 176
people per square mile. The population is projected to decrease over
the next several years with a 2015 population of 74,250 people.
1000 Friends of Maryland
released barometers to address the difficult question of whether counties are
on track to clean local waters as local, state, and federal governments
finalize their plans to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake
Bay “pollution diet.” How is Allegany County
doing?
