Living in Cumberland MD: Your EZ Search Guide

Blend History, Community, and Scenery in Eastern Appalachia

Roots run deep in the hills surrounding Cumberland, Maryland, a scenic, artistic town in the panhandle. Like many Appalachian towns, its community is a testament to American tenacity and small-town living. The beauty will strike you first as you wind through Western Maryland mountain passes into town. Second will be a community whose wealth lies in its low-cost quality of life, outdoor access, and richness of classic American values. Get to know what makes Cumberland, MD, a special place to live through our profile.

A Journey Through Time and Nature

Founded during the colonial era, Fort Cumberland was a stronghold for the British and an outpost for Colonel George Washington during the French and Indian War. As the United States grew, Cumberland became a pivotal stop in its westward expansion. A wealth of Appalachian resources flowed through on their way east, helping fuel the Industrial Revolution. 

It blossomed as a transportation nexus, growing into the second-largest city in Maryland. The coal, iron, and ore from the Appalachian hills passed through to the coast along the C&O Canal and the B&O railroads, which had their terminus in Cumberland. It brought wealth into the town, hints of which are still present in the brick-paved downtown, 19th-century historic buildings, and the elaborately detailed mansions. Later, the inception of the National Road (Route 40), America’s first highway, brought the era of railroads and canals to an end. 

In the 1900s, manufacturing rose to prominence as coal veins dwindled. Cumberland’s factories produced tires, textiles, paper, and glass. Big brewing companies came and went, as did the manufacturing era. The last of the prominent manufacturers closed in 2020. 

But Cumberland isn’t giving up, and its resilient residents now lean on the town’s assets: a key location at the Potomac and Wills Rivers, the Appalachian hills, and access to nature preserves.  

Finding Cumberland, MD

Maryland’s odd-shaped borders make it an unusual state. Flat coastal plains and thousands of miles of shoreline give way to forested mountains cut with deep gorges. Cumberland lies in the forested hill country midway on the panhandle in Allegany County, part of the state’s narrowest slice. The town faces West Virginia across the Potomac River’s north branch, while the Pennsylvania border is eight miles north.  

The town grew at the confluence of the Wills and Potomac Rivers. Its quaint buildings rise into the hills of this region’s landscape. But Cumberland is not an isolated mountain town. I-68 runs east-west, connecting the town to Hagerstown and Morgantown.

Cumberland Key Attractions

• George Washington’s Headquarters: This is a historic log cabin in Riverside Park, where the first president resided as a Colonel during the French and Indian Wars. It’s the only surviving building from the original Fort Cumberland.
• Gordon-Roberts House: Step back over a century in a majestic Victorian home preserved in all its grandeur, down to period art and toys.
• Western Maryland Station Center: This 100-year-old architectural standout combines trains, art, and history. Take a ride on the scenic train any time of year with themed rides or scenic tours.
• The C&O Canal: Once the key to Cumberland’s economy, the canal has been adapted as an adventure trail straight to the capital. It’s an attraction popular for hiking or biking. The Cumberland Visitor Center at mile 184.5 includes interactive displays about the canal’s history.
• Cumberland Theatre: A stage for rising stars, the area’s only professional regional theater exemplifies Cumberland’s cultural spirit.

Outdoor Recreation Galore

Over half a million people come to Cumberland each year, and many of them come for the hiking, biking, river rafting, and skiing available in the Appalachians. 

Beautiful Rocky Gap State Park awaits five miles northeast of Cumberland. On the 3,000 acres, visitors have Lake Habeeb for boating and swimming, hiking and biking around Evitts Mountain and its sheer cliff gorge, and the Rocky Gap Casino Resort. Deep in the southeast hills is Warrior Mountain State Wildlife Area, an even more wilderness area with old homesteads and abundant wildlife. 

But in town, Cumberland hasn’t overlooked its greenway treasures. At Constitution Park, the city holds its annual summertime Concerts in the Park, holiday special events, and summer day camps for local youth. The park has sports courts, a fitness trail, a dog park, and an outdoor swimming pool. Besides Constitution Park, Cumberland has recreational sports fields at Al Abrams, Bowers, Cavanaugh, Jaycee, and Gene Mason Sports Complex. 

Bordering the town towers the undeveloped Wills Mountain State Park, a vertical outcropping that makes a statement. It is beautiful to gaze at as the state figures out how to provide public access. 

Cumberland School System

Allegany County Public Schools oversees public K-12 education in Cumberland. It’s a large area but a small school system with 14 elementary schools, four middle schools, three public high schools, and one technical school. These schools use a geographical feeder system, so students from a set of elementary schools will roll into the same middle and high schools. For Cumberland, this is Fort Hill High School, Washington Middle, Northeast, South Penn, and John Humbird Elementary.

The district has some creative programs not found elsewhere. For instance, an Outdoor School at Rocky Gap State Park provides 7th-grade students an active month of environmental science education. Three schools run Active Learning Labs, a collaborative style of STEM learning. Other innovative offerings include a Chinese immersion program, career clusters, and an early college pathway.

For further career training, Cumberland’s Allegany College of Maryland is a two-year college with 31 degree programs, 30 certificate programs, and ten letter of recognition programs. Frostburg State University, a small but public four-year university, is an option a few miles down I-68 with biology, computer science, business, and arts programs.

Cumberland Economy

This one-thriving city isn’t afraid to admit it’s seen tough times with the loss of manufacturing and transportation jobs. Residents recall when companies like Kelly Tire were the linchpin of local prosperity. 

But Cumberland has tapped into the Appalachian culture of resilience and ability to pivot. The city is working actively to revitalize its downtown, bring in more tourism and arts, and incentivize businesses through the largest Enterprise Zone in Maryland. The county has six industrial parks, with Riverside and Commerce Center based in town. 

It’s also sought to diversify its job market, as reflected in today’s top employers. Based on the number employed for the county, the three major employers are Western Maryland Health System, Frostburg State University, and Hunter Douglas Northeast, a manufacturer of window blinds. Other companies breaking into the top ten– manufacturer Verso, CSX Railroad, or ACS Telecommunications–are in or near Cumberland.

Another major employer based around Cumberland is the Federal Correctional Institutions (FCI). The area has three major prisons at three security levels. These are the largest incarceration facilities in the state, and combined with its contractors, FCI is the third-largest employer.

Calling Cumberland Home

For housing, the Cumberland region has an affordability hard to find in Maryland’s metropolitan areas. The historical mansions on Washington Street are as prized for their character and charm as they are for their price tag. The hills have incredible mountain views that are perfect for those seeking a quiet escape into the hills or unique properties like log cabin living.

Allegany County’s real estate market had a median price of $139,100 in January 2024. Waiting for new listings is the hardest part, as the active inventory of homes for sale was only 163. You can see current homes for sale in Cumberland to gauge the real estate market.

Coupled with a low cost of living–27% below the national average and 35% under Maryland–you can stretch your budget further when living in Cumberland.

Cumberland Safety & Crime

The slow but steady drawback in economic opportunities over the last 100 years resulted in population loss and a lowering of local incomes. Like many areas in Appalachia, Cumberland has struggled with an opioid and drug crisis. It does have multi-faceted programs working to address the problem. Nonetheless, Neighborhood Scout gives Cumberland a crime index rating of five–where 100 is the safest. Put another way, it’s safer than about 5% of US cities. 

Annual crime rates per 1,000 residents stood at 6.07 for violent crimes and 33.73 for property crimes. Both rates are about double the Maryland and national median.

Living in Cumberland, MD

Cumberland’s adaptability shines as it leans into its identity as a prime place to enjoy the beautiful, great outdoors. Downtown revitalization efforts signal an opportunity for more development. The rustic ambiance and unyielding character help Cumberland assert itself as more than a historic landmark. It’s a place to call home with a beautiful backdrop.