CARROLL COUNTY
Transcribed by Denise Wells
Carroll is the most eastern of the Western Maryland counties. It is bounded by Pennsylvania on the north, Baltimore county on the east, Howard county on the south, and Frederick county on the west. The surface is rolling and picturesque, and the county is one of the most fertile and prosperous in Western Maryland. According to the census of 1890, the population of Carroll county was 32,376, divided as follows: white 30,190; colored 2,185. The area of the county is 426 square miles, and according the census of 1890, the cereal production was as follows: corn, 1,003,986 bushels from 31,983 acres; wheat, 579,333 bushels from 40,077 acres; oats, 262,458 bushels from 11,972 acres; tobacco, 137,171 pounds from 162 acres; rye, 54,879 bushels from 5,279 acres; buckwheat, 12,543 bushels from 972 acres barley, 3,724 bushels from 133 acres.
The people are industrious and the soil productive, generally of a good quality, susceptible of easy improvement, and acts well with any of the grades of fertilizer and lime. The location of the county, its high elevation and the absence of large tracts of marsh or low lands, keeps it peculiarly free from epidemics of any kind, and the people enjoy good health, many of them living to a vigorous old age. The value of the land ranges from $25 to $100 per acre. Grape culture would probably prove remunerative if made a specialty. The climate is better adapted to late than to early vegetables. The facilities for transportation are good, the farthest point in the county not being more than eight miles from a railroad depot. The farmers are pretty generally well supplied with all necessary farming implements of the latest improvement. The horses and horned cattle have been much improved during late years, the people in many cases making a specialty of the stock business. They have imported a great many mules recently, principally of Kentucky breeding. At present there is very little manufacturing, but there are fine opportunities for capitalists to invest in this department. Westminster alone does at least $1,500,000 in business, commercial and otherwise. Westminster, according to the census of 1890, has a population of 2,903, an increase of 15.80 per cent. over the census of 1880. It is a beautiful, healthy and thriving place.
The character of the soil varies in different sections of the county-limestone in some sections, red loam in others, blue slate, yellow slate and honeycomb-all kinds and very susceptible of improvement. The county celebrated on Easter Monday, 1887, the semi-centennial anniversary of its organization. Formed from some of the most fertile and highly favored portions of the rich counties of Baltimore and Frederick, its half century of growth has developed the resources of the soil in a wonderful degree, and it occupies one of the foremost places among the progressive and prosperous counties of Maryland. With a contented, industrious and thrifty population, its prosperity is an assured fact, and their love of improvement gives promise of a bright future to the county.
SOURCE: Scharf, J. Thomas, "The natural & industrial resources and advantages of Maryland: being a complete description of all counties of the state and the city of Baltimore: together with an accurate statement of their soil, climate, antiquities, raw and manufactured products, agricultural and horticultural products, textile fabrics, alimentary products, manufacturing industries, minerals and ores, mines and mining, native woods, means of transportation, price of land, cheap living, ready markets, excellent homes, and the material and social advantages and unequaled opportunities Maryland possesses for those seeking homes, and for capitalists who wish to invest in industries that are sure to pay big dividends," C.H. Baughman & Co., Publisher; © 1892. pps. 54-55.