Quality of Life

The beautiful mountains of Maryland are a welcome respite from the frenetic hustle and bustle of metro living. Maybe that's one of the reasons, 40% of homes being purchased in Allegany County are to people from out-of-the area. The Good Life Lives Here!

Safe neighborhoods, good schools including two higher education facilities, and a host of places of worship are all part of Allegany County's hometown charm. And the real estate is affordable - in fact, real estate prices in Allegany County are the lowest in the state of Maryland. The average home cost is only $112,000.

We have outstanding health care. In fact, HealthGrades® ranked the Western Maryland Health System Heart Institute (www.wmhs.com) among the top 5% in the nation for Heart Surgery - the only hospital in Maryland to receive this distinction in 2006. The Western Maryland Health System is now building a brand new state-of-the-art
hospital and medical facility,
to be completed in 2008.

Activities for every interest can be found in Allegany County. Outdoor adventures from rappelling to canoeing to cross country skiing; walking architectural and heritage tours; charming shops where the shopkeepers greet you with a smile; and a calendar full of festivals and events keep people of all ages entertained and coming back for more (www.mdmountainside.com)

Our county boasts a history that goes back to pre-Revolutionary times, beautiful architecture, an authentic steam train (www.wmsr.com), the western terminus of C&O Canal (www.canalplace.org), and a plethora of outdoor adventures from mild to wild.

The Allegheny Highlands Trail, which is now completed, links the Washington DC to Cumberland C&O Canal Trail with a series of hiking and biking trails in Western Maryland that connect into Pennsylvania, creating a continuous trail of 380 miles from Washington to Pittsburgh  (http://www.ahtmtrail.org/).

You'll find a growing and thriving artists' colony here. Allegany County has become a mecca for artists looking to create surrounded by the beauty and serenity of the mountains (www.alleganyartscouncil.org). Our local theatres provide professional performances of the highest caliber, in Cumberland at the Cumberland Theatre and Embassy Theatre and at Frostburg State University through its Performing Art Center (www.mdmountainside.com).

Lots to do, lots to see - Allegany County is a great place to live and work. For more information visit the County's Tourism site at http://www.mdmountainside.com.