William Winchester established Westminster in 1764 by laying out 45 town lots along the main road to Baltimore. The lots sold quickly, and soon there was a small but thriving community. When Carroll County was established in 1837, Westminster was named the county seat, bringing government officials, judges, lawyers, and visitors to the town. Hotels, homes, and stores sprang up to serve the influx of new residents and visitors. The Western Maryland Railway reached Westminster in 1861. In 1863, Confederate general J. E. B. Stuart's cavalry arrived en route to Gettysburg and battled a small detachment of Union cavalry responsible for guarding the vital railroad link to Baltimore. After Stuart's troops continued on to Pennsylvania, Union troops established an important depot, with supplies arriving from Baltimore for transport to the battlefield and wounded soldiers returning to be cared for in Westminster's hotels, churches, and homes. Westminster prospered throughout the 19th and 20th centuries as it became the center of an industrial and agricultural community.
The small village of Taneytown, nestled at the foothills of the Catoctin Mountains in central Maryland, has witnessed two and a half centuries of American history. The settlement's beginnings date to 1754 when it was founded on a 7,900-acre tract of land. By the end of the century, Taneytown was a bustling community that supported craftsmen of various trades. The most famous native son of the region is undoubtedly lawyer, poet, and author of The Star-Spangled Banner, Francis Scott Key. With the outbreak of Civil War, Taneytown sent 75 of the district's 500 residents to the battle; few returned. The war had a drastic impact on the county, and the area did not flourish again until the arrival of the railroad in 1871. By the late 19th century, the region rebounded to become a small business hub with three cigar factories, a carriage maker's shop, two warehouses, a steam flour mill, and two banks. With new prosperity, many of the structures of the town were replaced with fashionable Victorian edifices. Today, the quaint charm and history of Taneytown continue to attract visitors from near and far.
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