The Ridgeley sandstone is a sandstone or quartzite of Devonian age found in the Appalachian Mountains of Pennsylvania , Maryland , West Virginia , and Virginia , United States. The Ridgeley is fine-grained, siliceous , calcareous in its lower strata , sometimes fossiliferous, and sometimes locally pebbly or conglomeritic. Varying in thickness from 12 to 500 feet (4–150 m), this rock slowly erodes into white quartz sand that often washes or blows away, but sometimes accumulates at large outcrops. When freshly broken, the rock is white, but outcrop surfaces are often stained yellowish by iron oxides .
69-686: The Ridgeley Sandstone was described and named in 1913 from an outcrop in Ridgeley, West Virginia , across the North Branch of the Potomac River from Cumberland, Maryland . The type locality was designated at the town of Ridgely (spelling later changed to Ridgeley) in Mineral County, West Virginia. During the early 20th century, there was some dispute about relation between the Ridgeley Sandstone and
138-516: A French detachment of 40 men that resulted in the death of French diplomat Ensign Joseph Coulon de Jumonville , who had been alleged to be a spy. De Jumonville's brother in law confronted Washington, who eventually signed a document asserting that he had "assassinated" du Jumonville. The document was in French, which Washington could not read; eventually Washington stated that he had signed the document to get himself and his troops safely released and out of
207-696: A community. In May 2013 Ridgeley mayor James L. Twigg was indicted on eight felony charges in connection with the alleged misuse of the city's purchasing card. He pleaded guilty that October to four misdemeanor counts of failing to perform his duties. Interstate 68 in Maryland Interstate ;68 ( I-68 ) is a 113.15-mile (182.10 km) Interstate Highway in the U.S. states of West Virginia and Maryland , connecting I-79 in Morgantown, West Virginia , east to I-70 in Hancock, Maryland . I-68
276-607: A gasoline tanker descending into downtown Cumberland from the east attempted to exit the freeway at exit 43D, Maryland Avenue. The tanker went out of control and overturned as the driver tried to go around the sharp turn at the exit. Gasoline began to leak from the damaged tanker, forcing the evacuation of a three-block area of Cumberland. Approximately 30 minutes later, the tanker exploded, setting eight houses on fire. The fire caused an estimated $ 250,000 in damages (equivalent to $ 500,000 in 2023 ) and prompted MDSHA to place signs prohibiting hazardous materials trucks from exiting at
345-399: A local fort outpost to shelter travelers or workers in the event of an Indian attack. Early Ohio Company residents who worked at the settlement (and who explored the surrounding countryside) included Hugh Parker and Christopher Gist. According to a history of the time, there were no white settlers in the area at this point. Lowdermilk's 1878 history reflects that at this point, the area was on
414-697: A mansion on the property. The land and home passed down through George Calmes' family through most of the 1800s. Late in that century, portions of the town began to be subdivided for housing and business use. In 1905, a group leased the Calmes Mansion and created the Potomac Club, which operated in Ridgeley as an important tennis and boating club until 1919. In 1887, the West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway built yards and tracks in Ridgeley. In 1904,
483-734: A ridge that the freeway crosses. In Allegany County, the freeway crosses the Allegheny Front , where, from Savage Mountain to LaVale, the highway drops in elevation by 1,800 feet (550 m) in a distance of nine miles (14 km). The traffic density on I-68 in Garrett County is rather sparse compared to that of Allegany County. At the Maryland–West Virginia state line, there is an AADT of 11,581 vehicles per day. This density increases to its highest point in Garrett County at exit 22, where US 219 leaves I-68, at 19,551. At
552-587: A road that extended from Cumberland to Vandalia, Illinois . Upon the establishment of the U.S. Numbered Highway System in 1926, the route of the National Road became part of US 40. In the early 1960s, as the Interstate Highway System was being built throughout the U.S., east–west travel through western Maryland was difficult, as US 40, the predecessor to I-68, was a two-lane country road with steep grades and hairpin turns. In Cumberland ,
621-551: A toll road be built along this corridor. In 2003, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved the extension, paving the way for federal funding and for the road to become part of the National Highway System on completion. The project, however, ran into problems due to lack of funds, and, in 2008, West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin suggested dropping the project altogether, making construction of
690-512: A westward extension of I-68 unlikely in the near future. In 2014, Marshall County officials brought the extension of I-68 up again as a way for oil companies to have easier access to drill into the area, likely by fracking . Much like the second leg of PA 576 (Southern Beltway) in the Pittsburgh area, an extension of I-68 is being spurred in response to the Marcellus natural gas trend . If
759-657: Is also Corridor E of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS). From 1965 until the freeway's construction was completed in 1991, it was designated as U.S. Route 48 ( US 48 ). In Maryland, the highway is known as the National Freeway , an homage to the historic National Road , which I-68 parallels between Keysers Ridge and Hancock. The freeway mainly spans rural areas and crosses numerous mountain ridges along its route. A road cut at Sideling Hill exposed geological features of
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#1732891880169828-402: Is located in the town. The Ridgeley name is given to local sandstone in honor of Ridgeley, WV, the far eastern boundary of the formation. It is primarily a sandstone , and is quarried locally. As of 2000 the median household income was $ 26,016 and the median family income was $ 36,042. Males had a median income of $ 29,250 compared with $ 20,227 for females. The per capita income for the town
897-488: Is within the Mineral County Schools district. Frankfort High School is located near Short Gap and contains the grades 9–12. The land on which the town is built was originally conveyed from Thomas Lord Fairfax to George Mason in 1749. In 1750, the first frontier fort, Fort Ohio , was built at Ridgeley. It was, at the time, the westernmost outpost of colonial civilization and was most commonly referred to as
966-670: The Appalachian Mountains . The control cities —the cities officially chosen to be the destinations shown on guide signs—for I-68 are Morgantown, Cumberland , and Hancock. I-68 is the main route connecting Western Maryland to the rest of Maryland. I-68 is also advertised to drivers on I-70 and I-270 as an "alternate route to Ohio and points west" by MDSHA . I-68 begins at exit 148 on I-79 near Morgantown and runs eastward, meeting with US 119 one mile (1.6 km) east of its terminus at I-79. I-68 turns northeastward, curving around Morgantown, with four interchanges in
1035-593: The Cumberland Metropolitan Statistical Area . The population was 590 at the 2020 census . Ridgeley was initially known as St. Clairsville , named for Sir John St Clair, Lt Colonel and Quartermaster General for the British General Edward Braddock . St Clair accompanied Braddock on his ill-fated march on Fort Duquesne and his disastrous defeat on July 9, 1755. It was incorporated as Ridgeley on November 28, 1914, named for
1104-560: The Maryland State Highway Administration (MDSHA) ran south of US 40. This corridor would have bypassed towns in eastern Allegany County, such as Flintstone , leaving them without access to the freeway, and would have passed directly through Green Ridge State Forest , the largest state forest in Maryland. This proposed corridor provoked strong opposition, largely due to the environmental damage that would be caused by
1173-514: The Pennsylvania Turnpike for westbound traffic from Washington DC and Baltimore . Various West Virginia officials have proposed extending the highway westward to the Ohio River valley, ending in either Moundsville , or Wheeling , West Virginia. An extension to Moundsville was approved by federal officials at one point but shelved due to funding problems. Prior to the construction of
1242-512: The US ;220 exit and to 40 mph (64 km/h) in downtown Cumberland. This drop in the speed limit is due to several factors, including heavy congestion, closely spaced interchanges, and a sharp curve in the road, known locally as "Moose Curve", located at the bottom of Haystack Mountain. This section of the highway was originally built in the 1960s as the Cumberland Thruway, a bypass to
1311-514: The Virginia Militia . He was to take command of the forces sent to the frontier. Fry was thrown from his horse on the way to the fort and died. Washington's notes reflected that Fry was carefully tended to but died, and was buried "on the hill", which is what the area around Fort Ohio (now Ridgeley) was referred to at that time. Washington then took command of the troops, his first military command. Washington staged an attack from Fort Ohio against
1380-637: The Wills Mountain Anticline , although it is the even more erosion-resistant Silurian -aged Tuscarora Quartzite , not the Ridgely sandstone, that caps most parts of the prominent central ridge of this long geological structure. Other conspicuous Ridgeley outcrops include Caudy's Castle (Castle Rock) and Ice Mountain , both in Hampshire County, West Virginia . At Berkeley Springs, West Virginia , warm water flows from natural mineral springs in
1449-563: The "New Store" settlement at the time. The New Store was primarily a trading post created by the Ohio Company which included prominent members including George Mason and Lawrence Washington . Christopher Gist was in charge of construction of "New Store" which was just over what is now the Blue Bridge leading into Ridgeley from Cumberland . The settlement was used as a headquarters for traders and trappers from 1750 and 1763, and also served as
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#17328918801691518-621: The Allegany County line, the traffic density decreases slightly to 18,408. In Allegany County, the vehicle count increases to 28,861 in LaVale and to the freeway's peak of 46,191 at the first US 220 interchange (exit 42) in Cumberland. East of Cumberland, the vehicle count decreases to 16,551 at Martins Mountain and stays nearly constant to the eastern terminus of I-68 in Hancock . After entering Allegany County, I-68 bypasses Frostburg to
1587-674: The Cheat River Canyon, where there is a truck escape ramp . The peak traffic density in terms of annual average daily traffic (AADT) on I-68 in West Virginia is 32,900 vehicles per day at the interchange with I-79 in Morgantown. The traffic gradually decreases further eastward, reaching a low point at 14,600 vehicles per day at the Hazelton exit. After entering Garrett County, I-68 continues its run through rural areas, crossing
1656-460: The Maryland Avenue exit. On May 23, 2003, poor visibility due to fog was a major contributing factor to an 85-vehicle pileup on I-68 on Savage Mountain west of Frostburg . Two people were killed and nearly 100 people were injured. Because of the extent of the wreckage on the road, I-68 remained blocked for 24 hours while the wreckage was cleared. In the aftermath of the pileup,
1725-439: The Morgantown area, the portion of Preston County that I-68 crosses is more rural, with the only town along the route being Bruceton Mills . In Bruceton Mills, I-68 meets WV 26 . I-68 meets CR 5 (Hazelton Road) at its last exit before entering Garrett County, Maryland. The region of West Virginia through which the freeway passes is rural and mountainous. There are several sections that have steep grades, especially near
1794-464: The Morgantown area—I-79, US 119, WV 7 , and CR 857 (Cheat Road). Leaving the Morgantown area, I-68 again runs eastward, intersecting WV 43 , which provides access to Cheat Lake and Uniontown, Pennsylvania . Near this interchange, I-68 passes over Cheat Lake and climbs a steep ascent out of Cheat Canyon . Entering Preston County, the route intersect CR 73/12, which provides access to Coopers Rock State Forest . In contrast to
1863-613: The National Freeway to run northward toward Meyersdale, Pennsylvania , while I-68 continues eastward, crossing the Eastern Continental Divide and Savage Mountain before entering Allegany County. The section of I-68 west of Dans Mountain in Allegany County is located in the Allegheny Mountains , characterized in Garrett County by a series of uphill and downhill stretches along the freeway, each corresponding to
1932-759: The Oriskany Sandstone (named after a locality in New York) and the Monterey Sandstone (named after a locality in Virginia). This dispute was resolved by Butts (1940), who stated that the Oriskany Sandstone "corresponds exactly with the Ridgley Sandstone," that the Oriskany Sandstone is the same as the Monterey Sandstone of Virginia, and that the rules of stratigraphic nomenclature dictate that the name Oriskany Sandstone should be applied to these strata. Outcrops of
2001-527: The Ridgeley sandstone of Warm Springs Ridge ; spa facilities (now in Berkeley Springs State Park ) have long used these waters. The Ridgeley sandstone is sometimes quarried and crushed to produce quartz sand for glass-making ; one such quarry is near Berkeley Springs. Ridgeley, West Virginia Ridgeley is a town in Mineral County , West Virginia , United States, and part of
2070-515: The US ;50 freeway would not be helpful to drivers since about half the freeway already had two route designations (US 50 and US 301 ) and drivers on the freeway were already familiar with the US 50 designation. This made the designation to be applied to that freeway more flexible, and so, in 1989, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO),
2139-551: The West Virginia Central became the Western Maryland Railroad . The town developed as a blue collar community, many of whose residents worked for the railroad. For most of its history, it had been called alternately "St. Clairsville" or "Sinclairsville," but upon incorporation in 1914, it was renamed Ridgeley after Charles Ridgeley (1822–1897) a prominent early resident and businessman. The town grew throughout
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2208-485: The West Virginia portion and a 14-mile (23 km) portion from the West Virginia state line to Keysers Ridge in Maryland opened, followed by the remainder of the freeway in Garrett County on August 13, 1976. In the 1980s, the focus of construction shifted to the east of Cumberland, where a 19-mile (31 km) section of the road still had not been completed. The first corridor for the construction to be approved by
2277-659: The West Virginia state line came to $ 126 million (equivalent to $ 525 million in 2023 ); the portion between Cumberland and Sideling Hill cost $ 182 million (equivalent to $ 363 million in 2023 ); and the section at Sideling Hill cost $ 44 million (equivalent to $ 87.8 million in 2023 ). Much of the work in building the freeway was completed during the 1970s, with US 48 opened from Vocke Road in LaVale to MD 36 in Frostburg on October 12, 1973, and to MD 546 on November 1, 1974. On November 15, 1975,
2346-482: The bottom of the valley. The freeway runs along the hillside above US 40 Alt. in the valley formed by Braddock Run. Entering LaVale, I-68 has exits to US 40 Alt. and MD 658 (signed southbound as US 220 Truck ). I-68 ascends Haystack Mountain , entering the city of Cumberland . This is the most congested section of the highway in Maryland. The speed limit on the highway drops from 70 mph (110 km/h) in LaVale to 55 mph (89 km/h) until
2415-574: The change in its route number, the US 48 designation was removed. In 2002, AASHTO approved the establishment of a new US 48 , this time for the Corridor H highway from Weston, West Virginia , to Strasburg, Virginia . This marks the third time that the US 48 number has been assigned to a highway, the first use being for a highway in California that existed in the 1920s. Numerous accidents and incidents have occurred on I-68. On June 1, 1991,
2484-557: The early part of the 20th century to be a vibrant blue-collar community of schools, churches and businesses. Serious flooding from the Potomac River was a challenge to the town until the Army Corps of Engineers completed a major flood control project in the 1950s. During the 1970s and 1980s, as the Mineral County Schools system consolidated schools in the area, all the in town schools were closed, challenging Ridgeley's cohesiveness as
2553-449: The erosion-resistant, ridge-forming Ridgeley ("Oriskany") sandstone are conspicuous landscape features in the Ridge and Valley physiographic province from south-central Pennsylvania through western Maryland and eastern West Virginia to Craig County in western Virginia. Ridgely outcrops form part of the lateral structures of North Fork Mountain , New Creek Mountain , and Wills Mountain of
2622-537: The extension were to be built, it would also include a widening of WV 2 to four lanes and would cost an estimated $ 5 million per mile ($ 3.1 million/km). It is expected that the project would be divided into two legs, first from Morgantown to Cameron and then Cameron to Moundsville. Others have proposed extending I-68 to Wheeling, West Virginia , and connecting it with I-470 . I-68 spans 113.15 miles (182.10 km), connecting I-79 in Morgantown, West Virginia , to I-70 in Hancock, Maryland , across
2691-461: The first sections of what would become I-68, the Cumberland Thruway, on June 10, 1965. This portion of the highway, which consists of a mile-long (1.6 km) elevated bridge, was completed and opened to the public on December 5, 1966. The elevated highway connected Lee Street in west Cumberland to Maryland Avenue in east Cumberland, providing a quicker path for motorists traveling through the town on US 40 and US 220 . The Cumberland Thruway
2760-483: The former owners of the land upon which the town was built. Ridgeley is located along the North Branch of the Potomac River , opposite Cumberland, Maryland . According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 0.30 square miles (0.78 km ), of which 0.29 square miles (0.75 km ) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km ) is water. The main road providing access to
2829-499: The freeway from Morgantown to Hancock, several different routes carried traffic across the region. West Virginia Route 73 (WV 73) extended from Bridgeport to Bruceton Mills , serving regions now served by I-79 (Bridgeport to Morgantown) and I-68 (Morgantown to Bruceton Mills). After the I-68 freeway, then known as US 48, was completed in West Virginia, the WV ;73 designation
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2898-450: The low overpass in Ridgeley. At exit 44 in east Cumberland, US 40 Alt. meets the freeway and ends, and, at exit 46, US 220 leaves I-68 and runs northward toward Bedford, Pennsylvania . I-68 continues across northeastern Allegany County, passing Rocky Gap State Park near exit 50. In northeastern Allegany County, the former US 40 bypassed by I-68 is designated as MD 144 , with several exits from I-68 along
2967-512: The main highway due to the construction of the new alignment in the 1980s, leading to protests when then-Governor Harry Hughes visited the Sideling Hill road cut when it was opened. In the 1990s, there was discussion about a future westward extension to I-68. Such an extension would connect the western terminus of I-68 in Morgantown to WV 2 in Moundsville . A 1989 proposal had suggested
3036-414: The mountain and has become a tourist attraction. US 219 and US 220 overlap I-68 in Garrett County and Cumberland , respectively, and US 40 overlaps with the freeway from Keysers Ridge to the eastern end of the freeway at Hancock. The construction of I-68 began in 1965 and continued for over 25 years, with completion on August 2, 1991. While the road was under construction, it
3105-453: The northern part of the county. The terrain through this area consists of ridges that extend from southwest to northeast, with I-68 crossing the ridges through its east–west run. The first exit in Maryland is at MD 42 in Friendsville . I-68 ascends Keysers Ridge , where it meets US 40 and US 219 , both of which join the highway at Keysers Ridge. The roadway that used to be
3174-419: The organization composed of the various state departments of transportation that decides route numbering in the U.S., approved MDSHA's request to renumber the US 50 freeway from I-68 to I-595 . That same year, AASHTO approved changing US 48's designation to I-68. This change took effect upon the completion of the last section of the National Freeway on August 2, 1991. With the completion of I-68 and
3243-717: The original path of US 40 through Cumberland. Until 2008, signs at exit 43A in downtown Cumberland labeled the exit as providing access to WV 28 Alt. Because of this, many truckers used this exit to get to WV 28 . This created problems on WV 28 Alt. in Ridgeley, West Virginia , as trucks became stuck under a low railroad overpass, blocking traffic through Ridgeley. To reduce this problem, MDSHA removed references to WV 28 Alt. from guide signs for exit 43A and placed warning signs in Cumberland and on I-68 approaching Cumberland advising truckers to instead use exit 43B to MD 51 , which allows them to connect to WV 28 via Virginia Avenue, bypassing
3312-463: The question of how to deal with fog in the future was discussed. Though the cost of a fog warning system can be considerable, MDSHA installed such a system in 2005 at a cost of $ 230,000 (equivalent to $ 340,000 in 2023 ). The system alerts drivers when visibility drops below 1,000 feet (300 m). One of the arguments in favor of the construction of I-68 was that the freeway would improve the poor economic conditions in western Maryland. The economy of
3381-510: The road construction in Green Ridge State Forest. Environmental groups sued MDSHA in order to halt the planned construction, but the court ruled in favor of the state highway administration. In 1984, however, MDSHA reversed its earlier decision and chose an alignment that closely paralleled US 40, passing through Flintstone and to the north of Green Ridge State Forest. Construction on the final section of I-68 began May 25, 1987, and
3450-423: The route. I-68 crosses several mountain ridges along this section of the highway, including Martins Mountain, Town Hill, and Green Ridge, and the highway passes through Green Ridge State Forest . East of Green Ridge State Forest, MD 144 ends at US 40 Scenic , another former section of US 40. I-68 crosses into Washington County at Sideling Hill Creek and ascends Sideling Hill . The road cut that
3519-482: The south, with two exits, one to Midlothian Road (unsigned MD 736 ) and one to MD 36 . Near the MD ;36 exit is God's Ark of Safety church, which is known for its attempt to build a replica of Noah's Ark . This replica, which currently consists of a steel frame, can be seen from I-68. East of Frostburg, I-68 crosses a bridge above Spruce Hollow near Clarysville , passing over MD 55 , which runs along
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#17328918801693588-490: The state line and meeting US 40 north of the border. From there, eastbound traffic would follow US 40 into Maryland. I-68 now parallels US 40 through western Maryland. US 40 followed the route of the National Road through Pennsylvania and Maryland. The National Road was the first federally funded road built in the U.S., authorized by Congress in 1806. Construction lasted from 1811 to 1837, establishing
3657-452: The surface alignment of US 40 parallels I-68 to Cumberland and is now designated as US 40 Alt. I-68 crosses Negro Mountain , which was the highest point along the historic National Road that the freeway parallels east of Keysers Ridge. This is the source of the name of the freeway in Maryland: the National Freeway. Three miles (4.8 km) east of Grantsville , US 219 leaves
3726-617: The surrounding area has improved since the construction of the freeway, especially in Garrett County , where the freeway opened up the county to tourism from Washington DC and Baltimore . Correspondingly, Garrett County saw a sharp increase in population and employment during and after the construction of the road, with full- and part-time employment increasing from 8,868 in 1976 to 15,334 in 1991. Economic difficulties, however, remain in Allegany and Garrett counties. There were concerns over loss of customers to businesses that have been cut off from
3795-465: The terrible weather. The killing of du Jumonville is considered to have been the first shot fired in the French and Indian War . In spring 1755, Washington returned to the area to prepare for General Edward Braddock 's attack on Fort Duquesne (commonly referred to as Braddock's March). Fort Cumberland was under construction at the time, and was used as the center of planning for the attack, while Fort Ohio
3864-510: The time, there were no freeways along the corridor, though construction on the Cumberland Thruway began that year. It was this corridor that would eventually become I-68. The construction of Corridor E, which was also designated as US 48, took over 20 years and hundreds of millions of dollars to complete. The cost of completing the freeway in West Virginia has been estimated at $ 113 million (equivalent to $ 471 million in 2023 ). The cost of building I-68 from Cumberland to
3933-592: The town is West Virginia Route 28 Alternate . WV 28 Alt connects southward to West Virginia Route 28 , which leads to Romney . To the north, WV 28 Alt crosses the Blue Bridge into Cumberland , Maryland . The nearest Interstate and U.S. highways are Interstate 68 , U.S. Route 40 and U.S. Route 220 , all of which are located in Cumberland. The type locality of the Ridgeley Member of the Old Port Formation
4002-491: The town was 92.4% White , 0.6% African American , 0.3% Native American , 4.1% Asian , and 2.5% from two or more races. There were 301 households, of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.2% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who
4071-474: The traffic situation was particularly problematic, as the usage of US 40 exceeded the capacity of the city's narrow streets. Traffic following US 40 through Cumberland entered through the Cumberland Narrows and followed Henderson Avenue to Baltimore Avenue. After the construction of I-68, this route through Cumberland became US 40 Alternate (US 40 Alt.). Construction began on one of
4140-415: The very outside of civilization; in fact, Lowdermilk refers to it as the "very outskirts of civilization. The country beyond was an unbroken and almost pathless wilderness. It was separated by many miles of tortuous mountain roads from the settlements in the east". In May 1754, George Washington led a company of troops to meet Joshua Fry at the storehouses at Fort Ohio. Fry was a colonel and commander in
4209-484: Was $ 14,199. About 13.3% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over. As of the census of 2010, there were 675 people, 301 households, and 180 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,327.6 inhabitants per square mile (898.7/km ). There were 377 housing units at an average density of 1,300.0 units per square mile (501.9 units/km ). The racial makeup of
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#17328918801694278-401: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age in the town was 40.8 years. 21.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.3% were from 25 to 44; 25.8% were from 45 to 64; and 19.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 45.6% male and 54.4% female. Ridgeley
4347-501: Was built into Sideling Hill for I-68 can be seen for several miles in each direction and has become a tourist attraction as a result of the geologic structure exposed by the road cut. On the east side of Sideling Hill, I-68 again interchanges with US 40 Scenic, at its eastern terminus at Woodmont Road. Here, US 40 Scenic ends at a section of MD 144 separate from the section further west. Four miles (6.4 km) east of this interchange, I-68 ends at I-70 and US 522 in
4416-560: Was commandeered and used as well. Both a young Daniel Boone (age 21) and Daniel Morgan (age 20) worked in the area to plan and carry out the ill-fated assault. When Fort Cumberland was all but abandoned in 1763, the Ohio Company reclaimed the land and put it up for sale. Eventually, the land was conveyed to James McCubbin Lingan in 1785, then to Captain George Calmes in 1803. Calmes built
4485-458: Was completed on August 2, 1991. Though the National Freeway was designated as US 48, as the completion of the freeway neared, the possibility of the freeway being designated as an Interstate Highway came up. In the 1980s, the project to improve US 50 between Washington DC and Annapolis to Interstate Highway standards had been assigned the designation of I-68. MDSHA, however, later concluded that adding additional route shields to
4554-529: Was extended to US 220 and then to Vocke Road ( Maryland Route 658 , or MD 658) by 1970. Problems quickly emerged with the highway, especially near an area called "Moose Curve". At Moose Curve, the road curves sharply at the bottom of Haystack Mountain , and traffic accidents are common. In 1965, the Appalachian Development Act was passed, authorizing the establishment of the ADHS , which
4623-467: Was meant to provide access to areas throughout the Appalachian Mountains that were not previously served by the Interstate Highway System. A set of corridors was defined, comprising 3,090 miles (4,970 km) of highways from New York to Mississippi . Corridor E in this system was defined to have endpoints at I-79 in Morgantown, West Virginia , and I-70 in Hancock, Maryland . At
4692-497: Was predicted that economic conditions would improve along the corridor for the five counties connected by I-68: Allegany , Garrett, and Washington in Maryland and Preston and Monongalia in West Virginia. The two largest cities connected by the highway are Morgantown, West Virginia, and Cumberland, Maryland. Although the freeway serves no major metropolitan areas, it provides a major transportation route in western Maryland and northern West Virginia and also provides an alternative to
4761-408: Was removed. Portions of the road still exist as County Route 73 (CR 73), CR 73/73, and CR 857. Between I-68's exit 10 at Cheat Lake and exit 15 at Coopers Rock , I-68 was largely built directly over old WV 73's roadbed. At Bruceton Mills, WV 73 ended at WV 26 , which, from there, runs northeast into Pennsylvania, becoming Pennsylvania Route 281 at
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