Garrett

Formed November 4, 1872 (24^th county)

Garrett County (28,804), Oakland (1,846), Mountain Lake Park (2,141)

A domed 1907 tan brick and masonry Neo-Classical and Renaissance Revival courthouse serves Garrett County.  It is on Alder Street between 3^rd and 4^th streets.  United States Highway 219 is 3^rd Street in the town.  J. Riely Gordon and Tracy & Swartout are the building designers.  A County Administration building was built in 1979.  Garrett County was separated from Allegany County on November 4, 1872 as the 24^th and final county.  It is named for John Work Garrett, railroad president.  Oakland is presumably named for the oak trees.  Oakland is the only county seat. 

Garrett County government consists of an administrator, and a sheriff (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  Eight Circuit Court Judges serve Garrett, Allegany, and Washington counties and Three District Court Judges serve Garrett and Allegany counties and a court clerk and county attorney serve Garrett County (judicial.) The county is on the extreme northwest part of the state.  It borders Pennsylvania and West Virginia.  The county center is 15.3 miles Northeast of Oakland nearer McHenry.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Pennsylvania and Allegany County and West Virginia. 

The area of the county is 656 square miles.  It is 5 out of 24 in the state.  It ranks 22 out of 24 in population in the state.  It has a density of 43.9 persons per square mile making it 22 out of 24 in the state.  Garrett County has 23.7% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 68 crosses east to west in the county, Allegany County to West Virginia.  United States Highway 40 enters joined with Interstate Highway 68 from Allegany County, splits and heads northwest into Pennsylvania.  United States Highway 40 Alternate parallels Interstate Highway 68 from Allegany County and terminates.  United States Highway 50 clips the southwest tip east to west from West Virginia back into West Virginia.  United States Highway 219 enters from Pennsylvania, north, and exits into West Virginia, southwest.  Garrett County is a triangle.  Oakland is in the southwest quarter of the county.  Mountain Lake Park is immediately east of Oakland in the county.  Oakland is the county seat and Mountain Lake Park is the largest city.  Oakland is 6.4% of the county population while Mountain Lake Park is 7.4% of the county population.