Relocating to Frederick Md?
Frederick is a great small city that offers big town friendliness and charm.
The City of Frederick is surrounded by the rolling hills of Central Maryland with scenic views of pastoral farmland. From the award-winning Historic District, with the acclaimed Carroll Creek Linear Park as its centerpiece, to the famous “Clustered Spires” and historic sites, Frederick offers all the amenities of a small city and yet has maintained all the small town feel. If you’re looking in Central Maryland for an award winning city that offers excellent schools, charm and amenities, Frederick is your place!
Enjoy our short video, “A Day in Frederick”
Table of Contents
- Ten Things to Love About Frederick Md
- Location Location Location
- You are Close to Someone You Love
- Location Has Benefits
- Frederick is a Foodie Paradise
- Small City Amenities, Large Town Feel
- Frederick Historic District
- Award-Winning Schools in Frederick County
- Natural Beauty in Frederick County
- You Can Get There From Here
- Frederick Provides a Great Quality of Life
- Location is Key
- Award-Winning Frederick MD
Ten Things to Love About Frederick Md
Of course, there are more than ten things to love about Frederick Md, but these are certainly on the top of our list:
Location Location Location
1. Frederick MD is close to Washington D.C. and Baltimore, two awesome cities, but far enough away, too. We’re about an hour from each city. One can take a short trip to enjoy all the features of our nation’s capital with all the great things to do, or, have fun in the largest city in Maryland, exploring the Inner Harbor and many other activities and sites. Then it’s an easy return home to the peace and quiet of Frederick County.
Other great places to visit nearby: Annapolis, Alexandria, Gettysburg, Rockville and Leesburg. Historic sites: Monticello, Antietam, Oatlands Plantation, C & O Canal, and many others.
Frederick MD is within 4 hours of all the best getaways. Whether you want a weekend getaway or a day-trip, almost anything you want to do is within driving distance. Whether your getaway spot is a mountain or a beach, or a thriving big city, it’s all close to Frederick Maryland. Beaches, mountains, lakes, hiking, snow-skiing, water-skiing, museums, history, train-rides, lobbying Congress, taking in a show, concerts, plays, boating, sailing, hiking, fishing, hunting, flying,…you name it!
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You are Close to Someone You Love
2. Nearly half of the US population lives within 8 hours of Frederick MD. That means there is a 50% chance that someone you know and love is just a day’s drive away. That also means a great vacation on the east coast is a day away! Maryland’s central location is convenient to any place in the Mid-Atlantic region.
The city of Frederick has a population of around 80,000, while Frederick County’s population hovers above 250,000.
Location Has Benefits
3. Jobs in Frederick. Frederick’s location on the top of the I-270 tech corridor, as well as it’s proximity to Baltimore and Washington D.C. have made it a commuter city for many years. About 40% of Frederick residents commute to jobs outside of Frederick County. The unemployment rate in Frederick is consistently below state and national averages.
The U.S. Army’s Fort Detrick installation is Frederick’s largest employer. Other top employers include the government, several government contractors, Frederick Memorial Hospital. Frederick County has attracted entrepreneurs in great numbers, as over 29,000 business employ 10 people or less.
Frederick is a Foodie Paradise
4. The Best Restaurants are in Frederick MD. Frederick has become a haven for foodies, because we have some of the best non-chain restaurants around. Whatever your favorite, Frederick has it.
And if great food wasn’t enough, Frederick is a great place for beer lovers, with several award-winning micro-breweries, as well as a popular national brand. If your beer buds hanker for some local brew, Frederick is the place.
Small City Amenities, Large Town Feel
5. Small Town Friendliness with City Amenities. Frederick offers the best of a small city and the best of a large town. There’s something for everyone in Frederick. Frederick has a population of around 80,000. Frederick’s small city amenities provide theater, community events, museums, live music, an art community and many festivals and cultural events. The charm of a large town is not lost, because Frederick is a warm and friendly place.
Frederick Historic District
6. The Historic District has become the charming destination location of the region. The Historic District in Downtown Frederick is quickly becoming a draw for residents and tourists alike. The yearly “In the Street” celebration in September brings more than 50,000 people out to enjoy all that downtown Frederick has to offer. The 50-square blocks of the Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The downtown area is home to over 100 specialty shops, restaurants, art galleries and more, with beautifully kept Federal architecture and quaint walkable streets. Read more about Frederick, Md History.
Award-Winning Schools in Frederick County
7. Education in Frederick County is a Priority. Frederick County Public School students are tops in the state in test scores, including SAT scores. Frederick County Schools consistently rank in the top tier state-wide and nationally.
Frederick County has 9 institutions of higher learning. Hood College, Mt. Saint Mary’s University, and Frederick Community College are top ranking schools. Frederick Community College has a superior nursing school, with some of the highest percentages of graduates to pass the state exam. University of Maryland has satellite campuses within easy driving distance of Frederick, as well. Education remains a top priority in Frederick County.
Natural Beauty in Frederick County
8. Recreation abounds in Frederick. Whether you like individual or team sports, or whether your children love sports, the parks and community recreation leagues are plentiful. Frederick is also surrounded by several beautiful National and State Parks:
- National Parks like Monocacy National Battlefield, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Antietam National Battlefield, and C & O Canal.
- State Parks like Catoctin Mountain & Cunningham Falls State Park, Gathland, Greenbriar, and Gambrill State Park.
- Frederick County has numerous parks, like Carroll Creek Wildlife Park, Fountain Rock Park, Pinecliff, Fountaindale, and Rose Hill Manor. Frederick County is truly a park-lover’s paradise!
You Can Get There From Here
9. Frederick is close to 3 International Airports, Reagan National, Dulles, and BWI. Frederick is home to a growing regional airport, where the Airline Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) international headquarters resides, and is close to two others, Hagerstown Regional Airport and Gaithersburg Regional Airport.
Travel is easy to Frederick residents. Routes I-70 and I-15/I-270 provide easy access from Frederick to all locations north, east, south and west. Roughly 40% of the population enjoys the quality of living in Frederick County, while commuting to places of employment.
The last but not least of the ten things to love about Frederick Md:
Frederick Provides a Great Quality of Life
10. One of the most desirable qualities about Frederick is its affordability. The cost of living and the quality of life in Frederick Maryland beats all other suburbs of Washington D.C. The affordability index in Frederick County is less than the average for the state of Maryland.
The median single-family home price is $485,000, while townhouses are about $420,000 and condominium median prices are $275,000.
I could be biased… but if I am, 250,000 other people agree with me, Frederick Maryland is a great place to live. Learn more about Frederick Md Real Estate.
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Frederick has become known for its great dining, its unique and plentiful shopping venues, and its historic and cultural activities. It is fast becoming known for its commitment to the Arts, with a number of Art Galleries and Dance and Theater companies.
Civil War buffs will find plenty to see in the city as well as the surrounding areas with the Civil War Museum, Monocacy Battlefield, and nearby Gettysburg and Antietam National Battlefields.
Area attractions include the Frederick Key’s, our Triple A baseball team, the Weinberg Theater and the MET, or Maryland Ensemble Theatre, as well as Way Off Broadway Dinner Theater. Read more on our community blog: 365 Frederick
Location is Key
Frederick has been a great location for easy access to all major metropolitan areas, while managing to remain a place where people still cherish a slower-paced quality of life. It boasts “small city” amenities, while maintaining its “large town” charm.
Frederick County is one of the fastest growing counties in Maryland, rated AAA by Fitch Ratings. In the last 2 decades many businesses have located in the Frederick area because of its location. Fort Detrick is the number 1 employer, and continues to expand. Frederick is home to the National Cancer Institute and more than 60 biotech companies. There are a growing number of Tech start-ups locating in Frederick as well.
Award-Winning Frederick MD
In 2002 Frederick was named one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Distinct Destinations”. In 2005 Frederick received the “Great American Mainstreet” Recognition.
Carroll Creek Downtown Frederick
“Great Places in America”, in which they recognize communities with “better choices for where and how people work and live.” These communities have features that involved planning for accessibility, community involvement, and good use of streets, neighborhoods and public spaces. In 2011 Frederick received the distinguished designation.
Visit the Frederick County Office of Economic Development for more information.
View Frederick, Maryland in a larger map |
Links to Frederick Sites
Frederick Md History
Fredericktowne, originally laid out in 1745 and settled by German immigrants, is rich in Colonial and Civil War History. The city served as a major crossroads from colonial times. It served as a place to house Hessian soldiers in the War for Independence. During the Civil War, the many downtown churches served as hospitals for the wounded soldiers from several battles surrounding Frederick. From these beginnings, Frederick grew to an important market town, and Mining became an important industry in the 19th Century. See more Frederick History
More about Frederick:
Contact Chris Highland for our “Four Corners Tour” when you come to town…we’d love to show you around beautiful Frederick County. 301-401-5119.