Indian Springs, Maryland

Indian Springs is an unincorporated community in western Washington County, Maryland, United States. Its population was 64 as of the 2010 census.[1]

Indian Springs, Maryland
Unincorporated community
Indian Springs, Maryland
Indian Springs, Maryland
Coordinates: 39°38′47″N 78°00′06″W
CountryUnited States
StateMaryland
CountyWashington
Area
 • Total0.116 sq mi (0.30 km2)
 • Land0.116 sq mi (0.30 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation
545 ft (166 m)
Population
 • Total64
 • Density550/sq mi (210/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s)240 & 301
GNIS feature ID585139[2]

Geography

Indian Springs lies along U.S. Route 40 and Maryland Route 56 between Clear Spring and Hancock; it is located north of Fort Frederick State Park. The community is approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Hagerstown and is officially designated a part of the Hagerstown Metropolitan Area (Hagerstown-Martinsburg, Maryland-West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area).

The area is traditionally defined as encompassing the narrow tract of land north of U.S. Route 40 between Fairview Mountain and the Licking Creek.

Terrain in the area is generally rugged with elevations between 600 and 1,900 feet (580 m) above sea level, the landscape being primarily wooded. The terrain here differs greatly from the neighboring Hagerstown Valley, where elevations average less than 650' and is characterized by fertile, gently rolling hills. While land for farming is not as readily available in the Springs area, orchards have been a source of local livelihood for centuries.

The Indian Springs watershed is serviced by four primary runs: Lanes, Rabble, Rattle, and Indian Springs. These runs are tributaries of nearby Licking Creek. The Indian Springs for which the area was named have their headwaters on the west flank of Fairview Mountain.[3]

Two solutional caves are also reported to exist in this area. Revell's and Darby Caves are both said to be developed in the Tonoloway Formation, a thin-bedded dolomitic limestone of the upper Silurian.[4]

Much of the land not held by private individuals is part of the Indian Springs State Wildlife Preserve and is open to the public. A local sportsman's club also owns land adjoining the preserve. Several companies and institutions maintain equipment located atop the larger hills, including Johns Hopkins University, Verizon, and local radio stations; trespassing is strictly prohibited.

Tourism

Indian Springs is located near the state-run Indian Springs Wildlife Management Area, a 6,400-acre (26 km2) tract of forestry that draws tourists for fishing, hiking, and hunting. Fishing is popular at Blair's Valley Lake and hunting deer is famous in the wooded areas. Fairview Mountain, located in the WMA, once served as a Civil War military signal post.[5]

Camping is also common in campgrounds such as Indian Springs Kampgrounds, Maryland, McCoys Ferry Campground, and Little Pool Campground.[6]

Footnotes
  1. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files - Places: Maryland". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  2. "Indian Springs". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  3. United States Geological Survey - Cherry Run Topographic Map; 1998
  4. Caves of Maryland, Franz/Slifer, 1971
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-03-23. Retrieved 2008-05-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Indian Springs Kampgrounds, Maryland". www.hikercentral.com.
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