Emmitsburg

History

Emmitsburg was named for its founder, William Emmit, in 1785. However, a settlement (named first "Silver Fancy" and later "Poplar Fields") preceded the town, particularly since British authorities restricted colonists' expansion during and after the French and Indian War. In 1757 Lutherans led by pastor George Bager built a church, which they shared with a German Reformed congregation until 1798. After the American Revolutionary War, Catholic missionary Rev. Jean Dubois established a mission church, then a seminary, at Emmitsburg. Later Elizabeth Ann Seton established a convent, with a school and hospital. Soon, the number of Methodists in Emmitsburg led to the formation of a circuit around town, rather than share a minister with Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Union fortified Emmitsburg to stop the Confederate invasion of the Union territory in June 1863 during the American Civil War. Half the town was burned to the ground in a mysterious fire on the night of June 23. Folklore has it that "The Great Fire", as it was known, was started by a Union sympathizer to prevent advancing Confederates from taking supplies from the town. However fate spared the town a battle between the opposing forces, which instead took place 12 miles north of it in Pennsylvania near the town of Gettysburg. The town was briefly held by the retreating Confederates on July 4.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land. Emmitsburg has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) with hot, humid summers and moderately cold winters (humid subtropical climate using the -3 degrees c isotherm). It is known for being located near the base of Catoctin Mountain.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  12,980
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  10,293
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  10,109
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  9,745
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  8,525
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  8,437
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  8,286
• House Finch

  Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L.Statius Müller, 1776) · Aves
  7,125

Largest nearby schools

• Catoctin High
  High · Thurmont · 784 students · 18.7:1 ratio
• Thurmont Middle
  Middle · Thurmont · 546 students · 15.6:1 ratio
• Thurmont Primary
  Elementary · Thurmont · 307 students · 14.6:1 ratio
• Thurmont Elementary
  Elementary · Thurmont · 278 students · 13.2:1 ratio
• New Midway/Woodsboro Elementary
  Elementary · Keymar · 276 students · 17.3:1 ratio
• Emmitsburg Elementary
  Elementary · Emmitsburg · 216 students · 12.7:1 ratio
• Sabillasville Environmental School
  Elementary · Sabillasville · 154 students · 17.1:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 2.5 — 2025-10-27
  4 km E of Riverside, Maryland
• M 2.6 — 2021-06-25
  2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland
• M 2.81 — 2019-09-15
  5 km ESE of East Berlin, Pennsylvania
• M 3.44 — 2019-06-13
  9 km N of Blain, Pennsylvania
• M 3.03 — 2016-01-17
  3 km NE of Ranson, West Virginia
• M 3.6 — 2010-07-16
  5 km NNW of Barnesville, Maryland