Taneytown

History

Taneytown was founded in 1754 and became the seat of Taneytown Hundred in colonial Frederick County. Taneytown takes its name from Raphael Taney, a recipient of one of the first land grants in the area, though Taney likely never lived in the city that bears his name. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Roger Brooke Taney, author of the Dred Scott decision, born in 1777, shares a common ancestor with him, but likely never visited the town or had any connection. When Carroll County was formed on January 19, 1837, Taneytown Hundred and Taneytown were included. The community's proximity to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and its location on the principal road from Gettysburg to Washington, D.C., led to its figuring in the Battle of Gettysburg, although no combat occurred there. Much of the city was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Taneytown Historic District in 1986. There is a Steve Earle song called "Taneytown" on his album El Corazon.

Geography

Taneytown is located at (39.657099, -77.170627). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Francis Scott Key High
  High · Union Bridge · 944 students · 18.2:1 ratio
• Northwest Middle
  Middle · Taneytown · 637 students · 13.8:1 ratio
• Runnymede Elementary
  Elementary · Westminster · 592 students · 14.1:1 ratio
• Westminster Elementary
  Elementary · Westminster · 546 students · 14.4:1 ratio
• Elmer A. Wolfe Elementary
  Elementary · Union Bridge · 480 students · 12:1 ratio
• Taneytown Elementary
  Elementary · Taneytown · 471 students · 11.8:1 ratio