Eckhart Mines, Maryland
| Eckhart Mines, Maryland | |
|---|---|
| Census-designated place | |
 
|
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| Coordinates: 39°39′9″N 78°53′49″W / 39.65250°N 78.89694°WCoordinates: 39°39′9″N 78°53′49″W / 39.65250°N 78.89694°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maryland |
| County | Allegany |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.5 sq mi (4.0 km2) |
| • Land | 1.5 sq mi (4.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,750 ft (530 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 932 |
| • Density | 607/sq mi (234.4/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 21528 |
| FIPS code | 24-24825 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2629795 |
Eckhart Mines is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Allegany County, Maryland, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 932.
Eckhart Mines lies at the southwestern base of Federal Hill, 1.8 miles (2.9 km) east of Frostburg and 0.8 miles (1.3 km) northwest of Clarysville. The town was founded as a company town for the nearby Eckhart Mines. According to the Maryland Mining Heritage Guide, it was "the first coal company town in Maryland."
The original owner was George Eckhardt, an immigrant from Germany.
The outcrop of the Pittsburgh coal seam here is known locally as "the big vein" or the "14 foot coal". The Eckhart Mines' location here was the first bituminous coal mine developed in the Georges Creek Valley coalfield, because this is where the National Road (now U.S. Route 40 Alternate) crossed the coal outcrop. The Eckhart operation was known as the Maryland Mining Company, which eventually combined with other companies to form the Consolidation Coal Company (now Consol Energy). The Eckhart operation was the first commercial coal company in the United States. The inspiration for the character, Sidney Ellen Wade from the film The American President (1995), Sidney Beeman lives here.
In 1780 George Eckart secured lots 3644, 3645, 3646, in Allegany County. These lots were patented to him in 1800. He also had surveyed to him lot 3694, which he secured from John Stigler, to whom these lots had been awarded. [2]
A little village sprang up on George's land known as Eckhart Mines, which tradition says was named for him. Here he and his wife Mary lived, reared their family and died.
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