Shaping the Land
Frederick County is located in the center of Maryland. The Blue Ridge that starts near Emmitsburg in Frederick County stretches to the Potomac River and divides the county into two provinces, or areas: The APPALACHIANS on the west side and the PIEDMONT on the east. It is the ONLY county that borders both of these regions.
Piedmont: Triassic, Valley, Uplands
This region is divided by rolling hills and valleys. Some rocks here (limestone) are thought to be over 450,000,000 years old. This area is divided into the Monocacy Valley, the Triassic Uplands, and the Piedmont Uplands. This region is home to Sugarloaf Mountain near Dickerson, MD.
Appalachians: Blue Ridge
When you look at the mountain from a distance, this rugged mountain region of the county looks blue. The rocks here are harder than those in the Piedmont and are mostly metamorphic rocks formed and changed millions of years ago.
Map 1
This is Frederick County.
Orange is the Appalachian Mountain Region.
Blues and greens represent the Piedmont.
Map 2
Same as map 1, divided into the Piedmont and the Appalachian Mountain: Blue Ridge.
Map 3
Shows county divided into geological provinces with Piedmont divided.
Elementary Schools and their Geologic Province
Blue Ridge: Appalachian Mountain
Brunswick
Middletown
Myersville
Sabillasville
Wolfsville
Valley (Jefferson)
Piedmont: Triassic
Emmitsburg
Lewistown
New Midway
Piedmont: Monocacy Valley
Ballenger Creek
Butterfly Ridge
Carroll Manor
Glade
Hillcrest
Lincoln
Monocacy
Orchard Grove
North Frederick
Parkway
Tuscarora
Walkersville
Waverley
Whittier
Yellow Springs
Piedmont: Uplands
Centerville
Blue Heron
Deer Crossing
Green Valley
Kemptown
Liberty
New Market
Oakdale
Twin Ridge
Urbana