Maryland - 6th District

Incumbent -- Roscoe G. Bartlett (R) ; Running for re-election

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District Information

District Profile from Politics in America

The 6th reaches across the northern tier of the state from Western Maryland to the Susquehanna River. It takes in all of Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick and Carroll counties, as well as large portions of Baltimore and Harford counties and a small, exurban corner of Montgomery County. The 6th has a rural tradition and a conservative lean that benefits the GOP.

Frederick and Carroll counties grew economically over the last decade, as new residents fled urban and inner suburban areas in Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Frederick County has military, government, education and manufacturing industries, but lost hundreds of jobs in 2010 when a major BP Solar facility closed. Carroll retains an agricultural feel, and low unemployment and only moderate rates of new homebuilding insulated the county from recent economic downturns.

The three western counties are less populous and have a strong conservative bent. The decades-long demise of the old-line manufacturing industry hurt much of the Appalachian Mountain area, but the region still helps the 6th have the state's highest percentage of blue-collar workers. Hagerstown, the largest city in Washington County, serves as a junction of several highways, acting as a hub between the Appalachians and the highly populated Mid-Atlantic region. Nestled in the mountains, Allegany County is slightly more than two hours from Baltimore, Washington or Pittsburgh. Allegany and Garrett counties struggle and have become dependent on tourism as companies have closed their operations here. Several business parks remain largely vacant.

The 6th also includes northern portions of Baltimore and Harford counties, where Republicans and conservative Democrats reign. The 6th gave John McCain 58 percent of its presidential vote in 2008.

Major Industry

Technology, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism

Military Bases

Fort Detrick (Army), 1,459 military, 3,800 civilian (2011)

Cities

Frederick, 65,239; Hagerstown, 39,662; Eldersburg (unincorporated), 30,531; Cumberland, 20,859; Westminster, 18,590

Notable

Camp David, the president's retreat, is located in Frederick County.