Page Contents for Fort Ritchie, Maryland

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Historical Events

Chamber of Commerce.

Libraries.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The Maryland state capital is Annapolis.
The population of Fort Ritchie is approximately 284 (2007), 314 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 335 (2000), 102 (2010).
The amount of land area in Fort Ritchie is 2.505 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Fort Ritchie is 1.0 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0.065 sq kilometers.
The distance from Fort Ritchie to Washington DC is 61 miles.
The distance to the Maryland state capital is 75 miles. (as the crow flies)
Fort Ritchie is positioned 39.70 degrees north of the equator and 77.50 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Fort Ritchie elevation is 176 feet above sea level.
Fort Ritchie per capita income is $ 10,549 (2000).
Fort Ritchie median income is $ 37,893 (2007).

Location

in northern Maryland about 20 miles from Frederick and about 64 miles from Washington, D.C.. Other nearby communities include Highfield-Cascade, Smithsburg, Cavetown, Thurmont and Leitersburg, all in Maryland and Rouzerville, Wayne Heights and Waynesboro all in Pennsylvania.
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History & History Related Items

Fort Ritchie is a former U.S. military base that closed in September 1998 pursuant to the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission.
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Attractions

Pictures on base at the former Fort Ritchie.
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Fort Ritchie Historical Events

1998 July 17
Fort Ritchie prepares to close
by Steve Blizard

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, July 28, 1998)--A ceremony July 17 at Fort Ritchie, Md., marked the end of an era and the closure of the post that has served the country more than 70 years.

More than 4,000 people were at the event, which was attended by U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes and Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, both from Maryland, retired Lt. Gen. Vernon Walters and Military District of Washington Commander Maj. Gen. Robert R. Ivany. Also there as special guests were past commanders of the 7th Signal Command and Fort Ritchie's U.S. Army Garrison.

Fort Ritchie will not officially close until Sept. 30, but the ceremony was conducted this month in order that the more than 800 soldiers and civilian employees still working on the post could be involved. During the next two months, most of Fort Ritchie's workforce will relocate to Fort Detrick, Md., or Letterkenny Army Depot, Pa.

The ceremony took place on the parade field adjacent to the Castle headquarters building and involved soldiers from Headquarters Company, 1111th Signal Battalion; Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Garrison and U.S. Army Security Force, Fort Detrick.

Symbolizing the post's inactivation, a six-soldier color guard lowered the U.S. Army Garrison flag, rolled it, cased it and removed it from the parade field. Ivany then told the audience that Fort Ritchie leaves behind a proud legacy.

"The nation is indebted for the 70 years of service provided by Fort Ritchie's military and civilian workforce," he said. Ivany said the military will return Fort Ritchie to the community where it will be used to help redevelop the community's economy.

Lt. Col. Francis D. Clepper Jr., Fort Ritchie commander, said the weather was an apt and timely analogy of the fort's closure. "The sky was gray and overcast, symbolizing the end of an era of faithful service. But, later the fog lifted and the sun broke through -- a harbinger of the future. There may be a cloud or two on the horizon, but the strength of the community is in its people, and they will be able to meet the complex and demanding challenge of the future."

Sarbanes spoke of the great partnership between the Army, PenMar Redevelopment Corporation and the community, and he commended PenMar and the Washington County commissioners for their leadership identifying redevelopment programs for Fort Ritchie after it closes.

Walters recalled that he was stationed at Fort Ritchie during World War II. He said he was sent there for military-intelligence training as an interpreter and was then sent to North Africa.

The general, who went on to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (1985-1988), ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany (1989-1991), and deputy director of the CIA and then worked as a private consultant and lecturer, said, "What is important, is that we never close the spirit that built Fort Ritchie -- the spirit that will keep it going into the future."

Following the closure ceremonies, spectators were treated to the post's final Twilight Tattoo performance by the U.S. Army Band, "Pershing's Own," and the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard).

(Editor's note: Steve Blizzard is the Fort Ritchie Public Affairs Officer)

Since this article link may not be functional in the future, the above article is the entire quote from this page

Fort Ritchie Chamber

Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce
28 West Washington Street, Suite 200
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
Phone: 301-739-2015

Fort Ritchie Organizations

Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce
28 West Washington Street, Suite 200
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
Phone: 301-739-2015

Fort Ritchie Libraries

Washington County Free Library system.

Fort Ritchie Schools

Washington County Public Schools
820 Commonwealth Avenue
Hagerstown, MD 21741
Phone: 301-766-2800 Fort Ritchie

Miscellany

The population of Fort Ritchie was:
1990 - 1,249
2000 - 276
2007 - 284

Number of housing units:
1990 - 345
2000 - 335

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Median household income:
2000 - 30,625
2007 - $ 37,893

Median age:
2000 - 23.5 years