garrett county (Cumberland, Frostburg: employment, good schools, university)

[familymom]

Do many people relocate to this county? Are there any jobs for outsiders that pay even remotely well? It looks like such a great area of Mayland with the lakes and skiing and am very curious to see if it is a desirable place to live or should I just take yearly vacations. What towns would you recommend that have good schools and are nicely kept up? Also is there much shopping in the area, such as larger box stores and decent supermarkets for everyday shopping.

[cool rob]

Originally Posted by familymom

Do many people relocate to this county? Are there any jobs for outsiders that pay even remotely well? It looks like such a great area of Mayland with the lakes and skiing and am very curious to see if it is a desirable place to live or should I just take yearly vacations. What towns would you recommend that have good schools and are nicely kept up? Also is there much shopping in the area, such as larger box stores and decent supermarkets for everyday shopping.

I haven't ventured out that way lately, but last time I was there there wasn't much outside of the prisons in nearby Washington County, Cumberland and West Virginia. From what I've heard, these prisons are also hard to get employment at (good ole boy system of sorts). However if your are closer too retiremnt, there is plenty of space out there and you definetly can get a lot of land and privacy for the money. You may find a Wal-Mart or Mcdonalds scattered around, but their is not much out that direction in regards to big box stores. If I am not mistaken, within a close radius there is Charles Town Raceway, a few Outlets, Frostburg State University and Alleghany College. So their may be some room for employment within the area.

[engine750wife]

It's a beautiful area with lots of snow in the winter. It's a major tourist area and a pretty good drive to necessities however.

[westsideboy]

The population in Garrett County is growing modestly, but there is not the big influx you are seeing in the downstate counties. Employment is hard to find. There are some jobs up there. I know a few outsiders that got jobs recently, but I would still say being a part of the "good old boy" network helps.

There are no big box retail to speak of other than Wal-Mart. You will have to drive to Cumberland or Morgantown for that. A word about commuting, you can try to commute to Allegany County or WV, but the weather from Oct - April is very very snowy. Washington County is too far, it would be at least a 90 mile commute from the most eastern part of the county.