About
Frederick Maryland Online is a guide to living, working, and playing in Frederick, Maryland.
Guy created this blog in August of 2004 to share his experiences as a resident of Frederick. He was soon joined by Liz, Fungusblogs, and Gmax7. One great feature of blogs is the ability of others to post their own comments in response to a particular article. I hope that you will share your comments with the rest of the readers of Frederick Maryland Online and between our articles and your comments we can create a great online community.
You can subscribe to Frederick Maryland Online in your favorite feed reader or via Email. If you have any suggestions or questions, please feel free to leave comment or send an e-mail.
I have lived in both Frederick city and Frederick county since January 1989.
After living on 11 acres in the woods of southern Frederick County for the past ten years, I am now back living in Frederick City and loving it! I am a single mother of two grown daughters and hope to be able to write here more from my new perspective.
I am thrilled to be able to contribute to FMO!
Email Liz: babethh@yahoo.com
I have lived in Frederick, MD off and on since 1980. I started Frederick Maryland Online because I’m nosy (I get it from my Mom) and wanted to know what was going on in the place I live. I also have another blog where I share items of interest. Please feel free to tweet or email me hellos and comments.
A note on banners for the site
Spring header image is courtesy of Jessica Hibbard.
Winter header image is courtesy of Stephanie Y.
Hi!
I am new VA, a job transplant has brought me here. Originally from Seattle, WA I have been looking at moving to Frederick. It seems to have a great big town/small town feel to it. I am single and have found a fabulous place downtown to rent.
I was hoping you could give some insight into Frederick as I am a bit nervous moving so “far” out. Is this a good place for a 39 yr old single professional to move? Does it feel like you are living “far” out.
Any insight you have or comments would be greatly appreciated!
Love your site.
Cheers,
Christine
Christine, I’m a bit older than you (baby boomer) but know a few single professional women (and men) roughly your age, so I’m basing my reply mostly on general comments they’ve made.
A couple of folks have used the word “backwater” in describing Frederick. Then again, one of them had spent much of her adult life in NYC, and another had moved here after living in DC (and before that, Los Angeles). Frederick obviously could disappoint someone who misses the big city lifestyle. But, there are plenty of activities here if you seek them out, and fun things to do (check out Frederick City and County websites). To me, anyway, Frederick is sort of becoming revitalized as youngish professionals are moving here and are bringing their interests and energy. Most of the single professionals I know are enjoying the “bigger town/small town” feel Frederick offers…the sense of history as well as the changes that appeal to today’s lifestyles (one publication mentioned that Frederick increasingly brings to mind Georgetown in a number of ways). As to whether you feel you’re living “far out” here: I guess it depends on where else you’re looking to be and what you want to do. And also, how quickly you want to get there, and how often. For example, I feel both Baltimore and DC are quite accessible, but I generally don’t try to do anything there on weeknights. However, it’s a fairly easy proposition to, say, drive to the Shady Grove Metro (subway) station (the nearest subway station to Frederick), and from there, you have access to most of DC.
Thank you so much for the great reply, I really appreciate it. I made the decision today to take the plunge and move to Frederick! The house is on 2nd street and just a couple of blocks down from the main street. I think it is really going to suit me well.
Again, thank you, your reply was veyr helpful.
Christine
Christine – congrats on moving to Frederick! My husband and I are your age and we live and work a few blocks from your new place on 2nd Street. I am passionate about downtown Frederick — it’s a wonderful place, but more importantly, it has wonderful people. You’ll find it very easy to become involved and to get to know folks. In fact, I’d love to meet you and show you around. Look me up when you are in town. My contact info can be found on my web site: http://www.jasminesneed.com.
-jasmine
Christine, I live in a rural area but every time I go to downtown Frederick, I wished I lived there (of course I work downtown which makes it more appealing for me). I’m a bit older than you too and have a kid still in school but I would love to sell our house in a couple years and move downtown. After living somewhere where I have to drive everywhere, the idea of being able to walk everywhere is so appealing to me. Hopefully the downtown will get a grocery store soon which would make the downtown area that much more appealing. 2nd Street near Market will be a great place to live! I’m sure you will love it! Welcome to Frederick!!
Thank you so much! I have been traveling for work for the past two years so I am excited about the fact that I can stay put and walk to the surrounding area. It seems like a perfect fit.
The responses I have been receiving solidify that I have made the right choice!
Christine
2nd Street is a great location, you can walk in any direction for anything you may need. (except a grocery store, which there have been rumors about) I really wanted to buy in downtown Frederick, but just couldn’t afford it at the time. The market was high and we chose to move to the edge of Frederick and Washington Counties, out by Harper’s Ferry WV. We love the fact that we live in the “country” and within a 20 minute drive we are in downtown. Do your self a favor and walk around in the evening, or on a Saturday and get to meet some of the shop owners and employees. I can’t think of one store that I don’t feel welcomed in. Being a transplanted Long Islander, I looked forward to a slower pace, but with that “city” feel. Frederick is perfect for me. I hope you find Frederick as enjoyable as I do. (Don’t forget the outskirts of town too. There are planty of non-chain restaurants and shops as well.)
We first moved to Frederick from Bel Air in Harford County in 2000. We bought a home in Spring Ridge and lived there for 6 wonderful years. My husband was with Bechtel at the time and frequent transfers were the norm for us, so staying in one place for 6 years was extremely unusual – and of course it came to an end and we were sent up to Montreal for a year. We sold the house, moved our son to an apartment (he was still in tech school in Columbia but wanted to stay in Frederick), and after the stint in Montreal was over we went to South Carolina for a year (hubby had changed companies at that point after 25 years with Bechtel), he changed again and we moved to Alexandria VA in Nov 2008. As soon as we finally got our South Carolina home sold we started looking to buy a home (renting in Alexandria) and we scoured NOVA and even northeastern WV around Harpers Ferry. But we found ourselves looking in Frederick again and we realized how much we had loved it here, still had many friends here, our son was still here (daughter had married and lives in NOVA), and we came upon this fabulous lot in Whittier with a sweeping view of Frederick. We pounced on it in Jun 2009 (the last 3 lots on our street all sold that week) and we moved into our new home last month. I have never felt so at home anywhere as I do here. And I’ve lived in 11 states and 2 other countries. (I’m originally from California and lived there for a total of 24 years off and on). Frederick just gets better and better all the time – more wonderful shops and restaurants, the Carroll Creek shopping area, the new East Street extension, and more. We’re so excited to show it off to our new son-in-law and his family and we know that we are in this house for rest of our lives.
Gypsy, what a great post about how you found Frederick to be the best fit, after all your experiences living elsewhere. (Your mention of your husband’s years with Bechtel helped explain your moniker “Gypsy”!) Though I bought a nice home in Mont. Co. near Damascus some years ago, I often wish I could just pick up and move to Frederick. The idea of living in the revitalized, walkable, downtown area is increasingly appealing to me.
My co-worker bought a condo and moved to Frederick from Germantown a few years ago. He just loves it…he’s become involved in civic/community activities like he never did when living in Mont. Co. While I certainly live close enough to enjoy much of what Frederick offers, I still can’t experience it as I would as a resident of the community.
HH Gregg Is planning on coming to Frederick,but their location leaves a lot in question.I don’t understand why they want to open at Frederick Crossing, same location as Best Buy and Wal Mart.
The leasing company for those spaces apparently doesn’t care about overkill. They’ll lease to multiple furniture stores and appliance/TV stores when only one can actually survive and eventually someone goes out of business. They just take the money from whoever wants to move in.
Hello all,
I am graduating college in May and will be starting work at Bechtel this summer. I was hoping for advice on where to live. I’m looking for a quiet neighborhood close to work and was hoping for some advice. Any would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
JoBeth
As an Engineer? Don’t get too comfy anyplace
Don’t sign any long term leases, and make sure you have a current passport. My husband has worked for Bechtel for 29 years. We’ve moved more than 20 times, sometimes with as little as 10 days notice. He’s currently based in Canada – for the 2nd time in 6 years. He was just in India and Saudi Arabia. If you want to be successful in your career and move up the ladder you will learn how to move. If you want dig in your heels and stay snug in one place, start looking at other companies. Our kids are far better for the experience and we’ve loved every minute of the adventure! Good luck to you! They are fabulous to work for…..as long as you have a sense of adventure!
I am actually a meteorologist, but I am cross-listed as an environmental engineer. I did tell them I would be willing to travel, at least at first
Thanks for the information!
I always tell everyone that downtown is the best place to live in Frederick. It could be because that’s the only area I’ve ever lived in Frederick, but really I think it’s because there is such a neat culture down here. And it’s so walkable! That’s the best part, really.
JoBeth Check with your HR rep. They should have given you a Great list of places nearby that you can check out. There’s lots of places on that list as well that accept short term leasing. There are tons of apartments to choose from within 1 mile or less from work….
Ps I work at Bechtel as well