Westminster vs Hagerstown? (Baltimore, Frederick, Eldersburg: manufacturing, commuting, cities)

[gottaq]

Westminster vs Hagerstown... which city has more potential to grow and become a major hub in maryland? Hagerstown is bigger right now, though Westminster is much closer to a major city (Bmore). Which has the better future and why?

[Dequindre]

I would say Hagerstown has more potential. It's currently larger, closer to rapidly growing Frederick, MD, and at the crossroads of interstates.

[westsideboy]

Geography isn't in Westminster's favor when it comes to growth. The city has no interstate access, and unless something has changed, plans to keep it that way. The city itself is oddly situated in that it is on no river, natural gap in mountains, the fall line, or any other traits that most small cities have. If I have my history right, Westminster is the size it is because it is county seat. It is the county seat because of its central location in Carroll County, not any deeper reason.

So, Westminster will grow as Carroll County grows, but the overall the county growth will likely be centered more in the southern part of the county near I-70, like Eldersburg and Sykesville, and closer to Baltimore in places like Manchester and Hampstead, as opposed to Westminster.

Hagerstown has the bones to be a bigger city than it already is for purposes beyond just commuting. It is the "hub city" because of its location, and it has potential to grow as both a edge city of DC and a more important distrubution/manufacturing center in its own right for a 4 state region.

[Dequindre]

I-70 and I-81 alone ensure Hagerstown's growth. Westminster is somewhat isolated.