How Maryland Border Counties Support the West Virginia Economy

Maryland’s border counties do more than share a line on the map with West Virginia – they actively support jobs, commerce, transportation, tourism, and long-term growth across the Mountain State.

A Cross-Border Relationship That Benefits West Virginia

West Virginia’s eastern and northeastern edges connect directly with several Maryland counties that share people, services, and economic activity every single day. These Maryland border counties help reinforce West Virginia’s economy by supplying workers, customers, visitors, transportation routes, and business services that flow back and forth across the state line.

From the Potomac Highlands to the Eastern Panhandle, West Virginia gains strength from this regional connection to Maryland’s communities, institutions, and infrastructure.

Key Maryland Border Counties Connected to West Virginia

Several Maryland counties share direct borders and close economic ties with West Virginia. They influence jobs, spending, tourism, education, and transportation throughout nearby WV communities:

Garrett & Allegany Counties

  • Garrett County, MD – Deep Creek Lake and mountain recreation bring visitors through Preston and Tucker Counties in WV, supporting lodging, dining, and outdoor businesses on both sides of the border.
  • Allegany County, MD – Cumberland and surrounding communities provide retail, healthcare, and education options for residents of Mineral, Hampshire, and neighboring WV counties.

Washington & Frederick Counties

  • Washington County, MD – Hagerstown serves as a major retail, logistics, and medical hub for Berkeley and Jefferson Counties in WV, supporting cross-state shopping, commuting, and services.
  • Frederick County, MD – Extends the commuter and business corridor connecting Jefferson County and the Eastern Panhandle with the broader Baltimore–Washington metro area.

These counties form a living, working border where residents regularly cross into West Virginia for employment, tourism, shopping, and recreation – and vice versa.

Cross-Border Workforce and Commuters

Every day, Maryland residents travel into West Virginia for work, and West Virginians travel into Maryland for jobs and services. This two-way flow widens the labor pool and supports a stronger regional economy. For West Virginia, Maryland border counties:

  • Provide additional skilled workers for hospitals, schools, government, and private employers in WV.
  • Help fill specialized positions that might be difficult to staff locally.
  • Increase spending in WV communities on fuel, food, retail, and personal services.
  • Encourage employers to think regionally when recruiting and planning for growth.

This shared workforce is especially important in the Eastern Panhandle and Potomac Highlands, where commuting across state lines is simply part of daily life.

Transportation Corridors That Connect WV to the Mid-Atlantic

Maryland’s transportation infrastructure gives West Virginia direct gateways into the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast markets. Major routes important to WV businesses include:

  • Interstate 68 – Connects Western Maryland to North-Central WV, supporting freight, tourism, and university access.
  • Interstate 70 – Links Eastern Panhandle communities to Baltimore, Washington D.C., and national distribution corridors.
  • U.S. Route 40 / National Road – Historical and modern corridor for commerce, trucking, and tourism.
  • Rail and MARC Service – Helps WV residents commute to Maryland and D.C., while also bringing income and experience back into West Virginia’s economy.

Without these Maryland-based routes, many West Virginia businesses would face longer shipping times, higher costs, and fewer direct connections to larger population centers.

Tourism, Recreation, and Shared Outdoor Assets

Outdoor enthusiasts rarely stop at a state line. Visitors coming to Maryland destinations like Deep Creek Lake, the C&O Canal, and mountain trail systems often extend their trips into West Virginia for:

  • Hiking, biking, and scenic drives in the Potomac Highlands
  • Resort stays, cabins, and campgrounds in nearby WV counties
  • Dining, shopping, and small-town experiences in West Virginia communities
  • Events, festivals, and seasonal attractions that span both states

This shared tourism ecosystem generates lodging taxes, retail sales, and business growth in West Virginia that would not exist without the draw of Maryland’s border counties.

Business Services and Chamber Collaboration

Maryland’s border counties and West Virginia communities often share economic development goals, workforce concerns, and regional identity. Chambers of commerce and business organizations on both sides coordinate on:

  • Joint networking events and regional business expos
  • Workforce training partnerships and hiring initiatives
  • Tourism promotion and destination marketing
  • Support for entrepreneurs and small business owners who operate across state lines

Regional platforms like MyOhioValley.com and related hub sites give businesses, nonprofits, and chambers a shared place to be seen, discovered, and connected – regardless of which side of the state line they are on.

A Stronger West Virginia Through Maryland Border Partnerships

Maryland border counties bring vital workforce, infrastructure, tourism traffic, and business linkages that support West Virginia’s economy in visible and invisible ways. They help shrink distances, expand opportunities, and connect WV communities to broader markets.

As regional collaboration continues to grow, West Virginia stands to benefit even more from strong, intentional partnerships with its Maryland neighbors along the border.