Maryland Route 491
Encyclopedia
Maryland Route 491 is a state highway
in the U.S. state of Maryland
. Known for most of its length as Raven Rock Road, the state highway runs 6.78 miles (10.9 km) from MD 64
in Smithsburg
north to MD 550
in Fort Ritchie
. The middle portion of MD 491 was constructed in the mid 1950s. The highway was extended south to Smithsburg along a partially new alignment in the early 1960s, replacing a road that had been designed MD 92 from the mid 1930s to the mid 1950s. MD 491 was extended north toward Fort Ritchie in the late 1960s.
's Hanover Subdivision
. MD 491 veers east away from the railroad at Fruit Tree Drive and crosses Little Antietam Creek. The state highway follows the creek into Raven Rock Hollow, a gap in South Mountain between Buzzard Knob to the south and Raven Rock to the north. MD 491 follows the creek east and then northeast to an unnamed gap near Mt. Zion Road where the highway enters Frederick County. The state highway continues north to a four-way intersection next to the historic summer cottage Tipahato
. From this intersection on the county line, Fort Ritchie heads east toward Sabillasville
and Moyer Road heads north toward the communities of Highfield and Cascade
. MD 491 turns west onto Macfee Hill Road into Washington County. The state highways descends to the site of the former U.S. Army installation Fort Ritchie
within the community of Fort Ritchie, where the highway reaches its northern terminus at MD 550. MD 550 heads northeast as Military Road and northwest along Macfee Hill Road toward Pen Mar.
crossing. MD 92 was rebuilt around 1944 as a military access project, as the state highway was part of the most direct route between Hagerstown and Fort Ritchie. MD 92 was transferred out of the state highway system in 1956. That same year, the original MD 491 in Charles County
became part of an extended MD 425
.
Starting in a 1954, the portion of Raven Rock Road from Ritchie Road to the Frederick County line was reconstructed. This segment was designated MD 491 by 1957. The other sections of Raven Rock Road remained county highways. A new road was constructed east of the railroad between MD 64 (Smithsburg Bypass) and the present junction of MD 491 and Fruit Tree Drive in 1963. This new road and the portion of Raven Rock Road between Fruit Tree Drive and Ritchie Road became part of an extended MD 491. MD 491 was extended north from the Frederick County line north along Raven Rock Road and Royer Road to MD 550 in Highfield in 1968. The state highway achieved its present course when its northernmost segment was moved from Royer Road to Macfee Hill Road around 1981.
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|Washington
|Smithsburg
|0.00
|
|Southern terminus
|-
|Frederick
|
|6.40
|Royer Road north / Fort Ritchie Road east – Sabillasville
, Highfield-Cascade
|MD 491 turns west onto Macfee Hill Road
|-
|Washington
|Fort Ritchie
|6.78
|
|Northern terminus
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the U.S. state of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Known for most of its length as Raven Rock Road, the state highway runs 6.78 miles (10.9 km) from MD 64
Maryland Route 64
Maryland Route 64 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from U.S. Route 40 in Hagerstown east to the Pennsylvania state line near Ringgold, where the highway continues as Pennsylvania Route 997...
in Smithsburg
Smithsburg, Maryland
Smithsburg is a town in Washington County, Maryland, United States. Its population was 2,146 at the 2000 census and latest 2008 estimates are at 2,908. Smithsburg is close to Fort Ritchie army base and just west of the presidential retreat Camp David....
north to MD 550
Maryland Route 550
Maryland Route 550 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from MD 26 in Libertytown north to Pen Mar Road in Fort Ritchie...
in Fort Ritchie
Fort Ritchie, Maryland
Fort Ritchie is a census-designated place in Washington County, Maryland, United States, just south of the Pennsylvania state line. The population was 276 at the 2000 census. Fort Ritchie is a former U.S. military base that closed in September 1998 pursuant to the 1995 Base Realignment and...
. The middle portion of MD 491 was constructed in the mid 1950s. The highway was extended south to Smithsburg along a partially new alignment in the early 1960s, replacing a road that had been designed MD 92 from the mid 1930s to the mid 1950s. MD 491 was extended north toward Fort Ritchie in the late 1960s.
Route description
MD 491 begins at an intersection with MD 64 (Smithsburg Pike) in Smithsburg. The state highway heads northeast as two-lane Raven Rock Road, which flanks the western slope of South Mountain and parallels CSXCSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
's Hanover Subdivision
Hanover Subdivision
The Hanover Subdivision is a railroad line owned and operated by CSX Transportation in the U.S. states of Maryland and Pennsylvania. The line runs from Baltimore, Maryland west to Hagerstown, Maryland along several former Western Maryland Railway lines...
. MD 491 veers east away from the railroad at Fruit Tree Drive and crosses Little Antietam Creek. The state highway follows the creek into Raven Rock Hollow, a gap in South Mountain between Buzzard Knob to the south and Raven Rock to the north. MD 491 follows the creek east and then northeast to an unnamed gap near Mt. Zion Road where the highway enters Frederick County. The state highway continues north to a four-way intersection next to the historic summer cottage Tipahato
Tipahato
Tipahato is a former summer residence in Cascade, Frederick County, Maryland that combines Italianate and bungalow design features, as well as Queen Anne and Colonial Revival design. This very large house was built in 1906.-External links:...
. From this intersection on the county line, Fort Ritchie heads east toward Sabillasville
Sabillasville, Maryland
Sabillasville is an unincorporated community in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. Victor Cullen School Power House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 and the Victor Cullen Center, Old Administration Building was listed in 1990.-References:...
and Moyer Road heads north toward the communities of Highfield and Cascade
Highfield-Cascade, Maryland
Highfield-Cascade is a census-designated place in Washington County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,141 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Highfield-Cascade is located at ....
. MD 491 turns west onto Macfee Hill Road into Washington County. The state highways descends to the site of the former U.S. Army installation Fort Ritchie
Fort Ritchie
Fort Ritchie was a military installation south of Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania in the area of South Mountain . The installations's closure under the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure was nearly complete by 1998: "Out the Gate, by 98" .-History:In 1815, the Buena Vista Ice Company constructed two...
within the community of Fort Ritchie, where the highway reaches its northern terminus at MD 550. MD 550 heads northeast as Military Road and northwest along Macfee Hill Road toward Pen Mar.
History
The predecessor state highway to MD 491 was MD 92, which was constructed in 1935. The state highway had its western terminus at the intersection of Water Street and Pennsylvania Avenue (originally MD 64, now MD 66) in Smithsburg. MD 92 ran east as Water Street and Fruit Tree Drive to near Fruit Tree Drive's modern intersection with MD 491 at the Western Maryland RailwayWestern Maryland Railway
The Western Maryland Railway was an American Class I railroad which operated in Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. It was primarily a coal hauling and freight railroad, with a small passenger train operation. The WM became part of the Chessie System in 1973 and ceased operating its lines...
crossing. MD 92 was rebuilt around 1944 as a military access project, as the state highway was part of the most direct route between Hagerstown and Fort Ritchie. MD 92 was transferred out of the state highway system in 1956. That same year, the original MD 491 in Charles County
Charles County, Maryland
Charles County is a county in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Maryland.As of 2010, the population was 146,551. Its county seat is La Plata. This county was named for Charles Calvert , third Baron Baltimore....
became part of an extended MD 425
Maryland Route 425
Maryland Route 425 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from MD 6 near Nanjemoy north to MD 224 in Mason Springs. MD 425 connects Nanjemoy and Ironsides with Pisgah and Mason Springs in western Charles County...
.
Starting in a 1954, the portion of Raven Rock Road from Ritchie Road to the Frederick County line was reconstructed. This segment was designated MD 491 by 1957. The other sections of Raven Rock Road remained county highways. A new road was constructed east of the railroad between MD 64 (Smithsburg Bypass) and the present junction of MD 491 and Fruit Tree Drive in 1963. This new road and the portion of Raven Rock Road between Fruit Tree Drive and Ritchie Road became part of an extended MD 491. MD 491 was extended north from the Frederick County line north along Raven Rock Road and Royer Road to MD 550 in Highfield in 1968. The state highway achieved its present course when its northernmost segment was moved from Royer Road to Macfee Hill Road around 1981.
Junction list
{| class=wikitable!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|Washington
Washington County, Maryland
Washington County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering southern Pennsylvania to the north, northern Virginia to the south, and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia to the south and west. As of the 2010 Census, its population is 147,430...
|Smithsburg
Smithsburg, Maryland
Smithsburg is a town in Washington County, Maryland, United States. Its population was 2,146 at the 2000 census and latest 2008 estimates are at 2,908. Smithsburg is close to Fort Ritchie army base and just west of the presidential retreat Camp David....
|0.00
|
|Southern terminus
|-
|Frederick
Frederick County, Maryland
Frederick County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 233,385....
|
|6.40
|Royer Road north / Fort Ritchie Road east – Sabillasville
Sabillasville, Maryland
Sabillasville is an unincorporated community in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. Victor Cullen School Power House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 and the Victor Cullen Center, Old Administration Building was listed in 1990.-References:...
, Highfield-Cascade
Highfield-Cascade, Maryland
Highfield-Cascade is a census-designated place in Washington County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,141 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Highfield-Cascade is located at ....
|MD 491 turns west onto Macfee Hill Road
|-
|Washington
Washington County, Maryland
Washington County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering southern Pennsylvania to the north, northern Virginia to the south, and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia to the south and west. As of the 2010 Census, its population is 147,430...
|Fort Ritchie
Fort Ritchie, Maryland
Fort Ritchie is a census-designated place in Washington County, Maryland, United States, just south of the Pennsylvania state line. The population was 276 at the 2000 census. Fort Ritchie is a former U.S. military base that closed in September 1998 pursuant to the 1995 Base Realignment and...
|6.78
|
|Northern terminus