Frederick

 

Frederick is a city in and the county seat of Frederick County, Maryland. It is part of the Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan Area.

 

Frederick is well known for the “clustered spires” skyline of its historic downtown churches. These spires are depicted on the city’s seal and many other city-affiliated logos and insignia. The phrase “clustered spires” is used as the name of several city locations such as Clustered Spires Cemetery and the city-operated Clustered Spires Golf Course. The scale of the older part of the city is dense, with streets and sidewalks suitable for pedestrians, and a variety of shops and restaurants, comprising what Forbes magazine in 2010 called one of the United States' “Greatest Neighborhoods”.

 

The Frederick Arts Council is the designated arts organization for Frederick County. The organization is charged with promoting, supporting, and advocating the arts. Frederick has a community orchestra, the Frederick Symphony Orchestra, that performs five concerts per year consisting of classical masterpieces. Frederick is home to the Frederick School of Classical Ballet, the official school for Maryland Regional Ballet.

 

Frederick’s relative proximity to Washington, D.C., has always been an important factor in the development of its local economy, as well as the presence of Fort Detrick, its largest employer. The Frederick Historic District in the city’s downtown houses more than 200 retailers, restaurants, and antique shops along Market, Patrick, and East Streets.[50] Restaurants feature a diverse array of cuisines, including Italian American, Thai, Vietnamese, and Cuban, as well as several regionally recognized dining establishments, such as The Tasting Room and Olde Towne Tavern. In addition to retail and dining, downtown Frederick is home to 600 businesses and organizations totaling nearly 5,000 employees. A growing technology sector can be found in downtown’s historic renovated spaces, as well as in new office buildings located along Carroll Creek Park.

 

A recreational and cultural resource, the park also serves as an economic development catalyst, with private investment along the creek functioning as a key component to the park’s success. More than 400,000 sf of office space; 150,000 sf of commercial/retail space; nearly 300 residential units; and more than 2,000 parking spaces are planned or under construction.