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This quiet city located
near the head of the Chesapeake Bay got its name, it seems, upon
the whim of a Mr. Winston from Aberdeen, Scotland, who came to
occupy a house just west of Hall’s Cross Roads in 1835. The
house was next to the railroad right-of-way, and when the
railroad inaugurated a stopping point there, Mr. Wilson became
the first station-master. He took it upon himself to name the
stop “Aberdeen.” The name stuck. Aberdeen soon became a railroad
forwarding point for local agricultural products destined for
the markets of Baltimore and Philadelphia. The availability of
that economical and efficient transportation inspired the
development of Harford County’s first canning industry in 1867.
Today, two national railroads carry passengers and commodities
along the eastern corridor passing through Aberdeen on the way.
Aberdeen is fortunate to have as its neighbor the world’s
most diversified military research and development
center—Aberdeen Proving Ground. The city and the Proving Ground
have close social, educational, and economic interdependence.
The city’s diverse and multicultural population is a product of
that strong military influence that has existed for close to 80
years.
Demonstrating a strong relationship between industry and
community, Aberdeen has attracted major manufacturing and
distribution companies to locate in the city: Frito-Lay, Saks
Fifth Avenue, Clorox, Pier 1, and others. With the opening of
the Higher Education Applied Technology Center, Aberdeen is
poised to become one of the hottest technology centers in the
northeast.
The quaintness of the downtown area lends a village
atmosphere to Aberdeen, although city conveniences abound. A
volunteer fire and ambulance department and the Aberdeen police
department offer excellent protection. There is a modern public
library, Senior Citizens’ Center, Boys & Girls Club, and two
museums. Its neighborhoods have spacious yards and tree-lined
streets with homes that range from modern townhouses to restored
Victorian “mansions.” Aberdeen is rich in history and historic
landmarks. In 1982, a survey of historic homes, churches, and
other sites was undertaken; so far, forty-eight sites have been
identified by the Maryland Historical Trust. The All-American
City award was presented to Aberdeen in 1997 in recognition of
the city’s commitment to partnership and progress, creativity
and collaboration, perseverance and pride.
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