According to allpubliclibraries, Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) is a United States Army installation located in Harford County, Maryland. It is one of the largest military bases in the country and is the home to several army units, including the United States Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC). APG covers nearly 70,000 acres of land, making it one of the largest military installations in the world.
APG is situated on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, roughly between Baltimore and Philadelphia. The base is located on both sides of US Route 40, which runs through its center. The area surrounding APG is mostly rural and consists mostly of farmland and wetlands. The nearest city to APG is Aberdeen, approximately five miles away.
The geography of APG can be divided into two distinct areas: the Main Post Area and the Edgewood Area. The Main Post Area covers nearly 60,000 acres and consists mostly of open grasslands with scattered trees. This area contains many buildings associated with army operations including barracks, offices, warehouses and other support facilities.
The Edgewood Area encompasses 10,000 acres located mainly on a peninsula along Bush River near its confluence with Chesapeake Bay. This area contains mostly marshland but also includes some forested areas as well as some residential neighborhoods for military personnel and their families.
APG has several recreational areas that are open to both military personnel and civilians alike such as Lake Elkhorn Recreation Area which offers camping facilities along with fishing opportunities for those looking to enjoy nature’s beauty while still being close to modern amenities like Wi-Fi access points or convenience stores nearby. Additionally there are several trails available for hiking or biking through various parts of APG like Rock Creek Trail or Susquehanna Trail which offer stunning views while exploring wooded areas or crossing over bridges over Bush River respectively.
In conclusion Aberdeen Proving Ground is an expansive 70,000 acre facility that has been used by the US Army since World War I for testing new weapons systems as well as training soldiers in modern warfare tactics while also offering recreational activities such as camping sites or trails for those looking to explore nature’s beauty within a short distance from urban centers like Baltimore or Philadelphia making it an ideal destination for both locals looking for a weekend getaway or anyone visiting from around the world!
History of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) is a United States Army installation located in Harford County, Maryland. Established in 1917 as a testing facility for military weaponry, it has since become one of the largest military installations in the world. Over 70,000 acres of land are now used for research and testing, as well as housing and recreational activities.
The origins of APG can be traced back to World War I when the US Army needed a place to test new weapons such as tanks, airplanes and artillery pieces. In 1917 the US War Department purchased nearly 60,000 acres of land near Aberdeen, Maryland for this purpose. The area was chosen due to its proximity to major cities like Philadelphia and Baltimore which allowed for easier access to personnel and supplies.
Initially known as “The Proving Ground” or “The Edgewood Arsenal”, it was officially renamed Aberdeen Proving Ground in 1919 after Major General George O. Squier who had been instrumental in its formation. During World War II APG saw an influx of personnel with over 10,000 men stationed there at its peak during 1943-44. It also saw a variety of new weapons being tested including rockets and missiles which were used in both Europe and the Pacific theaters of war.
After World War II APG continued to grow with new facilities being built such as Edgewood Chemical Activity (ECA) which produced chemical agents from 1952-75; the Army Ballistic Research Laboratory (ABRL) which conducted research on ballistics from 1959-92; and other support facilities such as barracks for personnel housing or warehouses for storing equipment.
Today APG is still an active military installation that plays an important role in US defense operations with over 20,000 personnel stationed there across multiple commands including the US Army Test & Evaluation Command (ATEC), Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO Soldier), Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) and more recently Cyber Command (CYBERCOM). It is also home to several other organizations such as Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC), Joint Program Executive Office Armaments & Ammunition Life Cycle Management Command (JPEO ALCMC) and Logistics & Readiness Center Aberdeen Proving Ground (LRSC APG).
In addition to its military operations APG also offers a variety of recreational opportunities with several campgrounds or trails available for hiking or biking while taking in nature’s beauty alongside modern amenities such as Wi-Fi access points or convenience stores nearby making it an ideal destination for both locals looking for a weekend getaway or anyone visiting from around the world!
Economy of Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) is a major U.S. Army installation located in Harford County, Maryland. The base has been in operation since 1917 and is home to over 20,000 personnel across multiple commands. As the largest employer in Harford County, APG plays a vital role in the local economy.
The base contributes $3 billion annually to the regional economy through direct and indirect spending on goods and services by its personnel, contracts with local businesses, and contributions to the local tax base. This economic impact is felt most strongly in Harford County, where APG accounts for over 30% of total employment and nearly 25% of total income generated across all industries.
APG also provides significant job opportunities for residents of Harford County as well as surrounding counties such as Cecil and Baltimore County. In addition to military personnel stationed at APG, there are several thousand civilian contractors employed by the base who provide a variety of services such as research & development, logistics & maintenance support, IT services and more. In addition to these direct jobs created by APG, there are also thousands of indirect jobs supported by businesses that provide goods or services to those employed at APG or their families.
In addition to providing jobs for locals, APG also generates revenue for local governments through taxes paid on property owned or leased by the base as well as taxes paid by military personnel and civilian contractors working at the base. This revenue helps fund essential government services such as schools, police & fire departments and infrastructure projects like road improvements or park renovations throughout Harford County and beyond.
The economic impact of APG extends beyond just job creation or tax revenue though; it also serves as an important hub for various research & development initiatives which can benefit not only military operations but also commercial applications such as medical technology or environmental clean-up efforts. As one of only three Department of Defense laboratories dedicated solely to research & development in chemical & biological defense technologies this makes APG a key player in advancing these technologies which can have far reaching implications both domestically within the US as well as around the world.
Overall it’s clear that Aberdeen Proving Ground plays an integral role both economically and strategically within Maryland’s economy creating jobs for locals while supporting essential government operations with its tax payments while simultaneously helping advance cutting edge technologies through its research initiatives that can benefit us all!
Politics in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland
Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) is located in Harford County, Maryland and has a long history of political involvement. It is home to over 7,000 military personnel, civilian contractors, and their families. The area is also home to many government facilities and entities that are important to the local economy. This includes the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC), and the Aberdeen Test Center (ATC). All of these facilities are key players in the research and development of technologies for military use as well as commercial applications such as medical technology or environmental clean-up efforts that benefit us all.
The politics of APG have been shaped by its history as a major military installation since 1917 when it was first established as an Army Ordnance Proving Ground for testing weapons, ammunition, and explosives during World War I. During this time period, APG was largely insulated from local politics due to its remote location in Harford County surrounded by forested land owned by the federal government or private landowners. However, since then there have been several changes that have had an impact on its political landscape including the establishment of Aberdeen City in 1952 which gave APG a direct connection with local politics through its mayor and city council members who are elected every four years during municipal elections.
In addition to municipal politics, APG also has a strong presence at both state and national levels due to its important role in national defense initiatives as well as its significant economic impact on Maryland’s economy through job creation for locals as well as revenue generated from taxes paid on property owned or leased by the base or taxes paid by those employed at APG or their families which help fund essential government services such as schools, police & fire departments etc.. As a result there are several state representatives from Harford County who are actively involved with advocating for legislation beneficial to APG’s mission such as increased funding for research & development initiatives or support for military personnel stationed at APG among other topics related to national defense issues that require congressional approval.
Finally, while much of the focus regarding politics related to Aberdeen Proving Ground tends to center around legislative matters it is important not forget about other issues such as environmental concerns related to operations on base or quality of life issues related to housing costs or access to healthcare services which can play an equally important role in shaping the political environment surrounding this unique military installation located within Maryland’s borders.
