The Maryland General Assembly chartered the town of Barnesville in 1811 and named it in honor of its earliest settler, Williams Barnes. In its early years, the village developed as a regional center for industry and commerce, with two taverns, a blacksmith shop, and a resident physician, a Dr. Lisle. In the 1830s, Barnesville Academy operated on the Hays Farm under the leadership of Irish immigrant Thomas Carr Lannan. Jesuit Ministers from Frederick first held mass in Barnesville and led in the creation of St. Mary's Church in 1807. The church yard contains several graves from immigrant workers who died of cholera while building the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. Barnesville Baptist Church was organized in 1871 and still worships in its original frame building on the east side of the town.
Geography
Barnesville is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, all land.
As of the census of 2010, there were 172 people, 67 households, and 55 families living in the town. The population density was. There were 71 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the town was 91.3% White, 2.3% African American, 1.7% Native American, 0.6% Asian, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population. There were 67 households, of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.2% were married couples living together, 4.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 10.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 17.9% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age in the town was 48 years. 25.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 13.4% were from 25 to 44; 40.2% were from 45 to 64; and 17.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 161 people, 59 households, and 49 families living in the town. The population density was 330.7 people per square mile. There were 65 housing units at an average density of 133.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 96.89% White, 1.86% African American, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.62% of the population. There were 59 households out of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.2% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.3% were non-families. 11.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 2.98. In the town, the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males. The median income for a household in the town was $78,791, and the median income for a family was $79,581. Males had a median income of $52,188 versus $50,625 for females. The per capita income for the town was $38,001. None of the population or families were below the poverty line.
Town Government
The Town of Barnesville is an incorporated municipality in Montgomery County in the State of Maryland. Management of the town's affairs is the responsibility of three Commissioners, elected biannually. The Commissioners select from among them a President who is informally known as the Mayor of the Town. Elected in May 2019 were Mildred Callear, Holly Larisch and Audrey Morris. Mildred Callear was again selected as the President of the Commissioners for the 2019-2021 session.
Past Presidents of Commission
Barnesville community
At the top of a ridge with views of Sugarloaf Mountain to the north and the Catoctin Mountain and Blue Ridge ranges to the west, Barnesville enjoys a connection with the rhythms of the natural world while being within commuting distance of the nation's capital. The town's motto, "A Caring Community", is a testament to the sense of place enjoyed by the town's residents and their neighbors in the Agricultural Reserve of Western Montgomery County. Barnesville is served by the MARC commuter rail system. The station building was originally a gas metering station in Rockville; it was moved to Barnesville in 1977.
