The Georges Creek Coal and Iron Company constructed and operated a blast furnace in Lonaconing from 1836 to 1855 along with constructing and operating the related Georges Creek Railroad from 1851 to 1863. The Lonaconing Furnace was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,214 people, 463 households, and 303 families living in the town. The population density was. There were 525 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the town was 98.1% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Asian, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.5% of the population. There were 463 households of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.6% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.08. The median age in the town was 40.5 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 22.9% were from 45 to 64; and 20.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,205 people, 482 households, and 290 families living in the town. The population density was 2,875.8 people per square mile. There were 559 housing units at an average density of 1,334.1 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 98.67% White, 0.66% African American, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population. At 16.1 percent Scottish, Lonaconing is the most Scottish town in the United States. There were 482 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.15. In the town, the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.0 males. The median income for a household in the town was $27,434, and the median income for a family was $37,083. Males had a median income of $27,315 versus $19,423 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,890. About 12.8% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.3% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.
Geography
Lonaconing is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, all land.
Schools
Westmar Middle School was opened in the fall of 2007 when it was relocated to Lonaconing after the closure of the Westmar Middle School facility in Westernport. Prior to the fall of 2007, the building was occupied by Westmar High School, originally Valley High School, which was established in 1953 and renamed "Westmar" during the 1989-1990 school year, three years after the consolidation of Bruce High School in 1986. Westmar High School closed, vacating the building for future use a middle school, following the 2006-2007 school year after which the populations of Westmar and Beall High schools consolidated into the newly built Mountain Ridge High School in Frostburg. Georges Creek Elementary was opened in 1975 with the closing of Central School. It combined populations with Barton Elementary in 2000. The school has approximately 380 students.
Transportation
The main method of travel to and from Lonaconing is by road. The only significant highway serving the town is Maryland Route 36, which also serves as Main Street. MD 36 heads northward towards Frostburg and Interstate 68, while to the south, it terminates at the town of Westernport.
Notable person
Robert Moses Grove, professional baseball pitcher, member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame
