The Cumberland Metropolitan Area is geographically isolated by a range of ridges and valleys from the rest of Maryland which is relatively flat.

These mountain ranges form adjacent valleys which have served to collect and integrate the regional cities and towns together into urbanized channels that follow the valleys northeasterly.

This has served to give the area a unique sense of identity and economic integration.

[1] The Cumberland Metro is one of the poorest in the United States, ranking 305th out of 318 metropolitan areas in per capita income.

[citation needed] Total GDP of Cumberland, MD-WV MSA[2] [3] Significant area employers include: