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Washington Grove, Maryland

Washington Grove is a town in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The population was 505 at the 2020 census. The Washington Grove Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Indigenous people of Washington Grove environs
The land where the residential community of Washington Grove now stands, and all of Montgomery County, was traveled and inhabited by indigenous people from around 10,000 BCE. Members of the Massawomeck, Susquehannock, Senaca (Iroquois), and Piscataway-Conoy tribes lived in the area, primarily using the land as crossover territory toward rock shelters, encampments and sizable villages near the Potomac River. Tribal boundaries were fluid.

<!--The following detailed information is about indigenous cultures in the larger region and is out of scope for this article. Consider moving it to Native American tribes in Maryland: 12,000 years ago, an era colder than today’s climate, Paleo-Indian people moved together over the evergreen-covered landscape in small groups, adapting to changing seasons as they hunted bison, giant beavers, and mammoth using poles tipped with fluted points made from worked stone. Points have been found in the area where Seneca Creek flows into the Potomac River.

About 9,000 years ago, the climate warmed and plants and animals similar to today’s species spread along the Potomac. Signs of human occupation can be found along the Potomac River near Dickerson and other areas.

Around 3,500 years ago, tribes settled more permanently, although they still moved seasonally across woodlands, streams, and rivers. Seed collecting led to agriculture, and pottery making began. A settlement near Potomac, Maryland, dated from this period included burial sites for both humans and their dogs.

In the environs of Washington Grove is a steatite (soapstone) quarry site listed on the Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties, possibly dating from this late Archaic time period. The presence of flaked stone tools suggests that Native Americans conducted quarrying here prior to the site's use by local farmers and Washington Grove residents.

By 1300, indigenous people began to establish large settlements along the Potomac River, its islands, and uplands. They named the area Cohongoroota, "The Land Above the Falls". The Piscataway people built longhouses 10 ft high and 20 ft long, with barrel-shaped roofs covered with bark or woven mats. Villages were surrounded by palisades for protection, and outside were fields of maize, beans, squash, and leaf vegetables such as Chenopodium (goosefoot) and Amaranthus. The bow and arrow were commonly used in hunting and warfare. A rock shelter in Gaithersburg near Seneca Creek (the Hargatt-King Rockshelter) contained a blue bead, suggesting contact with Europeans.

In 1608, John Smith identified 166 tribes, including the Algonquian-speaking tribes of the Powhatan group in Virginia, the Piscataway in southern Maryland, and the Nachotank (Anacostia) near the Anacostia River. Montgomery County was ringed by non-Algonquian-speaking groups who were often hostile but were also trading partners:  the Iroquoian-speaking Susquehannocks near the mouth of the Susquehanna River at Chesapeake Bay, and the Siouan-speaking Monocans and Mannohoac west of the fall line below the Potomac River. The Potomac River valley was a major corridor in and out of the region. The tribes most prevalent in the area of Montgomery County just prior to European arrival were the Piscataway Conoy and the Susquehannock.

In the late 1600s, on Conoy Island near Point of Rocks, 150 Piscataway-Conoy people retreating from colonists' discrimination built houses in a palisaded village, speaking an Algonquian language now extinct. By 1700, most indigenous tribes had suffered rapid population decline due to infectious diseases and wars, and had been forced out by English colonists. By 1722 the tribe had lost two-thirds of their population.

Fearing further encroachment and hostility, the Piscataway-Conoy people left the area, some moving into Pennsylvania and farther north. Today, descendants of the northern migrants live on the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation reserve in Ontario. Some members moved to Virginia and a few families stayed in their traditional homeland in Maryland. The three groups are identified as the Piscataway Indian Nation and Tayca Territory, the Piscataway Conoy Confederacy and Sub-Tribes, and the Cedarville Band of Piscataway Indians.

As of December 2017, three tribes are recognized by the State of Maryland, namely the Piscataway Indian Nation, the Piscataway Conoy Tribe, and the Accohannock Indian Tribe. None of the three tribes are federally recognized.

As of the 2020 census, 40,000 Maryland residents self-identify as Native American. ...end off-topic section that belongs in Native American tribes in Maryland. -->

Founding
A group of Methodists began the tradition of having camp meetings in the area circa 1800. Camp meetings were a tradition where a group of Methodists would gather in a forest clearing to worship and socialize. Benches were arranged in a circle or oval with an elevated preachers' stand in the middle. Tents surrounded the area, along with carriages and wagons behind them. Services lasted well into the night. The camp meetings provided cultural and spiritual improvement to those who attended.

In 1873, a committee from the Foundry Methodist Church, located at 14th and G streets NW in Washington, D.C., began a search for a permanent location to hold annual camp meetings. They wanted a location with sufficient space for thousands of attendees, a supply of clean water, and a shaded location to provide relief from the summer sun. They wanted the location to be less than a day's trip from Washington, and protection from the sale of liquor, because Methodists did not believe in drinking alcohol.

In June 1873, John T. Mitchell, Richard Willett, F. Howard, W.R. Woodward, E.F. Simpson, Mr. Worthington, Thomas P. Morgan, B. Peyton Brown, and a few others purchased 267.5 acres of land from the widow of farmer Nathan Cooke for $6,636.25. The land was given to the Washington Grove Meeting Association, which had been recently incorporated on March 30, 1874.

A person could build a cottage on the land by purchasing five shares of stock for twenty dollars per share. The first share had to be purchased with cash, while the other four could be financed at an annual interest rate of six percent. Alternatively, a tent could be rented for between $9 and $15. There were two dining courts, and a market would provided fresh meat and produce. The center of the camp was originally named The Plaza and later The Symbolic Circle, and there were six numbered avenues radiating from it. Tents were arranged in a grid along avenues named for participating churches. Families would stay over to attend a two-week-long meeting of the Methodist Episcopal churches of the District of Columbia. Named Washington Grove Camp, the first camp meeting began on August 5, 1874, with 240 tents.

In 1877, a tabernacle with a belfry for a bell was built in the center of the circle. The bell called people to prayer, and it was also rung at the end of the camp meeting. The tabernacle was a large open-air chapel that could seat 500 worshipers. In addition to religious services, lecturers spoke on such topics as women's suffrage and the problem of poverty in cities.

The Maryland legislature gave camp-meeting managers control of all land within a two-mile radius of a meeting site in order to prohibit businesses from opening nearby. The camp-meeting managers used this power to prohibit the sale of alcoholic beverages anywhere on the grounds. While entertaining programs were allowed, card playing, theater going, and dancing were all banned. In 1879, they voted to prohibit the selling of anything at all on Sundays. The Barrett Brothers, who operated the camp store, asked for an exception to sell ice cream and sandwiches on Sundays, but their request was denied.

Reverend William Burns of Dumbarton Methodist Church built the first cottage in 1878. By 1879, seventeen cottages had been built, each with green and white exteriors and large porches, surrounding a large tabernacle. The cottages peaked roofs resembled that of the original tents, and the architectural style was Carpenter Gothic, which was fashionable at the time. The round-trip train fare between the District and Washington Grove was eighty cents in 1879.

In 1879, the trustees voted to borrow $4,000 in order to build a hotel on the western area of the grounds. Completed in 1881, the hotel was three stories in the center and two stories in the wings. It had 23 sleeping rooms, a parlor, a dining room, and a kitchen. The cost to build the hotel came in under the $4,000 budget. Building of a chapel to hold 800 people began in 1889.

In 1880, the Washington Grove Camp Meeting Association decided that a hotel was needed. To build the hotel, they chose Wash Williams, a furniture store owner. The Albany Hotel had big porches, a large dining room, a barber shop, and a small store. Rooms cost between $6 and $7 per week, and dinner cost fifty cents. During the same year, rules were established protecting existing trees when cottages and streets were built.

In order to accommodate larger groups of people, an auditorium with seating for 1,400 people was built in Woodward Park in 1905. The auditorium symbolically moved away from the Sacred Circle. Admission to the wholesome entertainment cost $2 per adult and $1 per child for the season. Some of the entertainment included musical programs, educational lectures, and spelling bees. Religious services were held at the auditorium as well. As the auditorium increasingly became the center of life at the camp, the old Tabernacle was torn down.

Because the land was owned by the Washington Grove Camp Meeting Association, it had complete control over who purchased and leased the plots. In the early 20th century, the Washington Grove Camp Association, and later the Town of Washington Grove, placed restrictive covenants in deeds and leases in order to prevent African Americans from buying, renting, or leasing land in Washington Grove. This is exemplified in one of many deeds, such as one dating from 1925 that reads,

"That whereas the death rate of persons of African descent is much greater than the death rate of persons of the white race and affects injuriously the health of the town and village communities, and as the permanent location of persons of African descent in such places as owners or tenants constitutes and irreparable injury to the value and usefulness of real estate in the interest of public health and to prevent irreparable injury to the grantor or its successors and assigns, and the owners of adjacent real estate, the grantees, their heirs and assigns, hereby covenant, and agree with the grantor, its successors and assigns, that they will not sell, conveyor rent the premises hereby conveyed, the whole or any part thereof, or any structure thereon, to any person of African descent."

A Black Methodist camp was founded in 1864 as Emory Grove, that predated Washington Grove. Less than a mile separated the two towns, and many of the residents of Emory Grove worked for the residents of Washington Grove. The superintendent of the Washington Grove grounds was a resident of Emory Grove named William A. Scott. Following an incident in 1892 where an Emory Grove native, Jessie Lancaster, ransacked homes in Washington Grove, William A. Scott was forced out. Subsequently, in 1897 the gates to Washington Grove were closed, thus preventing anyone from walking through Washington Grove. This closing severely hindered the ability of Emory Grove residents to reach the train stop on the other side of Washington Grove.

Twentieth century
Eventually, people began to live in the area year-round. In 1910, the church formed a year-round congregation. By the 1920s, the Washington Grove Camp Meeting Association began selling portions of land, slowly replacing the 99-year leases. By 1924, camp meetings were no longer held.

The Great Depression affected the area significantly. The Washington Grove Camp Meeting Association had a difficult time paying its bills, it cut back on its insurance, and at one point it needed a donation to pay the community's electricity bill. Because some residents could no longer afford vacation homes, some of the homes were rented out while others stood vacant and neglected.

By 1934, the Washington Grove Camp Meeting Association recognized that the area had dramatically changed since its founding. Some residents wanted the area to be annexed to the town of Gaithersburg. Reorganization committees met for several years to determine a plan for the future of the community. In 1937, the Washington Grove Camp Meeting Association was dissolved; the Maryland Legislature incorporated the community as a town on March 26, 1937. Maryland Governor Harry Nice signed the town's charter into law on May 18, 1937. On July 10, 1937, the town held an election where it chose its first mayor and six members of the town council. Irving L. McCathran was elected the town's first mayor. He served as mayor for twenty years.

By the late 1940s, Washington Grove began to look run down. Assembly Hall was in poor condition, the parks were unkempt, and many cottages so dilapidated that they were torn down. There was too little money to maintain the Auditorium, and it was demolished. The surrounding farms in Gaithersburg were beginning to be sold to developers, changing the surrounding area and putting pressure on the town to change dramatically. In 1955, the Town of Washington Grove obtained zoning and planning powers in order to control future growth.

In 1975, a master plan was written in order to retain the existing historic nature of the town. The town applied for National Register of Historic Places status in 1979, and it was approved the following year.

Today
The original layout of small houses fronting grassy walkways was preserved in the center of town, with vehicular access via paved streets leading to the backs of the houses. Houses built more recently do not front the walkways, but preserve a Grove flavor by the variety of architectural styles resulting from their being constructed one at a time in various styles rather than in tracts.

More than half of the town is publicly owned. The East Woods and West Woods, designated as wildlife sanctuaries, are the only municipality-owned forests in Maryland. The many walkways and parks are popular not only with residents but also with people from neighboring communities. On a fine evening, the walkways hum with people and cats strolling, walking dogs, and chatting. Residents meet for musical picnics at the Gazebo, town meetings in McCathran Hall, and summer days swimming in Maple Lake, the Town's swimming hole in the West Woods. Other town activities include the Summer in the Parks program for children, a book club, a movie club, and the Mousetrap series of concerts.

In 2013, Preservation Maryland placed Washington Grove on its list of threatened historic properties.

Geography
Washington Grove is located in central Montgomery County at 39.13944°N, -77.17583°W (39.139535, -77.175926). It is bordered to the west by the town of Gaithersburg, and to the northeast and southeast by unincorporated Redland. Rockville, the Montgomery county seat, is 4 mi to the south, and downtown Washington, D.C., is 19 mi to the south-southeast.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Washington Grove has a total area of 0.34 sqmi, of which 0.002 sqmi, or 0.59%, are water. The town sits on a ridge that drains northwest to Whetstone Run, a tributary of Great Seneca Creek, and southeast to Mill Creek, a tributary of Rock Creek. Seneca and Rock Creek are south-flowing tributaries of the Potomac River.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 555 people, 230 households, and 157 families residing in the town. The population density was 1585.7 PD/sqmi. There were 242 housing units at an average density of 691.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 85.2% White, 4.0% African American, 7.4% Asian, 2.5% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.6% of the population.

There were 230 households, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 5.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.7% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.87.

The median age in the town was 49.7 years. 20.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 15% were from 25 to 44; 46.3% were from 45 to 64; and 13.3% 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 515 people, 208 households, and 143 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,563.8 PD/sqmi. There were 209 housing units at an average density of 634.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 94.76% White, 0.39% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 2.72% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.08% of the population.

There were 208 households, out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.91. There is an average of 1.8 cats per family in Washington Grove.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 37.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $92,398, and the median income for a family was $97,029. Males had a median income of $70,750 versus $48,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $38,332. None of the families and 0.8% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no one under eighteen and no one over 64.

Government
Washington Grove is governed by a town council consisting of six elected councilors and a mayor. Elections are held yearly in May, with two councilor positions rotating for election each year. Two council meetings are held each month. Town residents are encouraged to attend, and in one of the two monthly meetings a period of time is set aside for "Public Appearances" in which issues are aired and discussed by town residents urging some action by the council. There is a town meeting yearly in which town residents examine and approve (or ask for changes to) the coming fiscal year's budget. When issues of significant importance are pending, a special town meeting is often called to allow for an exchange of ideas.

Most of the work in keeping the town running, however, is performed by volunteers in committees including the Woods Group, the Recreation Committee, the Lake Committee, the Historic Preservation Committee, and many others. Volunteerism is high, allowing an extraordinarily broad range of activities and events.

Each councilor is liaison to (typically) two town committees, with responsibilities to attend meetings of those committees and report back on their activities. Individual councilors are also responsible for administration of contracts for road maintenance, trash and recycling pickup, tree maintenance, and other ongoing upkeep efforts.

Education
The town is zoned to schools in the Montgomery County Public Schools district.

Zoned schools include:
 * Washington Grove Elementary School
 * Forest Oak Middle School
 * Gaithersburg High School

Transportation
No state highways traverse the town, with the primary road through town being county-maintained Washington Grove Lane. However, major highways are located in the vicinity, including Interstate 370, Interstate 270, and Maryland Route 200.

The Washington Grove station on MARC's Brunswick Line provides commuter service into Washington D.C.

title: Washington Grove, Maryland


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Wheaton–Glenmont, Maryland

Wheaton–Glenmont was a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Maryland, at the 2000 United States Census, at which time it had a population of 57,694. For the 2010 U.S. Census the area was split into the two census-designated places of Wheaton and Glenmont.

Geography
Wheaton–Glenmont is located at 39.05361°N, -77.05917°W (39.053658, −77.059071).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the place had a total area of 10.2 sqmi, all of it land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,694 people, 19,596 households, and 13,971 families living in the area. The population density was 5,635.1 people per square mile (2,175.4/km2). There were 20,125 housing units at an average density of 1,965.7 per square mile (758.8/km2). The racial makeup of the area was 49.92% White, 18.83% African American, 0.40% Native American, 12.16% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 13.26% from other races, and 5.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.92% of the population.

There were 19,596 households, out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 22.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.39.

In the specified area the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the area was $59,211, and the median income for a family was $62,295. Males had a median income of $39,064 versus $32,578 for females. The per capita income for the area was $23,927. About 6.4% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Wheaton–Glenmont, Maryland


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White Oak, Maryland

White Oak is a census-designated place and unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 16,347 in 2020.

White Oak was known for its Naval Ordnance Laboratory, which was closed in 1994. The headquarters of the Food and Drug Administration now occupies the property, which has been renamed the Federal Research Center at White Oak. According to the United States Census Bureau, the locality has a total area of 3.78 square miles (9.79 km$2$), all land.

White Oak is a diverse neighborhood. The main area of White Oak is from Lockwood Drive starting from New Hampshire Avenue (MD 650) towards Stewart Lane, crossing Columbia Pike (U.S. 29).

Geography
As an unincorporated area, White Oak's boundaries are not officially defined by either a municipal government or by the government of Montgomery County. Boundaries for the White Oak census-designated place have been established by the United States Census Bureau, while the United States Geological Survey recognizes White Oak to be a populated place located at 39.03983°N, -76.99303°W (39.039832, –76.993032). Many of its residents consider themselves to be residents of the White Oak neighborhood of Silver Spring, similar to how large cities have different neighborhoods within their borders.

Quaint Acres
"Quaint Acres" is a subdivision of White Oak just north of modern Route 29 and west of New Hampshire Avenue. The subdivision was named after the house of Altus Lacy Quaintance, a State Entomologist of Maryland who worked at the Maryland Agricultural College and later at the USDA.

On 26 May 1945, a TB-25D 'Mitchell' bomber en route from Biloxi to Bolling Field crashed near Quaint Acres, killing all four aboard. The bomber was piloted by Dudley M. Outcalt who flew in the 94th Aero Squadron during World War I.

After the war, the Quaint Acres subdivision was home to famed naturalist Rachel Carson and where she wrote Silent Spring in 1962, the book that facilitated the ban of the pesticide DDT in the United States. She built the ranch house at 11701 Berwick Rd. in 1956, and lived there until her death in 1964. The house is a National Historic Landmark, but not open to the public.

Quaint Acres was also the Washington area home to Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to be elected to both the U.S. House and the Senate.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 17,403 people, 6,520 households, and 4,227 families residing in the White Oak area. The population density was 4,605.2 people per square mile (11,927.4/km$2$). There were 6,865 housing units at an average density of 1,816.1 per square mile (701.2/km$2$). The racial makeup of the area was 27.7% White, 49.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 8.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 9.1% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.4% of the population. 6% of White Oak's residents were White Hispanics/Latinos, 21.6% were Hispanics/Latinos from some other race, and 1.5% were Afro-Latinos. 21.6% of the population were non-Hispanic whites, 47.8% were non-Hispanic blacks, and 8.9% were non-Hispanic Asians.

The largest ancestry groups by race, according to current estimates, were:

 * 53.2% African, Afro-Caribbean, or African American (12.5% other Sub-Saharan African, 4.1% Ethiopian, 1.8% Haitian, 1.4% Jamaican, 0.7% Kenyan)
 * 17.6% White (3.2% German, 2.9% American, 2.4% English, 2.3% Irish, 1.6% Italian, 0.9% Polish)
 * 19.1% Hispanic or Latino (9.4% Salvadoran, 2.69% Dominican, 1.38% Guatemalan, 1.27% Mexican, 1.26% Puerto Rican)
 * 7.1% Asian (2.49% Vietnamese, 1.66% Korean, 1.11% Indian, 0.83% Chinese)

White Oak is home to a large population Orthodox and Conservative Jews. The Silver Spring Eruv Association includes parts of White Oak and the nearby neighborhoods of Kemp Mill and Colesville. An earlier eruv existed around the White Oak Apartments, until the larger eruv was constructed. White Oak is home to an Orthodox synagogue, the Southeast Hebrew Congregation. Southeast Hebrew was originally founded by Orthodox Eastern European immigrants in 1909 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Many Jews began to move out of Southeast Washington beginning in the 1930s and Southeast Hebrew was relocated to White Oak in 1971. Between 1965 and 2011, White Oak was home to Shaare Tefila Congregation, a Conservative synagogue. Shaare Tefila was originally founded in Riggs Park, a historically Jewish neighborhood in Washington, D.C once known as DC's "Little Tel Aviv." Founded in 1951, Shaare Tefila was relocated to White Oak in 1965. In 2011, Shaare Tefila was relocated again, moving to Olney where many young members now reside.

Education
Depending on how White Oak is geographically defined, students attend Cresthaven, Jackson Road and Burnt Mills Elementary Schools, which feed into White Oak and Francis Scott Key Middle School. Eighth-grade students have the option of choosing between the three Northeast Consortium schools, Blake High School, Paint Branch High School, and Springbrook High School.

Springbrook is located in the White Oak CDP.

title: White Oak, Maryland


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Accokeek, Maryland

Accokeek, "at the edge of the hill" in Algonquin, is a census-designated place (CDP) located in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The CDP is located on the Potomac River, borders Charles County and is approximately 17 miles from Washington. It is a part of the Washington metropolitan area. The population of the CDP, as of the 2020 United States Census was 13,927.

While the area around Accokeek was inhabited by Native Americans since approximately 2,000 BCE, John Smith was the first European to visit the area in 1608. In 1990, the United States Census Bureau officially made Accokeek a CDP.

History
The area around Accokeek had been occupied since around 2000 BC; however, the first permanent village was established in c. 1200 AD by the Piscataway tribe. Captain John Smith was the first European to see the Accokeek area. In 1608, he sailed the Potomac River and found the Moyaone village. At the time of the discovery, Moyaone was the seat of government for the Piscataway Tribe. The village of Moyaone disbanded and the population migrated to other tribes before other Europeans settled the area.

In the mid-17th century, settlers were purchasing large plots of land for farming. The Native Americans were upset that the settlers were wearing-out the land due to farming various crops, which led to multiple battles between the two. Between 1675 and 1682, the Native Americans were forced from the area as a result of losing.

In 1861, Accokeek was still rural, and agriculture was the main economic factor for the place. Tobacco was the main crop planted. During the American Civil War (1861–1865), Accokeek sympathized with the Confederacy. According to the 1860 Census, the area around Accokeek had a slave population of 1,600 (52.6%). There were multiple Confederate spies in the area, including Thomas Harbin who open a hotel in the area and had plans to kidnap then-President Abraham Lincoln.

Henry and Alice Ferguson settled in Accokeek when they purchased Hard Bargain Farm overlooking the Potomac River in 1922 as a vacation retreat. Between 1935 and 1939 Alice Ferguson initiated archaeological excavations. A fort from the Susquehannock people, which was demolished in 1675, was found. In 1957, US Senator Frances P. Bolton founded the Accokeek Foundation. The Foundation was used to purchase 200 acres of land in Piscataway Park to help preserve the area. Much of the community west of Route 210 is designated the Moyaone Reserve and contains mid-century, individually-designed homes on minimum 5-acre wooded lots. Community educational attractions include Hard Bargain Farm (Ferguson Foundation) and the National Colonial Farm (National Park Service), which are listed below under "Parks and Recreation." Both these sites have numerous special events, including an annual Oktoberfest, and a "theater in the woods". In 1960, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) wanted to build a water treatment plant in Mockley Point, which was Accokeek shoreline. Since it would disrupt the view of Mount Vernon and Fort Washington Park, various people and organizations protested against it. In 1961, a law was signed by President John F. Kennedy in order to designate 133 acre around Mockley Point as a national landmark. Both the Accokeek Foundation and the Alice Ferguson Foundation donated another 505 acre to the landmark. As a result, WSSC was not allowed to build the plant there; however, a plant was built in the 1960s in the surrounding area.

In 1990, Accokeek officially became a CDP when the US Census Bureau defined the place's boundaries. In 2008, eight people were killed and 9 more were injured in Accokeek on Indian Head Highway in an illegal street race.

Geography
Accokeek is located in the Southern United States, in Southern Maryland, and approximately 17 miles from Washington, D.C. To the north, Accokeek borders the CDPs of Fort Washington and Clinton; to the east, it borders the CDP of Brandywine; to the south, it borders the CDPs of Bryans Road, Bensville, and Waldorf, all of which are located in Charles County; and to the west, it borders the Potomac River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the place has a total area of 28.803 sqmi, of which 27.436 sqmi is land and 1.367 sqmi is water. Accokeek has an average elevation of 194 ft.

Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Accokeek is considered to have a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). This means Accokeek's average temperature of the warmest month is above 72 F, the average temperature of the coldest month is below between 27 and 64 F, and rain is equally spread out through the year.

There is more precipitation in the area during the months of May and July (4.1 inch; 104 mm) than in any other month; Accokeek currently has an annual precipitation of 39 inches (1,009 mm) each year. July is the hottest month, on average; the hottest recorded temperature occurred in July 1954 and September 1983. January is the coldest month, and the lowest recorded temperature was recorded in January 1950.

2010 Census
As of the 2010 census, there were 10,573 people, 3,601 households, and 2,835 families residing in the city. The population density was 385.5 inhabitants per square mile. There were 3,816 housing units at an average density of 139.1 per square mile. Accokeek is a part of the Washington Metropolitan Area, in which Accokeek contains approximately 0.19% of the MSA's population.

There were 3,601 households, of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 21.3% were non-families. 16.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94, and the average family size was 3.29.

The median age of the city was 41.2 years. 24.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the age of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 33.5% were from 45 to 64; and 9.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% males and 50.8% female. The racial makeup of the city was 64.4% African American, 24.9% White, 0.02% Native American, 5.5% Asian, 1.9% other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.7% of the population. As of 2013, 92.8% (9,690) of Accokeek residents spoke English at home as a primary language, while 3.2% (335) spoke Spanish and 2.4% (253) spoke Tagalog. In total, 7.1% (750) of Accokeek's population age five and older spoke another language other than English.

Economy
According to the 2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Accokeek has a median household income of $126,000, which is 2.35-times the United States' average of 53,482 and 1.69-times the State of Maryland's average of $74,149. The top industry is public administration (26.9%), followed by professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (20.2%). Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (0.2%) is the smallest industry. The unemployment rate of Accokeek was estimated to be 6.7%.

Italian arms company Beretta opened a factory in Accokeek in 1978. It won a federal contract to produce M9 pistols for the military in 1985. As of 2007, the company employed approximately 220 people, making it the largest employer in Accokeek. In 2013, as a response to Maryland's Firearm Safety Act, Beretta closed the factory and moved operations to Gallatin, Tennessee, in 2016.

Parks and recreation
The following sites located at Accokeek are included on the National Register of Historic Places:

 * }

Government
Prince George's County Police Department District 5 Station in Clinton CDP and District 7 Station in Fort Washington CDP serve the community.

The U.S. Postal Service operates the Accokeek Post Office.

Education
According to the US Census' American Community Survey, 2.59% of the population from 25 to 64 years has less than a high school diploma, 26.17% have a high school diploma, 30.32% have some college of associate degree, and 40.90% have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Primary and secondary schools
Accokeek is under the Prince George's County Public Schools district.

It has one public school, Accokeek Academy, which serves all of the CDP for elementary and middle school. It was formed in 2009 by the merger of Henry G. Ferguson Elementary School, built in 1963, and Eugene Burroughs Middle School, built in 1966. The newly merged school retained separate elementary and middle school campuses. In 2010 the school had a total of 1,178 students, with 553 at the elementary campus and 625 at the middle school campus. In 2011 the elementary school population had increased to 570. In a period after 2011 the fifth grade was moved to the middle school complex for two reasons: The first was so Burroughs middle school could have a higher occupancy rate, giving it eligibility for renovation funds from the State of Maryland. The second was to alleviate overcrowding in the original elementary building, which had a capacity of about 410 students; the middle school building had a capacity of 805 students.

Even though initially some parents advocated for having a single combined PK-8 building, the district instead chose to rebuild the elementary building; a study from 2008 had described the elementary building as having one of the poorest states of repair in the PGCPS system. The school planned to construct a more than 3000 sqft, two-story facility. After the scheduled completion of the new elementary building in August 2013, the district planned to temporarily house the middle school students there while the middle school building is renovated, and in 2014 put the students in their respective permanent buildings. In addition PGCPS planned to establish a walkway between the two buildings. The State of Maryland was to spend over $7 million while PGCPS was to spend fewer than $19 million, so the total cost was over $26 million.

All of the CDP is zoned to Gwynn Park High School, located in Brandywine CDP. There is also a private school, Accokeek College Preparatory School, the secondary school campus of The Beddow Schools.

From 1950 to 1964, during the era of legally-required racial segregation of schools, black students from Accokeek attended Fairmont Heights High School, then near Fairmount Heights.

Public libraries
Prince George's County Memorial Library System operates the Accokeek Library Branch.

Transportation
The State of Maryland's MTA Maryland operates two express commuter buses, routes 640 and 650, which operate from Waldorf or La Plata, stopping in Accokeek en route to Washington, D.C. There are currently no Interstate Highways in Accokeek; however there are four state highways:

 * , Indian Head Highway
 * , Berry Road
 * , Bensville Road
 * , Accokeek Road

Notable people

 * Jarrett Hurd, boxer, former WBA, IBF & IBO light middleweight world champion.
 * Link Wray, American rock and roll guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist
 * Henry G. Ferguson, USGS geologist who worked in the Great Basin
 * Kimberly Klacik, Republican Congressional nominee, non-profit founder, and politician

title: Accokeek, Maryland


text:
Adelphi, Maryland

Adelphi is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Per the 2020 Census, the population was 16,823. Adelphi includes the following subdivisions; Adelphi, Adelphi Park, Adelphi Hills, Adelphi Terrace, Adelphi Village, Buck Lodge, Chatham, Cool Spring Terrace, Hillandale Forest, Holly Hill Manor, Knollwood, Lewisdale, and White Oak Manor.

History
The unincorporated Adelphi community takes its name from the historic Adelphi Mill, established in 1796 along the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River. and continues to attract visitors and can be rented for special functions. During the 19th century, George Washington Riggs acquired much of the area northeast of Washington, D.C., as his Green Hill estate in the Chillum Manor district. That estate included present-day Adelphi. In the early 1920s, part of the area was acquired by Leander McCormick-Goodhart as part of his Langley Park estate. Labor organizer Mary Harris "Mother" Jones died in 1930, at the farm of Walter and Lillie May Burgess near Powder Mill and Riggs Roads in present-day Adelphi. A marker was erected by the Maryland State Highway Administration commemorating Mother Jones at her death site. Unlike its nearby neighbors Hyattsville and College Park, the area remained relatively undeveloped until immediately following World War II. At that time, subdivisions quickly developed. To distinguish it from the other neighboring unincorporated communities of Lewisdale and Langley Park, the growing subdivisions banded together in the mid-1950s and adopted the name "Adelphi" to reflect their commitment to the preservation of the historic mill of the same name. A community focal point that originally developed in the late 1950s is the Adelphi Pool, a private pool in the Adelphi neighborhood, located next to George Washington Cemetery on Riggs Road. Use of the Adelphi Pool requires paid membership or being accompanied by a member and paying a small fee. The Adelphi pool offers swimming lessons and also features swim teams which compete against each other. Two notable features of the Adelphi Pool are its long water slide and basketball hoop.

In 1971, the Harry Diamond Laboratories was established on 137 acre in the northern part of Adelphi. That facility continues as the Adelphi Laboratory Center, Army Research Laboratory (ARL), the U.S. Army's corporate research laboratory. Other adjacent federal facilities include the National Archives at College Park and headquarters of the Food and Drug Administration.

Historic sites
The following is a list of historic sites in Adelphi identified by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission:

Geography
Adelphi is located at 38.99694°N, -76.96667°W (38.996860, −76.966755).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Census Designated Place (CDP) has a total area of 7.1 sqkm, all land.

Adjacent areas

 * Hillandale (northwest)
 * Beltsville (north)
 * Calverton (north)
 * College Park (southeast)
 * Hyattsville (south)
 * Lewisdale (southwest)
 * Langley Park (southwest)
 * Silver Spring (west)

2000 Census
As of 2000, there were 14,998 people, 5,332 households, and 3,321 families that were reported to be living in Adelphi, Maryland. The population density was 5,067.9 PD/sqmi. There were 5,627 housing units at an average density of 1,901.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was quite diverse, including 29.48% White, 39.83% African American, 0.28% Native American, 9.95% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 15.04% from other races, and 5.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.74% of the population.

There were 5,332 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the CDP, the age distribution of the population included 22.7% under the age of 18, 13.0% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,827, and the median income for a family was $53,839. Males had a median income of $32,495 versus $31,932 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $20,952. About 6.6% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure
The Prince George's County Police Department serves Adelphi through District 1, with its station in Hyattsville.

The Chillum-Adelphi Volunteer Fire Department (CAVFD) serves Adelphi. The station is in Langley Park CDP and has an Adelphi postal address. In March 1951 and June 8, 1951 the CAVFD was established and chartered, respectively. From November and March 1953 the fire station on Riggs Road was constructed; the County Volunteer Firemen's Association designated it Station No. 34. Portions of Station No. 34 were rebuilt in the early 1960s, and it was rededicated on November 16, 1963. In 1962 the CAVFD began building a substation, No. 44, which was dedicated on November 16, 1963, but in 1992 it sold the substation to the county government.

The University System of Maryland has an office in College Park, which has an Adelphi postal address and is called the "Adelphi Office". Formerly it was the headquarters of the entire system.

Education
Adelphi is the home of the University of Maryland Global Campus, and the community is located near the University of Maryland main campus in College Park.

Adelphi is served by the Prince George's County Public Schools system. In 2000, a new elementary school opened in the community dedicated to labor organizer Mary Harris "Mother" Jones.

Elementary schools in Adelphi: A southeastern section is zoned to University Park Elementary School in University Park.
 * Adelphi Elementary School
 * Cherokee Lane Elementary School
 * Cool Spring Elementary School]
 * Mary Harris "Mother" Jones Elementary School

Most residents are zoned to Buck Lodge Middle School in Adelphi and High Point High School in Beltsville. A southeastern section is zoned to Hyattsville Middle School and Northwestern High School in Hyattsville.

Notable people

 * John Fahey— Recorded the first Tacoma Records album at the St. Michaels and All Angels Church
 * Fred Funk - professional golfer.
 * Roy Hibbert - NBA player for the Indiana Pacers
 * Mary Harris Jones (1837-1930) - Labor organizer known as "Mother" Jones
 * Hugh V. Perkins (1918-1988) - educator, author, and professor of Education, University of Maryland - College Park.

title: Adelphi, Maryland


text:
Beltsville, Maryland

Beltsville is a census-designated place (CDP) in northern Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The community was named for Truman Belt, a local landowner. The 2020 census counted 20,133 residents. Beltsville includes the unincorporated community of Vansville.

Geography
Beltsville is located at 39.0375°N, -76.91778°W (39.037509, −76.917847), adjacent to the Montgomery County – Prince George's County line. It is approximately 7 mi northeast of the Maryland border with Washington.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Beltsville has a total area of 18.6 sqkm, of which 18.5 sqkm is land and 0.1 sqkm, or 0.38%, is water.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Beltsville has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,690 people, 5,690 households, and 3,823 families residing in Beltsville. The population density was 2,366.9 PD/sqmi. There were 5,865 housing units at an average density of 884.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of Beltsville was 48.20% White, 31.96% African American, 0.26% Native American, 10.75% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 5.42% from other races, and 3.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.84% of the population.

There were 5,690 households, out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 23.0% 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 2.74 and the average family size was 3.27.

In Beltsville the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median income for a household in Beltsville was $57,722, and the median income for a family was $66,087. Males had a median income of $40,914 with $35,645 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,679. About 5.5% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

History
Beltsville's history dates back to 1649, when the land was part of an 80000 acre land grant given to Richard Snowden I by Lord Baltimore of England. Snowden and his family were planters who established large plantations on which they built comfortable manor homes. Soon after, other settlers moved into the area, but they were farmers who could only afford a few acres of land and whose families lived in small cabins. The principal crop was tobacco, most of which was shipped to England. Because of the fertile soil and desirable growing conditions, the crops prospered.

Industry came to Beltsville in the early 18th century when iron ore was discovered in the area. The Muirkirk Iron Furnace on US 1 was established by Andrew and Elias Elliott, who learned their iron-making skills in Muirkirk, Scotland. They produced some of the best-quality pig iron in the country and supplied the U.S. Army with cannons, shot, wheels, and other iron products during the Revolutionary War and the Civil War.

By 1730, Post Road (now part of US 1) was the main thoroughfare through Beltsville. Though crude, it made stagecoach travel possible. In 1783, Gabriel Peterson Van Horn established a stage line and built the Van Horn Tavern on Odell Road, where passengers could spend the night as they traveled between Baltimore and Washington. The trip took one and one-half days.

Beltsville has a distinguished Revolutionary War hero as its native son. Brigadier General Rezin Beall, who was born on Turkey Flight Plantation on Old Gunpowder Road in 1723, prevented a British invasion at Drum Point on the Chesapeake Bay with only 100 men. He is credited with the fact that there are no Revolutionary War battlefields in Maryland.

In 1835 one of the first rail lines in the country, the Washington branch of the B&O Railroad (Baltimore & Ohio), was built through Prince George's County. Coming from Baltimore, the line entered the county at Laurel and ran southwesterly to Bladensburg, then into Washington. B&O established a rail stop and freight depot on land purchased from a tobacco farmer named Trueman Belt, and they named the place after him. The new community of Beltsville was doubly blessed, for the Baltimore-Washington Turnpike crossed the rail line there. It soon became a thriving little trading center, eclipsing the older community of Vansville further north on the pike.

The original area developed haphazardly and consisted of a few residences, two churches, several small stores, a blacksmith, and a wheelwright. In 1891, the Beltsville Land Improvement Company was chartered and over the next thirty years developed the South Beltsville subdivision as a grid of streets. The developers sold the lots to individual owners and placed restrictive covenants on the deeds, including forbidding the manufacture or sale of alcohol and the sale of any property to an African American. Beltsville was marketed to professionals who wanted to escape the congestion of Washington and was developed with a mixture of Victorian-style houses and Colonial Revival houses. The community grew further when an electric railway was extended to Beltsville. The railway began as the Berwyn and Laurel Electric Railroad, but after suffering from financial difficulties it was acquired by the City and Suburban Railway. Located to the west of the railroad, along the line of present-day Rhode Island Avenue, the streetcar line served as the nucleus for additional subdivisions. These areas continued to develop slowly throughout the 1930s and 1940s with the construction of modest side-gable residences. Development continued after the introduction of the automobile, but it was not until after World War II that intensive development came to the Beltsville area.

As the federal government grew, in 1910 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) began to purchase land in Beltsville for its Agricultural Research Service, the main in-house research arm of the USDA. The land now houses the Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC). The first parcel acquired was 375 acre of the Walnut Grange Plantation with its historic "Butterfly House". The Center eventually encompassed 14600 acre and became the largest and most prominent center of agricultural science research in the world.

There are a number of historic homes and buildings still standing in Beltsville. The oldest home was built in 1773. One of the largest of the older buildings, built in 1880, was the three-story Ammendale Normal Institute, which was destroyed by fire in 1998.

In 2003 Kevin Kennedy started a group which aimed to have Beltsville incorporate into its own municipality. By 2004 the 12-member group, named Committee to Incorporate Beltsville, advocated for getting the issue on the ballot. By late 2004 the group began efforts to collect 3,000 signatures on a petition so the issue can be put up for election; this would represent about one quarter of the persons in Beltsville who were registered to vote. By the deadline in March 2005 they failed to get sufficient signatures as they only had 2,000.

Historic sites
The following is a list of historic sites in Beltsville and identified by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission: African-American Heritage Sites at nearby Rossville are listed at Muirkirk, Maryland.

Government
Prince George's County Police Department District 6 Station in Beltsville CDP serves the community.

The U.S. Postal Service operates the Beltsville Post Office.

The Department of State operates the Beltsville Information Management Center.

The United States Secret Service James J. Rowley Training Center is nicknamed “Beltsville” but is actually located in adjacent Laurel.

Some of the most important research and bureaucratic facilities of the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) are located here.

Schools
Public elementary schools include:
 * Beltsville Academy (K-8, formerly Beltsville Elementary School) on Wicomico Avenue
 * Calverton Elementary School on Beltsville Road in Calverton CDP
 * Vansville Elementary School (adjacent to the Beltsville CDP) on Ammendale Road

Public middle schools include:
 * Beltsville Academy on Wicomico Avenue
 * Martin Luther King Middle School on Ammendale Road

Public high schools include:
 * High Point High School on Powder Mill Road

There are three parochial schools in Beltsville: Augsburg Academy (Lutheran), St Joseph's School (Roman Catholic of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Washington), and Beltsville Seventh-day Adventist (SDA).

During the era of legally-required racial segregation of schools, black students from Beltsville attended Lakeland High School in College Park in the period 1928-1950; Fairmont Heights High School, then near Fairmount Heights, replaced Lakeland High and served black students only from 1950 to 1964; around 1964 legally-required racial segregation of schools ended.

Libraries
Prince George's County Memorial Library System operates the Beltsville Branch.

Notable past businesses

 * Ritz Camera Centers was headquartered in Beltsville. The chain included Ritz Camera, Wolf Camera, Kit's Camera, Inkley's, Cameras West, and The Camera Shop. The company also owned Boater's World Marine Centers, which was headquartered in the same building. The company was acquired in 2012 and the Beltsville headquarters was closed.
 * Beltsville Speedway, defunct NASCAR track

Notable people

 * Johnny Beall, MLB player
 * Matthew Centrowitz Jr., Olympic runner
 * Frank Cho, comic book writer and illustrator
 * Goatman, cryptid
 * Lyle Goodhue, scientist and inventor
 * Cameron Wake, NFL player

In popular culture
Experimental post-hardcore band Thrice recorded the album The Illusion of Safety here and dedicated a song to the town, named "The Beltsville Crucible".

title: Beltsville, Maryland


text:
Berwyn Heights, Maryland

Berwyn Heights is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 3,345. It is bordered by College Park to the west, Greenbelt to the northeast, and Riverdale Park to the south.

History
Beginning in the 1870s, the area northeast of Washington, D.C. was the scene of active and continuous development as the population of the city increased and railroad suburbs such as Berwyn Heights, originally platted as Charlton Heights, gradually grew and expanded around it.

The O'Dea House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of the homes that was erected in 1888 by the Charlton Heights Improvement Company to spur development in the new subdivision.

In 1896, it became the seventh incorporated municipality in Prince George's County. In 1967, it adopted its town seal, which contains three acorns. In 1986, it was awarded the Tree City USA title.

Historic sites
A group of the remaining original houses is located around Ruatan Street. Four of the houses were built from mail-order plans made by R. W. Shoppell's Cooperative Building Plan Association of New York City. The following is a partial list of historic sites in Berwyn Heights identified by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission:

Geography
Berwyn Heights is located at 38.99389°N, -76.91222°W (38.993810, -76.912344). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.69 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 3,123 people, 1,002 households, and 681 families in the town. The population density was 4526.1 PD/sqmi. There were 1,051 housing units at an average density of 1523.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 56.0% White, 15.1% African American, 0.8% Native American, 8.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 14.4% from other races, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.1%.

Of the 1,002 households 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.0% were non-families. 20.1% of households were one person and 7.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.42.

The median age in the town was 34.9 years. 21.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 31.1% were from 25 to 44; 24.3% were from 45 to 64; and 10.8% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the town was 52.4% male and 47.6% female.

2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 2,942 people, 1,022 households, and 713 families in the town. The population density was 4,552.9 PD/sqmi. There were 1,047 housing units at an average density of 1,620.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 71.79% White, 12.00% African American, 0.54% Native American, 8.57% Asian, 8.23% Hispanic or Latino, 4.38% from other races, and 2.72% from two or more races. of the population.

Of the 1,022 households 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 19.3% of households were one person and 7.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.19.

The age distribution was 20.9% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.

The median household income was $65,744 and the median family income was $69,013. Males had a median income of $42,525 versus $34,831 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,793. About 0.9% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.5% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Berwyn Heights is served by the Prince George's County Public Schools: Berwyn Heights Elementary School, which is located in Berwyn Heights, Greenbelt Middle School (Greenbelt), and Parkdale High School (Riverdale Park).

Transportation
The only state highway providing direct access to Berwyn Heights is Maryland Route 193 (Greenbelt Road). MD 193 connects eastward to Greenbelt and westward to College Park. Just east of the town limits, MD 193 has a junction with Maryland Route 201 (Kenilworth Avenue), which provides access to Interstate 95/Interstate 495 (the Capital Beltway), D.C. Route 295 (the Kenilworth Avenue Freeway), and U.S. Route 50 (John Hanson Highway).

Government
The town council consists of five members, who are elected every two years on an at-large plurality voting basis, to govern the town of Berwyn Heights. The member of the council who received the most votes during the election becomes mayor. The mayor serves as the head of the government and presides at all council meetings, but in other respects is an equal member of the Council. The mayor pro tempore assumes the mayoral duties in the absence of the mayor. The current mayor is Tiffany Papanikolas. The town manager is Kyle Snyder.

The town has a police department, a public works department, a code enforcement department, and an administration department.

Past Mayors

 * 1948–1952 Robert F. Burnette
 * 1952–1954 Charles G. Durbin
 * 1954–1956 Robert F. Burnette
 * 1956–1958 John P. Wintermoyer
 * 1958–1960 H. Dale Smith
 * 1960–1962 Clinton D. Walker
 * 1962–1966 George E. Lauterbach
 * 1966–1968 Kenneth C. Styers
 * 1968–1972 Harry L. Ballew
 * 1972–1974 George E. Lauterbach
 * 1974–1976 Jadie B. Mc Dougald, first elected mayor after change from commissioner government to mayor and council form of government.
 * 1976–1978 Harry L. Ballew
 * 1978–1980 Jadie B. Mc Dougald
 * 1980–1982 Howard G. Wood
 * 1982–1992 William T. Armistead, Jr.
 * 1992–1998 Thomas J. Love
 * 1998–2000 William T. Armistead, Jr.
 * 2000–2001 Tawanna P. Gaines
 * 2001–2002 Ronald M. Shane
 * 2002–2003 Bradley S. Jewitt
 * 2003–2004 Patricia D. Dennison
 * 2004–2015 Cheye M. Calvo
 * 2015–2016 Jodie Kulpa-Eddy
 * 2016–2018 Cheryl Jewitt
 * 2018 Christopher J. Rasmussen (May 9 to July 16, 2018, resigned)
 * 2018 Lynn White (July 16, 2018, to December 6, 2018, resigned)
 * 2018–2020 Stephen Isler
 * 2020–2022 Amanda Dewey
 * 2022–2024 Jodie Kulpa-Eddy
 * 2024-Present Tiffany Papanikolas

Taxation
At 53 cents per $100 per assessed value, Berwyn Heights has one of the lower real property tax rates in Prince George's County. In 2005, the town became the first municipality in Maryland to establish a public safety taxing district, after it was authorized by the general assembly. The district imposes a special tax on businesses to fund the cost of one full-time officer and helps maintain around the clock police coverage.

County government
Prince George's County Police Department District 1 Station in Hyattsville serves Berwyn Heights.

Civic activities
The town also benefits from numerous town committees and organizations. The town, as of October 2008, has joined a State Retirement Pension, for its employees, and police officers. This was done in order to try to compete and to retain the police officers.

Sports Park, which is the home of a Berwyn Heights civic group, is located by Indian Creek.

Berwyn Heights Day is a yearly event that celebrates the founding of the town.

title: Berwyn Heights, Maryland


text:
Bladensburg, Maryland

Bladensburg is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 9,657 at the 2020 census. Areas in Bladensburg are located within ZIP code 20710. Bladensburg is 8.6 mi from Washington, D.C.

History
Originally called Garrison's Landing, Bladensburg was renamed in honor of Thomas Bladen, governor of Maryland, 1742–1747. Bladensburg was established in 1742 as a regional commercial center by an act of the Maryland General Assembly. The act also authorized the town commissioners to purchase 60 acre of land to be laid out in 1 acre lots. The act required that a house covering at least 400 sqft of ground with a brick or stone chimney be constructed within 18 months of the sale of the lot. As of June 6, 1746, only 18 of the lots had been improved according to the stipulations of the act. Christopher Lowndes' house, Bostwick, and those built by David Ross and William Hilleary (the William Hilleary House) were among them.

Port, war, and railroad (1740s–1830s)
With the establishment in 1747 of a government tobacco inspection system, Bladensburg became a designated tobacco inspection and grading port. The Market Master's House is evidence of that role. The town was a seaport during the colonial period.

Bladensburg is best remembered for the Battle of Bladensburg (1814) during the War of 1812, the only battle in US history in which a sitting president (James Madison) rode into battle. US defeat in that battle, called "the greatest disgrace ever dealt to American arms", cleared the way for the burning of Washington by British troops.

Its role as a seaport faded as the Anacostia River silted up and larger ships could no longer reach the port. However, the town remained an important crossroads of routes north to Baltimore and Philadelphia, south and east to the towns of Annapolis and Upper Marlboro, and west to the District of Columbia. The original terminus of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was Bladensburg, forcing all passengers intended for Washington to board carriages to continue on into the city. A sharp decline of passengers was experienced in Bladensburg when an extension of the B&O was permitted into the District of Columbia in 1835.

1840s–present
Bladensburg remained a small town throughout the rest of the 19th century with modest development and infrastructure improvements. A major attraction in Bladensburg from the 18th century through the 20th century was the Spa Springs. Thought to be a cure for various illnesses, the springs attracted visitors from throughout the region and was reachable by the Washington, Spa Spring and Gretta Railroad. Another attraction was the Bladensburg Dueling Grounds or Dueling Creek, the site of many famous duels until after the American Civil War.

The town was incorporated in 1854. Schools and churches were constructed, including the first Freedmen's Bureau school for African Americans in 1866. The town experienced its most significant growth in the early 20th century with the construction of the first two residential sections of the town in 1914 and 1917. Named Decatur Heights, the subdivisions had gridded streets platted on the north and south sides of Annapolis Road. The town was enlarged again in 1947 by the Sunnybrook subdivision. The mid to late 20th century brought additional residential construction in the form of single-family houses and apartment complexes, as well as the construction of the Bladensburg Shopping Center. After a history major flooding, the Army Corps of Engineers implemented a flood control system around this time that altered the course of the Anacostia River and added levees.

In 1999, Bladensburg, Colmar Manor, and Cottage City were lauded by the Joint Center for Sustainable Communities for their collaboration with Prince George's County for the Port Towns Revitalization Initiative, which created a common Port Towns identity for the towns; encouraged businesses development through infrastructure and façade improvements; acquisition of historic properties and plans for their reuse; and reconstruction of the Bladensburg waterfront and marina.

Historic sites
The following is a partial list of historic sites in Bladensburg identified by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission:

Bladensburg is also the site of the Peace Cross, a World War I memorial at the center of a 2019 Supreme Court case American Legion v. American Humanist Association, which allowed the landmark to remain as a state-maintained monument.

Geography
Bladensburg is located at 38.94139°N, -76.93°W (38.941428, −76.930053).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.01 sqmi, of which 1.00 sqmi is land and 0.01 sqmi is water.

The community is home to the "Bladensburg Waterfront Park" at the confluence of the Northeast Branch and Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River.

Bordering areas

 * Edmonston (northwest)
 * Hyattsville (northwest)
 * Rogers Heights (northeast)
 * Riverdale (northeast)
 * Cottage City (southwest)
 * Colmar Manor (southwest)
 * Cheverly (southeast)
 * Tuxedo (south)
 * Woodlawn (east)
 * Landover Hills (east)

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 9,148 people, 3,542 households, and 1,960 families living in the town. The population density was 9148.0 PD/sqmi. There were 3,826 housing units at an average density of 3826.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 12.6% White, 65.6% African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 16.6% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.9% of the population.

There were 3,542 households, of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.7% were married couples living together, 22.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.7% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.39.

The median age in the town was 31.5 years. 26.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 11% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 32.7% were from 25 to 44; 20.3% were from 45 to 64; and 9.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,661 people, 3,121 households, and 1,719 families living in the town. The population density was 7,766.1 PD/sqmi. There were 3,443 housing units at an average density of 3,490.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 16.42% White, 70.92% African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.52% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 6.87% from other races, and 2.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.07% of the population.

There were 3,121 households, out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.8% were married couples living together, 20.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.9% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,966, and the median income for a family was $41,394. Males had a median income of $30,969 versus $28,538 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,046. About 7.5% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 21.3% of those age 65 or over.

Public schools
Bladensburg residents are zoned to schools in the Prince George's County Public Schools district.

Public elementary schools serving the town include:
 * Bladensburg Elementary School
 * Bladensburg Elementary established an English as a second language (ESOL) program years prior to 2004. By that year about 33% of the students were designated as ESOL. As of that year special ESOL teachers visit classrooms and provide support to regular teachers.
 * Port Towns Elementary School
 * Rogers Heights Elementary School
 * Templeton Elementary School

The zoned middle school is William Wirt Middle School. Bladensburg High School is the sole zoned high school of the town.

International High School at Langley Park: a special high school for students who are new immigrants to the United States.

Private schools
Elizabeth Seton High School, a private high school, is located in Bladensburg.

Public libraries
The Prince George's County Memorial Library System operates the Bladensburg Branch. The previous library, previously an elementary school, opened on October 21, 1978. The ribbon cutting of the current library was held in 2023.

Transportation
Several major surface roads serve Bladensburg. U.S. Route 1 Alternate is the only U.S. Highway serving the town. It follows Baltimore Avenue along a northeast-southwest alignment on the west edge of town. Major state routes serving Bladensburg include Maryland Route 201, which follows Kenilworth Avenue on a general north-south alignment, and Maryland Route 450, which follows Annapolis Road on an east-west route. Maryland Route 202 reaches its northern terminus at MD 450 in Bladensburg, while Maryland Route 769 follows the old alignment of MD 201 along minor surface roads through town. The nearest freeway is the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, which passes just east of the town limits.

Government
Prince George's County Police Department District 1 Station in Hyattsville serves Bladensburg.

The United States Postal Service operates the Bladensburg Post Office.

Notable people

 * Caleb T. Bailey, born in Bladensburg in 1898; Brigadier general, USMC
 * Tracey Ballard, first open gay employee of the CIA
 * Henry Hartley, born in Bladensburg in 1884; Rear admiral, USN
 * Robert M. Wright, born in Bladensburg in 1840; one of the founders of Dodge City, Kansas

title: Bladensburg, Maryland


text:
Bowie, Maryland

Bowie is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 58,329. Bowie has grown from a small railroad stop to the largest municipality in Prince George's County, and the fifth most populous city and third largest city by area in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2014, CNN Money ranked Bowie 28th in its Best Places to Live (in the United States) list.

19th century
The city of Bowie owes its existence to the railway. In 1853, Colonel William Duckett Bowie obtained a charter from the Maryland legislature to construct a rail line into Southern Maryland. In 1869, the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Company began the construction of a railroad from Baltimore to Southern Maryland, terminating in Pope's Creek. The area had already been dotted with small farms and large tobacco plantations in an economy based on agriculture and slavery. In 1870, Ben Plumb, a land speculator and developer, sold building lots around the railroad junction and named the settlement Huntington City. By 1872, the line was completed, together with a "spur" to Washington, D.C., and the entire line through Southern Maryland was completed in 1873.

In 1880, Huntington City was rechartered as Bowie, named for Colonel Bowie's son and business partner Oden Bowie,  the former Governor of Maryland and then-president of the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad. In the early days the land was subdivided by developers into more than 500 residential building lots, to create a large town site at a junction of the Baltimore and Potomac's main line to southern Maryland, and the branch line to Washington, D.C.

20th century
By 1902, the Baltimore & Potomac was purchased by the powerful Pennsylvania Railroad. A second railroad entered the community when the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Electric Railway electric trolley line commenced service in 1908. The large interurban cars brought rapid transit to the area, with trains running hourly. Bowie area stations included High Bridge, Hillmeade, and the Race Track.

The convergence of the two rail systems induced the Southern Maryland Agricultural Society to build the Bowie Race Track in 1914. The track enabled the Belair Stud to become one of Maryland's premier areas for thoroughbreds. Also in 1914, a teacher-training college, or normal school as it was referred to then, was built for African-Americans, just outside the town. This now has become Bowie State University. The town of Bowie was incorporated in 1916.

Belair at Bowie
In 1957, the firm of Levitt and Sons acquired the nearby Belair Estate, the original colonial plantation of the Provincial Governor of Maryland, Samuel Ogle, and developed the residential community of Belair at Bowie. Two years later the town of Bowie annexed the Levitt properties and then re-incorporated the now-larger area as a city in 1963. The overwhelming majority of Bowie residents today live in this 1960s Levitt planned community, whose street names are arranged in alliterative sections. Levitt & Sons had a long history of prohibiting the sale of houses (including resale by owners) to African Americans which led to protests during the Civil Rights Movement in Bowie in 1963.

Belair Estate
The original Belair Estate contains the Belair Mansion (circa 1745), the five-part Georgian plantation house of Governor Samuel Ogle and his son Governor Benjamin Ogle. It was purchased in 1898 by the wealthy banker James T. Woodward who, on his passing in 1910, left it to his nephew, William Woodward Sr., who became a famous horseman. Restored to reflect its 250-year-old legacy, the Mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Belair Stable, on the Estate, was part of the famous Belair Stud, one of the premier racing stables in the 1930s, '40s, and '50s. Owned and operated by William Woodward Sr. (1876–1953), it closed in 1957 following the death of his son, Billy Woodward. Belair had been the oldest continually operating racing horse farm in the country.

21st century
Bowie has an area of 16 sqmi and about 50,000 residents with nearly 2,000 acre set aside as parks or open space. It has 72 ball fields, three community centers, an ice arena at Allen Pond Park, the Bowie Town Center, the 800-seat Bowie Center for the Performing Arts, a 150-seat theatrical playhouse, a golf course, and three museums.

Bowie's rail town history is on display via the Huntington Railroad Museum, within the local rail station's restored railroad buildings. In 2006, the city reopened the Bowie Building Association building, a small brick and block structure constructed circa 1930, as a Welcome Center; it originally housed the Bowie Building Association, which helped finance much of the community's early development.

Bowie is home to the Bowie Baysox, a Class AA Eastern League professional baseball team affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles. The Baysox moved to Bowie from Hagerstown in 1993 and began to play at Prince George's Stadium in 1994. In 2015, the Baysox captured their first Eastern League Championship, defeating the Reading Fightin Phils in five games.

The city operates a senior citizens center and a gymnasium for community programs.

Geography
Bowie is located at 38.96472°N, -76.74444°W (38.964727, −76.744531).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.51 sqmi, of which 18.43 sqmi is land and 0.08 sqmi is water.

Adjacent areas

 * Glenn Dale (northwest)
 * South Laurel (northwest)
 * Crofton (northeast)
 * Davidsonville (east)
 * Queen Anne (southeast)
 * Brock Hall (south)
 * Kettering (southwest)
 * Woodmore (southwest)
 * Fairwood (west)

ZIP codes
ZIP codes for mail delivery in Bowie are: 20715, 20716, 20717, 20718, 20719, 20720, 20721

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bowie has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 54,727 people, 19,950 households, and 14,264 families residing in the city. The population density was 2969.5 PD/sqmi. There were 20,687 housing units at an average density of 1122.5 /sqmi.

The ethnic makeup of the city was 41.4% White, 48.7% African American, 0.3% Native American, 4.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.9% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.6% of the population.

There were 19,950 households, of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.5% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% 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 3.23.

The median age in the city was 40.1 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.2% were from 25 to 44; 30.1% were from 45 to 64; and 11.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $99,105, and the median income for a family was $109,157. Males had a median income of $52,284 versus $40,471 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,703. About 0.7% of families and 1.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.

 * Rank by per capita income in Prince George's County: 7
 * Rank by per capita income in Maryland: 65

Government
The City of Bowie operates under a council-manager government as established by the city charter. This means that the mayor and council are responsible for making policy, passing ordinances, voting appropriations, and having overall supervisory authority in the city government.

The U.S. Postal Service operates multiple post offices including Mitchellville, West Bowie, and Bowie/Mitchellville Carrier Annex (adjacent to the city limits).

Law enforcement
The primary law enforcement agency for the city is the Bowie Police Department aided by the Prince George's County Police, the Maryland-National Capital Park Police Department, and the Sheriff's Office as directed by authority.

Prince George's County Police Department District 2 Station in Brock Hall CDP, with a Bowie postal address, serves the community.

Transportation
Bowie is served by several significant highways. The most prominent of these is Interstate 595/U.S. Route 50, the John Hanson Highway, which follows an east–west route through the city. Via I-595/US 50, Bowie has direct connections westward to Washington, D.C., and eastward to Annapolis and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. U.S. Route 301 and Maryland Route 3 skim the eastern edge of the city, providing connections southward to Waldorf and La Plata and northward to Baltimore. Other state highways serving the city include Maryland Route 197, Maryland Route 214, Maryland Route 450 and Maryland Route 564.

It is served by Bowie State station on MARC's Penn Line.

Largest employers
According to the city's 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the largest employers in the city are:

Public schools
Bowie is within the Prince George's County Public Schools system.

Area residents are zoned to Benjamin Tasker Middle School or Samuel Ogle Middle School, and Bowie High School. Some Bowie residents also attend Eleanor Roosevelt High School in their STEM program.

Elementary schools in Bowie include Heather Hills, Kenilworth, Northview, Pointer Ridge, Rockledge, Tulip Grove, Whitehall, and Yorktown Elementary Schools. Elementary schools not in Bowie and serving Bowie include High Bridge and Woodmore. Two special education centers are Chapel Forge and C. Elizabeth Reig. A voc/tech school is located at Tall Oaks High School.

Samuel Ogle was previously a junior high school, then an elementary school; around 2005, PGCPS planned to convert it into a middle school.

From 1950 to 1964, during the era of legally-required racial segregation of schools, black students from Bowie attended Fairmont Heights High School, then near Fairmount Heights.

Private schools
Bowie is home to several private schools: • Ascension Day Care and Kindergarten

• Belair Baptist Christian Academy

• Bowie Montessori Children's House

• Christian Community Presbyterian Church Nursery School

• Cornerstone Christian Academy

• Cresthill Christian Academy

• Grace Christian School (Grades K–8)

• Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School

• Patuxent Montessori School

• Redeemer Child Care Center

• St. Matthew's Early Education Center

• St. Pius X Regional School (Grades Pre K–8)

Colleges and universities
Bowie State University, located north of Bowie, has been open since 1865.

Public libraries
Prince George's County Memorial Library System operates two public libraries in Bowie: Bowie Branch and South Bowie Branch.

Notable people
• Spencer Anderson, offensive guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers

• Richard (Ricky) Arnold, NASA astronaut

• Michael Bray, convicted conspirator in numerous bombings

• Eva Cassidy, singer and songwriter

• Daniel "Jungleman" Cates, professional poker player

• JC Chasez, singer and member of *NSYNC

• Julius Chestnut, running back for the Tennessee Titans

• Anthony Cowan Jr., professional basketball player for the Promitheas Patras of the Greek Basket League

• Nick Cross, safety for the Indianapolis Colts

• Francis B. Francois, engineer and politician

• Kathie Lee Gifford, television host, singer, songwriter, comedian, and actress

• Jerai Grant, player for BC Wolves of the Lithuanian Basketball League

• Leo E. Green, former Maryland state senator and mayor of Bowie.

• Zion Johnson, offensive guard for the Los Angeles Chargers

• Abby Philip, CNN anchor

• Jan Scruggs, founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF)

• Chris Volz, singer for Flaw

• Benny Williams, college basketball player for the Syracuse Orange

• Caleb Williams, American football player for the USC Trojans, and 2022 Heisman Trophy winner

• Quincy Wilson, track runner

• Khoi Young, professional gymnast

• YungManny, American rapper

• 6ix, record producer

Historic sites
The following is a list of historic sites in the city of Bowie and vicinity identified by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission:

Parks

 * Allen Pond Park
 * Foxhill Park
 * Buckingham Park
 * Somerset Park
 * Whitemarsh Park
 * Jericho Park

Sister Cities
In June 2016, Mayor Robinson gave honorary Bowie citizenship to Mayor Luigi Lucchi of Berceto, Italy as part of an International Youth Festival being held there.

title: Bowie, Maryland


text:
Brandywine, Maryland

Brandywine is the name of an unincorporated area in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, that refers both to a census-designated place (CDP) and a zip code area which is much larger (20613), whose areas overlap. The population of Brandywine at the 2020 U.S. Census was 10,550 for the CDP, and the population of ZIP code 20613 was 11,860 in 2010.

Brandywine is in the southernmost area of Prince George’s County, surrounded by a rural setting. It is in the Southern Maryland region. Brandywine is also a suburb of two cities: it lies within the outer suburban Washington D.C. area and is also a close suburb of Waldorf.

Geography
The CDP and town are adjacent to the southern border of Prince George's County, lying east and west of busy Maryland Route 5/U.S. Route 301, which merge at Brandywine. Brandywine CDP is bordered by Accokeek to the west, Clinton and Rosaryville to the north, Croom to the northeast, and Cedarville to the southeast, all in Prince George's County. Waldorf in Charles County borders Brandywine to the south. The Brandywine zip code area encompasses parts of both counties and includes Cedarville and Baden.

Designated as part of the Prince George's County rural tier, it is primarily rural with a suburban and commercial center.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,410 people, 478 households, and 377 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 320.4 PD/sqmi. There were 501 housing units at an average density of 113.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 56.24% White, 38.23% African American, 1.13% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.57% from other races, and 2.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.

There were 478 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.1% were non-families. 16.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $57,063, and the median income for a family was $64,038. Males had a median income of $41,783 versus $35,242 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $19,035. About 8.6% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.

History
William H. Early named the town of Brandywine as property he owned in the mid-19th century. The CDP consists of the property he owned in the 19th century. It is thought to be named after the Battle of Brandywine of the American Revolutionary War. Brandywine was developed on the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad's Pope Creek (Southern Maryland) line in about 1873 and was the only town on the route that developed into a railroad town.

On September 1, 1877, around 4 p.m., a small 2.7 magnitude earthquake struck Brandywine.

In 1912, the Bank of Brandywine was chartered from what had previously been the Southern Maryland German-American Bank.

Although located between the substantial bedroom cities of Clinton and Waldorf, Brandywine remained rural until after the turn of the twenty-first century, when shopping centers—including big-box stores—and small residential developments were built. Despite the building of both a major highway overpass and a roundabout in 2019, the community is still notorious for traffic slowdowns due to both daily commuters and interstate travelers.

Historical sites
The following is a list of historic sites in Brandywine, which includes Baden and T.B. identified by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, none of which are currently museums:

Enterprises and recreation
The Brandywine community includes Gwynn Park High School, several well-known automobile salvage lots, and a construction equipment vehicle sales lot. A large commercial center was created with the development of Brandywine Crossing shopping center's opening in October 2008 and growing to 800,000 SF with 49 commercial spaces as of 2016.

Government
Prince George's County Police Department District 5 Station in Clinton and District 7 Station in Fort Washington serve the community.

The U.S. Postal Service operates the Brandywine Post Office.

A United States Armed Forces communications receiving facility, known as the Brandywine Receiver Site, is located in Brandywine. It is associated with Joint Base Andrews.

Education
Brandywine residents are assigned to schools in Prince George's County Public Schools.

Residential areas of the CDP area are zoned to Brandywine Elementary School, Gwynn Park Middle School, and Gwynn Park High School.

Notable people

 * Jerry Hill, NASCAR driver
 * Donnie Neuenberger, NASCAR driver
 * People from Brandywine

title: Brandywine, Maryland