Gaithersburg, Maryland

Gaithersburg is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland. As of 2004, the city had an estimated total population of 58,091 ^*, making it the second largest in the state. This city is located at 39°8' North, 77°13' West, to the northwest of Rockville, the county seat of Montgomery County. Gaithersburg was incorporated in 1878.

Gaithersburg is home to the neo-traditionalist new town of Kentlands, Maryland, designed by Andrés Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk. Another major planned community is Montgomery Village.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is headquartered in Gaithersburg. Other major employers in the city include Hughes Network Systems, IBM, ACE*COMM, Lockheed Martin Federal Systems, MedImmune, and Sodexho.

In July of 2005, CNN/Money and Money magazine ranked Gaithersburg 17th on its list of the 100 Best Places to Live in the United States.

History

The area was originally known to local inhabitants as Log Town. The first house within the current city limits of Gaithersburg was built by Benjamin Gaither in 1802, and the name was changed in his honor shortly afterward. The railroad was brought to Gaithersburg in the 1850s, with the encouragement of the Gaither family.

In 1899, Gaithersburg was selected as one of six global locations for the construction of an International Latitude Observatory. The Gaithersburg Latitude Observatory is (as of 2004) the only National Historic Landmark in the City of Gaithersburg.

A fatal Metrorail accident occurred in the city in 1996.

Geography

Gaithersburg is located at 39°7'55" North, 77°13'35" West (39.131974, -77.226428).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.3 km² (10.2 mi²). 26.1 km² (10.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.69% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 52,613 people, 19,621 households, and 12,577 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,013.3/km² (5,216.2/mi²). There were 20,674 housing units at an average density of 791.1/km² (2,049.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 58.21% White, 14.60% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 13.76% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 8.62% from other races, and 4.39% from two or more races. 19.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 19,621 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 37.7% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $59,879, and the median income for a family was $66,669. Males had a median income of $44,331 versus $35,861 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,323. 7.1% of the population and 4.9% of families were below the poverty line. 7.2% of those under the age of 18 and 11.4% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Government

Gaithersburg has a five-member City Council, which serves as the legislative body of the city. The Mayor serves as president of the council.

Its current mayor is Sidney A. Katz. (1998-). Previous Mayors include:

George W. Meem 1898-1904
Carson Ward 1904-1906
John W. Walker 1906-1908
E. D. Kingsley 1908-1912
Richard H. Miles 1912-1918
John W. Walker 1918-1924
Walter M. Magruder 1924-1926
William McBain 1926-1948
Harry C. Perry, Sr. 1948-1954
Merton F. Duvall 1954-1966
John W. Griffith 1966-1967
Harold C. Morris 1967-1974
Susan E. Nicholson, May-Sept. 1974
Milton M. Walker 1974-1976
B. Daniel Walder 1976-1978
Bruce A. Goldensohn 1978-1986
W. Edward Bohrer, Jr. 1986-1998

Transportation

The road network is centered at the intersection of the north-south Frederick Avenue (Maryland State Highway 355) and the east-west Diamond Avenue (Maryland State Highway 117). It is also connected to Frederick and Rockville by Interstate 270, which also connects it with the Capital Beltway.

The entirety of Interstate 370 is located within the city limits, connecting I-270 with the Shady Grove station, the western terminus of the Red Line of the Washington Metro. If the Intercounty Connector, an as-yet-unbuilt highway to Laurel, Maryland, is constructed, I-370 would become its western portion and Gaithersburg its terminus.

Gaithersburg is served by WMATA Metrobus and Montgomery County Ride-On bus service and two MARC stations on the Brunswick Line, at downtown Gaithersburg and at Metropolitan Grove.

Education

Gaithersburg is served by the Montgomery County Public Schools system.

External links

Official City Government Website

Cities in Maryland | Montgomery County, Maryland | Washington, D.C. suburbs

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