Kensington, Maryland

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Kensington is a town in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,873 at the 2000 census.

Contents

[edit] History

The area around the Rock Creek basin where Kensington now sits was primarily agricultural until 1873, when the B&O Railroad completed a branch which traversed Montgomery County. The community first sprouted at the spot where the railroad line intersected the old Rockville to Bladensburg road. This early settlement was first known as Knowles Station. In the early 1890s, Washington, D. C. developer Brainard Warner began purchasing land parcels to build a planned Victorian community, complete with church, library, and a local newspaper. Fascinated by a recent trip to London, Warner first named his town Kensington Park. Upon incorporation in 1894, the town was renamed Kensington.

Initially Kensington was primarily a summer refuge for Washington, D.C., residents wishing to escape the capital's humid summers. As years passed, it became a year-round home for virtually all its residents, and evolved into the commuter suburb it essentially is today. The large southernmost section originally mapped out by Warner remains largely unchanged since its inception, and is a historically preserved zone. While the central business zone is frequently in flux, the only major changes in the town's basic layout have been the bridging over of the original railroad crossing, in 1937, and the extension and widening of Connecticut Avenue, the town's main thoroughfare, in 1957.

The little town gained national notoriety three times in a 10-month span early in the 21st century as a result of events which occurred within a mere quarter-mile radius. In December 2001, the town responded to complaints from anonymous citizens by banning Santa Claus from appearing in the annual holiday parade. Protesters arrived at the parade en masse, including hundreds of Santas riding everything from motorcycles to fire trucks. Eight months later, a MARC train derailed adjacent to the town center when the tracks separated at an overheated seam, sending over a hundred victims to area hospitals. Fortunately, there were no fatalities. Then, tragically, on October 2, 2002, Lori Ann Lewis-Rivera became the fifth victim of the snipers who terrorized the Washington area that month, while cleaning her auto at a Kensington gas station. (See Beltway sniper attacks.)

[edit] Geography

Location of Kensington, Maryland

Kensington is located in Montgomery County, northwest of Silver Spring, northeast of Bethesda, southwest of Wheaton, and southeast of Rockville. Its latitude is 39o1'48" N, longitude 77o4'30" W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.3 square kilometres (0.5 square miles), all land.

While the town proper is but one-half square mile in size, the Kensington Post Office services a much larger area and extends into North Bethesda, Maryland. Residents within this ZIP code (20895) generally refer to Kensington as their home town.

Significant through roads in Kensington include Maryland Routes 185 (Connecticut Avenue), 193 (University Boulevard West), and 547 (Knowles Avenue).

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 1,873 people, 729 households, and 467 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,418.0/km² (3,668.6/mi²). There were 768 housing units at an average density of 581.4/km² (1,504.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.96% White, 2.51% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 2.94% Asian, 1.49% from other races, and 2.51% from two or more races. 4.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 729 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the town the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $76,716, and the median income for a family was $96,394. Males had a median income of $65,804 versus $41,364 for females. The per capita income for the town was $35,919. About 0.9% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Economy

Conveniently located two miles from the Capital Beltway along Connecticut Avenue, halfway between the two limbs of the Washington Metro's Red Line and bisected by the MARC commuter rail's Brunswick Line, Kensington is primarily a "bedroom community" for workers who commute to jobs in the Washington, D.C., area. Adjacent to the central shopping area, however, are the renowned "Antique Row" on Howard Avenue, the West Howard Antique District, and Kaiser-Permanente's Kensington facility.

[edit] Law and government

[edit] Elected Officials

A mayoral election is held in even years for a two year term. The current Mayor of Kensington is Peter Fosselman (term ends 6/30/2008).

Kensington has a four-member council, elected for two-year terms. Terms are staggered. Every year there are two council seats up for election.

The current council members are:

  • David Beaudet (term ends 6/30/2008)
  • Alfred C. Carr, Jr. (term ends 6/30/2008)
  • David Furman (term ends 6/30/2007)
  • Kenneth Goldsmith (term ends 6/30/2007)

[edit] Education

Kensington is served by the Montgomery County Public Schools system.

Public schools that serve Kensington include:


[edit] Current Famous Residents

Harry McPherson - Chief council to Lyndon Johnson as Senator and President of The United States.

Mike McCurry - White House Press Secretary during the Clinton administration.

Jeff Sharp - Chief legal counsel to George W. Bush during the Scooter Libby trial.

William Broomfield (R) - Retired U.S. Congressman for Michigan from 1956 to 1992.

Chris Van Hollen (D) - Current U.S. Congressman for Maryland's 8th District and serves as Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

[edit] Miscellany

Washington LDS Temple as seen from Interstate 495
Washington LDS Temple as seen from Interstate 495

In 1974 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints completed construction and dedicated the Washington D.C. Temple in an unincorporated area adjacent to Kensington. It is one of the church's largest temples in the world and services the large LDS population in the area. Its spire is a landmark for motorists on the Capital Beltway.

The town was home to the noted children's author Munro Leaf.

Hubert Humphrey lived nearby while he was a U.S. Senator.

[edit] References

Kensington, a Picture History. Kensington (MD), Kensington Business District Association, 1994.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../k/e/n/Kensington%2C_Maryland_eab0.html"