North Bethesda, Maryland

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North Bethesda is a census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It borders the city of Rockville, and is closely associated with the city.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Demographics
- 3.1 Population History of North Bethesda CDP from the U.S. Census Bureau
4 ZIP codes
5 Neighborhoods in North Bethesda
6 External links

[edit] Geography

Boundaries of the North Bethesda CDP, as of 2003

As an unincorporated area, North Bethesda's boundaries are not officially defined. North Bethesda is, however, recognized by the United States Census Bureau as a Census-designated Place, and by the United States Geological Survey as a populated place located at 39°2′14″N, 77°7′9″W (39.037111, -77.119095)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the place has a total area of 23.4 km² (9.0 mi²), all land.

Significant through-roads in North Bethesda include Interstates 270 and 495 and Maryland State Highways 187 (Old Georgetown Road), 355 (Rockville Pike), and 547 (Strathmore Avenue). In the southern sector of North Bethesda is a burgeoning business area, located in the triangle between the two limbs of I-270 and I-495, whose occupants include the corporate headquarters of Lockheed Martin, and Marriott International. Other prominent entities in the area are the Georgetown Preparatory School, the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, the Music Center at Strathmore, the upscale White Flint shopping mall, the national office of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, and the Montgomery Aquatic Center.

The far southern edge of the North Bethesda CDP was originally the country estate of the Grosvenor family, whose lineage includes Alexander Graham Bell and a former President of the National Geographic Society. That region continues to bear the family's name, and is the location of the headquarters of the Renewable Natural Resources Foundation.

The Twinbrook, White Flint, and Grosvenor-Strathmore metro stations all serve the area.

[edit] History

North Bethesda shares a common history with most of its Montgomery County neighbors. Archaeological evidence suggests that Paleo, Archaic, and Woodland Native Americans lived nearby, along the banks of the Potomac River. These peoples traveled along an ancient route known as the Seneca Trail (which is today approximately followed in North Bethesda by Old Georgetown Road). Like many ancient roads, the Seneca Trail followed a ridge line – in this case, the high ground between the Potomac River and Rock Creek. Much later, development would spring up along this route.

The recorded history of the area commences with the colonial era. Settlements formed along Rock Creek and the Seneca Trail in the 17th Century, with recorded land grants in this area known originally as “Dan” and “Leeke Forest.”

In the early 19th century, much of the area was part of a 3,700 acre tobacco plantation owned by a slaveowning family with the surname of Riley. One of the Rileys' slaves, Josiah Henson, is thought by historians to be the inspiration for Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. During this period, the Washington Turnpike Company was founded to improve the old Seneca route, by then known as the Georgetown-Frederick Road. The road was opened in 1828, but had nearly washed away by 1848. The Riley plantation house was located on this road, and the plantation house's kitchen (in which Henson is known to have slept) still stands near the course of this road.

By the late 19th century, the area was privileged with stops along a train route, and by the early 20th century with its own trolley tracks on the line connecting Georgetown and Rockville (along current-day Fleming Avenue). During this time, development bloomed around train and trolley stops, and a number of wealthy families, including those of Captain James Frederick Oyster and Charles I. Corby (who developed methods that revolutionized the baking industry), lived or summered in the area. Nonetheless, the area remained sparsely populated through the 1920's.

The arrival of the automobile eventually transformed the area into a commuter suburb of Washington, D.C. By the 1950’s, the area had sprouted a number of developer-conceived neighborhoods with tract houses for the middle-class.

Today, the area remains largely a commuter suburb, with most residents traveling an average of 30 minutes to their workplace. While some traditional neighborhoods remain, other areas have struggled with issues related to suburban sprawl. Over the last few decades, the area has become increasingly affluent and, like most areas in southern Montgomery County, has attracted a highly educated and older population.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 38,610 people, 17,286 households, and 9,662 families residing in the area. The population density was 1,652.7/km² (4,281.5/mi²). There were 18,071 housing units at an average density of 773.5/km² (2,003.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the area was 77.24% White, 4.96% African American, 0.29% Native American, 11.97% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.61% from other races, and 2.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.53% of the population.

There were 17,286 households out of which 22.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.1% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the area, the population was spread out with 17.9% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.

The median income for a household in the area was $72,614, and the median income for a family was $89,167. Males had a median income of $61,893 versus $47,621 for females. The per capita income for the area was $44,316. About 3.5% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Population History of North Bethesda CDP from the U.S. Census Bureau

1980....22,671
1990....29,656
2000....38,610

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

[edit] ZIP codes

The North Bethesda CDP shares the ZIP code 20852 with parts of the city of Rockville, Maryland, and the ZIP code 20895 with Kensington, Maryland. The United States Postal Service recognizes either "North Bethesda" or "N Bethesda" as an acceptable alternate town name for ZIP code 20852. However, for ZIP code 20895, the USPS ZIP-code database specifically lists "North Bethesda" as "Not Acceptable — Use Kensington."

The southern region of the North Bethesda CDP (enclosed by the Washington Beltway and the two southern spurs of the I-270) is split between the ZIP codes 20817 and 20814. Both of these ZIP codes use the postal address "Bethesda," rather than "North Bethesda." Despite the census designation, the residents of this region – as well as the U.S. Postal Service – consider the region to be Bethesda, rather than North Bethesda.