Kensington, Maryland
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| Kensington, Maryland | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maryland |
| County | Montgomery |
| Area | |
| - Total | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km²) |
| - Land | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km²) |
| - Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 285 ft (87 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 1,873 |
| - Density | 3,668.6/sq mi (1,416.5/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 20891, 20895 |
| Area code(s) | 301 |
| FIPS code | 24-43500 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0590589 |
Kensington is a town in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,873 at the 2000 census.
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[edit] History
The area around the Rock Creek basin where Kensington is now found was primarily agricultural until 1873, when the B&O Railroad completed a branch which traversed Montgomery County. A community arose where the new 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 a summer refuge for Washington, D.C., residents wishing to escape the capital's humid summers. As years passed and its residents increasingly remained year round, Kensington evolved into a commuter suburb. The large southernmost section originally mapped out by Warner remains largely unchanged since inception, and is a historically preserved zone. Indeed 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 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
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, MD and the Wheaton Planning District. 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 census[1] of 2000, there were 1,873 people, 729 households, and 467 families residing in the town. The population density was 3,668.6 people per square mile (1,418.0/km²). There were 768 housing units at an average density of 1,504.3/sq mi (581.4/km²). 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.
For a small town, Kensington is well served by an exceptionally large business community. The myriad of businesses include antique shops, art shops, fine restaurants, delis, cafes, bakeries, dry cleaners, a gym, supermarkets, auto repair shops, hardware stores, kitchen design studios, vintage clothiers, and many others.[needs citation] Virtually every segment of retail is within easy walking distance from the town's historic center.
During the warmer months, the Town of Kensington hosts a farmer's market on Saturday mornings between 8am and noon at the historical train station which is still in use today as part of the MARC commuter train network.
[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)
- Sean McMullen (term ends 6/30/2008, elected to complete term of Alfred C. Carr, Jr., who resigned to accept an appointment to the Maryland House of Delegates)
- Mary Donatelli (term ends 6/30/2009)
- Sharon Scott (term ends 6/30/2009)
[edit] Education
The Town of Kensington is served by the Montgomery County Public Schools system.
Public schools that serve Kensington include:
- Rock View Elementary School
- Oakland Terrace Elementary School
- Kensington-Parkwood Elementary School link title
- North Bethesda Middle School
- Walter Johnson High School
- Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
- Albert Einstein High School
- Newport Mill Middle School
[edit] Current Famous Residents
Eric Bickel - Co-host of local morning radio show The Junkies
William Broomfield (R) - Retired U.S. Congressman for Michigan from 1956 to 1992
Matthew Lesko - Famous television infomercial personality
Mike McCurry - White House Press Secretary during the Clinton administration
Harry McPherson - Special counsel to President Lyndon B. Johnson
Jeff Sharp - Chief legal counsel to George W. Bush during the Scooter Libby trial
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
In 1974, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints completed construction and dedicated the Washington D.C. Temple in an unincorporated area to the southeast of the Town of 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.
The Lyon Sisters, who disappeared without a trace in 1975 and who remain missing as of 2008, were from Kensington.
The town is also home to the historic and popular Noyes Library for Young Children[1]
Hubert Humphrey lived nearby while he was a U.S. Senator.
The novel In Stereo Where Available takes place in Kensington.
In 2006, the Kensington town council, working closely with the State Legislature, enabled most of its restaurants to serve alcohol at a drink/food ratio of 50/50 which is what the rest of the county enjoys.
In 2006, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission started work on an updated master plan for the greater Kensington area. The process should be completed in 2008.
Kensington is frequently referred to as K-Town by many of the young people in the area.
[edit] References
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
Kensington, a Picture History. Kensington (MD), Kensington Business District Association, 1994.
[edit] External links
- Kensington, Maryland is at coordinates Coordinates:
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