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Gaithersburg, Maryland | |
|---|---|
City | |
| City of Gaithersburg | |
 Top to bottom, left to right: theNIST Advanced Measurement Laboratory, the Gaithersburg city hall, a row of Gaithersburg townhouses, theSaint Rose of Lima Catholic Church, theJohn A. Belt Building, and theWashingtonian Waterfront | |
 Flag  Seal  Coat of arms | |
| Nickname: "GBurg" | |
| Motto: "ACharacter Counts! city" | |
 Location in Montgomery County andMaryland | |
  Gaithersburg Location in Maryland Show map of Maryland Gaithersburg Gaithersburg (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:39°7′55″N77°13′35″W / 39.13194°N 77.22639°W /39.13194; -77.22639 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maryland |
| County | Montgomery |
| Settled (as Log Town) | 1765 |
| Founded | 1802 |
| Incorporated (as a town) | April 5, 1878 |
| Ascension (to city status) | 1968[1] |
| Named after | Benjamin Gaither |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Jud Ashman[2] |
| • Council Members | Neil Harris[2] Lisa Henderson[2] Yamil Hernández[2] Jim McNulty[2] Robert T. Wu[2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 10.44 sq mi (27.05 km2) |
| • Land | 10.32 sq mi (26.73 km2) |
| • Water | 0.12 sq mi (0.32 km2) |
| Elevation | 350 ft (110 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 69,657 |
| • Density | 6,748.9/sq mi (2,605.78/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Area codes | 301, 240 |
| FIPS code | 24-31175 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2390591[4] |
| Website | gaithersburgmd |
Gaithersburg (/ˈɡeɪθərzbɜːrɡ/ ⓘGAY-thərz-burg) is a city inMontgomery County, Maryland, United States. At the time of the2020 United States census, Gaithersburg had a population of 69,657, making it the third-largest incorporated city and the ninth-most populous community in the state.[5] Gaithersburg is located to the northwest ofWashington, D.C., and is considered a suburb and a primary city within theWashington metropolitan area. Gaithersburg was incorporated as a town in 1878 and as a city in 1968.
TheNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is headquartered in Gaithersburg directly west of I-270.[N 1] Other major employers in the city includeIBM,Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Services business area headquarters,AstraZeneca. Gaithersburg is also the location of the garrison of theUnited States Army Reserve Legal Command.
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Gaithersburg was settled in 1765 as a smallagricultural settlement known as Log Town near the present day Summit Hall on Ralph Crabb's 1725 land grant "Deer Park".[6] The northern portion of the land grant was purchased by Henry Brookes, and he built his brick home "Montpelier" there, starting first with a log cabin in 1780/3. This 1,000-acre tract became part of the landmark IBM Headquarters complex built on the then-new I-270 Interstate "Industrial", now "Technology", Corridor in the late 1960s to the 1970s.Benjamin Gaither married Henry's daughter Margaret, and Benjamin and Margaret inherited a portion of Henry's land prior to Henry's death in 1807. Gaither built his home on the land in 1802.[7] By the 1850s the area had ceased to be called Log Town and was known to inhabitants as Gaithersburg.[8]
The Forest Oak Post Office, named for a large tree in the town, was located in Gaither's store in 1851.
On July 10, 1864, using the route of present-day 355, over 10,000 Confederate troops camped overnight in the area, including the present Bohrer Park, after a one-day march fromFrederick after theBattle of Monocacy. The next day the troops continued towards Washington in an unsuccessful attempt to take the city.
When the railroad was built through town in 1873, the new station was called Gaithersburg, an officially recognized name for the community for the first time. Also in 1873 theBaltimore and Ohio Railroad constructed a station at Gaithersburg,[6] designed byEphraim Francis Baldwin as part of his well-known series ofVictorian stations in Maryland.[9] Rapid growth occurred shortly thereafter, and on April 5, 1878, the town was officially incorporated as the Town of Gaithersburg.
Gaithersburg boomed during the late 19th century and churches, schools, a mill,grain elevators, stores, and hotels were built. Much of this development focused around the railroad station.[8]
In 1899, Gaithersburg was selected as one of six global locations for the construction of anInternational Latitude Observatory as part of a project to measure the Earth's wobble on its polar axis. TheGaithersburg Latitude Observatory is (as of 2007) the onlyNational Historic Landmark in the City of Gaithersburg. The observatory and five others inJapan,Italy,Russia, and theUnited States gathered information that is still used by scientists today, along with information fromsatellites, to determinepolar motion; the size, shape, and physical properties of the earth; and to aid the space program through the precise navigational patterns of orbiting satellites. The Gaithersburg station operated until 1982 when computerization rendered the manual observation obsolete.
In 1968, Gaithersburg was upgraded from a town to a city.
Gaithersburg remained a predominantly rural farm town until the 1970s when more construction began. As the population grew, with homes spreading throughout the area, Gaithersburg began taking on a suburban and semi-urban feel, leaving its farming roots behind. During the late 1990s and 2000s, it had become one of the most economically and ethnically diverse areas in theWashington, D.C. Metropolitan Area as well as theState of Maryland, with people from all walks of life calling Gaithersburg home. This can be seen in the local schools, withGaithersburg High School andWatkins Mill High School having two of the most diverse student bodies in the region.
During a 1997 rainstorm, the 295-year-old forest oak tree that gave its name to the Forest Oak Post Office crashed down.[10] The tree served as the inspiration for the city's logo,[10] which is also featured prominently on the city's flag.[10]
In 2007, parts of the filmBody of Lies were filmed in the city, at a building on 100 Edison Park Drive. The film was released in 2008 and the building is now theMontgomery County Police Department's headquarters.[11]
On July 16, 2010, Gaithersburg was part of the area where a 3.6 magnitude earthquake was felt, one of the strongest to occur in Maryland.
After years of decline and loss of tenants, including three of its fouranchor stores in 2019, Lakeforest Mall closed on March 31, 2023,[12] with plans to demolish it and redevelop the area.[13]
Gaithersburg is also the location of theUnited States Army Reserve Legal Command.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.34 square miles (26.78 km2), of which 10.20 square miles (26.42 km2) is land and 0.14 square miles (0.36 km2) is water.[14]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 547 | — | |
| 1910 | 625 | 14.3% | |
| 1920 | 729 | 16.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,068 | 46.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,021 | −4.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,755 | 71.9% | |
| 1960 | 3,847 | 119.2% | |
| 1970 | 8,344 | 116.9% | |
| 1980 | 26,424 | 216.7% | |
| 1990 | 39,542 | 49.6% | |
| 2000 | 52,613 | 33.1% | |
| 2010 | 59,933 | 13.9% | |
| 2020 | 69,657 | 16.2% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 70,686 | 1.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15] 2010–2020[5] 2024 estimate[16] | |||
As of the 2022American Community Survey, there were 68,952 people and 24,523 households in the town. The racial makeup of the town was 33% White, 13% Black, 15% Asian, and 1% from other races. Hispanic people of any race were 36% of the population.
The median household income was 95,453, and 6% of people were under the poverty line.
The average time to work was 30 minutes, 57% of people drove alone, 11% carpooled, 8% took public transit, 1% biked, 2% walked and 20% work from home.[17]
As of thecensus[18] of 2010, there were 59,933 people, 22,000 households, and 14,548 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 5,875.8 inhabitants per square mile (2,268.7/km2). There were 23,337 housing units at an average density of 2,287.9 per square mile (883.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 31.9%White, 16.3%African American, 0.5%Native American, 16.9%Asian (6.01 Chinese, 4.77% Indian, 2.03% Korean, 1.69% Filipino, 1.02% Vietnamese, 0.62% Burmese), 0.1%Pacific Islander, 10.7% fromother races, and 4.8% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino were 24.2% of the population (8.3% Salvadoran, 2% Honduran, 1.9% Mexican, 1.9% Peruvian, 1.7% Guatemalan).
There were 22,000 households, of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% weremarried couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.9% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.24.
The median age in the city was 35.1 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 33.8% were from 25 to 44; 24.6% were from 45 to 64; and 9.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.6% male and 51.4% females.
As of thecensus[19] of 2000, there were 52,613 people, 19,621 households, and 12,577 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,216.2 inhabitants per square mile (2,014.0/km2). There were 20,674 housing units at an average density of 2,049.7 per square mile (791.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city is 34.7%White, 19.5%Black orAfrican American, 0.2%Native American, 13.9%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 3.6% fromother races, and 3.2% from two or more races. 24.8% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 34.3% of Gaithersburg's population was foreign-born.
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 3.14 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.
According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[20] the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AstraZeneca (formerlyMedImmune) | 4,000 |
| 2 | National Institute of Standards and Technology | 2,798 |
| 3 | Leidos (merged withLockheed Martin) | 1,515 |
| 4 | Asbury Methodist Village | 771 |
| 5 | Hughes Network Systems, LLC | 729 |
| 6 | Sodexo USA | 536 |
| 7 | Adventist HealthCare | 495 |
| 8 | GeneDx | 350 |
| 9 | Kaiser Permanente | 350 |
| 10 | Emergent BioSolutions | 347 |
Gaithersburg also receives significant income from its conference organization platform including prominent conferences such as theCHI 84 conference.
Patton Electronics was founded in Gaithersburg during 1984.[21]
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 77.5%21,286 | 20.0%5,487 | 2.5%694 |
| 2016 | 75.2%18,987 | 19.1%4,820 | 5.7%1,430 |
Gaithersburg has an elected, five-member City Council, which serves as the legislative body of the city. The mayor, who is also elected, serves as non-voting president of the council. The day-to-day administration of the city is overseen by a careercity manager.
The city's current mayor is Jud Ashman, who has held the office since 2014. On October 6, 2014, the Gaithersburg City Council selected city council member Jud Ashman to serve as mayor until the next City of Gaithersburg election in November 2015, replacing resigning mayorSidney Katz. Ashman was re-elected in November 2015 and would be re-elected to full terms in 2017 and 2021.[23]
| Position | Name | In office since | Next Election |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Jud Ashman | 2015 | 2025 |
| Council (At Large) | Lisa Henderson | 2021 | 2025 |
| Council (At Large) | Jim McNulty | 2021 | 2025 |
| Council (At Large) | Neil Harris | 2014 | 2027 |
| Council (At Large) | Yamil Hernández | 2023 | 2027 |
| Council (At Large) | Robert Wu | 2015 | 2027 |
Previous mayors include:
The departments of the city of Gaithersburg and their directors include:
The followingMontgomery County Public Schools are located in Gaithersburg:[24]
Gaithersburg is primarily served by theWashington, D.C.media market.
Being a city, Gaithersburg also has its own police department, which was created in 1963.[25]
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The most prominent highways serving Gaithersburg areInterstate 270 andInterstate 370. I-270 is the main highway leading northwest out of metropolitan Washington, D.C., beginning atInterstate 495 (the Capital Beltway) and proceeding northwestward toInterstate 70 inFrederick. I-370 is a short spur, starting just west of I-270 in Gaithersburg and heading east to its junction withMaryland Route 200. Via MD 200, I-370 connects Gaithersburg withInterstate 95 nearLaurel.
Maryland Route 355 was the precursor to I-270 and follows a parallel route. It now serves as the main commercial roadway through Gaithersburg and neighboring communities. Other state highways serving Gaithersburg includeMaryland Route 117,Maryland Route 119 andMaryland Route 124.Maryland Route 28 passes just outside the Gaithersburg corporate limits.
Gaithersburg is connected to theWashington Metro viaShady Grove station, which is located just outside the city limits and is the north-western terminus of theRed Line.
Maryland'sMARC system operatescommuter rail services connecting Gaithersburg toWashington, D.C., with two stations in the city, at Old TownGaithersburg andMetropolitan Grove, and a third station —Washington Grove — just outside city limits.
Bus service in Gaithersburg consists ofMetrobus routes operated byWMATA andRide-On routes operated byMontgomery County, as well asparatransit service provided byMetroAccess.
Twobus rapid transit lines are proposed in Gaithersburg, but as yet unbuilt: AFlash BRT line along Frederick Avenue (Maryland Route 355) in the eastern half of the city, and theCorridor Cities Transitway in the western half of the city.
Montgomery County Airpark is located 3 miles (5 km) northeast of the city.
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