North Bethesda Market East, formerly the tallest building in Montgomery County.
North Bethesda is an unincorporated, census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, located just north-west of the U.S. capital of Washington, D.C. It had a population of 50,094 as of the 2020 census.[4] Among its neighborhoods, the centrally-located, urbanizing district of White Flint is the commercial and residential hub of North Bethesda. The Pike & Rose development and the Pike District is an initiative of Montgomery County to brand and market this region as "North Bethesda's Urban Core". The WMATANorth Bethesda (formerly White Flint) metro station and Grosvenor-Strathmore metro station serve the region.
The region is also known for a number of its long-standing institutions, such as the Neo-Georgian Mansion at Strathmore and the Georgetown Preparatory School. The Music Center at Strathmore is also located in North Bethesda.
Geography
North Bethesda, Maryland - Looking Northeast. North Bethesda Market East visible in center of photo
According to the United States Census Bureau, the North Bethesda CDP has a total area of 8.9 square miles (23 km2), 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). The Twinbrook, North Bethesda (formerly White Flint), and Grosvenor-StrathmoreWashington Metro stations all serve the area, as does the Ride On and Metrobus bus systems. A future MARC station is planned as well.[6]
Major shopping centers include Pike & Rose (formerly Mid-Pike Plaza), Montrose Crossing, and Federal Plaza. The former White Flint Mall, demolished in 2016, was also a major shopping center.
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.” 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. Also in the southern sector of the census designated area, located in the triangle between the two limbs of I-270 and I-495, is a business district that includes several corporate and government agency headquarters.
The Riley plantation house and kitchen, located in the Tilden Woods neighborhood on Old Georgetown Road
In the early 19th century, much of the area was part of a 3,700-acre (15 km2) 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. In 1806, the Washington Turnpike Company was chartered 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 F. 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 1920s.
The arrival of the automobile eventually transformed the area into a commuter suburb of Washington, D.C. By the 1950s, the area had sprouted a number of developer-conceived neighborhoods with tract houses for the middle-class.
While some traditional neighborhoods remain, other areas have struggled with issues related to suburban sprawl.[clarification needed] Like most other suburbs in Montgomery County, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) engages in master planning for all development. The White Flint Master Plan is designed to alleviate negative aspects of future high-density development in North Bethesda.[8]
Disputed existence
The existence of North Bethesda as an actual place with distinct boundaries has been mistakenly questioned by local residents and online commenters.[9] Skeptics frequently dismiss the census-designated place as just a southern portion of Rockville rather than a defined place[10] and the name as a neologism coined by realtors.[11]
The reason for the misconception includes the lack of identity, especially as most of North Bethesda lies in the 20852 ZIP code it shares with Rockville[9] and uses the Rockville postal address, whereas the eastern part of the CDP uses the Kensington address and ZIP code, and the southern regions has the 20814 zip code of Bethesda proper.[12]
Adding to the confusion, the Rockville location of Whole Foods Market is in the North Bethesda Market on Rockville Pike, [12] and the county's growth plan for the area was titled "White Flint," the name used by the demolished White Flint Mall and the since renamed White Flint (now North Bethesda) station of the Washington Metro Red Line.[12] Beginning in the mid-2010s, developers sought to rebrand the area around the metro station as "Pike District".[9] In addition, North Bethesda Middle School is located in Bethesda.[9]
Despite the accusation that the real estate business uses "North Bethesda" to associate the area with the ritzier Bethesda rather than Rockville, some realtors point out that customers and agents don't always search for "North Bethesda", and the inconsistency between the place name and postal address can be a liability.[10]
The Washington Japanese Language School, the oldest supplementary weekend Japanese school in the United States,[25] previously held classes at Holy Cross School and Georgetown Prep in North Bethesda.[26]
As of the census[28] of 2000, there were 38,610 people, 17,286 households, and 9,662 families residing in the area. The population density was 4,281.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,653.1/km2). There were 18,071 housing units at an average density of 2,003.9 per square mile (773.7/km2). 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.
According to survey conducted between 2005 and 2009,[29] the median income for a household in the area was $87,324, and the median income for a family was $113,719. Males had a median income of $79,085 versus $61,793 for females. The per capita income for the area was $51,254. About 2.2% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Pike and Rose, one of the major mixed-use developments in North Bethesda
^"Home". Garrett Park Elementary School. Retrieved October 24, 2020. 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850 - Compare to the Map of Garrett Park
^"Home". Luxmanor Elementary School. Retrieved October 25, 2020. 6201 Tilden Lane Rockville, MD 20852 - Compare address and location to CDP map.
^"Home". Tilden Middle School. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
^"Home". Academy of the Holy Cross. Retrieved October 24, 2020. 4920 Strathmore Avenue Kensington, MD 20895 - Despite the Kensington address it is in North Bethesda CDP.
^"About". Holy Cross School. Retrieved October 24, 2020. 4900 Strathmore Ave., Garrett Park, MD - Compare to the Map of Garrett Park
^"Home". Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. Retrieved October 24, 2020. Lower School 1901 East Jefferson Street Rockville, MD 20852 [...] Upper School 11710 Hunters Lane Rockville, MD 20852
^Home, Green Acres School, retrieved October 24, 2020, 11701 Danville Drive North Bethesda, MD 20852
^"Directions". Montrose Christian School. December 15, 2000. Archived from the original on December 15, 2000. Retrieved October 24, 2020. 5100 Randolph Rockville, MD 20852
^"ワシントン日本語学校概要" (Archive). Washington Japanese Language School. May 6, 2003. Retrieved on April 16, 2015. "学校事務局 Washington Japanese Language School Holy Cross Church, Quinn Hall内. 4900 Strathmore Avenue, Garrett Park, MD 20896" and "ホーリークロス校 Holy Cross Church Elementary School 4900 Strathmore Ave, Garret Park, MD 20896" and "プレプ校 Georgetown Preparatory School 10900 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, MD 20852" and "セントルーク校 St.Luke Catholic School 7005 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101"
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