2 Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,313 km² (507 mi²). 1,283 km² (496 mi²) of it is land and 30 km² (12 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.29% water.

3 Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there are 873,341 people, 324,565 households, and 224,274 families residing in the county. The population density is 680/km² (1,762/mi²). There are 334,632 housing units at an average density of 261/km² (675/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 64.78% White, 15.14% African American, 0.29% Native American, 11.30% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 5.00% from other races, and 3.45% from two or more races. 11.52% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 324,565 households out of which 35.00% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.20% are married couples living together, 10.50% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% are non-families. 24.40% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.70% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.66 and the average family size is 3.19.

In the county the population is spread out with 25.40% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 32.30% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 92.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $71,551, and the median income for a family is $84,035. Males have a median income of $54,005 versus $40,714 for females. The per capita income for the county is $35,684. 5.40% of the population and 3.70% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 5.90% of those under the age of 18 and 5.90% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

4 Law and government

Montgomery County was granted a charter form of government in 1948.

4.1 County Executive

The current county executive is Douglas Duncan, who was inaugurated in 1994. Earlier county executives have included:

1. James P. Gleason ( 1970- 1978)
2. Charles W. Gilchrist ( 1978- 1986)
3. Sidney Kramer ( 1986- 1990)
4. Neal Potter ( 1990- 1994)

4.2 Legislative body

The Montgomery County Council was originally composed of seven members, all elected at large, but with five required to reside in specific districts. In 19__ the charter was revised to provide that the five district councilmembers would be elected by the voters in their districts, but the size of the council was increased to nine members, with four at large.

5 Cities and towns

• 3 Cities:
  1. Gaithersburg (incorporated 1878)
  2. Rockville (incorporated 1860)
  3. Takoma Park (incorporated 1890)
• 12 Towns:
  1. Barnesville (incorporated 1888)
  2. Brookeville (incorporated 1808)
  3. Chevy Chase (Town of) (incorporated 1918)
  4. Chevy Chase View (incorporated 1993)
  5. Chevy Chase Village (incorporated 1910) (note that, despite the name, Chevy Chase Village is a town and not a village.)
  6. Garrett Park (incorporated 1898)
  7. Glen Echo (incorporated 1904)
  8. Kensington (incorporated 1894)
  9. Laytonsville (incorporated 1892)
  10. Poolesville (incorporated 1867)
  11. Somerset (incorporated 1906)
  12. Washington Grove (incorporated 1937)
• 4 Villages:
  1. Chevy Chase, Village of, Section 3 (incorporated 1982)
  2. Chevy Chase, Village of, Section 5 (incorporated 1982)
  3. Martin's Additions (incorporated 1985)
  4. North Chevy Chase (incorporated 1996)

Though the three incorporated cities of Gaithersburg, Rockville, and Takoma Park lie within its boundaries, the most urbanized areas in the county include such unincorporated areas as Bethesda and Silver Spring.

Occupying a middle ground between incorporated and unincorporated areas are Special Tax Districts, quasi-municipal unincorporated areas created by legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly.[1] They lack home rule authority and must petition the General Assembly for changes affecting the authority of the district. The four incorporated villages of Montgomery County and the town of Chevy Chase View were originally established as Special Tax Districts. Three Special Tax Districts remain in the county:

1. Drummond, Village of ( 1916)
2. Friendship Heights and "The Hills" ( 1914)
3. Oakmont ( 1918)

1. Ashton-Sandy Spring (a combination of the communities of Ashton and Sandy Spring recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
2. Aspen Hill
3. Bethesda
4. Brookmont
5. Burtonsville
6. Cabin John
7. Calverton (This CDP is shared between Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.)
8. Chevy Chase (Note that this is also the name of an incorporated town!)
9. Clarksburg
10. Cloverly
11. Colesville
12. Damascus
13. Darnestown
14. Fairland
15. Forest Glen
16. Friendship Village (This CDP includes the Village of Friendship Heights.)
17. Germantown
18. Hillandale (This CDP is shared between Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.)
19. Kemp Mill
20. Montgomery Village
21. North Bethesda
22. North Kensington
23. North Potomac
24. Olney
25. Potomac
26. Redland
27. Rossmoor
28. Silver Spring
29. South Kensington
30. Travilah
31. Wheaton-Glenmont (a combination of the communities of Wheaton and Glenmont recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
32. White Oak

Maryland counties Washington, DC suburbs Montgomery County, Maryland

<Hide>