Gaithersburg is located in
Montgomery County. Gaithersburg is near the freeway I 270 which is a major
artery into Rockville and Washington, DC. so the commute is easy if you don't
work "in town". This community is only 13 miles northwest of DC. Gaithersburg
also has superb public transportation that includes the Red Line for Subway and
Ride-On buses.
Gaithersburg began as "Log Town"
in 1765. 85 years later it was called "Forest Oak"-literally named after a
grand tree in town that was 150 years old at the time. This tree survived to
the ripe old age of 297 when it was knocked down by a storm in 1997. The town
name changed to "Gaithersburg" in 1878 when it was officially incorporated. It
was finally named after Benjamin Gaither whose house sat on the land of the
Great Tree.
Gaithersburg started as a small
agricultural town and eventually added a large summer population when the
railroad allowed DC residents to escape the hot city. With a population of a
little over 50,000 residents it still offers respite from the intensity of
complete urban living (yet it is close enough to big cities to easily enjoy all
the cultural benefits). Over the years the town has also grown to include a
large governmental, scientific and high tech community. These industries have
largely replaced the agrarian economic base.
City of Gaithersburg, Maryland
Montgomery Village Foundation
Kentlands
King Farm
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
City
Hall
31 S. Summit Ave.
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
301-258-6300
www.cityhall@ci.gaithersburg.md.us
OTHER AREA GOVERNMENTS AND
CITIZEN GROUPS
Darnestown Civic Association Inc.
14804 Turkey Foot
Road
Darnestown, MD 20878
301-869-0288
www.darnestown.net
Washington Grove
McCathran
Hall
300 Grove Ave.
Washington Grove, MD 20880
301-926-2256
www.washgrov.sailorsite.net
Kentlands Citizens Assembly
Inc.
485 Tschiffeley Square Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
301-948-2071
(administrative offices)
301-948-9730 (fax)
www.kentlandsusa.com
Laytonsville
P.O. Box
5158
Laytonsville, MD 20882
301-869-0042
LOCAL SCHOOLS
Served by
the Gaithersburg, Watkins Mill, Quince Orchard, Northwest, Wootton and Magruder
clusters.
POLICE
Gaithersburg
has its own police department. Mary Ann Viverette is police chief. Gaithersburg
is also served by the Germantown District Station and the Sixth District
Substation.
FIRE SERVICES
Served by
Gaithersburg-Washington Grove, Rockville and Laytonsville volunteer fire
departments.
LIBRARIES
The
Gaithersburg and Quince Orchard libraries are part of the county library
system.
BUSINESS
The area is
served by the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce.
