Montgomery County, Maryland

Montgomery County of the of  is situated just north of  and Southwest of. It is one of the most affluent counties in the nation, and has the highest percentage (29.2%) of residents over 25 years old that hold an advanced degree. The is  and the largest municipality is the city of. Most of the county's residents live in unincorporated locales, the most populous of which is. It is a part of both the and the.

Economy
Montgomery County is an important business and research center. Along with the rest of the state of, Montgomery County is the epicenter for in the  region. The county is the third largest biotechnology cluster in the nation, holding the principal cluster and companies of large corporate size in the state.

Much research is done in the county through institutions like 's Montgomery County Campus (JHU MCC),, the and the.

Many large firms are based in the county. ,, , , (RLJ Cos), , , , , , , and  are just a few of the large and popular firms headquartered in Montgomery County.

There are also several government agencies that are based in Montgomery County including, (NIH),  (FDA),  (NOAA),  (NRC), and the  (NIST).

Downtown and  are the largest urban business hubs in the county; combined, they rival many major city cores.

History
The area now known as Montgomery County was originally a part of the territory north of. In 1696 parts of and, Maryland were split off and with a large portion of frontier territory formed the new. In turn, in, a portion of Prince George's County produced. Montgomery County was formed in 1776 by the splitting of Frederick County. The former Frederick County was subdivided into three; the central portion remained Frederick County, while the western was named in honor of General (later President), and the eastern part was named Montgomery County in honor of another  general,.

In, portions of Montgomery County, including , were ceded to form the new , along with portions of , as well as parts of that were later  to Virginia.

In 1828, construction on the commenced and was completed in 1850. Throughout the 19th century, dominated the economy in Montgomery County, with s playing a significant role. In the 1850s, crop production shifted away from and towards. Montgomery County was important in the movement, with slave, who wrote about his experiences in a memoir which became the basis for 's  (1852). Josiah, the inspiration for the character "Uncle Tom", was a slave in the county and a slave cabin where he is believed to have spent time still stands at the end of a driveway off Old Georgetown Road. In the 1860 presidential election, Montgomery County was one of only four Southern counties to vote for.

Until 1860, only private schools existed in Montgomery County. Initially, schools for students were built, and in 1872 schools for African-Americans were added.

In 1873, the of the  opened, with a route between Washington, D.C. and. The railroad spurred development at, , , and.

On, , Montgomery County annexed a portion of Prince George's County, after residents of , which spanned both counties, voted to be entirely within the more affluent Montgomery County.

Geography
According to the, the county has a total area of 1,313 (507 ). 1,283 km² (496 sq mi) of it is land and 30 km² (12 sq mi) of it (2.29%) is water.

Adjacent jurisdictions

 * (north)
 * (northwest)
 * (northeast)
 * (east)
 * (south)
 * (west)
 * (southwest)

Demographics
As of the 2000, there were 873,341 people, 324,565 households, and 224,274 families residing in the county. The was 680/km² (1,762/sq mi). There were 334,632 housing units at an average density of 261/km² (675/sq mi).

The racial makeup of the county was:
 * 64.78%
 * 15.14%
 * 0.29%
 * 11.3%
 * 0.05%
 * 5.0% from
 * 3.45% from two or more races.

In addition, 11.52% of the population was or, of any race

Significant national ethnic groups included people of (8.5%),  (8.1%),   (6.8%) and  (5.0%) ancestry according to. The county also has a sizable population.

There were 324,565 households out of which 35% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.

Montgomery County has the eighth highest household median income in the United States, and the second highest in the state after according to the 2006 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The median income for a household in the county for 2006 was $87,624 and the median income for a family was $103,476. Males had a median income of $66,415 versus $52,134 for females. The for the county was $43,073. About 3.3% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

A significant division in terms of diversity and affluence exists between the eastern part of the county, centered around Silver Spring and Olney, the western part of the county, centered around the Bethesda and Potomac, and the agricultural northern portion of the county. The complaint that the western side of the county is given special favors at the expense of the eastern side, such as the highway project, has often been raised.

Since the, the county has had in place a Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit (MPDU) zoning plan that requires developers to include affordable housing in any new residential developments that they construct in the county. The goal is to create socioeconomically mixed neighborhoods and schools so the rich and poor are not isolated in separate parts of the county. Developers who provide for more than the minimum amount of MPDUs are rewarded with permission to increase the density of their developments, which allows them to build more housing and generate more revenue. Montgomery County was one of the first counties in the U.S. to adopt such a plan, but many other areas have since followed suit.

According to the Washington Post, Montgomery County has the largest South American community in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area.

Law and government
Montgomery County was granted a charter form of government in.

County Executives
Ike Leggett was sworn in on December 4, 2006.

Legislative body
The present form of government of Montgomery County dates to November 1948 when the voters changed the form of government from a County Commission/County Manager system, as provided in the original 1948 home rule Charter, to a County Executive/County Council form of government. The first seven-member County Council was elected in 1970. Originally all of the council members were elected at large (that is, by all of the voters). Five members were required to reside in their council district. In November 1986, the voters amended the Charter to increase the number of Council seats in the 1990 election from seven to nine. Now five members are elected by the voters of their council district and four are elected at-large. Each voter may vote for five council members; four at-large and one from the district in which they reside.

The current members of the County Council for the 2006-2010 term are:

Cities and towns
This county contains the following incorporated municipalities:

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 and.
 * 3 :
 * (incorporated )
 * (incorporated )
 * (incorporated )
 * 12 s:
 * (incorporated )
 * (incorporated )
 * (Town of) (incorporated )
 * (incorporated )
 * (incorporated ; note that, despite its name, it is a town and not a village.)
 * (incorporated )
 * (incorporated )
 * (incorporated )
 * (incorporated )
 * (incorporated )
 * (incorporated )
 * (incorporated )
 * 4 s:
 * (incorporated )
 * (incorporated )
 * (incorporated )
 * (incorporated )

Occupying a middle ground between incorporated and unincorporated areas are Special Tax Districts, quasi-municipal unincorporated areas created by legislation passed by the . 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. Four Special Tax Districts remain in the county:
 * , Village of
 * 1) and "The Hills"

Unincorporated areas are also considered as towns by many people and listed in many collections of towns, but they lack local government. Various organizations, such as the, the , and local chambers of commerce, define the communities they wish to recognize differently, and since they are not incorporated, their boundaries have no official status outside the organizations in question. The Census Bureau recognizes the following s in the county:


 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 2) (This CDP is shared between Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.)
 * 3) (Note that this is also the name of an incorporated town!)
 * 4) (This CDP includes the Village of Friendship Heights.)
 * 5) (This CDP is shared between Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.)
 * 6) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (This CDP is shared between Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.)
 * 2) (Note that this is also the name of an incorporated town!)
 * 3) (This CDP includes the Village of Friendship Heights.)
 * 4) (This CDP is shared between Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.)
 * 5) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (This CDP includes the Village of Friendship Heights.)
 * 2) (This CDP is shared between Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.)
 * 3) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (This CDP includes the Village of Friendship Heights.)
 * 2) (This CDP is shared between Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.)
 * 3) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (This CDP is shared between Montgomery and Prince George's Counties.)
 * 2) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
 * 1) (a combination of the communities of  and  recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)

Other unincorporated places:



Roads
Montgomery County is approximately bisected north-south by, a connector linking with Washington. I-270 divides in with its primary roadway connecting to the eastbound  (Interstate 495), and a spur connecting to southbound I-495 as it approaches northern. Another spur highway,, connects Interstate 270 with the Metro station.

A longstanding, fiercely contested plan exists to construct an east-west, the (ICC). The ICC would extend Interstate 370 to connect I-270 with and  in,.

Roughly paralleling 270 is, a surface street known for much of its length as Rockville Pike. In its southern reaches it is known as Wisconsin Avenue, while in the north it is known as Frederick Road, or Frederick Ave in Gaithersburg; in the northern half of Rockville (from Town Center north), it is named Hungerford Drive.

Other major routes include (River Road);  ; ,  (Connecticut Avenue) and  (Darnestown Road, Montgomery Avenue and Norbeck Road). parallels the eastern border of the county; first as Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring, then Colesville Road, and thence as Columbia Pike through Burtonsville and into Howard County.

Bus
Montgomery County operates its own  system, known as. Major routes are also covered by 's Metrobus service.

Rail
Montgomery County is served by three passenger rail systems.

, the U.S. national passenger rail system, operates its  to Rockville, between and.

The Brunswick line of the  system makes stops at Silver Spring, Kensington, Garrett Park, Rockville, Washington Grove, Gaithersburg, Metropolitan Grove, Germantown, Boyds, Barnesville, and Dickerson, where the line splits into its Frederick and Martinsburg branches.

Both suburban arms of the of the  serve Montgomery County. It follows the right of way to the west, roughly paralleling Route 355 from  to. The eastern side runs between the two tracks of the CSX right of way from to, and  roughly parallels Georgia Avenue, from  Silver Spring to.

There has been much debate on the construction of two new transitways, both of which are still in the early stages of design. The would run "cross-town" connecting nodes in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties near the ; and the  would provide an extension of the  corridor in and around.

Air
The ( GAI,  KGAI), a general aviation facility in Gaithersburg, is the only  in the county. Commercial air service is provided at the nearby, , and Airports.

Education
Schools are operated by the.

Sports
Montgomery County is home of the, a youth (ages 4-18) competitive swimming league comprised of 90 teams based at community pools throughout the county.

There are future possibilities of a minor league baseball team forming to play for the to represent Montgomery County.

Liquor control
Montgomery County maintains a monopoly on the sale of "hard liquor" s, while beer and wine may be sold at independently owned stores. This is similar to several U.S. states. The county is thus referred to as an county.