Brookeville, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brookeville, Maryland
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The Madison House in February 2006. It was built around 1800 and originally owned by Caleb Bentley. The house provided refuge for President James Madison, on August 26, 1814, after the British burned Washington, D.C., during the War of 1812.
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| Motto(s):
"United States Capital For A Day August 26, 1814"
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Location of Brookeville in Montgomery County, Maryland, Inset: Location of Montgomery County in Maryland.
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Maryland | |
| County | Montgomery | |
| Settled | 1794 | |
| Incorporated | 1808 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 0.14 sq mi (0.36 km2) | |
| • Land | 0.14 sq mi (0.36 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | |
| Elevation | 433 ft (132 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 166 | |
| • Density | 1,185.71/sq mi (459.09/km2) | |
| • Demonym | Brookevillian | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP Code |
20833
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| Area code(s) | 301, 240 | |
| FIPS code | 24-10225 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2390755 | |
Brookeville is a small town in Montgomery County, Maryland. It is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Washington, D.C.. The town was started by Quakers in the late 1700s. It officially became a town in 1808.
Brookeville was once a farming community. Today, it is on the edge of the busy Washington suburbs. In 2020, 166 people lived there.
Brookeville is famous for being the "United States Capital for a Day." This happened on August 26, 1814. British troops had burned Washington, D.C., during the War of 1812. President James Madison found safety in Brookeville that night. The town was also a stop on the Underground Railroad during the American Civil War. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom.
Contents
About Brookeville
The U.S. Postal Service uses "Brookeville" for a larger area than just the town itself. This larger area includes places like Sunshine and Brighton. Reddy Branch Stream Valley Park surrounds the town. Other parks nearby include Rachel Carson Conservation Park and Patuxent River State Park.
Many people who live in Brookeville work for the government. The town is run by a three-person town commission. Long ago, the Brookeville Academy was an important school here. Today, students attend Sherwood High School. It started as a Friends school in 1883. It became a public school in 1909.
Traffic can be heavy on Georgia Avenue, which runs through town. This road connects areas north of Brookeville to Washington, D.C. A bypass road is being built to help cars go around the town. This project was still being built in 2022.
Brookeville's History
How Brookeville Began
Brookeville was founded in 1794 by Quakers Richard Thomas and Deborah Brooke. They named the town after Deborah's family. Deborah inherited the land from her father, Roger Brooke IV. Her family was a powerful Quaker family.
Richard Thomas built a mill on the Reddy Branch. This creek forms the northern border of the town. In 1802, Caleb Bentley opened a store and the first post office. The town officially became a town in 1808.
Early Life and Industry
Brookeville was a market town for local farms. In the 1800s, it had several mills. It also had the Brookeville Academy, a post office, and shops. Newlin's Mill made high-quality castor oil. Thomas Mill was on the east side of town.
To make it easier to sell goods in Washington, D.C., a farmer built a toll road in 1849. This road later became Georgia Avenue, or Maryland Route 97.
Thomas Moore Jr. lived near Brookeville. He helped create the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He also invented the first refrigerator and even named it! He used his invention to keep butter fresh. This way, he could sell his products for a good price in Washington.
The War of 1812: Capital for a Day
During the War of 1812, British troops attacked and burned parts of Washington, D.C. The government and soldiers had to leave the capital. President James Madison first went to Virginia. Then he headed north.
On August 26, 1814, he arrived in Brookeville. He stayed at the home of Caleb Bentley. It is said that Madison carried the entire U.S. treasury in a strongbox with him. He stayed up all night, sending out orders. Soldiers guarded the house.
After the British left Washington, they attacked Fort McHenry in Baltimore. They were defeated there. When Madison heard this news, he returned to Washington. He wrote a note to his wife, Dolley, saying he was heading back.
Later 1800s and Civil War
The Oakley Farm was on the west side of Brookeville. Log cabins were built there in the 1820s. These cabins housed enslaved people. Later, they housed free Black families. Today, the Oakley Cabin is a historic site.
During the American Civil War, Union troops marched through Brookeville. They were on their way to the Battle of Antietam. The Quakers in the area helped enslaved people escape. Nearby Sandy Spring was a key stop on the Underground Railroad. Some historians believe the Madison House also helped people hide. A secret staircase in the house led to a hidden basement area.
The 1900s
In 1910, the Salem United Methodist Church was built. It replaced a church that had burned down. By 1900, most of the mills and shops in Brookeville had closed. The town became mostly residential.
In 1915, the Bentley family sold the Madison House. It was later owned by different people, including a banker and a TV personality.
Cars changed how people traveled and shopped. The nearby town of Olney grew much faster than Brookeville. Since the 1950s, Olney has developed a lot. In 1979, the Brookeville Historic District was created. This helped the town keep its historic look.
Brookeville's Location and Nature
Brookeville is in the northeastern part of Montgomery County, Maryland. It is about 3 miles (5 km) west of the Patuxent River. The town is 2 miles (3 km) north of Olney. It is about 20 miles (32 km) north of downtown Washington, D.C..
The town itself is small, covering about 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²). However, the 20833 ZIP Code area is much larger. It includes small communities like Sunshine and Brighton.
Georgia Avenue (Maryland Route 97) is a main road that goes through Brookeville. It is a two-lane road in town. It has a stop sign and a sharp turn in the historic area. This road carries a lot of traffic, especially from commuters. A bypass road is being built to help traffic go around the town. This project was almost finished by late 2022.
Reddy Branch flows along the northern and eastern edges of the town. It flows into the Hawlings River, which then goes to the Patuxent River. Reddy Branch Stream Valley Park is along Brookeville Road.
Other parks in the area include Hawling Hills Park and Patuxent River State Park. These parks are great for hunting, fishing, hiking, and horseback riding. Rachel Carson Conservation Park is undeveloped and has hiking trails. The Triadelphia Reservoir is on the Patuxent River. It is a popular spot for fishing and kayaking. Mount Zion Park has playgrounds and sports fields. Powers' Woods Park is a new park in town. It is near a restored one-room schoolhouse.
Climate
Brookeville has hot, humid summers. Its winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.
People of Brookeville
As of the 2020 census, 166 people lived in Brookeville. The town is a close-knit community. Many families live there.
The larger area that uses the Brookeville ZIP Code (20833) has more people. In 2000, about 6,259 people lived in this wider area. Most homes in this area are owned by the people who live in them. Many homes were built in the 1970s and 1990s.
People in the Brookeville area are well-educated. Many have a college education. The average household income is higher than the national average. Most people work in management or professional jobs. Many also work for the government. Most people drive alone to work.
Education in Brookeville
The Brookeville Academy was a school started in 1814. It was one of the first schools in the county. Famous students included Dr. Henry Howard, who helped create Howard County. The school moved in 1869. The original building is now a historic site. The town of Brookeville uses it for events.
The Longwood School for Boys was a private school that opened in 1946. It later became a military training site. Today, it is the Longwood Recreation Center. It is run by Montgomery County.
Brookeville is part of the Montgomery County Public Schools system. Students attend Sherwood High School. Most students in the town go to Rosa Parks Middle School and Greenwood Elementary School. Some areas near Howard County go to William H. Farquhar Middle School and Sherwood Elementary School.
Getting Around Brookeville
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Maryland Route 97 is the main state highway in Brookeville. It is called High Street and Market Street within the town. Outside of town, it becomes Georgia Avenue.
North of Brookeville, MD 97 goes about 10 miles (16 km) to Interstate 70. South of Brookeville, it goes about 12 miles (19 km) to Interstate 495. It then ends at U.S. Route 29 near Washington, D.C.
Famous People from Brookeville
- Patrick D. Gallagher (born 1969), who leads the University of Pittsburgh.
- Karen S. Montgomery (born 1935), a former member of the Maryland State Senate.
- Scott Van Pelt (born 1967), a sportscaster for ESPN.
- Craig Zucker (born 1975), a member of the Maryland State Senate.
See also
In Spanish: Brookeville (Maryland) para niños
