kids encyclopedia robot

Derwood, Maryland facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Derwood, Maryland
Derwood, Maryland is located in Maryland
Derwood, Maryland
Derwood, Maryland
Location in Maryland
Derwood, Maryland is located in the United States
Derwood, Maryland
Derwood, Maryland
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Maryland
County Montgomery
Area
 • Total 0.63 sq mi (1.62 km2)
 • Land 0.63 sq mi (1.62 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
453 ft (138 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,535
 • Density 4,043.06/sq mi (1,562.07/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
FIPS code 24-22775
GNIS feature ID 2583607
Derwood - Maryland - USA - Photo by Persian Dutch Network
Autumn in Derwood

Derwood is a community in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is not an official city but is a "census-designated place." This means it's an area that the government counts as a community for population surveys.

Derwood is located north of Rockville and southeast of Gaithersburg. It was first called "Deer Park," then "Deer Wood," before getting its current name.

The larger area of Derwood includes many neighborhoods. Some of these are Derwood Heights, Mill Creek Towne, and Needwood Estates. Other neighborhoods are Muncaster Manor, Hollybrooke, and Granby Woods. The official census-designated place is a smaller part of this larger area.

Between 2009 and 2011, a major road called Maryland Route 200 was built through Derwood. This road is also known as the Intercounty Connector (ICC).

History of Derwood

Derwood first became known in the 1880s. It was a stop for trains on the B&O Railroad. This train stop was located where Indianola Drive and Maryland Route 355 meet today.

A bigger railroad station was built in Derwood between 1886 and 1889. In the early 1900s, a small community started to grow around this station.

Fires and Changes

On January 7, 1954, a place called Schwartz Mill caught fire. The Derwood railroad station was also destroyed in this fire. The station was never rebuilt because not enough people were using the trains there anymore.

Lake Needwood Derwood Maryland
Lake Needwood

In 1965, a lake called Lake Needwood was created. It was made by building a dam on Rock Creek.

In 1974, the Derwood post office moved to the Redland Shopping Center. It kept the name "Derwood Branch." This change also made the entire 20855 zip code area known as Derwood. This greatly increased the size of the community. Derwood's population grew even more when the Shady Grove Metro station opened in 1984.

Geography and Climate

Derwood covers about 0.63 square miles (1.62 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a very small amount of water.

Derwood is in the northern central part of Montgomery County. It is located in the Atlantic coastal plain region. The community is also close to where the Appalachian highlands begin.

Weather in Derwood

Derwood has a humid subtropical climate. This is similar to the weather in nearby Washington D.C.. Winters are chilly, but daily high temperatures are usually above freezing. Low temperatures are generally below freezing.

People and Population

According to the 2020 Census, Derwood has 2,535 residents. This makes it one of the smaller communities in Maryland.

The largest groups of people living in Derwood are White, Hispanic, and Asian. In 2021, the average yearly income for households in Derwood was about $71,471. About 7.2% of households in Derwood live in poverty. The average age of people living in Derwood is around 42.4 years old.

Local Economy

Goodwill Industries, a well-known organization, has its main office in Derwood.

The Derwood Dusters football team plays their home games in Derwood. They are part of the DTFL league.

Public Schools

Students living in Derwood attend Montgomery County Public Schools.

Students are usually part of the Magruder or Richard Montgomery school areas. They go to the following schools, some of which are outside of Derwood:

  • Elementary schools
    • Washington Grove Elementary School
    • Mill Creek Towne Elementary School
    • Sequoyah Elementary School
    • Candlewood Elementary School
    • College Gardens Elementary School
    • Judith A Resnik Elementary School
  • Middle schools
    • Redland Middle School
    • Shady Grove Middle School
    • Julius West Middle School
  • High schools
    • Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School
    • Richard Montgomery High School

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Derwood (Maryland) para niños

kids search engine
Derwood, Maryland Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.