Dickerson, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dickerson, Maryland
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maryland |
| County |  Montgomery |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 1,848 |
| ZIP code |
20842
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Dickerson is a small community located in Montgomery County, Maryland. It sits along Maryland Route 28, nestled between the beautiful Sugarloaf Mountain and the Potomac River. This community is also close to the town of Poolesville, Maryland. Dickerson covers an area of about 61.5 square miles (159 km2).
Contents
A Look Back: Dickerson's History
Dickerson officially started in 1871. It got its name from William H. Dickerson, who was the first postmaster there from 1873 to 1897. The earliest known land given out in this area was to Arthur Nelson in 1739. He received about 97 acres (390,000 m2) of land. Most of the land that is now Dickerson originally belonged to Nathan Hempstone.
Before the American Civil War, Dickerson was just a few roads, a store, and some houses. After the war, more people started to move there. This happened because the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company could finally build a new train route. People wanted to travel west towards the capital city without going to Baltimore first. The railroad company chose a path that went through Dickerson.
Construction of the railroad line from Dickerson to Point of Rocks, MD, finished in 1871. The entire train line was ready for public use in 1873.
The Monocacy Site, an important historical place, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
Local Businesses and Economy
Dickerson has a few important businesses that help the community.
The Dickerson Store: A Historic Landmark
The Dickerson Store was first built around 1870. It was used as a place to get supplies for the workers building the railroad. Once the railroad was finished, it became a general store for the people living in town and local farmers. A post office was added to the store in 1891.
The store has been moved three times! It moved in 1890 to make room for the train station. Then it moved again in 1910 when the road was made wider. Its last move was in 1928 when a second train track was added. The Dickerson Store is not currently in use.
Dickerson Market: A Community Hub
The Dickerson Market is located at 22145 Dickerson Road. It was built in 1946 and was first called Dronenburg's Store, named after the family who ran it. The Post Office moved from the old Dickerson Store to the Dickerson Market in 1960.
The store has had several owners over the years. For a short time, it was owned by Arthur Stull and called "Stull's Grocery." Later, Robert Thacker ran it and gave it the name "Dickerson Market." Today, Buck Fowler owns the market.
Dickerson Generating Station: Powering the Area
The Dickerson Generating Station started operating in 1959. This large power plant helps create electricity for the area.
Right next to the Dickerson Generating Station is the Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility. This plant burns municipal garbage and waste to create electricity. It produces about 56 megawatts of power. The CSX railroad line brings trash from a central collection center to this plant. The Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority, which is a state-owned company, runs this waste-to-energy plant.
All the power-generating units at the Dickerson Generating Station were built by the Potomac Electric Power Company. In December 2000, they sold these units to the Southern Company. This happened because of changes in how electricity was produced in Maryland. In April 2001, the station became part of a new company called Mirant, which now operates and maintains the plant.
In 1991, a long channel that carries cooling water from the power plant into the Potomac River was turned into something exciting. This 900-foot (270 m)-long channel became the Dickerson Whitewater Course. It was used as a training facility for canoe and kayak athletes preparing for the 1992 Olympic Games.
The Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility, which burns trash to make energy, began its operations in 1995.
Who Lives in Dickerson?
The people living in Dickerson come from different backgrounds. About 86% of the population is Caucasian, 9.7% are African-American, 2.9% are Hispanic, and 1% are Asian. Another 1% belong to other groups.
The population is almost evenly split between females (49.6%) and males (50.4%). The average age of people in Dickerson is 43 years old. There are currently 747 households in Dickerson, and each household has about 2.67 people on average. The average income for a household is $89,120. About 67.4% of the people have jobs, 1.5% are looking for work, and 31.1% are not part of the working population.
Getting Around: Transportation
Dickerson has a train station called Dickerson station. This station is part of MARC's Brunswick Line. It provides train service for people who travel to Washington, D.C. for work or other reasons.
Images for kids
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A view of Dickerson, Maryland
