Hyattsville, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hyattsville, Maryland
City
City of Hyattsville
Aerial view of Hyattsville
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Hyattsville
Motto(s):  "A World Within Walking Distance"
Location in Maryland
Country	United States of America
State	Maryland
County	Prince George's
Incorporated	1886
Area
• Total	2.73 sq mi (7.07 km2)
• Land	2.71 sq mi (7.01 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation	105 ft (32 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	21,187
• Density	7,832.53/sq mi (3,024.22/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
Area code(s)	301, 240
FIPS code	24-41250
GNIS feature ID	0597595
Website	www.hyattsville.org

Hyattsville is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, and also a close, urban suburb of Washington, D.C. The population was 21,187 at the 2020 United States Census.

History

The city is named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt (1799–1884), who purchased his first parcel of land in the area in 1845. Hyatt opened a store and began mail delivery, officially naming the nascent community "Hyattsville" in his 1859 application to become postmaster. The community's location at the intersection of the Washington and Baltimore Turnpike (modern day US 1) and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad line made the land attractive for development. In the years following the Civil War, Hyatt and other local landowners subdivided their properties and sold lots, and the population of Hyattsville grew. Hyattsville was incorporated as a city on April 7, 1886.

The historic district of the city is home to a number of Victorian houses built in the late 1880s and Sears bungalows and Arts & Crafts houses built between the wars (late 1910s and early 1940s). Historic Hyattsville is roughly bounded by Madison Street, East West Highway, and Oliver Street to the north; Route 1 to the east; Magruder Park to the south; and 39th Avenue, 42nd Avenue, and 42nd Place to the west.

Neighborhood character

Hyattsville is mostly a leafy, semi-urban area with many trees and many small- to medium-sized houses with small yards. It also has some apartment complexes, notably on its north side and near the University of Maryland. It also has some small office buildings and housing projects in a small part of its north side. Baltimore Ave (U.S. Route 1) runs through the heart of the area.

Sections of the city are dominated by small red brick and wooden homes with porches (originally purchased by 1940s blue-collar residents). The area has always had a large presence of University of Maryland students, faculty and staff residents as well. It also has a large and growing Hispanic population and growing middle-class African American population.

As the area's most significant population growth occurred as part of America's post-war urban expansion, the varied traditions founded in that era are felt in the city to this day. There are a significant number of post-war era original residents and their descendants living in the cityand traditional community events are still well attended and reveal the old culture and community. Many of the long-time residents have classic Maryland accents; although not like the Baltimore accent, there are some similarities. Washington, D.C. and its close northern and northwestern suburbs once had large blue-collar Irish populations and some of this influence is still present in the remnants of the older community.

Hyattsville also once had a significant counter-cultural community, dating back to the 1960s, with many group houses and some small counter-cultural businesses and organizations present in the city.

Geography

Hyattsville is located at 38°57′25″N 76°57′5″W / 38.95694°N 76.95139°W / 38.95694; -76.95139 (38.956910, -76.951270).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.70 square miles (6.99 km²), of which, 2.67 square miles (6.92 km²) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km²) is water.

Climate

Typical of central Maryland, Hyattsville lies within the humid subtropical climate zone (Köppen: Cfa), characterized by hot humid summers and generally cool to mild winters, with high annual precipitation. Hyattsville lies within USDA plant hardiness zone 7a.

Demographics

Hyattsville has attracted a significant gay and lesbian population. In 2000, same-sex couples accounted for 1.3 percent of households, more than double the national average.

2020 census

For the 2020 U.S. census, there were 21,187 people in 6,592 households. There were 8,673 housing units at an average density of 3,212.2 per square mile (1,240.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 31.7% African American, 24.8% White, 3.7% Asian, 1.6% Native American or Alaskan Native, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 26.9% from other races, and 11.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38.6% of the population.

2010 census

As of the 2010 U.S. census, there were 17,557 people, 6,324 households, and 3,724 families residing in the city. The population density was 6,575.7 inhabitants per square mile (2,538.9/km²). There were 6,837 housing units at an average density of 2,560.7 per square mile (988.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 33.2% White, 35.6% African American, 0.8% Native American, 4.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 21.4% from other races, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34.0% of the population (16.4% Salvadorean, 4.1% Mexican, 3.1% Guatemalan, 1.2% Honduran, 1.1% Dominican, 0.8% Puerto Rican).

There were 6,324 households, of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.1% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.39.

The median age in the city was 32.1 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 34.7% were from 25 to 44; 23.2% were from 45 to 64; and 7.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.8% male and 49.2% female.

Religious institutions

• Beth Torah Congregation
• Christian Fellowship Assembly
• Church of God of Prophecy
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Crossover Church
• Ebenezer Methodist Church
• First Baptist Church of Hyattsville
• First United Methodist Church
• Hyattsville Mennonite Church
• Hyattsville Seventh-Day Adventist Church
• Metropolitan Seventh Day Adventist Church
• Redeemer Lutheran Church
• St. Jerome Catholic Church
• St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church
• St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
• Second Church of God and Saints of Christ
• Turner Memorial A.M.E. Church
• University Christian Church
• University Park Church of Christ
• West Hyattsville Baptist Church
• Shiloh Church of God 7th Day

Arts and culture

Historic sites

The following is a list of historic sites in Hyattsville identified by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission: In 1982, a portion of the city was placed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Hyattsville Historic District; the district was extended in late 2004.

	Site Name	Image	Location	M-NCPPC Inventory Number	Comment
1	Dorr House		4525 Buchanan Street	68-077
2	Edgewood		4115 Hamilton Street	68-010-65
3	Fox’s Barn		5011 42nd Avenue	68-010-74
4	Hitching Post Hill (Ash Hill)		3308 Rosemary Lane	68-001	Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, September 16, 1977
5	Frederick Holden House		4110 Gallatin Street	68-010-17
6	Lewis Holden House		4112 Gallatin Street	68-010-02
7	Hyattsville Armory		5340 Baltimore Avenue	68-041-09	Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, March 27, 1980
8	Hyattsville Post Office		4325 Gallatin Street	68-041-40	Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, July 24, 1986
9	W.G. Lown House		4107 Gallatin Street	68-010-35
10	Marché House		4200 Crittenden Street	68-010-62
11	McEwen House		4106 Gallatin Street	68-010-16
12	Paxton House		122 42nd Avenue	68-076
13	Poppleton-Roberts House		5104 Emerson Street	68-079-01
14	Prince George's Bank		5214 Baltimore Avenue	68-041-02
15	Professional Building		5200 Baltimore Avenue	68-041-01
16	Harriet Ralston House		4206 Decatur Street	68-010-25
17	William Shepherd House		5108 42nd Avenue	68-010-73
18	Benjamin Smith House		5104 42nd Avenue	68-010-34
19	Welsh House		4200 Farragut Street	68-010-01
20	Wheelock House		4100 Crittenden Street	68-010-31
21	Wilson-Ferrier-Windsor House		4106 Crittenden Street	68-010-80

Public art

Various public artwork sculptures, murals, and mosaics have been commissioned throughout the City of Hyattsville, thanks to Prince George's Art in Public Places Program, M-NCPPC's Department of Parks and Recreation, the Hyattsville CDC and the Prince George's Arts & Humanities Council. A full Public Art Locator is located on HyattsvilleCDC.org.

Arts District

Downtown Hyattsville is also undergoing revitalization as part of the Gateway Arts District, in the form of the Arts District Hyattsville private development project, which includes townhomes, live-work units, and retail space. The master developer of the 25-acre neighborhood is Bethesda-based EYA. The "economic development town center" of the arts district, the development is being constructed by EYA, Pulte Homes, StreetSense, and Bozzuto Homes. A Busboys and Poets restaurant opened in July 2011; other retail offerings include Yes! Organic Market, Elevation Burger, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Spice 6 Modern Indian, and Tara Thai. In the winter of 2015, a traveling exhibition platform Visual Collaborative collaborated with the Arts District Hyattsville Master Association, utilizing the Lustine Center to host a group exhibition themed Vanity.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Hyattsville Elementary, Felegy Elementary, Hyattsville Middle, and Northwestern High School, along with the Chelsea School, St. Matthews, DeMatha, and St. Jerome Academy are located within the city limits.

Public schools

Northwestern High School

The city is served by Prince George's County Public Schools, and its borders overlap with the enrollment areas for the following public schools:

• Hyattsville Elementary School
• Edward M. Felegy Elementary School
• Rosa Parks Elementary School
• University Park Elementary School
• Rogers Heights Elementary School
• Hyattsville Middle School
• Nicholas Orem Middle School
• William Wirt Middle School
• Northwestern High School
• Bladensburg High School

During the era of legally-required racial segregation of schools, black students from Hyattsville attended Lakeland High School in College Park in the period 1928–1950; Fairmont Heights High School, then near Fairmount Heights, replaced Lakeland High and served black students only from 1950 to 1964; around 1964 legally-required racial segregation of schools ended.

Private schools

• Chelsea School (5–12) for students with language-based learning disabilities and ADD/ADHD
• DeMatha Catholic High School (9–12)
• St. Francis International School (Catholic) (K–8) (St. Mark the Evangelist Campus) — As of 2013^[update] it is primarily used for summer programs and athletics, with classes held in the Silver Spring campus.
  • Formerly St. Mark the Evangelist School, closed and merged into Saint Francis International, which opened in 2010. Beginning in 2013 College Park Academy (CPA) leased the St. Francis building; in 2017 CPA moved to its permanent Riverdale Park campus.
• St. Jerome Academy (Catholic) (Pre-K–8)
• St. Matthew's Parish Day School (Episcopal) (Pre-K–K)

Colleges and universities

Prince George's Community College has an extension center in University Town Center. The University of Maryland campus in College Park is located approximately 2 miles north on Baltimore Avenue (Route 1) from historic Hyattsville.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Roads and highways

US 1 northbound in Hyattsville

Several major surface highways serve Hyattsville. The most prominent of these is U.S. Route 1, which follows Rhode Island Avenue and Baltimore Avenue through the center of the city. US 1 connects southward to Washington, D.C. and northward through College Park to Interstate 95/Interstate 495 (the Capital Beltway). U.S. Route 1 Alternate follows the southern section of Baltimore Avenue to Bladensburg and provides an alternate route to Washington, D.C. Maryland Route 410 follows East-West Highway, connecting many of Washington, D.C.'s inner suburbs with Hyattsville. Two other state highways serving to connect Hyattsville to nearby towns include Maryland Route 208 and Maryland Route 500.

Public transportation

The Prince George's Plaza Metro station and West Hyattsville Metro station all serve Hyattsville. Hyattsville is also served by the Riverdale MARC commuter train station, as well as a few Metrobus and "The Bus" routes. Students and staff at the University of Maryland have access to the free Shuttle–UM bus that goes from historic Hyattsville to the University of Maryland campus in College Park.

Electric vehicles

In 2017, the Hyattsville City Police Department became the first law enforcement agency in the United States to put a Chevrolet Bolt (all-electric) fully marked police patrol vehicle into service. It has since added an all-electric police motorcycle, and six public electric vehicle charging stations, which are free to use by the public.

Notable people

• Joanne C. Benson, Maryland State Senator (District 24)
• Bill Butler, former Major League Baseball pitcher
• David Driskell, artist, scholar, and curator
• Markelle Fultz, NBA player, DeMatha graduate; first-overall selection of the 2017 NBA Draft
• Parris Glendening, Maryland governor (1995-2003), began his political career as a member of Hyattsville City Council
• Anne Healey, Maryland House of Delegates (District 22)
• Boris Kowerda, Russian White émigré assassin, monarchist and editor
• Robert B. Luckey, Marine Corps lieutenant general
• John C. Mather, Nobel laureate in physics
• Paul Rabil, Major League Lacrosse player
• Dorothy Hope Smith, illustrator of the famous Gerber Baby
• Kameron Taylor (born 1994), basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the EuroLeague
• Frances Tiafoe (born 1998), professional tennis player
• Alonzo T. Washington, Maryland House of Delegates (District 22)
• Chase Young, American football player, graduate of DeMatha

See also

In Spanish: Hyattsville (Maryland) para niños