Mount Rainier, Maryland Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Mount Rainier, Maryland

City

Flag

Seal

Country

United States of America

1910

Area

• Total

0.64 sq mi (1.65 km²)

• Land

0.64 sq mi (1.65 km²)

• Water

0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)

Elevation

79 ft (24 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

8,333

• Density

13,102.20/sq mi (5,056.25/km²)

Time zone

UTC-5 (EST)

• Summer (DST)

UTC-6 (EDT)

ZIP code

20712

Area code(s)

301, 240

FIPS code

24-54275

GNIS feature ID

0597787

Website

http://www.mountrainiermd.org

Mount Rainier is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland. It is located right next to Washington D.C.. In 2020, about 8,333 people lived there.

The city is surrounded by natural and man-made borders. These include the Northwest Branch Anacostia River and train tracks. Mount Rainier started as a "streetcar suburb." This means it grew because streetcar lines made it easy to travel to and from Washington D.C.

Local stories say that surveyors from the Pacific Northwest named the town. They also gave streets names like Shasta and Cascade. U.S. Route 1 runs through the city. It acts as the main street and business area.

Where is Mount Rainier Located?
Who Lives in Mount Rainier?
- Population in 2020
- Population in 2010
Schools in Mount Rainier
How to Get Around Mount Rainier
- Roads and Highways
- Public Transportation
A Brief History of Mount Rainier
Fun Things to See and Do
Well-Known People from Mount Rainier
Images for kids
See also

Where is Mount Rainier Located?

Mount Rainier is in Prince George's County, Maryland. It shares borders with several other towns and a part of Washington D.C.

To the north: Brentwood
To the east: Cottage City
To the west: Avondale
To the northeast: Hyattsville
To the south: Woodridge, Washington D.C.

The city covers a total area of about 0.65 square miles (1.65 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Who Lives in Mount Rainier?

The population of Mount Rainier has changed over the years.

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1910	1,242	—
1920	2,462	98.2%
1930	3,832	55.6%
1940	4,830	26.0%
1950	10,989	127.5%
1960	9,855	−10.3%
1970	8,180	−17.0%
1980	7,361	−10.0%
1990	7,954	8.1%
2000	8,498	6.8%
2010	8,080	−4.9%
2020	8,333	3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020

Population in 2020

In 2020, the city had 8,333 residents. The population included people from various backgrounds.

White (not Hispanic): 15.25%
Black or African American (not Hispanic): 39.60%
Asian (not Hispanic): 2.23%
Hispanic or Latino (any race): 38.41%

Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 8,080 people living in Mount Rainier. There were 3,344 households. About 30.8% of these households had children under 18.

The average age of residents was 32.7 years. About 22.9% of residents were under 18.

Schools in Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier is part of the Prince George's County Public Schools system.

Elementary schools:
- Mount Rainier Elementary School
  - This school started an English as a second language (ESOL) program around 2004. They translate messages for parents into Spanish.
- Thomas Stone Elementary School
Middle school:
- Hyattsville Middle School (located in Hyattsville)
High school:
- Northwestern High School (located in Hyattsville)

Before 1964, schools in Prince George's County were legally separated by race. Black high school students from Mount Rainier attended Lakeland High School or Fairmont Heights High School. Racial segregation in schools ended in 1964.

How to Get Around Mount Rainier

Roads and Highways

US 1 southbound in Mount Rainier

U.S. 1 is a main road that goes through Mount Rainier. It is the central street in the downtown area. This road connects Mount Rainier to College Park and Baltimore to the north. It also leads to Washington, D.C. to the south.

Other state highways like Maryland Route 500 and Maryland Route 501 are also near the city.

Public Transportation

Buses run by WMATA Metrobus serve the city. They use routes along U.S. 1 and Maryland Route 500. The Prince George's County Department of Public Works & Transportation also provides bus service.

The West Hyattsville station is a Washington Metro station on the Green Line. It also serves people living in Mount Rainier.

A Brief History of Mount Rainier

In 1891, a group of developers named the city Mount Rainier. They named it after the famous mountain in Washington state.

In 1899, streetcar lines were extended from Washington D.C. to Hyattsville, Maryland. The Mount Rainier stop was called the District Line Station. It was at the corner of what is now Rhode Island Avenue and 34th Street. This made it easy to travel to Washington D.C. and helped the city grow.

Houses started to be built near the station after 1902. These homes were affordable, costing between $2,000 and $5,000. Shops, grocery stores, and other businesses grew around the streetcar station. The first post office opened in 1904.

In 1910, residents asked the Maryland State Legislature to officially make Mount Rainier a city. It was incorporated on April 14, 1910.

1912: The Mount Rainier volunteer fire department was created.
1913: The Women's Civic League of Mount Rainier was formed.
1923: The first public school was built. The town also hired its first paid police officer.
1929-1930: The town bought 100 acres of land, and Mount Rainier High School opened there.
1939: A new streetcar terminal was built.
1940s: New apartments were built, which increased the city's population.
1952: A library was built.
1956: A private community pool opened.
1958: Streetcar services stopped and were replaced by buses.

The city's population decreased in the 1970s and 1980s. Today, a large part of Mount Rainier is a historic district. It is recognized by the National Register of Historic Places.

Mount Rainier still has many of its original charms. Residents can use the Rhode Island Avenue & Brookland - CUA Metro Station and West Hyattsville Metro Station.

Fun Things to See and Do

Mount Rainier is known as a historic "streetcar suburb" of Washington. Many of its homes are Sears houses and Craftsman-style homes. Many of these old homes have been restored.

The town has a lively arts district. It offers affordable housing for artists and shows off their work. "Mount Rainier Day" is held in May. On this day, the community welcomes everyone to explore the town.

Many people who work in theater live in Mount Rainier. This includes scenic designers and artistic directors. Some have even won the Helen Hayes Award, a top theater honor in D.C.

Mount Rainier is also home to:

The folk music duo Emma's Revolution.
Joe Brewer, lead singer of the band [velvet] and owner of Brewer's Arcade. This arcade has a collection of vintage 1980s arcade and pinball machines.
The famous Washington Glass School, which moved its studio here in 2006.

Glut is a vegetarian, worker-owned organic food cooperative. It has been around since the 1960s and attracts people from all over the area.

Well-Known People from Mount Rainier

William Henry Vanneman: He was the first fire chief and first mayor of Mount Rainier.
Harry Chappas: A shortstop for the Chicago White Sox in the 1970s, born in Mount Rainier.
Andre Norton: A science fiction author who once owned a bookstore in Mount Rainier.