North Bethesda, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids North Bethesda, Maryland
Census-designated place
North Bethesda skyline
Location of North Bethesda, Maryland
Boundaries of the North Bethesda CDP, as of 2003
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Montgomery
Area
• Total	8.89 sq mi (23.04 km2)
• Land	8.87 sq mi (22.98 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation	354 ft (108 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	50,094
• Density	5,646.30/sq mi (2,179.96/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	20814, 20817, 20851, 20852, 20906
Area code(s)	301, 240
FIPS code	24-56337
GNIS feature ID	2389566

North Bethesda Market East, once the tallest building in Montgomery County.

North Bethesda is a community in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is located just northwest of Washington, D.C., the nation's capital. In 2020, about 50,094 people lived here.

North Bethesda is known as a census-designated place. This means it's an area grouped together for statistics, but it doesn't have its own city government. A key part of North Bethesda is the White Flint area. This district is a busy center for businesses and homes. The Pike & Rose development is also a big part of this area. It's known as "North Bethesda's Urban Core."

You can get around North Bethesda using the WMATA Metro system. The North Bethesda (formerly White Flint) and Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro stations serve the community.

Many important organizations have their main offices in North Bethesda. These include parts of the National Institutes of Health. Other federal agencies like the Nuclear Regulatory Commission are also here. Several companies and non-profit groups, such as the American Kidney Fund, are based in North Bethesda.

The area also has famous places like the Strathmore Mansion. This building has a special Neo-Georgian style. The Music Center at Strathmore is also a popular spot for performances. Georgetown Preparatory School is another well-known institution in the area.

Exploring North Bethesda's Location

North Bethesda, Maryland - Looking Northeast. North Bethesda Market East is visible in the center.

North Bethesda is an unincorporated area, meaning it's not a city with fixed borders. It is about 4 miles (6.4 km) northwest of Washington, D.C.. The United States Census Bureau and the United States Geological Survey recognize it for collecting data.

North Bethesda shares borders with other communities. To the north is the city of Rockville. To the south and west are Bethesda and Potomac. The North Bethesda area covers about 8.9 square miles (23 square kilometers) of land.

Getting Around North Bethesda

Major roads in North Bethesda include I-270 and I-495. Other important roads are Old Georgetown Road and Rockville Pike.

Besides the Metro, the area has bus services like Ride On and Metrobus. There are also plans for a future MARC station.

Local Landmarks and Shopping

North Bethesda has several notable landmarks. These include the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. The Kennedy-Shriver Aquatic Center is a popular swimming facility. The Jewish Community Center is another important local spot. The Linden Oak tree is famous because the Metro route was changed to protect it.

For shopping, you can visit Pike & Rose, Montrose Crossing, and Federal Plaza. The White Flint Mall used to be a big shopping center here, but it was taken down in 2016.

A Look Back at North Bethesda's Past

North Bethesda shares a lot of history with its neighbors in Montgomery County. Long ago, Native American groups lived along the Potomac River. They used an old path called the Seneca Trail. Today, Old Georgetown Road follows much of this ancient route. This trail was built on high ground between the Potomac River and Rock Creek. Over time, communities grew along this path.

Early Settlements and Plantations

The recorded history of the area began in the 1600s. Settlements started near Rock Creek and the Seneca Trail. Some of the first land grants were called "Dan" and "Leeke Forest." The southern part of North Bethesda was once a large country estate. It belonged to the Grosvenor family, who were related to Alexander Graham Bell. This area still carries the family's name today.

In the early 1800s, much of the area was a large tobacco farm. It was owned by the Riley family, who used enslaved people for labor. One of their enslaved people, Josiah Henson, is believed to have inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe's famous book, Uncle Tom's Cabin. The kitchen from the Riley plantation house, where Henson slept, still stands today.

Growth and Modern Development

In 1806, the Washington Turnpike Company improved the old Seneca route, then called the Georgetown-Frederick Road. This road opened in 1828. By the late 1800s, train stops appeared in the area. In the early 1900s, trolley tracks connected Georgetown and Rockville. This led to more development around these stops. Wealthy families, like Captain James F. Oyster and Charles I. Corby, lived or spent summers here. Still, the area was not very crowded until the 1920s.

The invention of the automobile changed North Bethesda. It became a place where people lived and commuted to Washington, D.C.. By the 1950s, many new neighborhoods with homes for middle-class families were built.

Today, some older neighborhoods remain. Other areas have faced challenges related to suburban sprawl. This means that development has spread out, sometimes without careful planning. The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) creates plans for all new development. The White Flint Master Plan aims to manage future growth in North Bethesda.

Why the Name "North Bethesda"?

The name "North Bethesda" has sometimes caused confusion. Some people think it's just a part of Rockville or simply the area north of Bethesda. They believe the name was created by real estate agents to make the area sound more like the well-known Bethesda.

One reason for this confusion is the ZIP codes. Most of North Bethesda uses the 20852 ZIP code, which is shared with Rockville. Parts of the eastern area use the Kensington ZIP code. Only the very southern parts use the 20814 ZIP code, which belongs to Bethesda.

Adding to the mix, the county's plan for the area was called "White Flint." This was the name of the old White Flint Mall and the Metro station, which is now North Bethesda. In the mid-2010s, developers tried to rename the area around the Metro station the "Pike District." Also, North Bethesda Middle School is actually located in Bethesda.

Even though some say the name "North Bethesda" is used to link the area to the fancier Bethesda, some real estate agents say it can be tricky. Customers and agents don't always search for "North Bethesda," and the different names can be confusing.

Schools in North Bethesda

Walter Johnson High School

Montgomery County Public Schools serves the students in North Bethesda.

Public Schools

• Garrett Park Elementary School
• Veirs Mill Elementary School
• Luxmanor Elementary School
• Tilden Middle School
• Walter Johnson High School
• Charles W. Woodward High School (expected to reopen around 2025)

Catholic Schools

These schools are part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington:

• Academy of the Holy Cross
• Holy Cross School (started in 1961)
• Georgetown Preparatory School

Other Private Schools

• Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (has two campuses)
• Green Acres School (for grades K-8)

The Washington Japanese Language School, which is a weekend school for Japanese language, used to hold classes at Holy Cross School and Georgetown Prep.

North Bethesda's Economy

Pike and Rose, a major mixed-use development in North Bethesda.

North Bethesda is home to the main offices of several large companies. These include Lockheed Martin, Host Hotels & Resorts, and Total Wine & More.

Many important government agencies also have offices here. Four parts of the National Institutes of Health are located in North Bethesda. These include the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Other agencies like the Nuclear Regulatory Commission are also based here.

Non-profit organizations like the American Kidney Fund and United States Pharmacopeia (USP) are also in North Bethesda. The Marriott-operated Montgomery County Conference Center, near the North Bethesda Metro station, hosts many large events each year.

The White Flint Mall was a big shopping center for many years, but it is now closed. Pike & Rose is a newer, large development. It combines offices, shops, hotels, homes, and entertainment in one area. Local planners designed it to be a busy center for the community.

Neighborhoods in North Bethesda

North Bethesda includes many different neighborhoods. Here are some of them:

See also

In Spanish: North Bethesda (Maryland) para niños

• Linden Oak