North Potomac, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
North Potomac, Maryland
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| Country | United States |
| State |  Maryland |
| County |  Montgomery |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.56 sq mi (16.99 km2) |
| • Land | 6.52 sq mi (16.89 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2) |
| Elevation | 390 ft (120 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 23,790 |
| • Density | 3,648.21/sq mi (1,408.48/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
20878, 20850
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| Area code(s) | 301 and 240 |
| FIPS code | 24-56875 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2389581 |
North Potomac is a census-designated place and unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is located less than 5 miles (8.0 km) north of the Potomac River, and is about 20 miles (32 km) from Washington, D.C. It has a population of 23,790 as of 2020.
The region's land was originally used for growing tobacco, which was replaced by wheat and dairy farming after the soil became depleted. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was used by local farmers to ship their grain (or flour made from the grain at the local mills), and two former canal locks are located less than 5 miles (8.0 km) away in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. In addition, infrastructure remains for what was one of the state's leading dairy farms during the first half of the 20th century.
North Potomac did not get an identity of its own until 1989, when the United States Post Office allowed the use of the North Potomac name for what is mostly a collection of housing sub-divisions, farms, and wooded parks. The United States Census Bureau listed a North Potomac in 1970 but not 1980. In 2000, it began recognizing North Potomac as a census designated place. Today, the community benefits from its proximity to workplaces such as the Shady Grove Hospital area and the I-270 Technology Corridor. Washington, D.C. is accessible by automobile or public transportation. The median household income is nearly $160,000, and nearly half of the eligible residents have a graduate or professional degree.
Contents
History
North Potomac was created in 1988 from the peripheral fringes of Gaithersburg and Rockville, and lies parallel to the Potomac River. North Potomac shares ZIP codes with Gaithersburg and Rockville. The United States Postal Service defines North Potomac to encompass only zip code 20878.
Having only been established in the late 1980s, North Potomac still maintains a burgeoning neighborhood feel and remains largely residential. Located 20 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. and flanked by Gaithersburg to the north, Rockville to the east and Potomac to the south, this neighborhood houses mainly families seeking quiet suburban life outside of the city.
Crime rates are low, as is unemployment, and neighborhood schools grade highly. All this does come at a price, however, as the cost of living in North Potomac consistently rests significantly higher than Maryland averages.
Maryland Route 124 (MD 124) begins as Quince Orchard Road at an intersection with MD 28 (Darnestown Road) adjacent to Quince Orchard High School at the southwestern corner of the city of Gaithersburg. Quince Orchard Road heads south as a county highway into North Potomac. MD 124 heads northeast as a four-lane divided highway that follows the city limit to Long Draft Road and Kentlands Boulevard; the latter street provides access to the New Urbanism community of Kentlands. The state highway veers east into the city and intersects MD 119 (Great Seneca Highway). MD 124 again follows a city limit of Gaithersburg where it veers north and becomes an undivided highway along the western edge of the National Institute of Standards and Technology campus, which occupies an unincorporated enclave within the city.
Major shopping areas include Travilah Square and Traville Gateway. Travilah Square, The Shops at Potomac Valley, for a long time the area's only shopping center, is now facing tough competition from a new breed of new urbanism lifestyle centers, which contain a multitude of retailers, from Giant Food, Safeway, CVS Pharmacy to new boutique chains. The intersection of Darnerstown Road and Quince Orchard Road is popular for its shopping. The Shops at Potomac Valley and Quince Orchard Market Place is located at this intersection. The shopping areas contain a mix of retail shops, service retail, restaurants, large surface parking lots, gas filling stations and drive through banks.
One notable business includes the Potomac Horse Center, which was founded in the late 1950s and has since become the premiere equestrian center located in the area. The center's primary feature is a riding school for children between the ages of 5 and 8 and a separate course for adults. It also puts on a variety of shows and activities throughout the year, usually adding up to about one per month. This is a great place for trail riding classes through the surrounding wooded parkland as well as therapeutic horseback riding. The center even has a summer horse camp program.
Aberdeen Park on Triple Crown Road continues the equestrian theme of North Potomac, offering not much in the way of built-up playground equipment but just a nice grassy field to take the kids to run around. The walking path between the trees also makes for a nice stroll at dusk.
North Potomac has a couple of nurseries which locals frequent quite a bit. Potomac Garden Center is great for gardening and floral needs.
In addition to the Giant Food and Safeway for groceries, neighborhood residents also head to the Gaithersburg Main Street Pavilion Farmers Market. The florist at the market is another great resource for all your flower-arranging needs. Additionally, there are four vegetable and fruit vendors there every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The market is small, but it carries a lot of items. Adding on to flowers and produce, you can find meats, eggs, cosmetics, clothes, and baked goods here. Be sure to try the empanadas. Closely located is The Fulks Corner Farmers Market at the corner of Route 355 and Fulks Corner Avenue in Olde Towne, Gaithersburg.
Geography
North Potomac is located in west central Montgomery County, northeast of the Potomac River. It is conveniently located 3 miles from Gaithersburg and 20 miles from Washington, DC. The geographic location can be viewed at the Official North Potomac Map: http://www.northpotomacnews.org/wss1/static2/North%20Potomac%20Boundary%20Map.jpg.
As an unincorporated area, North Potomac's boundaries are not officially defined. North Potomac is, however, recognized by the United States Census Bureau as a census-designated place, and by the United States Geological Survey as a populated place located at 39°5′50″N 77°14′3″W / 39.09722°N 77.23417°W (39.097206, -77.234213).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the place has a total area of 6.6 square miles (17 km2), all of it land. The main artery for the area is Darnestown Road (Designated as MD 28 west of its intersection with Key West Avenue) which connects North Potomac with the other affluent communities nearby (Potomac and Bethesda) and provides access to Interstate 270 (Exit-6).
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1990 | 18,456 | — | |
| 2000 | 23,044 | 24.9% | |
| 2010 | 24,410 | 5.9% | |
| 2020 | 23,790 | −2.5% | |
| source: 2010–2020 |
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As of 2018 estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau, North Potomac has a population of 24,148 with a median household income of $159,232 and a poverty rate of 2.3 percent. The number of housing units in North Potomac is estimated to be 8,168. The median age is 43.4 years, which is higher than the 37.9 median for the United States. 25.5 percent of residents were under the age of 18, while 14.2 percent were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1 percent male and 51.9 percent female.
The racial makeup of North Potomac was 51.6 percent White alone, 35.8 percent Asian alone, 7.3 percent Black or African American alone, and a 5 percent total for all other categories. Over half of the Asian population is Chinese, while Asian Indians and Koreans also have a significant presence. The educational attainment for the community is above the average for the United States, with 97.8 percent of North Potomac residents eligible being a high school graduate or higher, while the same figure for the United States is 87.7 percent. A graduate or professional degree was attained by 47.6 percent.
2010 census
North Potomac is considered part of the Washington, DC–VA–MD Urbanized Area. As of the 2010 U.S. census, its population was 24,410—a ranking of 51 for the state of Maryland. The population density was 3,743.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,445.5/km2). There were 8,178 housing units at an average density of 1,254.3 per square mile (484.3/km2). The racial makeup of the community was 51.9% White, 7.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 35.8% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 5.7% of the population.
Neighborhoods
The major neighborhoods in North Potomac include Potomac Grove, Amberlea Farm, Potomac Farm, Willows of Potomac, Potomac Glen (also known as Piney Glen Village), Stonebridge, Stoneview, Washingtonian Woods, Dufief Mill Estates, DuFief, Flints Grove, Mills Farm, Hunting Woods/Potomac Point, Lakewood Estates, Natalie Estates, Stoney Creek Estates, Potomac Chase Estates, Potomac Crossing, Potomac Edge, Potomac Mill Farm, Potomac Oaks, Potomac Preserve, Potomac Ridge, Potomac Haven Estates, Potomac Valley (Owens Glen), Quince Haven, Quince Orchard Knolls, Quince Trace, Travilah Meadows, Travilah Grove, Traville, and Westleigh.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Maryland Route 28, a state highway, connects North Potomac with Rockville and provides access to Interstate 270. Darnestown Road and Route 28 are united along most of North Potomac's northern border. Dufief Mill Road and Quince Orchard Road run through the middle of the community and connect with Darnstown Road. The closest interstate highways are to the north and east. Maryland's Interstate 270 is a major north–south highway that connects with Washington's Capital Beltway (a.k.a. Interstate 495). Interstate 370 and the Intercounty Connector toll road (MD 200) are nearby major east–west highways that connect to Interstate 95.
Portions of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's Metrorail system are located in Montgomery County, and Red Line stations on the west side of the county are closest to North Potomac. Among those west side Metro stations are Shady Grove (Gaithersburg), Rockville, and Twinbrook (south Rockville). At least four Montgomery County Ride-On bus routes run through North Potomac and connect riders with the Traville Transit Center and Universities at Shady Grove, Shady Grove and Rockville Metro stations, Shady Grove Hospital, and Quince Orchard Library via routes on Travilah Road, Dufief Mill Road, and Darnestown Road.
Utilities
North Potomac's electric power is provided by Pepco (Potomac Electric Power Company), which serves much of Montgomery County, portions of Prince George's County, and all of the District of Columbia. Washington Gas provides natural gas service to residents and businesses. The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection provides for curbside garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection and disposal. The Shady Grove Processing Facility and Transfer Station, a county waste collection facility located in Rockville, is available for drop off of garbage, recycling, and yard debris. The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) provides water and wastewater treatment for North Potomac. Drinking water comes from the WSSC treatment facility on the Potomac River, while sewage is treated at a plant in the District of Columbia.
Healthcare
The nearest general hospital is the Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in Rockville. This medical facility has a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Economy
The data based on the Census Bureau 2012 Survey of Business Owners lists 2,292 firms in North Potomac. The number of firms with paid employees is 362, and those firms employ 1,579 people. The data are divided using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), and the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services category (NAICS 54) is the leader in firms (168), paid employees (312), annual payroll $16.2 million, and sales $50.4 million. Other important categories include Health Care and Social Assistance (NAICS 62) and Administrative and Support (NAICS 56).
North Potomac is close to major employers such as Shady Grove Hospital and the technology companies along Interstate 270. Over 25 biotech companies and over 25 technology companies have facilities in the I-270 Technology Corridor in the Rockville, Gaithersburg, or Germantown area. North Potomac residents who commute further distances to work typically use Interstate 270 or the Shady Grove subway station on the Washington Metro system, which serves the region.
North Potomac residents have two shopping centers located within its 2010 census CDP boundaries and several others in the nearby area. The Travilah Square Shopping Center is located at the intersection of Travilah Road and Darnestown Road. It has a grocery store, pizza place, and other stores. The Traville Village Center is located on Traville Gateway Drive near Shady Grove Road and the Universities at Shady Grove. It has space for 25 merchants, and has a grocery store and multiple restaurants. Based on 2012 census data, total retail sales for the North Potomac CDP were $39.0 million.
Education
North Potomac is served by Montgomery County Public Schools. Public high school students in North Potomac attend either Thomas S. Wootton or Quince Orchard high schools. Quince Orchard High School is located at the intersection of Quince Orchard Road and Darnestown Road, placing it on the northwest side of the North Potomac CDP. Wootton High School is located in Rockville, on the east side of the North Potomac CDP. Area residents have cited the Wootton school cluster as a factor in their home buying decision. In 2019, U.S. News & World Report ranked Wootton High School 2nd highest in Maryland and 125th in the nation. Each of the two high schools has two feeder middle schools. Multiple elementary schools contribute to the middle schools, and several are located within the North Potomac CDP.
Higher education
The Universities at Shady Grove is located within North Potomac and offers select degree programs from nine public Maryland universities. Instead of being a university itself, this campus partners with other universities and offers courses for 80 upper-level undergraduate, graduate degree, and certificate programs. The participating universities handle admissions. Johns Hopkins University has a campus in Rockville near the Universities at Shady Grove. Montgomery College has a campus close to North Potomac in Rockville and a training center in Gaithersburg. Three Montgomery College campuses and online classes serve about 54,000 students offering associate degrees and courses that will transfer to other institutions.
Public library
Several libraries are located in North Potomac or only a few miles away. Quince Orchard library is part of the Montgomery County Public Library system and is located across the street from Quince Orchard High School in North Potomac. Priddy Library is part of the University of Maryland Libraries system and is located at the Universities at Shady Grove in North Potomac. Rockville Memorial Library, also part of the county library system, is located in Rockville three blocks from the Rockville Metro station. While the Rockville Memorial Library celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2001; Quince Orchard Library was only a year old at that time. The Priddy Library opened in 2007.
Images for kids
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Circa 1850 barn at site where John L. DuFief built a mill complex that connected to the C&O Canal
See also
In Spanish: North Potomac (Maryland) para niños
