Travilah, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Travilah, Maryland
Census-designated place
Historic Travilah Oak
Location of Travilah, Maryland
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Montgomery
Area
• Total	17.65 sq mi (45.70 km2)
• Land	15.93 sq mi (41.25 km2)
• Water	1.72 sq mi (4.45 km2)
Elevation	282 ft (86 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,985
• Density	752.54/sq mi (290.55/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	20854, 20878, 20850
Area code(s)	301, 240
FIPS code	24-78650
GNIS feature ID	2390400

Travilah is a special kind of community in Montgomery County, Maryland. It's called a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area that the government tracks for population and other information, but it's not an officially incorporated town or city with its own local government.

Travilah is located along the northern side of the Potomac River. It is surrounded by other CDPs like Potomac, North Potomac, and Darnestown. In 2020, about 11,985 people lived in Travilah.

Long ago, in the late 1800s, a small farming community called Travilah grew at the intersection of what are now Travilah Road and Glen Road. This community had its own post office, a general store, a school, a town hall, a church, and a few homes. Farmers liked this spot because it was near the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal) and two mills. The name Travilah comes from Travilah Clagett, who was the first postmaster there in 1883.

Today, Travilah is known for its large homes on big pieces of land. It also has many parks and nature areas. Even though it feels peaceful, it's still close enough to Washington, D.C. and the I-270 Technology Corridor for people to commute. Many families in Travilah have a high income, with the average household earning around $235,000.

Exploring Travilah's Geography

Map showing the Travilah CDP

Since Travilah is not an official city, its exact borders are not set in stone. However, the United States Census Bureau created the Travilah CDP in 2000. This CDP includes parts of what used to be the Potomac and North Potomac CDPs. The boundaries for CDPs often follow natural features like rivers or roads.

The Travilah CDP is bordered by the Darnestown CDP, the North Potomac CDP, the city of Rockville, the Potomac CDP, and the Potomac River. The old Travilah crossroads community is located in the west-central part of the CDP.

Travilah is a mix of rural and urban areas. In 2010, it had a total population of 12,159 people living in 3,950 homes. The area covers about 15.83 square miles of land. This means Travilah has fewer people per square mile compared to bigger cities like Baltimore or Rockville.

The Travilah CDP uses three main ZIP Codes: 20854 (Potomac), 20878 (Gaithersburg/North Potomac), and 20850 (Rockville). Many places in Travilah, like Greenbrier Park and the Glenstone Museum, use the Potomac ZIP code.

Rivers and Streams Flowing Through Travilah

The Potomac River at Swains Lock

The state of Maryland controls the Potomac River, so the Travilah CDP includes parts of the river and the C&O Canal. Several streams also flow through Travilah and into the Potomac River.

• The Muddy Branch flows along the western edge of the CDP.
• The Watts Branch, Sandy Branch, and Greenbrier Branch run through the middle of Travilah.
• The Piney Branch flows along the eastern edge.

Travilah's Climate and Weather

Travilah has a humid subtropical climate, which means it has four clear seasons. Winters are cold with some snow, and summers are warm and humid. July is usually the warmest month, and January is the coldest.

On average, Travilah gets about 2.5 to 4 inches of rain each month. The highest temperature ever recorded was 105°F (41°C), and the lowest was -13°F (-25°C). The first frost of the year usually happens around October 21, and the last frost is around April 16.

Understanding Travilah's Population

In 2010, Travilah had 12,159 people living in 3,950 homes. The population density was about 768 people per square mile. This is much lower than big cities like Baltimore or Rockville, which have many more people living in the same amount of space.

Recent data from 2018 shows Travilah's population was about 11,633. The average household income was very high, around $235,669. Only a small number of people (1.6 percent) lived in poverty. Most homes (93 percent) were owned by the people living in them.

The average age in Travilah is 47.3 years, which is older than the average age for the whole United States (37.9 years). About 76 percent of the people are 18 or older, and 17 percent are 65 or older.

Travilah is a diverse community. About 56.2 percent of residents are White, and 35.4 percent are Asian. A smaller group, 3.4 percent, are Black or African American. Many Asian residents are of Chinese, Indian, or Korean heritage.

While 55 percent of people speak only English at home, 45 percent speak another language. This is higher than the U.S. average. Many speak Asian and Pacific Island languages. Travilah also has a very educated population, with 97.3 percent of adults having a high school diploma or higher. More than half (53 percent) have a graduate or professional degree.

Travilah's Economy and Wealth

Potomac Oak Center

Travilah is known for being a very wealthy area. In 2019, Bloomberg News listed Travilah among the top 50 richest places in America, ranking it 24th. A 2018 article in USA Today even called Travilah "the wealthiest town in the wealthiest state." It was also noted as the only town in Maryland where over half of all homes were worth more than $1 million.

The average household income in Travilah is about $235,669. Men working full-time earn around $144,298 per year, and women earn about $108,984. This is more than double the average for women in the United States.

Most people in Travilah (68 percent) drive alone to work, while 13 percent carpool. The average commute time is 34 minutes, which is a bit longer than the U.S. average. About 12 percent of residents work from home. Travilah is less than 20 miles from Washington D.C. and under 10 miles from the I-270 Technology Corridor, which is a major area for tech and biotech jobs.

Many people in Travilah work in high-paying government jobs or for companies that contract with the government. About 52 percent work for private companies, 21 percent for the government, and 13 percent own their own businesses. Popular job fields include professional, scientific, and management services, as well as education and healthcare.

People are drawn to Travilah because it's peaceful, has great schools, and is close to Washington D.C. There are not many large shopping centers directly in Travilah. The Potomac Oak Center is a small shopping area within Travilah. Other shopping options are nearby in Potomac, North Potomac, and Rockville.

Getting Around Travilah

Roads and Highways for Travel

Southern and northeastern Travilah CDP

Maryland Route 190, also known as River Road, is an important highway in southern Travilah. It runs along the Potomac River and connects to Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway), which is the highway that circles Washington D.C. River Road is part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Scenic Byway. Washington D.C. is less than 20 miles away, and some residents can drive there in about 30 minutes using the Clara Barton Parkway.

In northern Travilah, people can use Piney Meetinghouse Road to reach Shady Grove Road. From there, they can get on Interstate 270 or Interstate 370 and the Intercounty Connector toll road (MD 200). Travilah Road connects River Road in the south to Darnestown Road and Shady Grove Road in the north. These highways help residents travel easily throughout the area.

Public Transportation Options

Travilah residents can use the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (Metro) subway system. The Red Line stations closest to Travilah are Shady Grove, Rockville, Twinbrook, North Bethesda, and Grosvenor-Strathmore.

Montgomery County also has its own bus system called Ride-On. Bus route 301 runs from Travilah to the Rockville Metro station, stopping at places like the Glenstone museum and the Potomac Oak Shopping Center. Route 67 goes from the Universities at Shady Grove to the Shady Grove Metro station, with a stop on Piney Meetinghouse Road.

Education in Travilah

Travilah Elementary School building

Students in Travilah attend Montgomery County Public Schools. Depending on where they live in Travilah, high school students go to Winston Churchill, Thomas S. Wootton, or Northwest.

Churchill High School is often ranked as one of the best schools in Maryland and among the top 500 in the country. Students who go to Churchill usually attend Herbert Hoover Middle School first, and then Potomac or Wayside Elementary.

Wootton High School is also highly rated, ranking 2nd in Maryland and 125th nationally in 2019. Most Travilah students going to Wootton attend Robert Frost Middle School, and then Travilah Elementary School. A small part of Travilah in the Wootton district goes to Stone Mill Elementary and Cabin John Middle School.

Students in the far southwest of Travilah attend Darnestown Elementary School, then Lakelands Park Middle School, and finally Northwest High School. Northwest High School is known for its strong football team.

There are also private school options nearby, such as Bullis in Potomac, which serves elementary, middle, and high school students. Other private schools are in Rockville, Bethesda, and North Bethesda.

Higher Education Opportunities

The Universities at Shady Grove

Travilah residents have many choices for higher education. The Universities at Shady Grove is very close by. It's a special place where students can take classes and earn degrees from nine different public Maryland universities. About 3,000 students attend, choosing from 80 different programs.

Johns Hopkins University also has a campus in Rockville, near the Universities at Shady Grove. Additionally, Montgomery College has campuses in Rockville and Gaithersburg. Montgomery College offers associate degrees and helps about 54,000 students continue their education.

Public Libraries for Learning

Travilah residents have access to several public libraries. The Potomac Library, built in 1985, is part of the Montgomery County Public Library system and is near southeastern Travilah.

Two other nearby libraries are the Quince Orchard Library in North Potomac and the Rockville Memorial Library, which is close to the Rockville Metro station. The Priddy Library, part of the University of Maryland Libraries system, is located at the Universities at Shady Grove and is open to the public.

Travilah's Rich History

Map showing the DuFief Mill, Travilah crossroads, and C&O Canal

A 150-year-old house in Travilah

The community of Travilah has a long history, going back to the 1800s. It started at a crossroads where Travilah Road and Glen Road are today. This small farming community grew because it was less than 2 miles from the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal). The roads also led to mills where farmers could take their wheat to be ground into flour.

In 1882, there was a general store at the crossroads. In 1883, the area got its own Post Office. The post office needed a name for the location, so they used the name of the first postmaster, Travilah Clagett. He was a big landowner in the area but sadly died from tuberculosis that same year.

Besides the general store, the crossroads also had a blacksmith, a church, a schoolhouse, and a town hall. The Travilah Baptist Church was built in 1894 but burned down in 1980. The original one-room schoolhouse, built in 1865, closed in 1943 and also later burned down. The town hall, built in 1910, still stands today but is privately owned. The general store closed in 1967.

Today, a small shopping center built in 1979 is at the Travilah Road-Glen Road intersection. It was renamed Potomac Oak Center to honor the historic Travilah Oak tree nearby. A large 150-year-old farmhouse still stands across from the shopping center.

Historic Sites in Travilah

Montgomery County has a long history, and the Travilah area has some important historic sites. Some of these are privately owned. For example, the original Travilah Town Hall, built in 1910, is still there but is now a private home.

Harrison and Ada Ward Farm

The historic Ward Farm Barn

The Pennyfield Lock House and lock

Swain's Lock on the C&O Canal

The Harrison and Ada Ward Farm was built around 1885. It did well because it was close to the Pennyfield Lock on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. The farm grew wheat, corn, and hay, and later raised dairy cows. The farm's bright red bank barn, which has beautiful architectural details, is right next to Travilah Road.

Pennyfield Lock House

The Pennyfield Lock House (Lock #22) is located in the western part of the Travilah CDP, within the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. This lock house was built around 1830. A mill built by John L. DuFief around 1850 was connected to Pennyfield Lock. This mill could make a lot of flour each year, and roads grew to help farmers bring their crops to the mill and canal. The small community of Travilah grew because it was at a crossroads and close to the canal.

Swain's Lock House

Swains Lock House (Lock #21) is in the eastern part of the Travilah CDP, also in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The lock and house were built in 1831. It's one of the biggest canal lock houses, made from large sandstone bricks. The Swain family lived in the house for many years, with Jesse Swain becoming the lock keeper in 1907. His grandson, Fred, continued to live there and run a snack stand into the 21st century. The family lived in the house until 2006. Today, you can find picnic tables near the lock and the Potomac River.

Tobytown Cemetery

The Tobytown Cemetery is located off River Road, near Pennyfield Lock. It's the only remaining part of the black community of Tobytown, which was started in 1875 by former slaves. The community was founded by William Davis, Ailsie Martin, and Emory Genus, and is thought to be named after Ailsie Martin's son, Tobias Martin. The cemetery has about 25 gravestones for the early settlers and their families. Many of the stones are unmarked, which was common for early African American cemeteries.

Travilah Oak Tree

The Travilah Oak is a huge white oak tree that is estimated to be 275 to 300 years old! It stands at the intersection of Travilah and Glen roads. In 2006, the tree was about 98 feet tall, with its branches spreading out about 100 feet wide. Its trunk was about 17.5 feet around. A small park surrounds this giant tree and is open to the public. This crossroads was once the heart of the old Travilah community.

Travilah Town Hall Building

The Travilah Town Hall was built around 1910. It was used for community meetings and fun events. Even though the building has a lot of history, it became privately owned in 1918. However, it continued to be used for community purposes for some time.

Fun and Nature in Travilah

Travilah is often called one of the best places to live in Maryland. Besides its great schools, good jobs, peaceful setting, and history, it has many parks and a museum. The Glenstone Modern Art Museum is located in Travilah on Glen Road, not far from the historic crossroads. It's a private art museum owned by famous art collectors. Visitors usually need to make reservations to get in.

Parks and Green Spaces

Entrance to Greenbriar Park

Travilah has many parks where you can enjoy nature and play sports:

• Adventure Conservation Park – A 14-acre undeveloped park.
• Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Park – A historic canal that stretches 184.5 miles, with waterfalls, trails, and campgrounds.
• Glen Hills Local Park – A 25.2-acre park with sports fields and picnic areas.
• Greenbrier Local Park – A 25-acre park with a playground, sports fields, and picnic areas.
• Muddy Branch Stream Valley Park – A large 876-acre park with 9 miles of trails.
• Pennyfield Lock Neighborhood Conservation Area – A 1.9-acre area with a boat ramp.
• Serpentine Barrens Conservation Park – A 350-acre park where horseback riding is allowed only on the edges.
• Tobytown Neighborhood Park – A park with a playground, tennis courts, and basketball courts.
• Watts Branch Stream Valley Park – A 438-acre undeveloped park.

Wildlife in Travilah

The Travilah area is home to many animals. You can often see white-tailed deer, and the county manages their population. Other common animals include red foxes and eastern gray squirrels.

Many birds live in the area all year round, such as Canada geese, hawks, owls, woodpeckers, blue jays, and crows. You might also spot birds like the Carolina wren, house finch, American goldfinch, eastern bluebird, and northern cardinal at bird feeders.

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See also

In Spanish: Travilah (Maryland) para niños