White Oak, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
White Oak, Maryland
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Aerial view of White Oak in January 2007
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Location in Montgomery County and Maryland
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maryland |
| County |  Montgomery |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.12 sq mi (8.09 km2) |
| • Land | 3.12 sq mi (8.09 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 387 ft (118 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 16,347 |
| • Density | 5,234.39/sq mi (2,021.15/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-05:00 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| FIPS code | 24-84375 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0591544 |
White Oak is a community in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It's not an official city, but a "census-designated place." This means the United States Census Bureau defines its borders for counting people. In 2020, about 16,347 people lived there.
White Oak was once home to the Naval Ordnance Laboratory. This was a place where the Navy did research. It closed in 1994. Now, the main office of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is there. The FDA makes sure our food and medicines are safe. This area is now called the Federal Research Center at White Oak.
The community covers about 3.12 square miles (8.09 square kilometers) of land. White Oak is known for being a very diverse neighborhood. Its main area stretches from Lockwood Drive to Stewart Lane, crossing two major roads: New Hampshire Avenue (MD 650) and Columbia Pike (U.S. 29).
Contents
White Oak's Location
White Oak is not a city with fixed borders. Instead, its boundaries are set by the United States Census Bureau for counting purposes. Many people who live in White Oak feel like they are part of the larger Silver Spring area. Think of it like a neighborhood within a bigger town.
Quaint Acres: A Special Neighborhood
"Quaint Acres" is a smaller part of White Oak. It is located north of Route 29 and west of New Hampshire Avenue. This area was named after the home of Altus Lacy Quaintance. He was a scientist who studied insects in Maryland.
A Plane Crash in 1945
On May 26, 1945, a TB-25D 'Mitchell' bomber plane crashed near Quaint Acres. The plane was on its way to Bolling Field. Sadly, all four people on board died. The pilot, Dudley M. Outcalt, had flown in World War I.
Rachel Carson's Home
After the war, Quaint Acres became home to a famous writer and scientist named Rachel Carson. She wrote the very important book Silent Spring in 1962. This book helped lead to the ban of a harmful pesticide called DDT in the United States. Rachel Carson built her house at 11701 Berwick Rd. in 1956. She lived there until she passed away in 1964. Her house is now a National Historic Landmark, but it is not open to the public.
Quaint Acres was also where Margaret Chase Smith lived in the Washington area. She was the first woman ever elected to both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
Who Lives in White Oak?
White Oak is a very diverse community. People from many different backgrounds live there.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2000 | 20,973 | — | |
| 2010 | 17,403 | −17.0% | |
| 2020 | 16,347 | −6.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010 2020 Boundaries reduced from 2000-2010 |
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Population in 2020
The table below shows the different groups of people living in White Oak in 2010 and 2020. The U.S. Census counts people by race and also by whether they are Hispanic or Latino. People of Hispanic or Latino background can be of any race.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 3,766 | 1,827 | 21.64% | 11.18% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 8,314 | 9,201 | 47.77% | 56.29% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 23 | 15 | 0.13% | 0.09% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1,543 | 1,166 | 8.87% | 7.13% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 23 | 1 | 0.13% | 0.01% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 95 | 102 | 0.55% | 0.62% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 445 | 491 | 2.56% | 3.00% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3,194 | 3,544 | 18.35% | 21.68% |
| Total | 17,403 | 16,347 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Community Backgrounds
In 2010, there were about 17,403 people living in White Oak. Many different groups make up the population:
- About 53.2% of residents had African, Afro-Caribbean, or African American backgrounds. This includes people from Ethiopia, Haiti, Jamaica, and Kenya.
- About 17.6% were White, with roots from countries like Germany, England, Ireland, and Italy.
- About 19.1% were Hispanic or Latino. This includes people from El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
- About 7.1% were Asian, including people from Vietnam, Korea, India, and China.
White Oak also has a notable Jewish community. There are Orthodox and Conservative Jewish groups. The Silver Spring Eruv Association includes parts of White Oak. An eruv is a special boundary that allows Jewish people to carry items outside their homes on the Sabbath.
The Southeast Hebrew Congregation, an Orthodox synagogue, is in White Oak. It started in 1909 in Washington, D.C., and moved to White Oak in 1971. Another synagogue, Shaare Tefila Congregation, was in White Oak from 1965 to 2011. It then moved to Olney.
Schools in White Oak
Students in White Oak attend several local schools. These include Cresthaven, Jackson Road, and Burnt Mills Elementary Schools. After elementary school, students go to White Oak Middle School or Francis Scott Key Middle School.
For high school, eighth-grade students can choose from three schools in the Northeast Consortium:
- Blake High School
- Paint Branch High School
- Springbrook High School
Springbrook High School is actually located within the White Oak area itself.
Images for kids
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Aerial view of White Oak in January 2007
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Location in Montgomery County and Maryland
See also
In Spanish: White Oak (Maryland) para niños
