Takoma Park is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Washington, and part of the Washington metropolitan area. Founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1890, Takoma Park, informally called "Azalea City", is a Tree City USA and a nuclear-free zone. A planned commuter suburb, it is situated along the Metropolitan Branch of the historic Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, just northeast of Washington, D.C., and it shares a border and history with the adjacent Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Takoma. It is governed by an elected mayor and six elected councilmembers, who form the city council, and an appointed city manager, under a council-manager style of government. The city's population was 17,629 at the 2020 census.
Since 2013, residents of Takoma Park can vote in municipal elections when they turn sixteen. It was the first city in the United States to extend voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds in city elections. Since then, the City of Hyattsville has followed suit.
19th century
Takoma Park was founded by Benjamin Franklin Gilbert in 1883.[6]: 331 It was one of the first planned Victorian commuter suburbs,[7] centered on the B&O railroad station in Takoma, D.C., and bore aspects of a spa and trolley park.
Takoma was originally the name of Mount Rainier, from Lushootseed [təqʷúbəʔ] (earlier *təqʷúməʔ), 'snow-covered mountain'.[8] In response to a wish of Gilbert, the name Takoma was chosen in 1883 by DC resident Ida Summy, who believed it to mean 'high up' or 'near heaven'.[9] The city of Tacoma in Washington state is also named after Mount Takhoma (Mount Rainier).
Gilbert's first purchase of land was in spring 1884 when he bought 100 acres (0.40 km2) of land from G.C. Grammar, which was known as Robert's Choice.[6]: 331 [10] This plot of land was located on both sides of the railroad station, roughly bounded by today's Sixth Street on the west, Aspen Street on the south, Willow Avenue on the east, and Takoma Avenue on the north.[6]: 331 At the time, much of the land was covered by thick forest, some of which was cleared away in order to lay out and grade streets and housing lots.[11] At its founding, most lots measured 50 by 200 feet (15 by 60 m)[11] and were sold for $327 to $653 per acre.[12] By August 1885, there were about 100 people living in Takoma Park, including temporary summer residents and year-round permanent residents.[11] Gilbert himself lived in a wooden house on a stone foundation, with 20 rooms and a 65-foot (20 m) tower.
Gilbert purchased another plot of land in 1886. The land was roughly bounded by Carroll Avenue to the Big Spring (now Takoma Junction) and what is now Woodland Avenue. Gilbert named this land New Takoma. Gilbert later purchased the Jones farm and the Naughton farm, which together he named North Takoma.[6]: 335 He also purchased land from Francis P. Blair, Richard L. T. Beale, and the Riggs family.
Gilbert hired contractor Fred E. Dudley to build many of the homes in Takoma Park. One of the homes built by Dudley was the home of Cady Lee[clarification needed], which was designed by Leon E. Dessez and still stands today at Piney Branch Road and Eastern Avenue. Dudley's son Wentworth was the first child born in Takoma Park.
By 1888, there were 75 houses built in the community,[12] and the number increased to 235 homes by 1889.[6]: 335 In 1889, Gilbert purchased several acres of land along Sligo Creek from a physician in Boston named Dr. R.C. Flower, in order to build a sanitarium on the land.[13] By this point, Takoma Park stretched 1,500 acres (5 km2).
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