Rockville in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Rockville Business District
Location: Montgomery Avenue and Washington Street
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Photographed by Allen C. Browne, August 31, 2019
1. Rockville Business District Marker
This marker replaces the identically worded “Lost Rockville” marker entitled “Montgomery Avenue and Washington Street”.
Rockville grew from a convenient crossroads meeting place in the 1750s to become the legal and market center of agricultural Montgomery County. The tiny village was selected as the seat of local government in 1776 for its central location at the juncture of major roads and the presence of taverns and inns to accommodate those with local government business.
Rockville's commercial activity was not separated from the residential areas as it is today. Craftsmen and merchants often lived on the second story or next to their place of business. However, proximity to the courthouse influenced many hotels, inns and shops to locate along Montgomery Avenue, Commerce Lane (now West Montgomery Avenue) and Washington Street. The area consisted of a variety of uses, including brick institutional buildings, small-frame residences, 19th century hotels and small businesses. Middle Lane and the area of Washington Street just north of Middle Lane was the location of a sizeable, early African-American settlement in the growing town.
In the 1950s, increased traffic, lack of parking, and economic problems led city officials to pursue redevelopment of the business district. The Mid-City Urban Renewal Project transformed a 46-acre central area of the city by demolishing most of the old buildings, replacing them with an enclosed mall
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Erected by City of Rockville, Historic District Commission, Department of Community Planning and Development Services. (Marker Number 8.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1776.
Location. 39° 5.061′ N, 77° 9.167′ W. Marker is in Rockville, Maryland, in Montgomery County. It is at the intersection of North Washington Street and Montgomery Avenue, on the right when traveling north on North Washington Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11 N Washington St, Rockville MD 20850, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hungerford Tavern (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Father Divine Birthplace (about 300 feet away); Hungerford Tavern Site (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Gibbs v. Broome, et al. / 1931 Courthouse (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Red Brick Courthouse (about 400 feet away); Rockville Town Square (about
Other markers no longer nearby. Montgomery Avenue and Washington Street (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Gibbs v. Broome, et al. / 1931 Courthouse (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Red Brick Courthouse (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Rockville (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Photographed by J. Makali Bruton, May 26, 2025
3. Rockville Business District Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2019, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 301 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 3, 2019, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 2. submitted on June 6, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on May 26, 2025, by J. Makali Bruton of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
