Downtown Silver Spring in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Community of Silver Spring
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, June 22, 2014
1. The Community of Silver Spring Marker
The Community of Silver Spring, Maryland, derives its name from this spring, discovered in 1840 by Francis Preston Blair and his daughter, Elizabeth. While riding on horseback in the woods beyond Washington, rays of sun on mica sand particles in the water caused Mr. Blair to name it "The Silver Spring." This also identified his estate and summer home built in 1842.
This park was acquired in 1942 by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission. It was restored and dedicated on May 28, 1955 by the following organizations "as an ever-flowing tribute to the men and women responsible for the greatness of Silver Spring, Maryland, and its bright future through civic a community service."
The Silver Spring inter-club council
The American Institute of Architects (Potomac Valley Chapter)
The Silver Spring Board of Trade
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
Erected 1955 by Maryland National Capital Park and Planning.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1920.
Location. 38° 59.386′ N, 77° 1.736′ W. Marker is in Silver Spring, Maryland, in Montgomery County. It
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Silver Spring (a few steps from this marker); Silver Spring Shopping Center (within shouting distance of this marker); Silver Spring Armory 1914 (within shouting distance of this marker); Silver Spring B & O Railroad Station (within shouting distance of this marker); Early's Raid on Washington (within shouting distance of this marker); Canada Dry Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Blair House (within shouting distance of this marker); Blair Mansion: Silver Spring / Blair Station Post Office (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Silver Spring.
Additional commentary.
1. About Silver Spring
Silver Spring is an unorganized section of southeastern Montgomery County, Maryland. The State of Maryland uses the "strong county" model of municipalities to the point that functions that are generally under the power of the state, such as liquor laws and marriage certificates, are administered on the county level. As such, many communities in Maryland are
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, June 22, 2014
2. The Community of Silver Spring Marker
Silver Spring is one of the communities without a formal municipal government, and its borders are generally undefined. The U.S. Census Bureau has created a Census Designated Place that it refers to as Silver Spring. Colloquially, this area is called Downtown Silver Spring. Additionally, the U.S. Postal Service has assigned the name Silver Spring to several ZIP codes within unorganized southeastern Montgomery County, generally with the ZIP codes ranging from 20901 to 20910. Locals who live in these ZIP codes will generally state that they live in Silver Spring. Some neighborhoods have stronger cultural identities, particularly Wheaton.
The Silver Spring Census Designated Place has a population of about 70,000; the Silver Spring ZIP codes combined have a population of about 270,000. If all of the Silver Spring ZIP codes organized into a municipality, it would be the second most populous in the State of Maryland, behind only Baltimore.
— Submitted May 25, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, June 22, 2014
3. The Silver Spring
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, July 11, 2010
4. The Silver Spring
Credits. This page was last revised on May 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 542 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 22, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
