Kensington, Maryland
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Kensington is a town located in Montgomery County, Maryland. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,873.
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History
The area around the Rock Creek basin where Kensington now sits was primarily agricultural until 1873, when the B&O Railroad completed a branch which traversed Montgomery County. The community first sprouted at the spot where the railroad line intersected the old Rockville to Bladensburg road. This early settlement was first known as Knowles Station. In the early 1890s, Washington, D. C. developer Brainard Warner began purchasing land parcels to build a planned Victorian community, complete with church, library, and a local newspaper. Fascinated by a recent trip to London, Warner first named his town Kensington Park. Upon incorporation in 1894, the town was renamed Kensington.
Initially Kensington was primarily a summer refuge for Washington, D.C. residents wishing to escape the capital's humid summers. As years passed, it became a year-round home for virtually all its residents, and evolved into the commuter suburb it essentially is today. The large southernmost section originally mapped out by Warner remains largely unchanged since its inception, and is a historically preserved zone. While the central business zone is frequently in flux, the only major changes in the town's basic layout have been the bridging over of the original railroad crossing, in 1937, and the extension and widening of Connecticut Ave., the town's main thoroughfare, in 1957.
The little town gained national notoriety three times in a remarkable ten-month span early in the 21st century as a result of events which occurred within a mere quarter mile radius. In December, 2001, the town responded to complaints from anonymous citizens by banning Santa Claus from appearing in the annual holiday parade. Protestors arrived at the parade en masse, including hundreds of Santas riding everything from motorcycles to fire trucks. Eight months later, a commuter train derailed adjacent to the town center when the tracks separated at an overheated seam, sending over a hundred victims to area hospitals. Fortunately, there were no fatalities. Then, tragically, on October 2, 2002, Lori Ann Lewis-Rivera became the fifth victim of the snipers who terrorized the Washington area that month, while cleaning her auto at a Kensington gas station.
Geography
MDMap-doton-Kensington.PNG
Location of Kensington, Maryland
Kensington is located in Montgomery County, northwest of Silver Spring, northeast of Bethesda, southwest of Wheaton, and southeast of Rockville. Its latitude is 39o1'48" N, longitude 77o4'30" W.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²). 1.3 km² (0.5 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.
While the town proper is but one-half square mile in size, the Kensington Post Office services a much larger area. Residents within this ZIP Code (20895) generally refer to Kensington as their home town.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 1,873 people, 729 households, and 467 families residing in the town. The population density is 1,418.0/km² (3,668.6/mi²). There are 768 housing units at an average density of 581.4/km² (1,504.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 89.96% White, 2.51% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 2.94% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.49% from other races, and 2.51% from two or more races. 4.64% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 729 households out of which 31.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% are married couples living together, 6.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% are non-families. 29.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.46 and the average family size is 3.08.
In the town the population is spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 79.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $76,716, and the median income for a family is $96,394. Males have a median income of $65,804 versus $41,364 for females. The per capita income for the town is $35,919. 2.1% of the population and 0.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 0.0% of those under the age of 18 and 1.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Economy
Conveniently located two miles from the Capital Beltway and halfway between the two limbs of the Washington Metro's red line, and bisected by the MARC commuter rail's Brunswick Line, Kensington is primarily a "bedroom community". Adjacent to the central shopping area however are the renowned "Antique Row" on Howard Street, the West Howard Antique District, and Kaiser-Permanente's Kensington facility.
Law and government
Mayor or City Executive
The current Mayor of Kensington is Lynn Raufaste.
Representative body
Kensington has a four-member council, elected for two-year terms. The next elections are in 2005.
External resources
Town Web page: http://www.tok.org/
References
Kensington, a picture history. Kensington (MD), Kensington Business District Association, 1994.