Damascus, Maryland
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Damascus is a census-designated place and an uncorporated area located in Montgomery County, Maryland. In the early part of the 20th century, there was an incorporated municipality here for about a quarter century, but it no longer exists. The name "Damascus" comes from a reference in the Bible, presumably to Damascus, Syria, and was first used in an official document in 1816, when the United States Congress approved a postal route through the area, operated by Edward Hughes.
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Geography
As an unincorporated area, Damascus' boundaries are not officially defined. Damascus is, however, recognized by the United States Census Bureau as a Census-designated Place, and by the United States Geological Survey as a populated place located at 39°16'16" North, 77°12'22" West (39.271040, -77.206098)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the place has a total area of 24.9 km² (9.6 mi²). 24.9 km² (9.6 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 11,430 people, 3,710 households, and 3,079 families residing in the area. The population density is 458.7/km² (1,187.5/mi²). There are 3,773 housing units at an average density of 151.4/km² (392.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the area is 89.66% White, 4.63% African American, 0.24% Native American, 2.21% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.28% from other races, and 1.95% from two or more races. 4.31% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 3,710 households out of which 52.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% are married couples living together, 11.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 17.0% are non-families. 13.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 3.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.08 and the average family size is 3.38.
In the area, the population is spread out with 34.0% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 5.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.6 males.
The median income for a household in the area is $71,447, and the median income for a family is $76,462. Males have a median income of $51,590 versus $38,731 for females. The per capita income for the area is $26,659. 5.3% of the population and 4.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 6.8% of those under the age of 18 and 0.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
History
Damascus, MD is a community that has little in common with the rest of Montgomery County. Traditionally rural and conservative, Damascus was the commercial center for the surrounding rural communities.
It is located at the intersection of two important roads in upper Montgomery County, the Old Quaker Road (currently Rt. 27) and the Damascus-Laytonsville Road (currently Rt. 108).
James Madison, the fourth U.S. President, appointed Edward Hughes postmaster of Damascus. Hughes laid out and planned the town. Hughes received permission from Congress for a postal route through town. Hughes called his town "The Pleasant Plains of Damascus" after Damascus, Syria (a biblical reference). A newspaper in Frederick, Maryland wrote of Hughes's growing town that "There is at this place an extensive opening for mechanics of all the different kinds, and it bids fair to improve very fast;... There is at present two blacksmith shops, a saddler's shop and a store in the place --- a tailor, a wheel wright, and a shoemaker are much wanted, and would meet with great encouragement." This was the Damascus of 1816. The new township drew settlers from Anne Arundel as well as from Montgomery County. THe town was incorporated from 1890 to 1914, when the Old Quaker Road, used since Revolutionary times and before, was paved into a state highway. The town remains a commercial center for rural communities, although it is more developed today.
Damascus has recently had an influx of non-white students to Damascus High School, and racial conflict has occurred. Recently, white youths attacked a black student, drawing the atention of the Washington Post and civil rights activists, specifically the N.A.A.C.P.