Gaithersburg
| Gaithersburg | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Gaithersburg, Maryland City Hall |
|||
| Location in Maryland | |||
|
|||
| Basic data | |||
| Foundation : | 1802 | ||
| State : | United States | ||
| State : | Maryland | ||
| County : | Montgomery County | ||
| Coordinates : | 39 ° 8 ′ N , 77 ° 14 ′ W | ||
| Time zone : | Eastern ( UTC − 5 / −4 ) | ||
| Residents : | 68,289 (as of 2018) | ||
| Population density : | 2,555.7 inhabitants per km 2 | ||
| Area : | 27.04 km 2 (approx. 10 mi 2 ) of which 26.72 km 2 (approx. 10 mi 2 ) is land |
||
| Height : | 106 m | ||
| Postcodes : | 20877-20899 | ||
| Area code : | +1 301 | ||
| FIPS : | 24-31175 | ||
| GNIS ID : | 0593389 | ||
| Website : | www.gaithersburgmd.gov | ||
| Mayor : | Sidney A. Katz | ||
Gaithersburg is the fourth largest city in the state of Maryland , USA , after Baltimore , Frederick and Rockville . In the 2010 census, the population was around 68,000 on an area of 26.7 km², which results in a relatively high population density of around 2,550 inhabitants per km².
Gaithersburg is located just northwest of Washington, DC and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area . The area in which the present city is located was originally called "Log Town". After a settler named Benjamin Gaither built the first house there in 1802, the place was named Gaithersburg after him. In 1850 a railway line to Gaithersburg was built at the endeavors of the Gaithers.
In 1968 Gaithersburg was named a city. While the town only had 8,344 inhabitants in 1970, strong suburbanization began in the 1970s with newcomers from Washington, which more than tripled the population to 26,424 by 1980.
The Shady Grove Station of Metro Washington in neighboring Derwood, Maryland connects Gaithersburg to downtown Washington, DC and other parts of the greater Washington area.
In scientific circles Gaithersburg is known for the resident National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Other important employers include the American branch of the British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and the software manufacturer Leidos .
| growth of population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Residents | ± in% | |
| 1900 | 547 | - | |
| 1910 | 625 | 14.3% | |
| 1920 | 729 | 16.6% | |
| 1930 | 1068 | 46.5% | |
| 1940 | 1021 | -4.4% | |
| 1950 | 1755 | 71.9% | |
| 1960 | 3847 | 119.2% | |
| 1970 | 8344 | 116.9% | |
| 1980 | 26,424 | 216.7% | |
| 1990 | 39,542 | 49.6% | |
| 2000 | 52,613 | 33.1% | |
| 2010 | 59,933 | 13.9% | |
sons and daughters of the town
- Kimberly J. Brown (born 1984), actress
- Stefon Diggs (born 1993), football player
- Judah Friedlander (* 1969), comedian
- Joshua Harris (born 1974), pastor
- Dwayne Haskins (born 1997), American football player
- Paul James , actor
- Kelela (* 1983), singer
- Logic (* 1990), rap musician
- Shane McMahon (born 1970), wrestler
- Wale Folarin (born 1984), rapper
- James White (born 1982), basketball player
