Montgomery County History Timeline
1620
Henry Fleet arrived in the Potomac to trade with the Indians and, traveling as far as Great Falls, gave the first written description of the land.
1688
Henry Darnell patented the first tract of land in what was to become Montgomery County. Called “Girl’s Portion,” Darnell’s tract was on the east side Rock Creek.
1711
Baron von Graffenreid, a Swiss explorer, crossed this area, mapped the land and named Sugarloaf Mountain.
1748
Frederick County – including present-day Montgomery County – was formed from the western part of Prince George’s County.
1752
During the French and Indian War, General Edward Braddock led British troops through the area on his way to defeat at Fort Duquesne (in Pennsylvania). They camped at Owens’ Ordinary (now Rockville) and Dowden’s Ordinary (now Clarksburg).
1774
Patriots of Lower Frederick County met at Hungerford’s Tavern (now Rockville) to protest British injustices to the colonies and to draft the “Hungerford Resolves.”
1775
Thomas Sprigg Wootton introduced the bill in the State Assembly to form Montgomery County from the eastern part of Frederick County. This new county was named for General Richard Montgomery, an American officer recently killed at the Battle of Quebec.
1777
The county seat was established at Williamsburg, now Rockville, but called Montgomery Court House on many maps.
1779
The first court house was built.
1791
Georgetown, the only port town in the county, was ceded to the Federal government to form part of the new District of Columbia.
1800-50
The county experienced a decline in profitable agriculture due to over-planting, poor farming methods, and westward migration of farm labor. Prosperity returned when farmers, led by the Quakers of the Sandy Spring area, began to improve farming methods by using fertilizer, crop rotation, and new machinery.
1803
The name of the county seat was changed to Rockville, most likely in honor of nearby Rock Creek.
1814
During the last year of the War of 1812, retreating troops from the Battle of Bladensburg – as well as government officials and citizens fleeing the burning of Washington by British troops – found refuge in the county. President James Madison spent two nights in Brookeville.
1828
Construction began on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, improving transportation along the Potomac River (which, thanks to Great Falls, was not navigable).
1840
The old court house in Rockville was replaced by a new brick building.
1846
The Montgomery County Agricultural Society was organized to promote improvements in farming. They held the first county fair, in Rockville.
1860
A free public school system was established for the first time, with William Henry Farquhar as superintendent.
1861-65
During the Civil War both Union and Confederate troops passed through the county several times. Union forces occupied various camps to guard against river crossings, but raids and skirmishes were the extent of military action. Nevertheless, the war affected county residents in many – and lasting – ways.
1873
The Metropolitan Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad began service, with 30 stops in the county. This led to the development of suburban resorts and communities along the line, as well as improved transportation for farm products.
1890
The first streetcar line ran from Tenallytown (Tenleytown) to Bethesda Park. This line was later extended to Rockville, and it was followed by other lines serving other communities and attractions (including the amusement park at Glen Echo).
1891
The third court house, now called “The Red Brick Courthouse” (still standing) was erected in Rockville.
1916
The first major hospital in the county, now Montgomery General Hospital, was established by Dr. Jacob W. Bird.
1917
A draft for World War I began and the first 40 men reported for duty in September. The National Guard was activated, a unit of 84 men and 3 officers, which became Company K, 115th Infantry, 29th Division. The commanding officer, Col. E. Brooke Lee, returned from the war and became a political power in the county.
1918
The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), a bi-county organization, was formed to provide water and sewer service in much of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
1922
A police department was created consisting of a chief and five patrolmen. Prisoners were held in an old stone jail, built in 1801, located where the Stella Werner County Office Building in Rockville is today.
1927
The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), another bi-county agency, was formed to plan and guide orderly growth and development in the two counties.
1931
The fourth courthouse, built of grey stone next door to the 1891 red brick building, was erected; it is still used by the District Court.
1932
The Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market was organized to enable farm women to sell their products, easing some of the financial burdens faced by families during the Great Depression.
1935
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) moved to the county, on property donated by Mr. and Mrs. Luke I. Wilson, and became the largest employer in this area.
1945
Returning World War II veterans were an important factor in the unprecedented growth of the homebuilding industry in suburban areas.
1946
Montgomery Junior College, now Montgomery College, began classes at night at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. It has expanded to three campuses in Rockville, Takoma Park and Germantown.
1948
A home rule charter was adopted, allowing for a council form of county government, making Montgomery the first county in Maryland to establish a charter form of government.
1950s
New interstate attracted business and residential development.
1957
The county participated in the formation of the Metropolitan Council of Governments (COG), an organization composed of 16 local governments in order to address mutual problems.
1960
Wheaton Plaza, the first regional mall in the county, opened for business.
1964
The circumferential highway I-495, familiarly called “The Beltway,” was completed; a general plan for development was adopted on the concept of “wedges and corridors” for roads, green space and buildings.
1968
Construction was approved for the Metro Rapid Rail system with 12 stations in the county. Silver Spring and Takoma Park opened in 1976; the current ending stops on the Red line, Shady Grove and Glenmont, were completed in 1984 and 1998 respectively.
1976
Montgomery County celebrated the Bicentennials of both the county and the nation.
1982
A new Judicial Center (the fifth courthouse for the county) and Executive Office Building were dedicated.
1990
The county council was expanded from seven to nine members.
1997
For the first time since 1791, county boundaries changed; the border was expanded to incorporate the part of Takoma Park that had previously been in Prince George’s County.
1999
The Montgomery County Commission of the Celebration 2000 was formed to plan for the millennium.