Montgomery County is home to nineteen municipalities (all listed below from oldest to newest), each with its own local government and community identity.
These incorporated cities and towns exist within the larger county government structure but maintain authority over certain local matters such as zoning, ordinances, and community services. The municipalities reflect nearly two centuries of local history. Some began as small rural villages or railroad towns in the 1800s, while others incorporated more recently as residential communities seeking greater local control and neighborhood preservation.
Brookeville is the county’s oldest municipality, incorporated in 1808. The small town holds a notable place in American history after serving briefly as the nation’s capital during the War of 1812 when President James Madison sought refuge there after the British burned Washington. Rockville incorporated in 1860 and later became the county seat. Today it is one of three municipalities that use the title “city,” along with Gaithersburg and Takoma Park. In Maryland, the distinction between a city and a town is largely symbolic and based on community preference rather than population or legal status.
Several municipalities formed during the late 1800s as development expanded outward from Washington, particularly along railroad lines. Others followed in the early 1900s as streetcar suburbs and planned communities took shape. The most recent incorporations occurred in the late twentieth century when several smaller communities in the Chevy Chase area organized municipal governments to maintain local zoning control and preserve neighborhood character. Today, Montgomery County’s nineteen municipalities represent a diverse mix of historic villages, suburban neighborhoods, and urban centers that together reflect the county’s long and evolving history.
Montgomery County Municipalities (Oldest to Newest):
1808 – Brookeville
1860 – Rockville
1867 – Poolesville
1878 – Gaithersburg
1888 – Barnesville
1890 – Takoma Park
1892 – Laytonsville
1894 – Kensington
1898 – Garrett Park
1904 – Glen Echo
1906 – Somerset
1910 – Chevy Chase Village
1918 – Town of Chevy Chase
1937 – Washington Grove
1982 – Village of Chevy Chase, Section 3
1982 – Village of Chevy Chase, Section 5
1985 – Martin’s Additions
1993 – Chevy Chase View
1996 – North Chevy Chase
Information sourced from the Maryland Manual On-Line
