MoCo History

MoCo’s Population Rivaled LA and Houston in the 1950s

By Amy Lusignan

During the post-war boom in the 1950s, Montgomery County’s population more than doubled in size and rivaled the population booms of  Los Angeles and Houston. The number of residents in the County had shot up from 164,401 to 340,928, increasing by 107%.

The thriving job market in MoCo helped facilitate its growing population. In the 1960s, multiple federal government agencies in Montgomery County, such as Walter Reed Hospital Annex and the National Institute of Health, continually employed professional workers. Other private businesses like IBM Federal Systems, Inc. and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory were also offering work.

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“(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville,” R.E.M. Sang in 1984

By Amy Lusignan

“(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville,” R.E.M. Sang in 1984

R.E.M. will go down in rock and roll history for their legendary hit songs. A popular favorite is “It’s the End of the World As We Know It.” When it plays, everyone in the car shouts the chorus and mumbles the rest. But while I was scrolling through a list of R.E.M’s music, I was surprised to find a lesser-known song featuring Montgomery County’s Rockville.

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How Much Do You Know About Montgomery County’s Forts?

By MCS Intern

How much do you know about Montgomery County’s forts?

This map covers the surrounding area of forts Alexander, Franklin, and Ripley, each built within a few miles of Washington D.C. near Glen Echo. Fort Sumner can be seen scribbled on the map in ink. It was connected to the other three forts by trenches. The forts were built as part of D.C.’s defenses during the Civil War. The illustration was created by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

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Aspin Hill Memorial Park

By MCS Staff

Nestled in the center of Aspen Hill, Md lies the Aspin Hill Memorial Park, the final resting place of more than 53,000 pets and people. Far from a Steven King novel, Aspin Hill Memorial Park is a place that honors the love between people and their pets. It’s owned by the Montgomery County Humane Society and is open to the public year-around.

Founded in 1921, the memorial’s name comes from a dog-kennel in England–this spelling of “Aspin” is not a typo! Aspin Hill Pet Memorial is thought to be the second-oldest pet cemetery in the United States. Typical pets such as dogs and cats are buried there, but animals like horses and monkeys can also be found.

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“Flower Girl” in Anti-War Photograph Went to Montgomery College

By MCS Staff

“Flower Girl” in Anti-War Photograph Went to Montgomery College

French photojournalist Marc Riboud was renowned for his work on capturing the Vietnam War. Riboud’s photograph The Ultimate Confrontation: The Flower and the Bayonet, caught international attention and remains an iconic, impactful depiction of the Vietnam War protests.

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