Rockville, MD
| U.S. News Ratings | |
| Population: | 54,274 |
| Crime: | Low |
| Cost of Living: | High |
| Health Care: | Limited |
| Housing Price: | High |
| Income: | Average |
Wedged 12 miles northwest of Washington and 43 miles southwest of Baltimore, Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Md. With its close proximity to the nation's capital, Rockville provides a small-town feel for the numerous federal employees who live there; indeed, Uncle Sam is the largest employer of the city's residents. While real estate may be expensive, an agreeable climate—hot, humid summers and short, mild winters—and a vast menu of attractions provide a pleasant lifestyle for Rockville's 54,000 residents.
During the Revolutionary period, present-day Rockville was known simply as Hungerford's Tavern—the area's best-known landmark and the location of an early call for freedom from British subjugation. The town became the county seat in 1776, but it was 1801 before its name was officially changed to Rockville, reflecting its proximity to Rock Creek. Rockville's sleepy, agrarian demeanor became increasingly cosmopolitan after a branch of the Baltimore & Ohio arrived there in 1873. With trains departing regularly for the nation's capital, the new railroad station made Washington more accessible.
Rockville is noted for its charming architecture. A handful of its sites—including the B&O Railroad Station, Old St. Mary's Church, and the Dawson Farm—have been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The trees and brick sidewalks of the city's historic districts instill Rockville with a distinctly Victorian feel. Among Rockville's many admirers was F. Scott Fitzgerald, who traveled there regularly to visit his father's relatives. So connected was Fitzgerald to the city that after his death in 1940 he was buried in a Rockville cemetery. The city is filled with reminders of its association with the celebrated author, including the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre and the annual F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference.
Rockville has much to offer art lovers. A 36-piece collection of artworks, including sculptures and murals, is permanently displayed in different corners of the city as a part of its Art in Public Places program. The Glenview Mansion hosts free Sunday-afternoon concerts in its conservatory and art exhibits in its gallery. The 75-member Rockville Civic Ballet's repertoire includes the Shakespeare classic A Midsummer Night's Dream, fairy-tale ballets like Cinderella, and the holiday favorite The Nutcracker. Meanwhile, those looking to get active should consider the 18-hole RedGate Municipal Golf Course, which has been ranked among the top 10 area courses by Washington Golf Magazine.
Residents of Rockville can take advantage of a slew of professional sports teams in the Washington and Baltimore areas. Pro football fans can choose between the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Ravens, while college football fans can head to College Park for a University of Maryland game. Baseball provides another opportunity to wrestle with allegiances, as both the Washington Nationals and the Baltimore Orioles are considered hometown teams. Basketball fans can follow the Washington Wizards or the Maryland Terrapins.
Colleges in Rockville include Montgomery College and the Montgomery County campus of Johns Hopkins University. Nearby are Washington's Georgetown, George Washington, and American universities, the University of Maryland in College Park, and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
Rockville residents have access to 36 hospitals in Montgomery County. Among them is Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, a 293-bed acute-care facility with the only pediatric intensive care unit in the county. In addition, Rockville is located not far from the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda.
The federal government is the largest employer of Rockville's residents. Leading private employers include research company Westat, pharmaceutical company Human Genome Sciences, and the law firm of Mann Bracken.
At $473,258, the average home price in Rockville is high. However, values have held up better—at least so far—than in many other cities, declining just 3 percent from 2007 to 2008.
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