ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND – A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE!
One of the largest cities in Maryland, Rockville is also part of metropolitan Washington, DC. Yet it is more than just that – Rockville is a great place to live! Money Magazine has rated Rockville as one of the “Best Places to Live” in the United States. In the magazine’s 2006 annual list of the nation's Top 100 "Best Places to Live," Rockville is rated number 26.
QUALITY OF LIFE
Rockville is rated highly for its quality of life, and for its livable and interesting combination of city and suburban lifestyles. With a population of over 50,000 people, Rockville has room to accommodate those who want a cosmopolitan lifestyle to those who prefer a cozy, small-town atmosphere. Downtown Rockville has many major shopping areas, restaurants, and condominiums convenient to Metro (the subway system), which connects Rockville to Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia suburbs. Within Rockville and close around it are many and varied suburban areas. Some, such as King Farm and Kentlands, have been designed as towns-within-the-city for a special “small town” feel. Other communities, such as Manor Woods, are older and more established, yet they retain a similar cozy “neighborhood” atmosphere.
SCHOOLS & HEALTHCARE
Rockville has many excellent public and private schools, ranging from preschools to elementary, middle and high schools, and also to colleges and universities. A high employment rate and job growth contribute to making the city one of the “best places to live” in the US. The quality of healthcare available locally is very high, as Rockville and the surrounding area contain many top-notch hospitals, medical, and research facilities.
CULTURAL INTERESTS
Rockville has an abundance of greenery and public parks, plus a flourishing arts scene and a great variety of cultural activities to fill its residents’ leisure hours. For those who enjoy fine arts and the theater, there is the beautiful Rockville Civic Center mansion and F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater. Near the border between Rockville and North Bethesda is the new Strathmore Arts Center. Rockville can also boast of a civic ballet, concert band, and regional youth orchestra. In addition, there are several public libraries; many community recreation centers; and a lively farmers’ market.
For those who enjoy physical activities, Rockville has public golf courses; swim centers and swim clubs; biking and hiking trails; nature centers; and a skate park.
INDUSTRIES & OCCUPATIONS
Major industries in Rockville include professional, scientific and technical services; educational services; health-related services and health care; and finance and insurance. Some of the most common occupations for area residents include managerial and professional; computer specialists; and life and physical scientists. The single largest employer of Rockville residents is the federal government. Rockville also has many research companies and headquarters for national corporations.
A FEW INTERESTING STATISTICS!
Compared to Maryland state averages, Rockville ranks above average in median household income, median house value, and average number of rooms per house. A significantly higher percentage of Rockville’s population has a bachelor’s degree or higher. Rockville ranks below the state average in its percentage of unemployed residents.
GETTING AROUND THE METRO AREA
Besides its excellent Metro system, the Greater Washington area is served by three major airports: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Washington, DC; Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Washington, DC; and Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) in Baltimore. All of these are within a 45-minute drive or Metro ride from Rockville.
MORE ON ROCKVILLE
Rockville includes the zipcode areas 20850, 20851, 20852 and 20853.
Average temperatures for Rockville range from a low of about 25 degrees Fahrenheit in January to a high of 85 degrees Fahrenheit in July. Average precipitation is just over 40 inches per year, including about 21 inches of snow between late November and early April.
Rockville lies inland from the Atlantic seacoast, which is about an hour’s drive east.
HISTORIC ROCKVILLE
Since 1776, Rockville has been the seat of Montgomery County, the largest county in Maryland. One of Maryland's oldest towns, Rockville is full of historic sites and a sense of history.
Downtown Rockville has a historic district on West Montgomery Avenue that is full of fine, beautiful Victorian homes. Local museums, such as the Beall-Dawson House and the Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine, feature local history. The Beall-Dawson House, dating from 1815, was the home of a prominent Rockville family. Today it serves to illustrate the lives of the families, servants and slaves who once inhabited the house. The Beall-Dawson Museum Shop sells books on the history of Montgomery County, the Civil War, African American history, Washington, DC, genealogy, architecture, and more. The Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine was originally the office of Dr. Edward Stonestreet. It displays period medical instruments and books.
On the grounds of the Rockville Civic Center is the beautiful Glenview Mansion and grounds, which date from the 1830s.
The historic Rockville Cemetery is located near the Rockville Civic Center, just off Baltimore Road. The earliest gravestone is dated 1752. Among other figures from Montgomery County history, Dr. Edward Stonestreet and many members of his family are buried here. Other well-known Montgomery County residents who have been buried here include Walter Johnson, the great baseball player of the 1920s, and author F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda. The Fitzgeralds were later moved to nearby St. Mary’s cemetery.
