Darnestown

Census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland

View of Darnestown, Maryland
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Darnestown is an unincorporated community (census-designated place) in Montgomery County, Maryland, with 6,723 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 436 ft (133 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Lowes Island, 3.6 miles SW.

About Darnestown

Darnestown is a United States census-designated place (CDP) and an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland. The CDP is 17.70 square miles (45.8 km2) with the Potomac River as its southern border and the Muddy Branch as much of its eastern border. Seneca Creek borders portions of its north and west sides. The Travilah, North Potomac, and Germantown census-designated places are adjacent to it, as is the city of Gaithersburg. Land area for the CDP is 16.39 square miles (42.4 km2). As of the 2020 census, the Darnestown CDP had a population of 6,723, while the village of Darnestown is considerably smaller in size and population. Downtown Washington, D.C. is about 22 miles (35 km) to the southeast.

Within the Darnestown census-designated place at the intersection of what is now Darnestown Road and Seneca Road, the small village of Darnestown has existed since about 1800. The community had a population of 200 in 1878. The name Darnestown comes from William Darne, who owned the most land in the area at the beginning of the 19th century when the community post office opened. Settlement in the area began around 1750, and the tiny community was called Mount Pleasant, and then Darnes, before the name Darnestown began being used. The community thrived in the 19th century during the golden years of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, as the improved transportation facilities offered area farmers access to more markets. In the 1880 census, the United States Census Bureau began using a Minor Civil Division (MCD) category for aggregating populations, and the new Darnestown district had about 1,500 people. Growth stopped late in the 19th century when a new railway bypassed the community.

In the 1960s, affluent families began buying Montgomery County farmland for new housing and equestrian purposes. Today, many Darnestown CDP residents are wealthy and live in large homes on large lots, which is reflected in their high average income and low housing density. The median household income is nearly $228,000, and 73 percent of residents aged 25 years or more have at least a bachelor's degree or higher. The community benefits from its proximity to workplaces such as the Shady Grove Hospital area and the I-270 Technology Corridor. Washington is accessible by automobile or public transportation. Beginning with the 2000 census, the Census Bureau created a Darnestown census-designated place.

Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Darnestown weather: 7-day forecast

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Living in Darnestown

Median household income
$232,135
Median home value
$958,200
Median rent
$3,501/mo
Median age
47.1
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Map of Darnestown

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Darnestown, MD population

Darnestown had 6,723 residents in the 2020 Census.

2020 Census6,723
Density410 per sq mi (158 per km²)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.

Darnestown at a glance

StateMaryland (MD)
CountyMontgomery County
TypeCensus-designated place
Population6,723 (2020)
Land area16.38 sq mi (42.4 km²)
Water area0.92 sq mi (2.38 km²)
Elevation436 ft (133 m)
Coordinates39.0897° N, 77.3114° W
ZIP code20874
Census code (GEOID)2421825

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.

Towns near Darnestown

Straight-line distance between town centers.

Frequently asked questions about Darnestown

What county is Darnestown in?

Darnestown is in Montgomery County, Maryland.

What is the population of Darnestown, MD?

6,723 people lived in Darnestown at the 2020 Census.

What is the ZIP code of Darnestown, MD?

The ZIP code of Darnestown is 20874.

What is the elevation of Darnestown?

436 feet (133 m) above sea level.

What towns are near Darnestown?

Lowes Island (3.6 mi), Travilah (3.9 mi), North Potomac (3.9 mi), Sugarland Run (4.9 mi), Cascades (5.0 mi).

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