Introduction:
Takoma Park is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland. The name is from an American Indian word meaning "high up near heaven."
Geography
The city of Takoma Park is just northeast of Washington, D.C. The Takoma Park community (as distinct from the actual incorporated area) spills over the D. C.-Maryland line into the District, but the part inside the District is politically separate from the City of Takoma Park and not given an official identity within the District of Columbia.
Demography
The population of Takoma Park in the 2000 census was 17,299. Takoma Park is an ethnically diverse city, with a large proportion of the population being recent immigrants.
Economy
Law/Government
Takoma Park is known as an extremely liberal community. (It was officially declared a "nuclear-free zone" by then Mayor Sam Abbott in 1983.) In accordance with this, the law allows even non-citizens to vote in municipal elections.
Mayor or City Executive
The current Mayor of Takoma Park is Kathy Porter. Among former mayors are:
- C. M. Heaton, the first Mayor of Takoma Park.
- Ross H. Beville
- Sam Abbott
- Edward Sharp
- Bruce Williams
Representative body
Takoma Park has a City Council elected by wards.
History
Takoma Park was incorporated in 1890. For many years the Montgomery/Prince George's County line cut through the city, but pursuant to a popular referendum, in 1997 the county line was moved to include all of the city in Montgomery County, including some territory newly annexed to the city at the time.
Colleges/Universities in city
- Columbia Union College
- Montgomery College (Takoma Park Campus) (a 2-year institution)