Damascus, Maryland
| Damascus, Maryland | |
|---|---|
| Census-designated place | |
 Location of Damascus, Maryland |
|
| Coordinates: 39°16′16″N 77°12′22″W / 39.27111°N 77.20611°WCoordinates: 39°16′16″N 77°12′22″W / 39.27111°N 77.20611°W | |
| Country |  United States of America |
| State |
 Maryland
|
| County |
 Montgomery
|
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.6 sq mi (24.9 km2) |
| • Land | 9.6 sq mi (24.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 866 ft (264 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| • Total | 11,430 |
| • Density | 1,187.5/sq mi (458.5/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 20872 |
| Area code(s) | 301, 240 |
| FIPS code | 24-21475 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0584009 |
Damascus is a census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. In the early 20th century, there existed an incorporated municipality lasting a quarter century.
The name "Damascus" comes from a reference presumably to Damascus, Syria, and was first used in an official document in 1816, when the United States Congress approved a postal route through the area, operated by Edward Hughes.
The area currently known as Damascus was granted by the new state of Maryland to Nathaniel Pigman in 1783. On February 14, 1819, War of 1812 veteran named Edward Hughes bought a 40-acre (160,000 m2) section of the grant and began subdividing lots for sale. James Madison, the fourth U.S. President, appointed Hughes postmaster of the developing community of Damascus in 1816.
Damascus is located at the intersection of two major roads in upper Montgomery County, Ridge Road (currently Rt. 27) and Damascus Road (currently Rt. 108). Hughes received permission from Congress for a postal route through town. Hughes called his town "The Pleasant Plains of Damascus" after Damascus, Syria. A newspaper in Frederick, Maryland, wrote of Hughes's growing town: "There is at this place an extensive opening for mechanics of all the different kinds, and it bids fair to improve very fast; ... There is at present two blacksmith shops, a saddler's shop and a store in the place -- a tailor, a wheel wright, and a shoemaker are much wanted, and would meet with great encouragement." This was the Damascus of 1816. The new township drew settlers from Anne Arundel County as well as from Montgomery County. On September 12, 1862, U.S. Army troops marched through the "village" of Damascus via what is now Route 27 on their way to the town of Sharpsburg, where they engaged Confederate troops commanded by General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Antietam.
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