Editing Poolesville, Maryland

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                    = Poolesville, Maryland
|official_name           = 
|settlement_type         = [[Town]]
|image_skyline           = 2016-10-13 10 10 35 View west along Maryland State Route 107 (Fisher Avenue) at Norris Road in Poolesville, Montgomery County, Maryland.jpg
|imagesize               = 
|image_caption           = View west along Maryland State Route 107 (Fisher Avenue) at Norris Road
|image_flag              = Flag of Poolesville, Maryland.png
|image_seal              = 
|image_shield            = 
|image_blank_emblem      = Poolesville timeless charm.png
|blank_emblem_type       = Logo
|motto                   = 
|image_map               = Montgomery_County_Maryland_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Poolesville_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                 = 250x200px
|map_caption             = Location of Poolesville, Maryland
|image_map1              = 
|mapsize1                = 
|map_caption1            = 
| subdivision_type       = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_type1      = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2      = [[List of counties in Maryland|County]]
| subdivision_name       = {{Flagu|United States|size=23px}}
| subdivision_name1      = {{Flag|Maryland|size=23px}}
| subdivision_name2      = [[Montgomery County, Maryland|Montgomery]]
|government_type         = Board of Commissioners/Manager
|leader_title            = President, Board of Commissioners
|leader_name             = 
|established_title       = Settled
|established_date        = {{start date and age|1760}}
|established_title2      = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2       = {{start date and age|1867}}
|unit_pref               = Imperial
|area_magnitude          = 
|area_footnotes          = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_24.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 26, 2022}}</ref>
|area_total_km2          = 10.23
|area_land_km2           = 10.18
|area_water_km2          = 0.05
<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of        = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_total        = 5742
|population_density_sq_mi = 1460.70
|population_density_km2  = 564.00
|population_footnotes    = 
|timezone                = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]]
|utc_offset              = -5
|timezone_DST            = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
|utc_offset_DST          = -4
|coordinates             = {{coord|39|07|55|N|77|24|34|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|website                 = {{URL|http://poolesvillemd.gov}}
|area_total_sq_mi        = 3.95
|area_land_sq_mi         = 3.93
|area_water_sq_mi        = 0.02
|elevation_footnotes     = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft            = 390
|postal_code_type        = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code             = 20837
|area_code               = [[Area codes 301 and 240|301, 240]]
|blank_name              = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info              = 24-62850
|blank1_name             = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info             = 2391366<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2391366}}</ref>
|footnotes               = 
}}
'''Poolesville''' is a U.S. town in the western portion of [[Montgomery County, Maryland|Montgomery County]], [[Maryland]]. The population was 5,742 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref name="QuickFacts">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts: Poolesville town |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/poolesvilletownmaryland/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 17, 2021}}</ref> It is surrounded by (but is technically not part of) the [[Montgomery County, Maryland Agricultural Reserve|Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/ded/agservices/pdffiles/agreserveandagindustry.pdf |title=Montgomery County's Agricultural Reserve and Agricultural Industry |access-date=October 11, 2015 |last=Criss |first=Jeremy V  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929150100/http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/ded/agservices/pdffiles/agreserveandagindustry.pdf |archive-date=September 29, 2013 }} This reference has a map of the Montgomery Country Agricultural Reserve; the Poolesville town limits are delineated by the white area inside the light green Agricultural Reserve portion of the map in western Montgomery County.</ref> and is considered a distant bedroom community for commuters to [[Washington, D.C.]]

The name of the town comes from the brothers John Poole Sr. and Joseph Poole Sr. who owned land and slaves in what is now Poolesville.  Due to an historical anomaly, until 2010 the legal name of the town was "The Commissioners of Poolesville".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Rande |date=2010-09-24 |title=Poolesville Commissioners Seek to Change Name of Town |url=https://monocacymonocle.com/images/issues_2010/MM_2010-09-24.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102221052/https://monocacymonocle.com/images/issues_2010/MM_2010-09-24.pdf |archive-date=2021-11-02 |work=The Monocacy Monocle |pages=1}}</ref>  Residents overwhelmingly voted to formally change the name to "The Town of Poolesville" in the November 2010 general election.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Rande |date=2010-11-19 |title=Stump and Brown Sworn in as Commissioners |url=https://www.monocacymonocle.com/images/issues_2010/MM_2010-11-19.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102221127/https://monocacymonocle.com/images/issues_2010/MM_2010-11-19.pdf |archive-date=2021-11-02 |work=The Monocacy Monocle}}</ref>

==History==
In 1760, brothers John Poole Sr. and Joseph Poole Sr. purchased {{convert|160|acre|km2 sqmi}} in the area that is now Poolesville. Thirty-three years later, John Poole Jr. used a {{convert|15|acre|km2}} tract that he inherited from his father to build a log store and subdivided the tract, selling portions to a number of other merchants. The settlement grew from there and was incorporated in 1867.<ref>{{cite web | title = A Brief History of Poolesville | publisher = Town of Poolesville - Charles W. Elgin Sr. | url = http://www.ci.poolesville.md.us/history/brief.html | access-date = July 14, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070622114610/http://ci.poolesville.md.us/history/brief.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = June 22, 2007}}</ref>

During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], Union military leaders realized that the shallow fords of the [[Potomac River]] posed a threat to the [[Washington, D.C.|capital city]]. At certain times of the year, the Potomac River is shallow enough to cross and thus thousands of troops were moved to both [[Darnestown, Maryland|Darnestown]] and Poolesville. The Corps of Observation was established just outside Poolesville and soldiers were stationed near the river to monitor potential [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] incursions into Maryland. During the winter of 1861–1862, it is estimated that 20,000 Union troops were stationed in or around the town. There were no battles fought in Poolesville; however, the infamous [[Battle of Ball's Bluff]] was fought nearby on October 21, 1861. Hundreds of Union soldiers who were stationed in Poolesville were killed in this battle that was badly managed by inexperienced Union generals.<ref>{{cite book|last=Morgan|first=James A. III|title=A Little Short of Boats: The Battle of Ball's Bluff and Edwards Ferry, October 21-22, 1861|year=2011|publisher=Savas Beatie|location=El Dorado Hills, CA|isbn=978-1-61121-066-8}}</ref>

There were several Confederate raids into the town during the war, and the Confederate Army invaded Maryland by crossing the Potomac near Poolesville in 1862 and 1864. The old Poolesville Methodist Church cemetery contains the remains of approximately twenty soldiers who either were killed in action at Ball's Bluff or who died of illness while in camp.<ref>''A Little Short of Boats: The Fights at Ball's Bluff and Edwards Ferry, October 21–22, 1861. A History and Tour Guide'' {{ISBN|978-0-961-84940-5}} p. 63</ref>

The [[Seneca, Maryland|Seneca Schoolhouse]], a small one-room schoolhouse of red sandstone, was built in Poolesville in 1866 to educate the children of the stone cutters who worked at the [[Seneca Quarry]]. Operating as the Seneca Schoolhouse Museum, it provides tours to schoolchildren so that they can experience a typical school day as it would have been on March 13, 1880.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Kids Live History At One-Room Seneca Schoolhouse In Maryland|url = http://wamu.org/programs/metro_connection/15/03/20/kids_live_history_at_one_room_seneca_schoolhouse_in_maryland|website = WAMU 88.5|access-date = October 12, 2015|date = March 20, 2015|last = Sheir|first = Rebecca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Seneca Schoolhouse|url = http://www.historicmedley.org/visit/seneca-schoolhouse/|website = Historic Medley District, Preserving the Historic Heritage of Western Montgomery County, Maryland|access-date = October 12, 2015}}</ref>

The [[Kunzang Palyul Choling]] Buddhist temple opened in Poolesville in 1985.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Donors save Poolesville Buddhist temple|url = http://www.gazette.net/stories/06092010/poolnew190921_32552.php|website = Gazette.net, Maryland Newspapers Online|access-date = October 12, 2015|last = Tierney|first = Meghan|date = June 9, 2010}}</ref>

The [[Poolesville Historic District]] was listed in 1975 on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref>

In December 2020, [[White's Ferry]], a ferry service west of the town across the Potomac River that a number of citizens have depended on for their livelihoods, ceased service due to a legal conflict between the ferry and [[Rockland (Leesburg, Virginia)|Rockland Farm]] over ownership of land on the banks of the river.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 28, 2020 |title=Historic White's Ferry, the last remaining ferry across Potomac River, shuts down service |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/whites-ferry-announces-end-to-service-between-md-va |access-date=December 28, 2020 |work=WJLA}}</ref> As of April 2024, the ferry has not yet reopened due to the legal conflict, though the owners have offered to donate the ferry to the Montgomery County government.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-04-17 |title=Owners offer to donate White's Ferry to Montgomery County in hopes of restarting operations |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/owners-offer-to-donate-whites-ferry-to-montgomery-county-in-hopes-of-restarting-operations/3594262/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417065331/https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/owners-offer-to-donate-whites-ferry-to-montgomery-county-in-hopes-of-restarting-operations/3594262/ |archive-date=2024-04-17 |access-date=2024-06-01 |work=NBC Washington}}</ref>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|3.95|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|3.93|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.02|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220065340/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=February 20, 2011}}</ref>

Poolesville lies off Montgomery County's main axis of suburban development along the [[Interstate 270 (Maryland)|Interstate 270]] and [[Maryland State Route 355]] corridor, separated from the contiguous Maryland suburbs of Washington by the rural lands of the county [[Montgomery County, Maryland Agricultural Reserve|agricultural reserve]], where new housing and commercial starts are restricted.

==Government==
Poolesville is governed by five commissioners elected in staggered 4-year terms. Commissioners are not paid. The commissioners elect among themselves a president (known informally as "the mayor") and vice president. A Town Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the town. Six Boards and Commissions assist the commissioners: the Planning Commission, Parks Board, Board of Elections, Sign Review Board, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Ethics Commission.<ref>{{cite web | title = Government of Poolesville - General Information | publisher = Town of Poolesville | url = http://www.ci.poolesville.md.us/government/logovinfo.html | access-date = July 14, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070721033853/http://www.ci.poolesville.md.us/government/logovinfo.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = July 21, 2007}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 236
|1910= 174
|1920= 325
|1930= 197
|1940= 204
|1950= 161
|1960= 298
|1970= 349
|1980= 3428
|1990= 3796
|2000= 5151
|2010= 4883
|2020= 5742
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br />2010–2020<ref name="QuickFacts"/>
}}

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 5,151 people, 1,601 households, and 1,402 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,333.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,630 housing units at an average density of {{convert|422.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town in 2000 was 93.57% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.85% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.49% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.09% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.4% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.28% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.68% of the population.

There were 1,601 households, out of which 56.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.4% were non-families. 9.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.22 and the average family size was 3.44.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 35.0% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 3.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $85,092, and the median income for a family was $88,916. Males had a median income of $60,596 versus $42,051 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $30,211. About 2.5% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 25, 2013}}</ref> of 2010, there were 4,883 people, 1,602 households, and 1,348 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1242.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,663 housing units at an average density of {{convert|423.2|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 88.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.5% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.5% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 7.0% of the population.

There were 1,602 households, of which 45.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 15.9% were non-families. 12.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.30.

The median age in the town was 41.5 years. 27.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 19.2% were from 25 to 44; 38.4% were from 45 to 64; and 6.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

==Education==
Poolesville is served by [[Montgomery County Public Schools (Maryland)|Montgomery County Public Schools]].  Three schools are located in Poolesville: [[Poolesville High School]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/poolesvillehs/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311012433/http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/poolesvillehs/index.html|archive-date=March 11, 2007|title=..:: Poolesville High School ::.. Home of the Falcons|date=March 11, 2007|access-date=April 9, 2020}}</ref> [[John Poole Middle School]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/poolems/|title=Poole Middle School|website=www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org|access-date=April 9, 2020}}</ref> and Poolesville Elementary School.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/poolesvillees/|title=Poolesville ES|website=www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org|access-date=April 9, 2020}}</ref> Monacacy Elementary School<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/monocacyes/|title=Monocacy ES|website=www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org|access-date=April 9, 2020}}</ref> in [[Dickerson, Maryland|Dickerson]] also feeds into John Poole MS.

==Transportation==
[[File:2020-06-24 15 48 34 View east along Maryland State Route 107 (Fisher Avenue) at Maryland State Route 109 (Elgin Road) in Poolesville, Montgomery County, Maryland.jpg|thumb|right|MD 107 eastbound in Poolesville]]
Two state highways serve Poolesville. [[Maryland Route 107]] extends southeast from the center of town, joining [[Maryland Route 28]] on its way to [[Rockville, Maryland|Rockville]]. [[Maryland Route 109]] proceeds northeast from the center of town, intersecting MD 28 on its way to [[Interstate 270 (Maryland)|Interstate 270]] in [[Hyattstown, Maryland|Hyattstown]].

==Notable people==
* [[Tony Lo Bianco]], Actor
* [[Thomas Plater]], U.S. Congressman for [[United States House of Representatives, Maryland District 3|Maryland's 3rd District]], 1801–1805, died in Poolesville.<ref>{{cite web|title=PLATER, Thomas, (1769 - 1830) - Biographical Information|publisher=[[United States Congress]]|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000378|access-date=July 14, 2007}}</ref>
* [[Ann Ritonia]], [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal]] bishop and former Rector of St. Peter's Parish, now serving as Bishop Suffragan for [[Episcopal Diocese of the Armed Services and Federal Ministries|Armed Services and Federal Ministries]].
* [[Elijah V. White]], (1832–1907) Confederate commander of the 35th Battalion of Virginia Cavalry (White's Commanches) during the American Civil War. White was born in the area of Poolesville.
* [[Edward Pinkney Wroth]], (1889–1946), former Rector of St. Peter's Parish, third bishop of the [[Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania]].

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Poolesville, Maryland}}
* {{official website|http://www.poolesvillemd.gov/}}

{{Montgomery County, Maryland}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1760 establishments in Maryland]]
[[Category:1760 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies]]
[[Category:1867 establishments in Maryland]]
[[Category:Towns in Montgomery County, Maryland]]
[[Category:Towns in Maryland]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1760]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1867]]