Silver Spring

Silver Spring is a settlement in Montgomery County, Maryland, covering roughly 7.92 square miles (20.5 square kilometers) and bordering Washington, D.C. Residential neighborhoods surround a smaller commercial center where offices, shops and restaurants line several main roads.

A landowner named Francis Preston Blair purchased land around a spring with glittering mica in 1840 and began developing lots. The community grew rapidly during the 20th century as metro and rail lines made access to Washington easier.

The name comes from a glittering spring that early settlers found at this spot, giving the area its recognizable identity. Today people from dozens of countries live here, and you hear Spanish, Amharic and other languages alongside English on the streets.

The Silver Spring metro station offers direct connections into the capital, while several bus lines and the MARC commuter train provide additional options. The center is easy to walk around, with many shops and restaurants just a few minutes on foot from the stations.

Four parks with wooded valleys and streams cut through the settlement, creating green corridors that reach into the downtown area. Rock Creek eventually flows into the Potomac River, forming a continuous natural route.

Location: Montgomery County

Inception: 1887

Elevation above the sea: 104 m

Shares border with: Takoma Park, Forest Glen, Washington, D.C., Northwest, Langley Park

GPS coordinates: 39.00244,-77.02079

Latest update: December 15, 2025 03:08