Bethesda
Bethesda Information
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Bethesda is an urbanized, but unincorporated, area in Montgomery County, Maryland, near Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a church located there, the Bethesda Presbyterian Church, built in 1820 and rebuilt in 1850, which in turn took its name from the the Bible (Aramaic, beth hesda, meaning “house of mercy”.
As an unincorporated area, Bethesda has no official boundaries. The United States Census Bureau defines a Census-Designated Place named Bethesda whose center is located at 38 59′ North, 7 77′ West. The United States Geological Survey has defined Bethesda as an area whose center is slightly different from the Census Bureau’s definition. Other definitions are used by the Bethesda Urban Planning District, the United States Postal Service, and other organizations. As of 2000, the Census-defined community had a total population of 55,277.
The area commonly known as “downtown Bethesda” is centered at the intersection of Wisconsin with Maryland Route 187, Old Georgetown Road, and Maryland Route 410, East-West Highway. Much of the dense construction in that area followed the opening of the Bethesda station on the Red Line of the Washington Metro, also located at this intersection and the centerpiece of the Bethesda Metro Center development. The “downtown,” which includes the restaurant districts of Bethesda Row and Woodmont Triangle, lies about 0.7 miles south of Bethesda’s other Red Line stop, Medical Center, which serves the NIH and Bethesda Naval Hospital. Bethesda Row and Woodmont Triangle are under heavy development, including several luxury condominiums, restaurants, and businesses.
The outer rim of Bethesda is known for older houses that still hold a strong value in today’s residential market. Even with the great “bubble burst” this in 2006, Bethesda real estate seems to be holding strong. As of November 2, 2006 399 homes are for sale in Bethesda alone for an average price of $994,900, a price change up from October +7.6%.