Mount Rainier, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Mount Rainier is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland
, United States
. The population was 8,498 at the 2000 census. Bordering Washington, DC, Mount Rainier got its start as a streetcar suburb
. (See Washington streetcars
.) According to local tradition, surveyors from the Pacific Northwest
named the town, giving the streets names such as "Shasta" and "Cascade". Historic U.S. 1
runs through the center of the town and serves as the main street and central business district. http://www.mountrainiermd.org/history/
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.7 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 8,498 people, 3,487 households, and 1,858 families residing in the city. The population density
was 13,038.5 people per square mile (5,047.8/km²). There were 3,756 housing units at an average density of 5,762.8 per square mile (2,231.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 20.20% White, 62.06% African American, 0.33% Native American, 2.31% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 10.65% from other races
, and 4.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.30% of the population.
There were 3,487 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.6% were married couples
living together, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.7% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 37.2% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,920, and the median income for a family was $39,060. Males had a median income of $30,500 versus $27,441 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,558. About 9.3% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.
Mount Rainier has attracted a significant gay and lesbian population. In 2000, same-sex couples accounted for 1.0 percent of households, almost double the national average.
and community activist. The city council is made up of William Updike, Jimmy Tarlau, Ivy R. Thompson, and Brent Bolin. The city manager is Jeannelle B. Wallace.
system.
Schools that serve Mount Rainier include:
through several lines along US 1 and Maryland Route 500 (Queens Chapel Road). Additional bus service is provided by the Prince George's County Department of Public Works & Transportation (DPW&T) The Bus, which also has several lines along the smaller roads.
In 1899, the streetcar lines were extended from Washington D.C. through Hyattsville, Maryland. The Mount Rainier stop was located at the intersection of what is now known as Rhode Island Ave and 34th St. It was called the District Line Station. With the stop at Mount Rainer, it was easier to attract developers and prospective buyers because now the city offered easy access to get into and out of the Washington D.C.
Houses started to be built near the District Line Station after 1902. The homes on Mount Rainier were considered affordable, ranging from $2000 to $5000.
The business district aggregated around the streetcar station. In addition to the station, there were shops, grocery stores, a barber shop, laundry, and dry good stores. The first post office was established in 1904.
In January 1912, the Mount Rainer volunteer fire department was created. The fire department was first located in a frame building and later moved to a brick structure located on 34th at Shepherd St.
In 1913, the Women's Civic League of Mount Rainier formed. In 1923, the first public school of Mount Rainier was constructed. And in the same year the town hired its first paid police officer because of its growing population.
In 1929, the town acquired 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of land and in the following year the Mount Rainier High School opened there.
In 1939, a new terminal was built at 34th St and Rhode Island Ave. because of a change in streetcar services.
In the 1940s, Kaywood Garden apartments were constructed along Eastern Ave., raising the population of Mount Rainer.
In 1952, a library was built. In 1956, a privately operated community pool opened. In 1958, streetcar services stopped and was replaced by bus service.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the population of the city declined.
Today, a large area of Mount Rainier is considered an historic district by the National Register of Historic Places.
In the present day Mount Rainier still has many of the charms and attractive features that it had in the early 1900s. The metro stations at Rhode Island and West Hyattsville and the sense of community are important factors that draw residents to Mount Rainier.
There is a lively arts district in the town, which has made a point to provide affordable housing for artists and to showcase their work. Mount Rainier Day, held in May, is one day in which the entire community opens its doors to the public. The town has become a haven for freelance workers in the world of theater, including scenic designers, artistic directors, lighting designers, and stage directors, several of whom have received the highest DC theater honor, the Helen Hayes Award
. Mount Rainier is also home to the alternative folk music duo Emma's Revolution.
A vegetarian, organic food cooperative, Glut, has existed since the 1960s and draws people from all over the area.
According to some in 1949 at 33rd St and Bunker Hill Rd in Mount Rainier lived a child (see Robbie Mannheim) who allegedly became possessed by the devil
. A local priest Edward Hughes took part in the exorcism
. This incident became the basis for the movie The Exorcist
. Local citizens have no recollection of this child being a resident of Mount Rainier, and a journalist eventually traced the youth to nearby Cottage City, Maryland
.
There are a number of geological issues in the town, including springs that run underground.
The famous science fiction author Andre Norton
once owned a bookstore here.
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 8,498 at the 2000 census. Bordering Washington, DC, Mount Rainier got its start as a streetcar suburb
Streetcar suburb
A streetcar suburb is a residential community whose growth and development was strongly shaped by the use of streetcar lines as a primary means of transportation. Early suburbs were served by horsecars, but by the late 19th century cable cars and electric streetcars, or trams, were used, allowing...
. (See Washington streetcars
Washington streetcars
For just under 100 years, between 1862 and 1962, streetcars in Washington, D.C. transported people across the city and region.The first streetcars in Washington D.C...
.) According to local tradition, surveyors from the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
named the town, giving the streets names such as "Shasta" and "Cascade". Historic U.S. 1
U.S. Route 1 in Maryland
U.S. Route 1 is the easternmost and longest of the major north–south routes of the United States Numbered Highway System, running from Key West, Florida to Fort Kent, Maine. In the U.S...
runs through the center of the town and serves as the main street and central business district. http://www.mountrainiermd.org/history/
Bordering areas
- BrentwoodBrentwood, MarylandBrentwood is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,844 at the 2000 census. Brentwood is less than away from Washington, DC...
(to the East) - Cottage CityCottage City, MarylandCottage City is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,136 at the 2000 census. Cottage City is a small, quiet community lying between Eastern Avenue , Brentwood, Colmar Manor, and the Anacostia River...
(to the Southeast) - Colmar ManorColmar Manor, MarylandColmar Manor is a town located in Prince George's County, Maryland. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,257. As the town developed at the beginning of the 20th century, it assumed a name derived from its proximity to the District of Columbia—the first syllable of Columbia...
(to the Southeast) - HyattsvilleHyattsville, MarylandHyattsville is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 17,557 at the 2000 census.- History :The city was named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt. He purchased his first parcel of land in the area in March 1845...
(to the Northeast) - Washington, DC (to the Southwest)
Geography
Mount Rainier is located at 38°56′30"N 76°57′49"W (38.941594, -76.963696).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.7 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 8,498 people, 3,487 households, and 1,858 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 13,038.5 people per square mile (5,047.8/km²). There were 3,756 housing units at an average density of 5,762.8 per square mile (2,231.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 20.20% White, 62.06% African American, 0.33% Native American, 2.31% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 10.65% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.30% of the population.
There were 3,487 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.7% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 37.2% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,920, and the median income for a family was $39,060. Males had a median income of $30,500 versus $27,441 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,558. About 9.3% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.
Mount Rainier has attracted a significant gay and lesbian population. In 2000, same-sex couples accounted for 1.0 percent of households, almost double the national average.
Government
The mayor is Malinda Miles (D), a retired employee of the National Education AssociationNational Education Association
The National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become...
and community activist. The city council is made up of William Updike, Jimmy Tarlau, Ivy R. Thompson, and Brent Bolin. The city manager is Jeannelle B. Wallace.
Education
Mount Rainier is a part of the Prince George's County Public SchoolsPrince George's County Public Schools
The Prince George's County Public Schools system is a large school district administered by the government of Prince George's County, Maryland, United States and is overseen by the Maryland State Department of Education...
system.
Schools that serve Mount Rainier include:
- Mount Rainier Elementary School
- Thomas Stone Elementary School
- Hyattsville Middle School (in the city of HyattsvilleHyattsville, MarylandHyattsville is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 17,557 at the 2000 census.- History :The city was named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt. He purchased his first parcel of land in the area in March 1845...
) - Northwestern High SchoolNorthwestern High School (Hyattsville, Maryland)Northwestern High School , established in 1951, is a public comprehensive secondary school located in Hyattsville, Maryland in Prince George's County, less than a mile from the internationally known University of Maryland, College Park. It is part of the Prince George's County Public Schools system...
Transportation
Bus service in the city is operated by the WMATA MetrobusMetrobus
Metrobus may refer to:* MCW Metrobus, a bus model manufactured by MCW in the 1970s and 1980s* Metrobus a bus operator in south-east England* M-é-t-r-o-b-u-s, the bus and metro operator Tramway de Rouen in Rouen, France...
through several lines along US 1 and Maryland Route 500 (Queens Chapel Road). Additional bus service is provided by the Prince George's County Department of Public Works & Transportation (DPW&T) The Bus, which also has several lines along the smaller roads.
Major highways
-
U.S. 1U.S. Route 1 in MarylandU.S. Route 1 is the easternmost and longest of the major north–south routes of the United States Numbered Highway System, running from Key West, Florida to Fort Kent, Maine. In the U.S...
is a major north-south roadway running through Mount Rainier, serving as the main street in the downtown area. It is a major route to HyattsvilleHyattsville, MarylandHyattsville is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 17,557 at the 2000 census.- History :The city was named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt. He purchased his first parcel of land in the area in March 1845...
and College ParkCollege Park, MarylandCollege Park is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, USA. The population was 30,413 at the 2010 census. It is best known as the home of the University of Maryland, College Park, and since 1994 the city has also been home to the "Archives II" facility of the U.S...
to the north and Washington, DC to the south.
History of Mount Rainier
In 1891, the City of Mount Rainier was named by a group of developers after the famous mountain in the state of Washington.In 1899, the streetcar lines were extended from Washington D.C. through Hyattsville, Maryland. The Mount Rainier stop was located at the intersection of what is now known as Rhode Island Ave and 34th St. It was called the District Line Station. With the stop at Mount Rainer, it was easier to attract developers and prospective buyers because now the city offered easy access to get into and out of the Washington D.C.
Houses started to be built near the District Line Station after 1902. The homes on Mount Rainier were considered affordable, ranging from $2000 to $5000.
The business district aggregated around the streetcar station. In addition to the station, there were shops, grocery stores, a barber shop, laundry, and dry good stores. The first post office was established in 1904.
In January 1912, the Mount Rainer volunteer fire department was created. The fire department was first located in a frame building and later moved to a brick structure located on 34th at Shepherd St.
In 1913, the Women's Civic League of Mount Rainier formed. In 1923, the first public school of Mount Rainier was constructed. And in the same year the town hired its first paid police officer because of its growing population.
In 1929, the town acquired 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of land and in the following year the Mount Rainier High School opened there.
In 1939, a new terminal was built at 34th St and Rhode Island Ave. because of a change in streetcar services.
In the 1940s, Kaywood Garden apartments were constructed along Eastern Ave., raising the population of Mount Rainer.
In 1952, a library was built. In 1956, a privately operated community pool opened. In 1958, streetcar services stopped and was replaced by bus service.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the population of the city declined.
Today, a large area of Mount Rainier is considered an historic district by the National Register of Historic Places.
In the present day Mount Rainier still has many of the charms and attractive features that it had in the early 1900s. The metro stations at Rhode Island and West Hyattsville and the sense of community are important factors that draw residents to Mount Rainier.
Points of interest
Mount Rainier has been listed as an historic area, due to its history not only as a primary streetcar suburb of Washington DC, but also due to the vast number of Sears houses and Craftsman-style homes, many of which have been restored.There is a lively arts district in the town, which has made a point to provide affordable housing for artists and to showcase their work. Mount Rainier Day, held in May, is one day in which the entire community opens its doors to the public. The town has become a haven for freelance workers in the world of theater, including scenic designers, artistic directors, lighting designers, and stage directors, several of whom have received the highest DC theater honor, the Helen Hayes Award
Helen Hayes Award
A Helen Hayes Award is a theater award named for the famed actress Helen Hayes to recognize excellence in professional theater in the Washington, D.C. area since 1983. The awards are managed by Linda Levy Grossman. and presented by the Washington Theatre Awards Society.-Awards:The Helen Hayes...
. Mount Rainier is also home to the alternative folk music duo Emma's Revolution.
A vegetarian, organic food cooperative, Glut, has existed since the 1960s and draws people from all over the area.
According to some in 1949 at 33rd St and Bunker Hill Rd in Mount Rainier lived a child (see Robbie Mannheim) who allegedly became possessed by the devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
. A local priest Edward Hughes took part in the exorcism
Exorcism
Exorcism is the religious practice of evicting demons or other spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed...
. This incident became the basis for the movie The Exorcist
The Exorcist (film)
The Exorcist is a 1973 American horror film directed by William Friedkin, adapted from the 1971 novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty and based on the exorcism case of Robbie Mannheim, dealing with the demonic possession of a young girl and her mother’s desperate attempts to win back her...
. Local citizens have no recollection of this child being a resident of Mount Rainier, and a journalist eventually traced the youth to nearby Cottage City, Maryland
Cottage City, Maryland
Cottage City is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,136 at the 2000 census. Cottage City is a small, quiet community lying between Eastern Avenue , Brentwood, Colmar Manor, and the Anacostia River...
.
There are a number of geological issues in the town, including springs that run underground.
The famous science fiction author Andre Norton
Andre Norton
Andre Alice Norton, née Alice Mary Norton was an American science fiction and fantasy author under the noms de plume Andre Norton, Andrew North and Allen Weston...
once owned a bookstore here.
Notable residents
- Andre NortonAndre NortonAndre Alice Norton, née Alice Mary Norton was an American science fiction and fantasy author under the noms de plume Andre Norton, Andrew North and Allen Weston...
, science fiction author - Alexandra MortonAlexandra MortonAlexandra Bryant Hubbard Morton is a Canadian American marine biologist best known for her 30-year study of wild killer whales in the Broughton Archipelago in British Columbia...
, Miss Black America Baltimore 2011