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In the late 1800s, real estate developer Benjamin Franklin Gilbert wanted an alternative to the malaria-polluted air and dirty water of Washington, D.C. He looked north, purchasing 100 acres straddling the Maryland–Washington, D.C., border.

Marketing what he called the "Sylvan Suburb," Gilbert named his 1883 purchase Takoma, an Indian name meaning "high up, near heaven," later adding Park to emphasize the bucolic atmosphere.

Takoma Park incorporated in 1890, and not long after, the Seventh-day Adventist Church moved its world headquarters to the town. In the coming decades, Adventist missionaries spread Takoma Park's name around the world.

The cultural upheaval of the 1960s brought another flood of residents as groups of artists and musicians settled there. Once again, Takoma Park's name spread, this time for progressive social policies and a mayor who lay in front of a bulldozer to stop an interstate highway.

Today, Takoma Park is a diverse "Main Street Maryland" community of nearly 18,000 people. In 2003, Utne magazine cited the city as "probably the leftiest 'burb anywhere," a badge of honor for many city residents.

Local government
Takoma Park City Council
7500 Maple Ave.
Takoma Park, MD 20912
301-891-7100
Fax: 301-270-8794
www.takomaparkmd.gov
Meets Monday evenings at the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave.
City Manager: Barbara Burns Matthews
301-891-7268
barbaram@takomagov.org
Assistant City Manager: Suzanne Ludlow
SuzanneL@takomagov.org
City Clerk: Jessie Carpenter
JessieC@takomagov.org

Takoma Park Police
7500 Maple Ave.
Takoma Park, MD 20912
301-270-1100
www.takomaparkmd.gov/police

Chief Ronald A. Ricucci
RonaldR@takomagov.org

Local officials
Mayor: Bruce Williams
240-676-6234
BruceW@takomagov.org

Council members
Ward 1: Josh Wright
301-312-2717
JoshW@takomagov.org
Ward 2: Colleen Clay
301-270-6888
ColleenC@takomagov.org
Ward 3: Dan Robinson
301-908-3504
Dan.Robinson@homeintakoma.com
Ward 4: Terry Seamens
301-565-0190
TerryS@takomagov.org
Ward 5: Reuben Snipper
301-585-4103
ReubenS@takomagov.org
Ward 6: Doug Barry
301-439-2140
DougB@takomagov.org

Local organizations
Historic Takoma
Activities include an annual home and garden tour each spring.
301-270-2831
www.historictakoma.org

Institute of Musical Traditions
P.O. Box 5930
Takoma Park, MD 20913
301-754-3611
imtfolk.org
Non-profit corporation preserves and promotes folk cultures.

Takoma Park Film Festival
Featuring films from members of the greater Takoma Park area.
www.takomaparkfilmfestival.org

Takoma Park Folk Festival
The festival is a Takoma Park institution. This year's event is Sept. 14.
301-589-0202
www.tpff.org

Takoma Park Street Festival
Arts and crafts, live music and local food line Carroll Avenue in Old Town. This year's festival is Oct. 5.
240-253-4229.
www.takomafestival.com

Taste of Takoma
Held each spring at Columbia Union College, 7600 Flower Ave.
301-891-4516

Takoma Park Lions Club
P.O. Box 11226, Takoma Park, MD 20912
202-438-1686
Meets third Tuesdays of the month

Local schools
The city is served by the Downcounty Consortium and two area colleges: Columbia Union College, a private four-year school, and Montgomery College's Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus, a two-year public institution. There are other private schools within the city limits. For a full list of schools, see page 30.

Police
The area is served by the Takoma Park Police. For a full list of police departments, see page 11.

Fire services
The city is served by the Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department. For a full list of stations, see page 20.

Libraries
The Takoma Park Maryland Library is located at 101 Philadelphia Ave.
Phone: 301-891-7259
www.takomapark.info/library
In addition to the Takoma Park library, there is a county public library system with branches in Long Branch and Silver Spring. For a full list of libraries, see page 22.

Business
Takoma Park does not have its own chamber of commerce, but features two area business organizations. For a full list of county chambers of commerce, see page 14.

Takoma/Langley Crossroads Development Authority
Erwin H. Mack,
executive director
7676 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 118/Mailbox 142
Takoma Park, MD 20912
301-445-7910, taklangcda@aol.com
Group meets monthly.

Old Takoma Business Association
Roz Grigsby, executive director
240-253-4229
www.takomaonline.com