Travilah, Maryland

Travilah is a United States census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland. It is located along the north side of the Potomac River, and surrounded by the communities of Potomac, North Potomac, and Darnestown—all census-designated places. It had a population of 11,985 as of the 2020 census.

Within the Travilah census-designated place at the intersection of what are now Travilah Road and Glen Road, the small rural community of Travilah existed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The community had its own post office, general store, school, town hall, church, and a few homes. The crossroads was popular with area farmers because it was close to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O Canal) and at least two mills. The name Travilah comes from Travilah Clagett, who was the community's first postmaster in 1883.

In 2000, the United States Census Bureau began recognizing the area around the original Travilah crossroads community as a census designated place. Much of the area consists of large homes on large tracts of land with numerous parks and nature preserves mixed in. The community is within driving-distance of Washington, D.C., and the I-270 Technology Corridor. Travilah has a median household income of about $235,000.

Geography

thumb|right|Travilah CDP|alt=map of Travilah CDP

As an unincorporated area, Travilah's boundaries are not officially defined. However, the United States Census Bureau began recognizing a Travilah census-designated place (Travilah CDP) in the 2000 Census when the new Travilah CDP was created using portions of the Potomac and North Potomac CDPs. According to the state of Maryland, "The boundaries for CDPs often are defined in partnership with state, local, and/or tribal officials and usually coincide with visible features or the boundary of an adjacent incorporated place or another legal entity." The boundaries of the Travilah CDP are currently those used in the 2010 Census. The Travilah CDP is surrounded by the Darnestown CDP, the North Potomac CDP, the city of Rockville, the Potomac CDP, and the Potomac River—and the old crossroads community of Travilah is located in the west central portion of the CDP. The 2010 Census shows a total population of 12,159 in 3,950 housing units on a land area of and total area of . Using 2010 Census Data, Travilah has a GIS ID of 303 and a FID of 302. The State FIPS code is 24 and the Place FIPS is 78650. The ANSI Code for Travilah is 02390400 and the Place Identifier is 2478650.

The United States Geological Survey lists six features in Montgomery County with Travilah in all or part of their name. The Travilah Census Designated Place has an ID of 2390400 and an elevation of 233 feet. It has a latitude of 390325N and a longitude of 0771445W—a location of . The feature named Travilah, different from the Travilah Census Designated Place, is a populated place and has an elevation of 358 with a latitude of 390457N and a longitude of 0771547W. Other features listed are Travilah Acres, Travilah Elementary School, Travilah Meadows, and Travilah Square Shopping Center.

The three ZIP Codes for the Travilah CDP are 20854 (Potomac), 20878 (Gaithersburg/North Potomac), and 20850 (Rockville). A large portion of the territory uses the Potomac ZIP code, but the northern portion uses the Rockville and Gaithersburg codes. As an example, Greenbrier Park and Pennyfield Lock have Potomac ZIP Codes of 20854 and are in the Travilah CDP.

Rivers and streams

thumb|right|Potomac River at [[Swains Lock|alt=picture of a creek]]Because the state of Maryland controls the Potomac River, the Travilah CDP includes portions of the Potomac River in addition to the C&O Canal. Several streams flow through Travilah and into the Potomac River. On the west edge of the CDP, the Muddy Branch flows to the Potomac and forms the western border for the Travilah CDP. The Piney Branch flows on the east edge of the CDP forming part of the eastern border.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, the region close to North Potomac has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. There are four distinct seasons, with winters being cold with moderate snowfall, while summers can be warm and humid. July is the warmest month, while January is the coldest. Average monthly precipitation ranges from about . The highest recorded temperature was and the lowest recorded temperature was . There is a 50 percent probability that the first frost of the season will occur by October 21, and a 50 percent probability that the final frost will occur by April 16.

Much of Travilah's wealth has been attributed to "high-paying government and contracting jobs in and around the nation's capital". The Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative, and Waste Management Services category accounts for about 25 percent of employees, while the Educational Services, and Healthcare and Social Assistance category accounts for about 21 percent of employees. Public Administration accounts for an additional 12 percent; and Finance and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing accounts for 11 percent. North Potomac and Rockville also have shopping and other businesses. Based on 2012 Census data, total healthcare and social assistance receipts for the Travilah CDP totaled to $15.6 million, and accommodation and food service sales totaled to $11.6 million. Total merchant wholesaler sales were $10.4 million, and total retail sales were $8.9 million. Interstate 370 and the Intercounty Connector are major east–west highways that connect to Interstate 95.

Public transportation

Portions of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's (a.k.a. "Metro" or "Metrorail") subway system are located in Montgomery County, and Red Line stations on the west side of the county are closest to Travilah. Among those west side Metro stations are Shady Grove (Gaithersburg), Rockville, Twinbrook (south Rockville), North Bethesda, and Grosvenor-Strathmore (North Bethesda). Montgomery County's Ride-On bus route 301 runs from Tobytown Drive (Travilah CDP near River Road) to the Rockville Metro station, and has stops along its route at the intersection of Travilah and Glen Roads (Potomac Oak Shopping Center) through the west side of Travilah. This route also has a stop at the Shady Grove Hospital.

Education

thumb|right|Travilah Elementary|alt=elementary school buildingTravilah is served by Montgomery County Public Schools. Depending on the location in the Travilah CDP, public high school students attend Winston Churchill, Thomas S. Wootton, or Northwest. Churchill High School has been ranked as the top school in Maryland and one of the top 500 in the nation. For Travilah Residents that attend Churchill (which has a Potomac address) Herbert Hoover Middle School feeds into that school, and Potomac or Wayside Elementary feed into Hoover. Wootton High School has a Rockville address. Area residents have cited the Wootton school cluster as a factor in their home buying decision. In 2019, U.S. News & World Report ranked Wootton High School 2nd highest in Maryland and 125th in the nation. For most Travilah residents that will attend Wootton, Robert Frost Middle School feeds into Wootton, and Travilah Elementary School feeds into Frost. A small area in the Travilah CDP that is in the Wootton district attends Stone Mill Elementary and Cabin John Middle School. Travilah residents that live in the extreme southwest portion of the CDP start at Darnestown Elementary School, then go to Lakelands Park Middle School and Northwest High School. Northwest High School is a "county powerhouse" in football, winning state championships in 2013 and 2014. Bullis is a private school located in Potomac on Falls Road that serves elementary, middle, and high school students. Other private school options are available in Rockville, Bethesda, and North Bethesda.

Higher education

thumb|right|The Universities at Shady Grove|alt=tall school buildingTravilah residents have higher education opportunities in nearby Rockville plus larger universities such as Georgetown University, American University, George Washington University, Catholic University, University of Maryland, and others located farther away. The Universities at Shady Grove is located close to the Travilah CDP and uses a Rockville address. It offers select degree programs from nine public Maryland universities. This unique partnership with University System of Maryland universities enables 80 upper-level undergraduate, graduate degree and certificate programs to be made available to about 3,000 students. Johns Hopkins University has a campus in Rockville located close to the Universities at Shady Grove. Montgomery College has a campus in Rockville and a training center in Gaithersburg. Three Montgomery College campuses and online classes serve about 54,000 students who can earn an associate degree or advance their education.

Public library

Potomac Library, constructed in 1985 by the county as part of the Montgomery County Public Library system, is located in Potomac near the southeast portion of the Travilah CDP. Two more nearby libraries are also in the county library system. The Quince Orchard Library is located on Quince Orchard Road in North Potomac, and Rockville Memorial Library is located two blocks from the Rockville Metro station. The Quince Orchard Library began operations around 2000, while the Rockville library began in 1951. Priddy Library is part of the University of Maryland Libraries system and is located at the Universities at Shady Grove in North Potomac. The Priddy Library opened in 2007 and is available to the public.

History

thumb|right|DuFief Mill, Travilah crossroads, C&O Canal|alt=map showing proximity of Dufief Mill, Travilah crossroads, and C&O Canalthumb|right|150-year-old house at Travilah|alt=big white houseThe Travilah community has a long history that dates back to the 1800s at a crossroads at what is now Travilah Road and Glen Road. A small unnamed agricultural community grew at this intersection in the mid-1800s because it was less than from the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (a.k.a. C&O Canal). The intersecting roads also led to mills that were located within a few miles of the intersection, and many of the area farms produced the wheat used by the mills to make flour.

The community had a general store in 1882 that may have existed as early as the 1840s. In 1883, the unnamed community was assigned a Post Office. Travilah Clagett was the first postmaster, and the United States Post Office used the name Travilah to identify the unnamed location. The Clagetts were prominent land owners in this portion of Montgomery County. A town hall was built in 1910, and the building still exists today although it is privately owned. The general store, which eventually was also a gas station, closed in 1967.

Historic sites

Montgomery County has a long history that began over 300 years ago. The Travilah area has some historic sites, although some are privately owned. For example, the original Travilah Town Hall, built in 1910, still stands—but it is privately owned. The farm's bright red bank barn, which has exceptional architectural detail, is located right next to the road.

Pennyfield Lock House

The Pennyfield Lock House (Lock #22) is located in the western portion of the Travilah CDP in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The lock house was built around 1830, and its lock was completed around 1831. John L. DuFief built a mill around 1850 on the Muddy Branch, and it had a road that connected to the Pennyfield Lock. The house is one of the largest canal lock houses, and made from oversized sandstone bricks. Jesse Swain was lock keeper beginning in 1907, and had been a canal boatman. His father (John) had helped with the canal construction, and his grandson (Fred) has lived in the house and operated an onsite concession stand into the 21st century. Today, picnic tables are located between the Potomac River and the lock and lock house.

Tobytown cemetery

The Tobytown Cemetery, which is located off River Road near the Pennyfield Lock, is the only remaining relic associated with the Black community of Tobytown that was established in 1875 by formerly enslaved people. The community was established by William Davis, Ailsie Martin, and Emory Genus, and is believed to be named for Ailsie Martin's son—Tobias Martin. The cemetery contains about 25 gravestones for early settlers and family members. Most of the stones are unmarked, which is typical for early African American cemeteries.

Travilah Oak

The Travilah Oak, a white oak tree estimated to be 275 to 300 years old, is located at the intersection of Travilah and Glen roads in Maryland.

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Travilah Historic District

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Culture, recreation, and wildlife

Travilah has been called one of the best places to live in Maryland by multiple sources. In addition to its highly rated schools, proximity to desirable workplaces, tranquility, and history, it has numerous parks and other amenities. The Glenstone private art museum is located not far from the historic Travilah crossroads at the intersection of Travilah Road and Glen Road.

Parks

thumb|right|Greenbriar Park|alt=entrance to a park

Adventure Conservation Park – undeveloped
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Park – historic canal with falls, trails, campgrounds
Glen Hills Local Park – sports and picnic area
Greenbrier Local Park – playground, sports and picnic area
Muddy Branch Stream Valley Park – and of trails
Pennyfield Lock Neighborhood Conservation Area – with boat ramp
Serpentine Barrens Conservation Park – horseback limited to park edge
Tobytown Neighborhood Park – playground, tennis, basketball
Watts Branch Stream Valley Park – undeveloped

Wildlife

The Travilah area has a population of white-tailed deer that is managed by Montgomery County. Other animals common in the area include red foxes and eastern gray squirrels. The county has Canada geese, hawks, owls, woodpeckers, blue jays, crows, and other birds that stay year-round. Birds such as the Carolina wren, house finch, American goldfinch, eastern bluebird, and northern cardinal can be found at bird feeders.