Damascus, MD

Damascus, Maryland is a historic rural crossroads founded in 1819 by War of 1812 veteran Edward Hughes, who named it “The Pleasant Plains of Damascus” after the ancient Syrian city. Located at the intersection of Routes 27, 108, and 124, it remains a hub for Montgomery County’s northern communities and had 17,224 residents as of the 2020 census. Known for its rolling farmland and smalltown character, Damascus was Montgomery County’s last dry town until a 2013 referendum legalized beer and wine sales. Today, the community blends historic homes with suburban developments from the 1970s and 1980s, plus newer townhomes and apartments clustered near the town center. Despite suburban growth, Damascus retains its rural identity, anchored by family-run farms and annual traditions such as the Damascus Community Fair, operating since 1940.

• Damascus Recreational Park off of Kings Valley road covers 284 acres and offers baseball and softball diamonds, soccer and cricket fields, tennis and pickleball courts, volleyball nets, and picnic shelters
• Magruder Branch Trail follows a scenic stream and connects the rec park all the way up to Damascus high school. The trail consists of a stroller friendly 4.2 miles, asphalt and boardwalk. 3.3 miles, natural surface.
• Damascus Community Recreation Center off of Oak Drive, provides sports leagues, fitness classes, art and music programs, and seasonal events for all ages
• Jimmie Cone, a beloved ice cream shop serving classic and rotating soft-serve flavors since 1962, is a local favorite for desserts and gatherings
• Tom & Ray’s Family Restaurant, a Damascus tradition since 1960, offers made-from-scratch breakfasts, lunch and dinner classics, in-house desserts, and specialty coffees
• Auto Enthusiasts will love that Damascus is home to Carquest, Advanced Auto and AutoZone car part stores. Additionally, frequent weekend meetups in the Safeway Shopping center parking lot for antique cars.

Damascus features a variety of housing options: historic single-family farmhouses dating to the 19th century, ranch and cape code houses from the early-to-mid 20th century, clustered suburban subdivisions that emerged in the late 1970s and 1980s, and newer townhomes and apartment communities around the town center. Many neighborhoods, such as Kings Valley and Spring Garden Estates, offer spacious lots and mature tree cover, while town-center developments provide low-maintenance living close to Weis grocery, CVS Pharmacy and Safeway grocery.

Since its founding as a rural post town, Damascus gradually transformed as Montgomery County’s population expanded. Suburbanization began in earnest during the 1970s, with local master plans recommending one house per two acres to preserve open space. By the 1980s, mixed-use clustering guided development around the business district, shaping today’s blend of residential styles

• Cedar Grove Elementary
• Clearspring Elementary
• Damascus Elementary
• Lois P. Rockwell Elementary
• Woodfield Elementary
• John T. Baker Middle School
• Damascus High School