History of College Park, Maryland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The written history of College Park, Maryland begins with the early Europeans that settled in the area since the 18th century. After the predecessor of the University of Maryland, the Maryland Agricultural College, was chartered in 1856, a series of neighborhoods developed in the area, also influenced by the deployment of a streetcar along what is now Rhode Island Avenue. The neighborhoods developed quickly throughout the 20th century and they incorporated into the City of College Park in 1945.
College Park had important contributions to the history of aviation. The College Park Airport, established in 1909, is the world's oldest continuously operated airport. The College Park Aviation Museum, attached to the airport and an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, houses antique and reproduction aircraft as well as materials relating to early aviation history.[1]
In 2014 the University of Maryland launched the Greater College Park initiative, a $2 billion public-private investment to revitalize the community around the university, develop a robust Discovery District and create one of the nation’s best college towns.[2][3] As a result, the city is experiencing significant development that has led to new housing, office space, schools, grocery stores, restaurants, and other amenities.[4][5][6]