Silver Spring

About Silver Spring

Silver Spring is a large Maryland city that's considered one of the top residential and business centers in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. A thriving economy, a growing variety of amenities and an eventful downtown district have earned Silver Spring the attention of families and young professionals alike. The city has been given several distinct titles, including the "Most Secure Large City in the U.S." and one of the "Healthiest Cities in the U.S."

The Naming of Silver Spring

Silver Spring's name has an interesting history that traces back to the mid-1800s. In 1840, Francis Preston Blair, an adviser to President Andrew Jackson, discovered a spring in the area that was flowing with silvery chips of the shiny mineral mica. Two years after his discovery, Blair built a 20-room mansion nearby, which he named Silver Spring in honor of the unique natural geographic feature. While the community has never been incorporated, it adopted the name of Blair's mansion to reflect its historic and sparkling spring.

Jobs in Silver Spring

You'll be joining a highly educated community if you move to Silver Spring, with nearly half of the population holding bachelor's degrees, while more than a third hold graduate or professional degrees. A large portion of Silver Spring's residents work in management positions, and more people in the community work in occupations dealing with math and computers than just about anywhere in the U.S. Silver Spring also has an artistic side, with a large number of residents employed as artists, designers and media personnel.

There are several major companies and organizations based in Silver Spring, providing a variety of local jobs. Biotechnology company United Therapeutics, media companies TV One and CuriosityStream, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the American Nurses Association all call the city home.

Silver Spring Schools

Public schools in Silver Spring are part of the Montgomery County Public Schools district, which is the largest school system in Maryland and also the winner of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award. The district has been recognized for its extremely high graduation rate. There are many private schools in Silver Spring, including The Siena School, The Barrie School and the Torah School of Greater Washington.

A campus of Montgomery College is located in the Silver Spring area, as is Howard University's School of Continuing Education.

Resources for Moving to Silver Spring

Here are a few helpful resources for planning your move to Silver Spring:

• Utilities: BG&E, Potomac Edison and PEPCO are the primary electricity providers within the county. The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission administers water and sewer services.
• Garbage and Recycling: Your trash and recyclables will be collected on a weekly basis in most areas of Silver Spring. Your home's location determines your specific collection schedule.
• Transportation: The Metro offers a major line through Silver Spring. You can easily get around the downtown district using the free van shuttle, VanGo.

Silver Spring Housing

The median home value in Silver Spring is considerably higher than the U.S. average, but the city comes with many amenities and an extremely convenient location. There are houses available for families of all sizes, as well as in many different styles, including ranches, colonials and bungalows.