Mount Rainier, Maryland
Seal
Coordinates: 38°56′30″N 76°57′49″W / 38.94167, -76.96361
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Prince George's
Incorporated	1910
Government
- Mayor	Malinda Miles
Area
- Total	0.65 sq mi (1.69 km²)
- Land	0.65 sq mi (1.69 km²)
- Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)
Elevation	79 ft (24 m)
Population (2000 census)
- Total	8,498
- Density	13,038.46/sq mi (5,034.18/km²)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-6)
ZIP code	20712
Area code(s)	301
FIPS code	24-54275
GNIS feature ID	0597787
Website: http://www.mountrainiermd.org

An old trolley car is used as an emblem on signs welcoming people to Mount Rainer, reflecting the city's roots as a streetcar suburb.

Mount Rainier is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 8,498 at the 2000 census. Bordering Washington, DC, Mount Rainier got its start as a streetcar suburb. (See Washington streetcars.) According to local tradition, surveyors from the Pacific Northwest named the town, giving the streets names such as "Shasta" and "Cascade". Historic U.S. Route 1 runs through the center of the town and serves as the main street and central business district. [1]

Bordering Areas

• Brentwood (East)
• Cottage City (Southeast)
• Colmar Manor (Southeast)
• Hyattsville (Northeast)
• Washington, DC (Southwest)

Geography

Mount Rainier is located at 38°56′30″N, 76°57′49″W (38.941594, -76.963696)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.7 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 8,498 people, 3,487 households, and 1,858 families residing in the city. The population density was 13,038.5 people per square mile (5,047.8/km²). There were 3,756 housing units at an average density of 5,762.8/sq mi (2,231.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 20.20% White, 62.06% African American, 0.33% Native American, 2.31% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 10.65% from other races, and 4.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.30% of the population.

There were 3,487 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.6% were married couples living together, 19.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.7% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 37.2% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,920, and the median income for a family was $39,060. Males had a median income of $30,500 versus $27,441 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,558. About 9.3% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Mount Rainier is a part of the Prince George's County Public Schools system.

Schools that serve Mount Rainier include:

• Mount Rainier Elementary School
• Thomas Stone Elementary School
• Hyattsville Middle School (in the city of Hyattsville)
• Northwestern High School

Transportation

Bus service in the city is operated by the WMATA Metrobus through several lines along US 1 and Maryland Route 500 (Queens Chapel Road). Additional bus service is provided by the Prince George's County Department of Public Works & Transportation (DPW&T) The Bus, which also has several lines along the smaller roades.

Major Highways

• US 1 is a major north-south roadway running through Mount Rainier, serving as the main street in the downtown area. It is a major route to Hyattsville and College Park to the north and Washington, DC to the south.

Notable Points of Interest

Mount Rainier has been listed as an historic area, due to its history not only as a primary streetcar suburb of Washington DC, but also due to the vast number of Sears houses and Craftsman-style homes, many of which have been restored.

There is a lively arts district in the town, which has made a point to provide affordable housing for artists and to showcase their work. Mount Rainier Day, held in May, is one day in which the artistic community opens its doors to the public. Other artists are not just the visual sort - the town is home to at least one Helen Hayes Award-winner for theatrical direction, as well as the duet Emma's Revolution. Two of the artists in the artists' housing have opened a cafe, which along with wraps, coffee, and wine, serves a diverse menu of poetry, song, and discussion.

A vegetarian, organic food cooperative, Glut, has existed since the 1960s and draws people from all over the area.

Mount Rainier, along with neighboring Cottage City, has stories about the possession of a child by the devil, which became the basis for the movie The Exorcist.

There are a number of interesting geological issues in the town, including springs that run underground.

The famous Science Fiction author Andre Norton once owned a bookstore here.

References

1. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• City home page
• Route 1 Communities: Mount Rainier
• Mount Rainier Elementary School city history page

• Mount Rainier, Maryland is at coordinates 38°56′30″N 76°57′49″W / 38.941594, -76.963696 (Mount Rainier, Maryland)Coordinates: 38°56′30″N 76°57′49″W / 38.941594, -76.963696 (Mount Rainier, Maryland)

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