Chevy Chase, MD

In 1922, Chevy Chase Section 5 became a Special Taxing District chartered by the Maryland General Assembly. Under that status, there was a five-member volunteer council to set policy and a part-time salaried manager to take care of the day-to-day administrative matters of the town. Section 5 functioned in this manner until 1982, at which time the residents petitioned the Montgomery County Council to become an incorporated municipality. With incorporation approved, the governing structure of the new municipality remained the same as it was under the Special Taxing District.

It is likely that the name Chevy Chase derives from a popular Scottish/English poem, “Ye Cheviat Chays Ballade” from a collection called “Reliques of Ancient Poetry.” It commemorates the Battle of Otterburn in 1388, which resulted from a feud between English and Scottish Lords over who had rights to the hunting grounds, or chase, of a Northumberland forest called Cheviat. Centuries later on a distant continent, Colonel Joseph Belt must have recalled the poem when he chose the name “Cheivy Chace” for the 560 acres of rolling Maryland woodland he was granted by Lord Baltimore.

Today, Section 5 is a small, quiet community of 223 houses and one restaurant. Trees line the quiet streets where children can be heard laughing as they play in the rear yards—and even on the streets. It is a town known for its friendly neighborhood atmosphere. The annual 4th of July parade led by a Chevy Chase fire engine is the highlight of the summer. The morning parade of costumed bicyclists, tri-cyclists, roller-bladers, and walkers makes its way through the streets and stops at Williams Lane for patriotic songs, refreshments, and games. The stop on Williams Lane is at one of the oldest houses in Chevy Chase. The house was built by Richard Williams in 1868 for his daughter, Bettie. It is now the residence of Irene Emmet.

The majority of homes in Section 5 were built before the Second World War and were designed and constructed by local architects and builders. Seventeen homes have been identified as having features of possibly historic significance and have been nominated for listing on the Montgomery County Historic Register. From its very beginning, Section 5 has been the type of place that home hunters seek out. It continues to attract people who are looking for a friendly, peaceful place, even if for many it means a tedious commute to work in Washington, D.C.

Although Chevy Chase View was not incorporated until 1993, it has been a special taxing area since 1924. The town’s actual origin dates back even further than that—to 1910 when the plat was recorded on April 18. The community had been designed by real estate developer Claud Livingstone and conveyed to investors Harry E. Smith and John L. Whitmore in the previous year.

Today, the town comprises over 300 homes, a few places of worship, and a community pool. Located in the Washington suburbs between Kensington to the north and Chevy Chase to the south, it is known for its large yards, gardens and trees, and the wide architectural variety and appeal of its homes. The main street, Summit Avenue, still maintains the rustic atmosphere of a country lane while just a stone’s throw from the Capital Beltway.

Chevy Chase Section 3 is a tight-knit community of 277 homes just north of the Washington, D.C.– Maryland line. A village-like atmosphere prevails, due in large part to the 16-foot-wide streets, modest bungalow-type homes dating to the 1920s, and get-togethers at the town’s vest-pocket park.

Elections for the village council are held in May, at which time the “annual meeting” also takes place. That event is much like a New England town meeting and always draws a large crowd. Lesser attendance is normal at the monthly council meetings, which usually are held in the home of a council member or at the Chevy Chase United Methodist Church.

The town has adopted an ambitious “re-greening” program under which shade trees are offered to anyone who agrees to plant them near the sidewalk. The council has planted hundreds of trees in the strips between sidewalks and curbs, thereby providing a horticultural unity to the streetscapes.

In addition to an annual party-in-the-park, the town organizes many activities for the residents—a Halloween parade, house and garden tours, a new-neighbor wine and cheese party, an annual blankets-for-the-homeless drive, clothing and book drives, and a lecture series by residents for residents. Recently the council matched residents’ contributions allocating an additional $6,000 to buy computer equipment for the local public school. Chevy Chase Section 3 works hard to maintain a community that all the residents are proud to claim as home.

Created in 1890 in the southwestern portion of Montgomery County bordering the District of Columbia, Chevy Chase Village serves as a beautiful gateway into Maryland. With its stately trees, beautiful homes, and manicured lawns, Chevy Chase Village is one of the premier Washington Metropolitan suburbs.

The Chevy Chase Village Board of Managers is the elected body that governs the municipality. The village manager, appointed by the Board of Managers, is responsible for the delivery of municipal services within the community.

The Village employs just under thirty employees including three department heads: chief of police, director of public works, and finance director. Public safety is a top priority in Chevy Chase Village. To complement the sworn police officers who provide 24-hour patrol, a 24-hour Communications Center was established in 1996. The Center handles telephone calls, police and public works radio communications, and walk-in visitors in addition to serving as the central facility for information, assistance, and referral.

The public works department picks up bulk trash weekly: toys, furniture, televisions, cardboard boxes, and other bulky household items; it collects hazardous waste monthly and yard debris daily. The department is also responsible for removing snow from the streets.

There is a parks and recreation department that is responsible for park maintenance, a robust tree-maintenance program, and annual recreational events sponsored by the village.

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