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CITY HISTORY

Gaithersburg is named after Benjamin Gaither who built a house in 1802 on the property where the famous Forest Oak tree once grew. The Forest Oak, a very large oak tree, grew at the site for nearly 300 years before it was felled during a storm in the summer of 1997.

LOCATION & CLIMATE

The City of Gaithersburg occupies 10 square miles in the heart of Montgomery County, Maryland. The southeastern border of the City lies just 13 miles from the northwestern border of Washington, D.C., and 18.5 miles northwest of the U.S. Capitol Building.

Average temperatures in winter are 35°, spring 57°, summer 80° and fall 60°. An average of 40 inches of rain a year is spread evenly through the seasons.

COMMUNITY

Gaithersburg is home to a diverse and active community of over 50,000 residents.

Major economic activities are biotechnology, telecommunications, and software development. Many of these activities are related to Federal Government contracts. Because of Gaithersburg's proximity to the Nation's Capital and these major industries, the City hosts many visitors, both foreign and domestic.

Throughout the year, the City sponsors many cultural events. During the spring and summer months, the City Hall Pavilion is busy with musical and theater groups, movies, and other special events. Art exhibits are located in various City facilities year round.

The City also hosts the Celebrate Gaithersburg in Olde Towne Street Festival where residents gather on the streets of the City's Olde Towne district to enjoy good food, arts and crafts, and a variety of family entertainment while celebrating the City's heritage.

Winter Lights is an extraordinary light display held in partnership with Seneca Creek State Park. To celebrate the holidays, people from all over come to see hundreds of holiday images created by colorful lights along a 3.5 mile drive.

GOVERNMENT

Gaithersburg is located in the 9th Election District of Montgomery County, the 17th Legislative District and the 8th U.S. Congressional District of the State of Maryland.

The City is administered by a Mayor/City Council-City Manager style of government. City elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November on odd numbered years. The Mayor is elected to a four-year term and presides over the City Council. In Gaithersburg the Mayor is a non-voting position. The City Council has five elected members and each serves a four-year term. Council members elect a vice president each year and each council member has a vote. There are formal council sessions every other Monday, which are televised, where the Mayor and Council discuss issues and pass legislation. On the off Mondays, there are work sessions. These are informal meetings, open to the public, where the Mayor and Council discuss relevant City business. This is a time of research, problem solving and informal decision-making. Agendas for all City Council meetings are available on line.

The Mayor and Council also rely on citizen committees to serve as advisors on a number of issues.

The day-to-day operations are run by the City Manager, who is hired by the City Council.

Gaithersburg is a fiscally responsible City that has not incurred any bond debts since 1963. It has a pay-as-you-go financial philosophy that allows the City to enjoy a prosperous economic status. Taxes on citizens of the City have remained the same for more than 30 years, making Gaithersburg an attractive place to live.

CITY SYMBOLS

The City logo, an oak tree encircled by a green "G," reflects the small-town ambience of Gaithersburg and the importance of trees in its past and present, representing a constant in Gaithersburg's metamorphosis from country village to urban community. It has been recognized as a "Tree City USA" since 1986. In 1996, the City added the phrase "A CHARACTER COUNTS! City" to the logo.

Gaithersburg's flag is white with the City's logo centered on it in green.

The peony is the City flower, in memory of the large peony gardens of Edward Schwartz. Schwartz grew peonies at his home which today is the location of City Hall.