City Tour of Hyattsville MD
Hyattsville, Maryland was born as 'Beale Town'. The area traded in timber,
furs and tobacco in the 1760's, but soon converted to farming as nearby
deep water ports took over cargo shipping. Eventually named for Christopher
Hyatt, a postmaster of Hyattsville, the city was incorporated in 1886.
Hyattsville was a "Route 1 Community" back when Rte 1 paralleled
the railroad, and Washington DC residents escaped the heat and humidity
of the District to their summer cottages northeast of the District. These
older homes are now Hyattsville's Historic District, and town homes, apartments
and condominiums have been added to the residential mix.
Located in the Baltimore-Washington corridor of Northern Prince George's
County, Hyattsville is only a half hour commute to Baltimore. Unlike many
towns in the high-powered Washington DC environment, Hyattsville's priority
is to provide a "supportive environment for raising children and
developing businesses", and "preserving a small-town atmosphere".
Neighborhood play areas for children and picnic areas for families are
scattered throughout this "frontporch community". The Anacostia
River trickles through the 32 acre Magruder Park, which is the site of
many and varied community events.
With a population of 14,733 (2000 census), Hyattsville boasts 150 families
as active members of the Hyattsville Preservation Association. The annual
Hyattsville House Tour is a popular fund raiser and many attend yearly
for ideas for their own homes. The Hyattsville Armory building was designed
and built as an exact model of Windsor Castle - 1/4 scale.
Hyattsville's tree lined streets have earned it the distinction of being
named "Tree City USA". School choices are excellent with the
public school system augmented by many private and parochial schools.
The Prince George's County school "magnet" program is recognized
as a national model for excellence. The University of Maryland at College
Park, which is 10 minutes away, is the ninth largest university in the
United States. Hyattsville's Maryland section of the local library is
nationally known and is frequented by writers and historians alike.
Hyattsville is minutes from national monuments and museums via I-95 and
the Capital Beltway (I-495). There are two Metro stations (West Hyattsville
and Prince George's Plaza), Metrobus, MARC commuter rail (between Baltimore
and Washington), and the University of Maryland shuttlebus (for student
transportation).
Hyattsville Links
City of Hyattsville
Prince George's County Public
Schools
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