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Greenbelt, MD

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Greenbelt, MD

Greenbelt is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, and a suburb of Washington, D.C. At the 2020 census, the population was 24,921.

Greenbelt is the first and the largest of the three experimental and controversial New Deal Greenbelt Towns, the others being Greenhills, Ohio, and Greendale, Wisconsin. Greenbelt was planned and built by the Federal government as an all-white town. The cooperative community was conceived in 1935 by the Undersecretary of Agriculture Rexford Guy Tugwell, whose perceived collectivist ideology attracted opposition to the Greenbelt Towns project throughout its short duration. The project came into legal existence on April 8, 1935, when Congress passed the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935. Under the authority granted to him by this legislation, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order, on May 1, 1935, establishing the United States Resettlement Administration (RA/RRA).

First called Maryland Special Project No. 1, the project was officially named Greenbelt when the Division of Suburban Resettlement of the Resettlement Administration began construction, on January 13, 1936, about eight miles north of Washington. The complete Greenbelt plans were reviewed at the White House by President Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt on April 30, 1936. The first tenants, after selection in a stringent application process, moved into the town on September 30, 1937. The construction consisted of structures built in the Art Deco, Streamline Moderne, and Bauhaus architectural styles.

Greenbelt is credited as a historic milestone in urban development because it was the initial model for the privately constructed suburban Washington, D.C., planned cities of Reston, Virginia, and Columbia, Maryland.

The original federally built core of the city, known locally as Old Greenbelt, was recognized as the Greenbelt Historic District by the Maryland Historical Trust and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a National Historic Landmark District. Greenbelt's population, which includes residents of privately built dwellings dating from after the end of the federal government's ownership of the city, was recorded as 23,068 at the 2010 U.S. Census and 24,921 at the 2020 census.

Greenbelt is located at 38°59′41″N 76°53′07″W. According to United States Census Bureau data, as of January 1, 2018, the city has a total area of 6.23 square miles (16,146,235 square meters), of which 6.18 square miles (16,003,389 square meters) is land and 0.06 square miles (142,846 square meters) is water. Greenbelt's ZIP Codes are 20770, 20771, and 20768. The ZIP Code 20770 contains all residential and business addresses that correspond to actual physical locations inside the geographic boundaries of the City of Greenbelt. The 20768 ZIP Code is assigned exclusively to post-office box (P.O. Box) addresses, while 20771 is the designated ZIP Code for Goddard Space Flight Center, situated on federal government-owned land that is contiguous with a portion of Greenbelt's eastern border. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, located directly adjacent to Greenbelt's eastern boundary, utilizes a Greenbelt postal address (Greenbelt, MD 20768), as well. It is partially within the former Goddard census-designated place. Greenbelt Park, a unit of the National Park System, is located within the City of Greenbelt's boundaries, at its southernmost portion.

Greenbelt places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center offers comprehensive health services, including wellness check-ups and preventive care programs. Planet Fitness offers personalized training programs tailored to individual needs, promoting overall fitness and well-being. For holistic wellness, visit Cater Wellness for therapeutic massages and wellness treatments. Bikram Yoga Works offers hot yoga sessions to improve flexibility and mental clarity. MedStar Health offers comprehensive medical services, including wellness checks and specialized health programs. Join Fit Body Boot Camp for high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions for effective fitness results. Greenbelt Aquatic & Fitness Center provides swimming lessons, aquatic fitness programs, and a gym for all fitness levels.

The top sites in Greenbelt, MD: Greenbelt Park, Buddy Attick Lake Park, and Schrom Hills Recreation Center.

ZIP Codes: 20770, 20771, 20768. Area codes: 301; 240. Elevation: 157 ft (48 m). Population: 24,921 (2020)

FAQs

What is the history of Greenbelt, MD?

Located just 12 miles from the nation’s capital, Greenbelt Maryland is a planned community born out of the Great Depression of the 1930s. After nearly 75 years the city still maintains its small-town atmosphere, beautiful parks, playgrounds, cooperative spirit, and some of the most unique and affordable housing in the Washington Metropolitan area. Greenbelt has a rich history that continues to shape the community to this day.

What is the crime rate in Greenbelt, MD?

The crime rate in Greenbelt is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 30 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Greenbelt is 1 in 34. Based on FBI crime data, Greenbelt is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to Maryland, Greenbelt has a crime rate that is higher than 91% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

What are the demographics of Greenbelt, MD?

In 2021, Greenbelt, MD had a population of 24.6k people with a median age of 36.2 and a median household income of $75,832. Between 2020 and 2021 the population of Greenbelt, MD grew from 23,253 to 24,602, a 5.8% increase and its median household income grew from $71,744 to $75,832, a 5.7% increase. The 5 largest ethnic groups in Greenbelt, MD are Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (45%), White (Non-Hispanic) (22.5%), Other (Hispanic) (12.7%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (9.49%), and Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.82%).

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Greenbelt

Greenbelt Museum

Neighborhood Scout

Data USA

Greenbelt Park

Buddy Attick Lake Park

Schrom Hills Recreation Center

Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center

Planet Fitness

Cater Wellness

Bikram Yoga Works

MedStar Health

Fit Body Boot Camp

Greenbelt Aquatic & Fitness Center

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