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CHistory
History · Cottage City

Cottage City dates to 1923, and 33% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 34% of U.S. towns. What drives it

Below: maps from 1900 on and the census since 1930.

1923founded
0on the National Register
33%homes built before 1940
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How Cottage City began

When was Cottage City founded?

1923

Cottage City dates its founding to 1923 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1930.

First census: 938 in 19302020 census: 1,335103 years

How historic is Cottage City?

C

More historic than 34% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Cottage City’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Cottage City is more historic than 34% of U.S. towns. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.

C
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Cottage City’s overall grade.
Founding era1923, from Wikidata: founded 1900–1944, an older era than 9% of U.S. townsDHomes built before 194032.6% of homes (±6.6) · typical MD town 3.3% · U.S. 8.4%ANational RegisterNo listings counted · typical MD town 0.9 per 10,000 · U.S. 2.4C−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 34%
NewerOlder

Few Maryland towns list much on the Register (a typical Maryland town has 0.9 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Cottage City’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (20% of Maryland towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.

How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D− to B. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±6.6 points). Two sources give 1923.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Cottage City’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Cottage City are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19003 editions of the USGS map, 1900 to 1979. Watch Cottage City change.Old housesHalf of Cottage City’s homes were built before 1953.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Cottage City’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Cottage City’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Cottage City on the map, 1900 to 1979

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Cottage City. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Cottage City on the 1900 USGS mapCottage City on the 1934 USGS mapCottage City on the 1979 USGS map1900Washington sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Cottage City.

The story

How Cottage City came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Cottage City.

Read it all →

Its history dates to pre-revolutionary America; old records indicate that the area was home to several of the Potomac River Indian tribes. With the coming of European settlers, the area became noted for its deep-water Anacostia River port, known then as Harrison's Landing. Contributing to the economy of Harrison's Landing was Moyer's Grist Mill located in Yarrow, the very first mill of its type between Baltimore and Alexandria, Virginia. Yarrow was renamed several times, but today we know Yarrow as Cottage City.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Cottage City, decade by decade

Today5 recent
Dueling Creek MD & CSX train with containers2022Dueling Creek MD & CSX train with containersCottage City Maryland town hall2021Cottage City Maryland town hallCapital Subdivision NW Branch Bridge 20212021Capital Subdivision NW Branch Bridge 2021Anacostia Trail NW Branch crossing 20212021Anacostia Trail NW Branch crossing 2021MDMap-doton-CottageCity2004MDMap-doton-CottageCity
People over time

Cottage City, census by census

02004006008001,0001,2001,40019401960198020002020Peak: 1,335

Between 938 and 1,335 people in every census since 1930.

10 censuses, 1930–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Cottage City’s Wikipedia page.

Famous people

Famous people close to Cottage City

Nobody well known was born in Cottage City itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Al GoreVice President of the United States from 1993 t… · b. 1948
Samuel L. JacksonAmerican actor · b. 1948
Jennifer DoudnaAmerican biochemist · b. 1964
Frances TiafoeAmerican tennis player · b. 1998
T
Terry WinogradAmerican professor · b. 1946
Places that used to be

Old corners

Old hamlets and crossroads still carry their names on the map.

Hamlets and corners on the map
Rives

Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Colmar ManorIts storyC+Hyattsville5 historic placesA−BrentwoodIts storyC+Bladensburg6 historic placesA−Mount Rainier2 historic placesB+

Questions about Cottage City’s history

What year was Cottage City founded?

In 1923, according to Wikidata. the census of 1930 counted 938 people here.

How does Cottage City rank for history?

Cottage City is more historic than 34% of U.S. towns. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

How old are the homes in Cottage City?

33% of Cottage City’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±6.6 points), against a typical 3.3% for a Maryland town; the median home was built in 1953.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

From Wikimedia Commons (5), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.