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D−History
History · Leisure World

Leisure World dates to 1964

Among the newest of U.S. towns. What drives it

Most of Leisure World was built recently: 0.6% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1982. Below: 3 old photos and papers and maps from 1908 on.

1964founded
0on the National Register
0.6%homes built before 1940
3old photos & papers
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Leisure World’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Leisure World began

When was Leisure World founded?

1964

Leisure World dates its founding to 1964 (Wikidata).

2020 census: 9,21562 years

How historic is Leisure World?

D−

Among the newest 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 Leisure World’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Leisure World is among the newest of U.S. towns. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.

D−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Leisure World’s overall grade.
Founding era1964, from Wikidata: founded 1945 or later, an older era than 2% of U.S. townsD−Homes built before 19400.6% of homes (±0.7) · typical MD town 3.3% · U.S. 8.4%DNational RegisterNo listings counted · typical MD town 0.9 per 10,000 · U.S. 2.4C−
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Among the newest
NewerOlder
Maryland towns of 2,500+ (261)#261 of 261

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 Leisure World’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.

NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1964.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would still be D−. The pre-1940 share (±0.7 points) is firm at this size.

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 Leisure World’s past

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

A history waiting to be writtenOnly 3 old photos are in the public archives. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 19086 editions of the USGS map, 1908 to 1971. Watch Leisure World change.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Leisure World’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Leisure World’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
1 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewAerial view panorama LCCN2011634384 (cr…: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Leisure World on the map, 1908 to 1971

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

Leisure World on the 1908 USGS mapLeisure World on the 1923 USGS mapLeisure World on the 1945 USGS mapLeisure World on the 1951 USGS mapLeisure World on the 1965 USGS mapLeisure World on the 1971 USGS map1908Rockville 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 Leisure World.

The story

How Leisure World came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Leisure World.

Read it all →

In 1963, developer Ross Cortese applied for a zoning amendment in order to build a 1,000-acre community of semi-detached homes, townhouses, and apartment buildings south of Norbeck, Maryland. Cortese's company had acquired the option to buy the 1,000 acres of land, formerly known as the Nash tract, for $5,000,000, and Cortese expected it would cost another $750,000 to build the development according to the plans. The development would be restricted to residents who are at least 52 years old. Cortese planned to build clubhouses, a swimming pool, riding stables, an auditorium, a shopping center, medical facilities, a hotel for guests, an 18-hole golf course, and an 8-acre lake at the site. Sixty-five percent of the area would be undeveloped green space. The entire site would be surrounded by a wall, and full-time security guards would restrict access. According to the plans, co-op homes w…

ChaptersDevelopmentShopping centerFirst residentsSlowdown on salesFiresChanges in plans

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Timeline

Leisure World, 1908 to 1980

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 20th century
  2. 1908On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  3. 1964
    FoundingLeisure World is established
  4. 1980In the archiveAerial view panorama LCCN2011634384 (cropped)
By decade

Leisure World, decade by decade

One decade in the archive so far: the 1980s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1980s3 items
Aerial view panorama LCCN2011634384 (cropped)1980Aerial view panorama LCCN2011634384 (cropped)Aerial view panorama1980Aerial view panoramaLeisure World, Maryland1980Leisure World, Maryland
1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Today9 recent
LeisureW-ElecDay 0530 Franchot + Voter2010LeisureW-ElecDay 0530 Franchot + VoterLeisureW-ElecDay 0447 Gov + Workers2010LeisureW-ElecDay 0447 Gov + WorkersLeisureW-ElecDay 0407 Gov + Voter2010LeisureW-ElecDay 0407 Gov + VoterLeisureW-ElecDay 0361 Gov + Kramer + Manno2010LeisureW-ElecDay 0361 Gov + Kramer + MannoLeisureW-ElecDay 0250 Gov Listens2010LeisureW-ElecDay 0250 Gov ListensLeisureW-ElecDay 0227 Gov + Voter2010LeisureW-ElecDay 0227 Gov + VoterLeisureW-ElecDay 0220 Gov + AG + Cullison2010LeisureW-ElecDay 0220 Gov + AG + CullisonLeisureW-ElecDay 0201 Gov + Floreen + AG2010LeisureW-ElecDay 0201 Gov + Floreen + AGLeisureW-ElecDay 0151 Gov + Firefighter2010LeisureW-ElecDay 0151 Gov + Firefighter
Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

Aerial view panorama LCCN2011634384 (cropped)
Retake this viewAerial view panorama LCCN2011634384 (cropped), 1980

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Leisure World’s page.

Retake this view · +15
Famous people

Famous people close to Leisure World

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

See all →
Frank MillerAmerican writer, artist, film director · b. 1957
LogicAmerican rapper from Maryland · b. 1990
Helen MaroulisAmerican wrestler · b. 1991
Elden HensonAmerican actor · b. 1977
BTAmerican musician · b. 1971
Jeff ZientsAmerican businessman and politician (born 1966)… · b. 1966
Places that used to be

Old corners

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

Hamlets and corners on the map
Georgian ColoniesManor VillageRossmoor

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.

Aspen HillIts storyDOlneyIts storyC

Questions about Leisure World’s history

What year was Leisure World founded?

In 1964, according to Wikidata.

How does Leisure World rank for history?

Leisure World is among the newest 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 Leisure World?

0.6% of Leisure World’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 3.3% for a Maryland town; the median home was built in 1982.

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 (12), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps 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.