Rockville's town center has been more than 250 years in the making. By the 1750s, the tiny crossroads was a regular stop for travelers and local farmers "rolling" their tobacco barrels down to the port of Georgetown. When Montgomery County was formed in 1776, the centrally located collection of a dozen crude houses and stores became the new county seat. The village was not called "Rockville" until 1803.

Life in Rockville centered around the Courthouse and the small business district. By the time of the Civil War, Rockville's boundaries included only what today we consider the town center. The sleepy town received a boost in 1873, when the B&O Railroad opened it to summer visitors and commuters to Washington, D.C. New shops and hotels were built, and the population climbed to 688! The Town planted street trees and encouraged cultural attractions such as literary clubs, cultural events, and a library association. Later, a trolley line connected Rockville with Bethesda and Washington.

By the 1920s, "Mom and Pop" businesses had to compete with regional chains such as Piggley Wiggley and the A&P. The silent movie theater closed, and car dealerships opened up. Soon Rockville gained a volunteer fire department, chamber of commerce, a new courthouse, a permanent post office, and even a traffic light. Although growth continued outward from the center, Rockville remained small until after World War II.

Between 1945 and 1975, Rockville's population tripled, then tripled again. New subdivisions such as Twinbrook, College Gardens, and New Mark Commons opened. Town center merchants modernized, often hiding old storefronts. Some older buildings were razed. Traffic and parking were of increasing concern. Hungerford Drive, constructed as a by-pass in 1953, cut off the old main street. By the 1960s, shoppers found it easier to drive to new stores in Congressional Plaza, Wheaton Plaza, and Montgomery Mall. In 1962 Rockville became the first small city in Maryland to undertake a federal urban renewal program. Forty-six acres in the town center were bought, old and new buildings were demolished, and street patterns were changed. In their place rose the residential Americana Centre, more County buildings, high-rise offices, and a large shopping mall with underground parking. The opening of Metro in 1984 tied an important regional transportation network to the heart of Rockville.

By the 1990s, both public and private sectors renewed energy and added resources to build a vibrant town center. Peerless Rockville led the successful campaign to restore the 1891 Red Brick Courthouse. The private sector developed the Victoria Condominium and opened restaurants around new movie theatres. The City ceremoniously tore down the unsuccessful Rockville Mall in 1995 and used public funds to re-create much of the traditional street pattern and highlight stately Courthouse Square.

Today, the historic heart of Rockville is experiencing a renaissance. It is the focal point of civic, social, and business activity and home to numerous county, state, federal, and municipal public services. It is a transportation hub with easy access to Metro, trains, buses, and Interstate 270. As the place where Rockville began, it includes many historic sites, and adjoins or includes several of Rockville's seven historic districts. There are more than 100 restaurants, shops, cultural attractions, and quiet spots. And in a City which prides itself on its diverse neighborhoods, Rockville's town center is
everyone's neighborhood....still in the making.