Takoma Park is a sanctuary city with Victorian homes, tree-lined streets, and lush green parks. Its citizens are unusually diverse in age, ethnicity, language, economic condition, and length of residence. Founded in 1883 by Benjamin Franklin Gilbert along the Metropolitan Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Takoma Park was the first planned commuter suburb in Montgomery County, Maryland.

The city now lies completely within Montgomery County and borders the upper northwest/northeast boundary of Washington, DC. It is less than 5 miles from the center of DC, but a world away in style and attitudes. Takoma Park strives to retain a small-town feel, the residents taking pride in many churches, neighborhood associations, civic groups, and arts organizations. The Sunday Farmer’s Market (held April–Nov) is a community gathering place. An interesting facet of the city is that residents who are not yet U.S. citizens may vote in local elections and hold local elected office.

In addition to the large city-wide celebrations throughout the year, there are also concerts, exhibits, political crusades, dances, neighborhood parties, quilting bees, and volunteer action projects. The city boasts several parks, an extensive recycling program, a municipal library, an economic and community development program, a tool-lending library, and two colleges: Columbia Union College and Montgomery College- Takoma Park.

Reprinted, with permission of the publisher, from 50 FABULOUS GAY-FRIENDLY PLACES TO LIVE (www.FabCities.com) © 2005 Gregory A. Kompes. Published by Career Press, Franklin Lakes, NJ. 800-227-3371. All rights reserved.