White Oak is a census-designated place and an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States.

Geography

As an unincorporated area, White Oak's boundaries are not officially defined. White Oak is recognized by the United States Census Bureau as a Census-designated Place and by the United States Geological Survey as a populated place located at (39.042109, -76.988273). Many of its residents consider themselves to be residents of the White Oak neighborhood of Silver Spring, similar to how large cities have different neighborhoods within their borders.

About White Oak

The community was known for its Naval Ordnance Laboratory, which was closed in 1994. The Food and Drug Administration now occupies the property, which has been renamed the Federal Research Center at White Oak. According to the United States Census Bureau, the place has a total area of 5.0 square miles (12.9 km²), all of it land. White Oak is diverse neighborhood. The main area of White Oak is from Lockwood Dr starting from New Hamphire Ave (MD 650) towards Stewart Lane crossing Columbia Pike (US-29).

Quaint Acres

"Quaint Acres" is a subdivision of White Oak just north of modern Route 29 and west of New Hampshire Avenue. The subdivision was named after the house of Altus Lacy Quaintance, a State Entomologist of Maryland who worked at the Maryland Agricultural College and later at the USDA .

On May 26, 1945, a TB-25D 'Mitchell' bomber en route from Biloxi to Bolling Field crashed near Quaint Acres, killing all four aboard . The bomber was piloted by Dudley M. Outcalt who flew in the 94th Aero Squadron during WWI .

After the war, the Quaint Acres subdivision was home to famed naturalist Rachel Carson and where she wrote "Silent Spring" in 1962, the book that facilitated the ban of the pesticide DDT in the United States. She built the ranch house at 11701 Berwick Rd. in 1956, and lived their until her death in 1964. The house is a National Historic Landmark, but not open to the public .

Quaint Acres was also was the Washington area home to Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to be elected to both the U.S. House and the Senate.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 20,973 people, 7,921 households, and 5,251 families residing in the area. The population density was 4,212.1 people per square mile (1,626.0/km²). There were 8,139 housing units at an average density of 1,634.6/sq mi (631.0/km²). The racial makeup of the area was 40.57% White, 37.05% African American, 0.33% Native American, 11.18% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 6.54% from other races, and 4.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.98% of the population.

There were 7,921 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the area, the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

The median income for a household in the area was $54,276, and the median income for a family was $65,590. Males had a median income of $41,487 versus $35,598 for females. The per capita income for the area was $25,893. About 5.5% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Due to the overwhelming influx of new immigrants (legal and non-legal) and the birth of their children since the year of the census, these numbers may no longer be accurate.

Depending on how White Oak is geographically defined, students attend Cresthaven, Jackson Road and Burnt Mills Elementary Schools, which feed into White Oak and Francis Scott Key Middle School. Eighth-grade students have the option of choosing between the three Northeast Consortium schools, Blake High School, Paint Branch High School, and Springbrook High School.

References

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