1883Government
Founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1890, Takoma Park, informally called "Azalea City", is a Tree City USA and a nuclear-free zone.
1884History
Gilbert first purchased land in spring 1884: A 100-acre (0.40 km2) plot called Robert's Choice from G.C.
1885History
By August 1885, about 100 people were living in Takoma Park, including temporary summer residents and permanent residents.
1886History
In 1886, Gilbert purchased another plot of land, roughly bounded by Carroll Avenue to the Big Spring (now Takoma Junction) and what is now Woodland Avenue.
1888History
The community had 75 houses by 1888 and 235 homes by 1889.
1890Government
Takoma Park incorporated as a town on April 3, 1890.
1892Architecture
The Watkins Hotel was built in 1892.
1893Disaster
A fire destroyed the town's recently built commercial district and the Watkins Hotel in 1893.
1903Military
In 1903, the Seventh-day Adventist Church decided to move their headquarters to the Washington area after its headquarters' publishing house in Battle Creek, Michigan, had burne...
1904History
=== Early 20th century ===
In 1904, the Seventh-day Adventist Church purchased five acres of land in Takoma Park along Carroll Avenue, Laurel Avenue, and Willow Avenue.
1907Education
Due to resulting controversy, the City Council lobbied to retain the old Hospital facility as a "health campus." The hospital had been in operation for over a century, having be...
1908Government
In 1908, North Takoma Hotel was bought by Louis Denton Bliss, who turned it into Bliss Electrical School.
1950Civil Rights
From 1950 to 1964, during the era of legally-required racial segregation of schools, black students from the PG County section of Takoma Park attended Fairmont Heights High Scho...
1951Architecture
All five houses were constructed in 1951, are identical in their layout and construction, and were designed by Charles M.
1968History
Prior to the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, restrictive covenants were used in Takoma Park to exclude African Americans, Jews, and others.
1976Government
Much of the old town Takoma Park was incorporated into the Takoma Park Historic District; listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
1978Government
It has been in existence since 1978, founded by Sam Abbott, former mayor of the city and civil-rights activist.
1981History
In 1981, Takoma Park passed the Rent stabilization Law, which limits the rent increase to a percentage set by the city and applies to all individual condominium units and multi-...
1983History
The deed of each of the original houses prohibited alcohol from being made or sold on the property, a prohibition that continued in the city until 1983.
1989Culture
For many decades Takoma Park served as the world headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, until it moved to northern Silver Spring in 1989.
1991Government
=== Voting ===
In the November 5, 1991, election the voters approved a referendum (1,199 for and 1,107 against) to change the Takoma Park City Charter "to permit residents of Ta...
1993Government
For instance, Takoma Park has allowed non-U.S.-citizen residents to vote in its own municipal elections since 1993, and has lowered the voting age for city elections to 16.
1995History
=== Late 20th and early 21st century ===
Before 1995, the eastern boundary of the city of Takoma Park was in Prince George's County, Maryland, causing the community to be divide...
2000History
=== 2000 census ===
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,299 people, 6,893 households, and 3,949 families residing in the city.
2003Government
The municipal center, which includes the Takoma Park City Hall, Citizens Center and the Takoma Park Maryland Library, was expanded into a community center from 2003–2007.
2005Government
citizens to vote in Takoma Park elections."
In the 2005 election, an advisory referendum to adopt instant-runoff voting (IRV, also called "ranked choice voting") for municipal e...
2006Government
In 2006, the City Council amended the City Charter to incorporate IRV, making Takoma Park one of a small but growing number of municipalities across the nation to adopt IRV (and...
2007History
As of 2007, the Free Burma Committee is inactive.
2008History
In 2008, the city unanimously approved a resolution to oppose foie gras.
2009Government
In the 2009 election, Takoma Park used the Scantegrity voting system.
2010History
== Demographics ==
=== 2010 census ===
As of the census of 2010, there were 16,715 people, 6,569 households, and 3,904 families residing in the city.
2013Government
Since 2013, residents of Takoma Park can vote in municipal elections when they turn sixteen.
2016History
The hyper-local neighborhood station will be identified on the air as WOWD-LP, 94.3FM, and has plans to debut in mid-2016.
2017Government
In 2017, the Takoma Park City Council changed the City Charter to schedule City elections in even numbered years (called "Election Synchronization") beginning in 2020.
2020Government
In 2020, Takoma Park held its first ever vote-by-mail election, with 6549 ballots counted, more than 2 1/2 times the number of votes in the 2015 and 2017 elections.
2022Government
The current mayor of Takoma Park (the 24th) is Talisha Searcy (mayor since 2022).
2023Infrastructure
== Economy ==
According to the City's fiscal year 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are the following.