Evening star., 1954-11-23

Predicting a population growth
Of a million for Metropolitan
Washington in the next quarter
Of Q century. DR.. Homer Hoyt
forecasts that the chief zones
OF growth" will be in Montgom-
cry. Prince Georges and Fairfax
Counties.
The counties rate Of growth
has helped make the Metropol-
itan Area the fourth fastest
growing region in the United
States. he said.
In his economic survey Of the
two Maryland counties he points
out that "Prince Georges County
has extensive vacant areas Inn
mediately adjoining the District
Of Columbia line on the east
and it will have large areas
quickly accessible to Washington
along the new Washington Bal
timore expressway and In areas
north Of Takoma Park and Col
lege Park"
OF Montgomery County, he
says. Extensive vacant areas
north of Wheaton will be settled
when the Washington Suburban
Sanitary Commission extends
sewer and water"
Percentage Of Growth.
Estimating populations in
1880 for the two counties, DR..
Hoyt calculated that Mont
gomery County will have 26 to
80 per cent of the future popu-
lation growth Of the Washington
Metropolitan Area" while Prince
Georges County "will have ~ to
IS per cent"
This, he said. will give Mont
gomery a population in 1880 Of
$50, ,000--as compared to 5000
in January of this year.
Prince Georges, DR.. Hoyt esti-
mated. viii have 100000 in 1880
las compared to 283. 900 at pres
ent.
Between April, 1850, and jan
uary. 1854. he said. Montgomery
led all Metropolitan Areas in it's
rate of increase" with a gain
of 500 per cent. Prince Georges
'had the greatest total sub
urban population and the great
est absolute gain" but followed
Montgomery In rate Of increase.
with 45,8 per cent.
Ample Land to Expand.
Declaring "there is ample land
available for any foreseeable
urban development in the two
counties" DR.. Hoyt warned that
"the pattern of urban growth is
closely related to both transpor-
ton lines and to utilities, espe-
cially sewer facilities"
He said "it is probable that
the opening Of new express high
ways will further accentuate this
development. and it may even
lead to the development Of new
u burban communities at a
greater distance from the City
Of Washington than any of the
present suburbs"
Describing population growth
to date. he said Wheaton has
increased Is times since 1920
and Bethesda 13 times"
Rockville and Colesville "are
beginning their period of rapid
growth, with peak rates of gain
from 1850 to 1854, increasing by
93.2 per cent and 1923 per cent
respectively" the report added.
DR.. Hoyt declared that go
per cent of the total popula-
tion in the densely settled urban
areas of Montgomery County is
in the Wheaton district. between
Rock Creek and Northwest
Branch"
"The density of population
within these areas averages o.
TOO per square mile In 1854"
he added. I'm the Bethesda
district. urban densities aver
ages considerably lower-7,200
per square mile in 1884"
Rockville Expands East.
The report said Rockville had
the most rapid increase in pop
ulation between 1850 and 1854"
in it's Eastern portion because
of drainage into the metropoli-
tan sewer system. Comparable
development of the west side
of Rockville must await the ex-
pansion of sewer facilities" he
said.
Pointing out that an areas
rate Of growth declines as it's
available land fills up, he fore
cast population gains by election
districts. He estimated a gain
of 66 per cent for Bethesda be-
tween 1850 and 1860, 1884 per
cent in the following decade and
5.86 per cent between 1870 to
1880.
He estimated a 102 per cent