From a 1714 land grant to a wealthy Washington suburb

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Long before it became a high-income enclave, this Maryland community was a rural crossroads. Tracing its evolution from an 18th-century frontier settlement to a modern suburban hub reveals how shifting postal needs and mid-century expansion reshaped the landscape.

The foundations of Potomac, Maryland, were laid in 1714 when Edward Offutt received a 600-acre land grant known as Clewerwell from Lord Baltimore. Located beside the Tehogee Indian Trail, this initial colony sat on a path created by the Canaze Native American nation during 1716. During the 18th century, travelers and planters utilised this rural hub, then called 'Offutts Crossroads'.

By the 19th century, the community had expanded to include a tavern, established in 1820, and a small cluster of shops and a blacksmith. The community's current name is actually a result of administrative necessity. In 1881, John McDonald, an Irish Civil War veteran, petitioned to rename 'Offutts Crossroads' to 'Potomac.' He sought to avoid confusion with other local 'crossroads' and to satisfy postal officials who preferred shorter names.

The 20th century brought significant transformation. While residential growth began around the turn of the century—notably with Thomas Perry's 1902 house—the mid-to-late 20th century saw rapid suburbanization driven by proximity to Washington, D.C. This shift turned a farming community into a dense suburb, where 97.9% of the 47,018 residents now live in urbanized areas.

Today, the area is characterized by high property values and significant wealth, with a 2026 median property value of $1,016,000. While modern strip malls have replaced some original structures in Potomac Village, many historic farmhouses still dot the landscape, and the historic Perry Store remains, even after being moved 21 feet in 1986 to accommodate road widening.

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