Bethesda, Maryland

Bethesda, Maryland
From top: Bethesda Meeting House, Bethesda's Madonna of the Trail statue, the National Institutes of Health, downtown Bethesda near the Bethesda Metro station, Bethesda Avenue at night, Bethesda Theatre, and the Connie Morella Library.
From top: Bethesda Meeting House, Bethesda's Madonna of the Trail statue, the National Institutes of Health, downtown Bethesda near the Bethesda Metro station, Bethesda Avenue at night, Bethesda Theatre, and the Connie Morella Library.
Boundaries of Bethesda CDP from U.S. Census Bureau
Boundaries of Bethesda CDP from U.S. Census Bureau
Location of Bethesda in Montgomery County, Maryland
Location of Bethesda in Montgomery County, Maryland
Coordinates: 38°59′5″N 77°6′47″W / 38.98472°N 77.11306°W / 38.98472; -77.11306
CountryUnited States
StateMaryland
CountyMontgomery
Area
 • Total13.33 sq mi (34.52 km2)
 • Land13.26 sq mi (34.35 km2)
 • Water0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2)
Elevation
318 ft (97 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total68,056
 • Density5,131.65/sq mi (1,981.30/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
20800–20899
Area codes301, 240
FIPS code24-07125
GNIS feature ID0583184

Bethesda (/bəˈθɛzdə/) is an unincorporated, census-designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is located just northwest of Washington, D.C. According to the 2020 census, the community had a total population of 68,056.[2] It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House (1820, rebuilt 1849), which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda.[3] The National Institutes of Health's main campus and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center are in Bethesda, in addition to several corporate and government headquarters.

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  2. ^ "QuickFacts: Bethesda CDP, Maryland". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 17, 2021.
  3. ^ "Where Are You From? - Credo Reference". credoreference.com.