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Working out of his wagon in the 1730s, the peddler from Lancaster County, Pa., set up shop at the wooded intersection of two major Indian trails. There he swapped trinkets for furs he could send to Europe's wealthy markets.

As traffic picked up in the area, an entrepreneur named Michael A. Dowden saw his fortune — he built a 17-room hotel and tavern in 1754 near Clarke's post. Lt. George Washington and British Gen. Edward Braddock would stay at Dowden's in 1775 for three days (while soldiers camped on the snow-blown hillsides) on their march toward Fort Duquesne.

The town takes its name from Clarke's son, John, who in the early 1790s surveyed the town and laid it out in lots, including "villages" for industries like tanning and blacksmithing. In 1800, Clarke became the town's first postmaster. Over the years, the "e" was dropped from the family name and the town became Clarksburg.

By 1850 Clarksburg was the third-largest city in Montgomery County, behind Rockville and Poolesville. The town was booming with four general stores, two hotels, a school and even its own band, according to local author and historian Susan Soderberg.

Clarksburg began to decline in importance after the 1880s, when the B&O rails laid a path for the Brunswick line that bypassed Clarksburg and ran through nearby Boyds, four miles away. After the turn of the century, hotels and industries began to close.

Clarksburg is now undergoing major development. The current population of 6,500 is predicted to grow to almost 40,000 by 2025.

Local Organizations
Clarksburg Historical Society
P.O. Box 496
Clarksburg, MD 20871
301-253-3807
tlwfld@aol.com
Meets four times at month at Cedar Brook Community Church.

Clarksburg Helping Hands 4-H Club
14315 Lewisdale Road
Clarksburg, MD 20871
301-240-4621
Meets monthly at Cedar Brook Community Church.
dalejryan@yahoo.com

Clarksburg Seniors
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 369
Clarksburg, MD 20871
301-601-1668
Meets every Wednesday at Clarksburg Recreation Center, 22501 Wims Road, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Clarksburg Lions Club
301-253-3807
tlwfld@aol.com
Meets the fourth Thursday of the month at Cedar Brook Community Church, 23700 Stringtown Road, Clarksburg.

LOCAL EVENTS
Clarksburg Day
This community celebration is in its eighth year. The event is held the first Saturday in June and is sponsored by the Clarksburg Historical Society.
301-253-3807
tlwfld@aol.com

LOCAL SCHOOLS
The Clarksburg area is served by the Clarksburg cluster. For a full list of schools, see page 30.

FIRE STATIONS
The Clarksburg area is served by the Clarksburg, Germantown, Damascus, Gaithersburg-Washington Grove, Hyattstown and Upper Montgomery fire departments. For a full list of stations, see page 20.

POLICE
The area is served by the Fifth District police station in Germantown. For a full list of police stations, see page 11.

Civic Organizations
Clarksburg Civic Association
P.O. Box 325
Clarksburg, MD 20871
301-972-4724
Meets every fourth Monday at the Clarksburg ombudsman's office, 23201 Stringtown Road, Sept.-May.

Upcounty Citizens Advisory Board
Advises the county executive on upcounty needs. Meets once a month at the Upcounty Regional Services Center, 12900 Middlebrook Road, in Germantown.