Camp Springs

Mid-19th century. Picture the bustling crossroads of Branch Avenue and Allentown Road. This is the birthplace of Camp Springs, Maryland. Camp Springs isn’t an official post office. Mail is routed through neighboring towns like Temple Hills and Fort Washington. The name “Allentown” appears on early maps, a nod to the influential Allen family who owned much of the land. Allenwood Elementary School also carries their name. But the name Camp Springs stuck. Legend says soldiers traveling to Fort Meade from Washington D.C. found the area’s plentiful springs ideal for camping. Camp Springs remained relatively quiet until the mid-20th century. The establishment of Andrews AFB nearby, combined with post-World War II housing shortages, transformed Camp Springs into a desirable residential area. Development boomed in the 1940s and 50s, north of the original crossroads. Names like Glenn Hills, Middleton Farm, and Middleton Valley sprung up. Guy Trueman, a prolific developer, added Trueman Heights to the mix. The 1950s saw continued growth. Westchester Estates, with its 400+ homes and winding streets, became a significant addition. Commercial development followed along Allentown Road. However, the original Camp Springs crossroads, once a hub of activity, disappeared. The expansion of Branch Avenue into a divided highway and the surge in construction erased this historic landmark. Pyles Lumber Company, a fixture at the crossroads since the 19th century, met a tragic end in a fire in 2000. Today, Camp Springs is a vibrant community, its history intertwined with the military, the Allen family, and those refreshing springs that gave it its name.