District Heights

Originally farmland, District Heights holds a unique charm. District Heights began as a vision of Major Leander P. Williams. He owned the land comprising four Lord Baltimore tracts: “Good Luck,” “Magruder’s Plains Enlarged,” “the Levels,” and “Offutt’s Adventure.” These tracts had a rich history, once belonging to prominent figures like Colonel Ninian Beall, Benjamin Berry, and Alexander Magruder under grants from King Charles I. District Heights sprouted from these historical roots. In 1925, a significant portion of Williams’ farm was purchased. This formed the District Heights Company, spearheaded by a group of entrepreneurs including Joseph Tepper and Simon Gerber. The Dustin brothers, Walter and Al, farmed the land. Their farmhouse stood at 7116 Foster Street, a landmark of the town’s agricultural beginnings. By 1926, District Heights was a budding community. Around 25 homes were built. Two businesses, a grocery store and a filling station, served the residents. A pump house and water tower provided essential utilities. A sewage system and a free Model T bus service to 17th and Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E. connected District Heights to the wider world. District Heights officially became a town in 1936, recognized by the Maryland General Assembly. The 1940s saw a housing boom in District Heights. Developers built affordable, single-family Cape Cod style houses. Financing from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) made these homes accessible to federal employees and returning World War II veterans. This expansion continued in 1946. New York builder Samuel R. Rosoff purchased the remaining undeveloped land. He established Washington Estates, Inc. This added more homes, including garden apartments, to District Heights. Today, District Heights boasts a population nearing 6,000. It’s a mix of historical charm and modern amenities. District Heights stands as a testament to its agricultural origins and its evolution into a thriving community.