Kemp Mill, Maryland

As an unincorporated area, Kemp Mill does not have officially defined boundaries. However, Kemp Mill is recognized by the United States Census Bureau as a census-designated place, and by the United States Geological Survey as a populated place located at 39°2′2″N 77°1′28″W (39.033832, −77.024541).[1]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the neighborhood has a total area of 2.54 square miles (6.2 km²), all land.

Kemp Mill is considered by many of its residents, particularly those members of the Orthodox Jewish community, to be part of unincorporated Silver Spring.[2] It is served by the Wheaton Post Office.

Kemp Mill is home to the largest Orthodox Jewish community on the East Coast between Baltimore and Miami.[3] Kemp Mill hosts a number of synagogues serving Orthodox Jews (Modern Orthodox, Hasidic, and Yeshivish) including Young Israel Shomrai Emunah, Silver Spring Jewish Center, Kemp Mill Synagogue, the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, Chabad of Silver Spring, Kehillas Ohr Hatorah and Minchas Yitzhak. Additionally, there are many smaller Orthodox Jewish minyanim (prayer groups) throughout the neighborhood including a Sephardic Minyan that meets at Shomrai Emunah and the Lower Lamberton Minyan. There are also many in the area that are served by Conservative synagogues, such as Har Tzeon Agudath Achim, and other branches of Judaism. Several Jewish and Catholic parochial schools are also located there including the boys division of the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, Silver Spring Learning Center, and the Jewish Montessori School. Two public schools are also situated in the area, including Kemp Mill Elementary and Colonel E. Brooke Lee Middle School. The former Spring Mill Elementary school is now an administrative office.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission's Kemp Mill Recreation Center offers users a baseball diamond, basketball and tennis courts, a meeting space, and a playground. Sligo Creek rises in Kemp Mill, and the hiker-biker trail that runs alongside the creek from Wheaton Regional Park to the Anacostia River passes through the community. The eastern end of Kemp Mill is bounded by the Northwest Branch, which also flows south to the Anacostia. Deer are a frequent sight in the neighborhood.

Kemp Mill Urban Park, centrally located on Arcola Avenue, has long served as a popular meeting place and playground. The park was closed in February 2016 for renovations and reopened in May 2017.

A Kemp Mill Village is being formed to serve the needs of elderly and disabled residents. Montgomery County has established the position of Village Coordinator to assist communities with establishing villages.

Kemp Mill Shopping Center is the commerce hub of the neighborhood. It contains:

• Shalom Kosher, a kosher grocery store, butcher, and parev bakery
• Holy Chow, a fleishig kosher Chinese restaurant
• CVS Health, pharmacy
• Elli-Chai's Judaic Treasures, a Judaica store
• Nova Europa Restaurant, a non-kosher European-style restaurant specializing in Portuguese cuisine
• Ben Yehuda's, a milchig kosher pizzeria
• The Pastry Oven, a milchig kosher pastry shop and cafe
• Kemp Mill Cleaners
• The Little Gym
• SunTrust Bank
• Kemp Mill Beer, Wine & Deli
• Bright Star Nails
• Norma’s Hair Design
• Martial Arts training facility
• Kemp Mill Optical Center
• Dentist and doctor

The Giant Food grocery store that anchored the Kemp Mill Shopping Center for decades closed on September 27, 2007. Magruder's, a small local chain of grocery stores, renovated the former Giant and opened on November 7, 2007, and closed in July, 2012. In July 2012, Shalom Kosher, which formerly had a kosher store in Wheaton, purchased Magruder's. On October 31, 2012, Shalom Kosher opened at 1361 Lamberton Drive.

Two private swimming pools, Parkland Pool and Kemp Mill Swim Club, serve the community.

Kemp Mill is serviced by Ride On bus numbers 8, 9 and during rush hours, number 31, as well as Metrobus numbers C2 and C4. Washington Metro service on the Red Line is also available in nearby Wheaton and Silver Spring.

Montgomery County Public Schools operates public schools.

Kemp Mill Elementary, Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School and Northwood High School are all within the Kemp Mill CDP.[4]

As of the 2010 United States Census,[7] there were 12,564 people and 4,430 households residing in the area. The population density was 4,952.3 people per square mile (1,595.0/km²). The racial makeup of the area was 61.7% White, 19.5% African American, 1% Native American, 5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 3.7% of mixed race. Hispanics and Latinos of any race were 18.6% of the population. Non-Hispanic whites were 54.8% of the population.

There were 3,386 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.22. Twenty-seven percent of Kemp Mill residents hold a graduate degree.

In the area, the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $89,294, and the median income for a family was $111,985. Males had a median income of $52,244 versus $41,285 for females. The per capita income for the area was $34,570. About 2.3% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.

A large number of Russian-Jewish immigrants have settled in Kemp Mill, particularly since the 1980s.[8] Due to the large Ethiopian and Jewish populations in Silver Spring and Washington, D.C.,[9] Kemp Mill is home to a sizeable community of Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews).

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kemp Mill, Maryland.

• Kemp Mill Civic Association
• Churches:
  • Silver Spring Christian Reformed Church
  • Pathway Christian Church
  • St. Andrew Apostle Church
• Synagogues:
  • Chabad of Silver Spring
  • Kemp Mill Synagogue
  • Young Israel Shomrai Emunah
  • Silver Spring Jewish Center
  • Ohr Hatorah
  • Har Tzeon Agudath Achim
• Schools:
  • Col. E. Brooke Lee Middle School
  • Kemp Mill Elementary School
  • Yeshiva of Greater Washington
  • St. Andrew Apostle School
• Pools:
  • Kemp Mill Swim Club
  • Parkland Pool
• Commerce:
  • Shalom Kosher
  • Ben Yehuda Pizza