Damascus, Maryland

== History ==
The area currently known as Damascus was granted by the new U.S. state of Maryland to Nathaniel Pigman in 1783. On February 14, 1819, [[War of 1812]] veteran Edward Hughes bought a {{convert|40|acre|m2|adj=on}} section of the grant and began subdividing lots for sale. [[James Madison]], the fourth U.S. president, appointed Hughes postmaster of the developing community of Damascus in 1816.<ref name="Offutt">{{cite book   | last = Offutt | first = William |author2=Sween, Jane | title = Montgomery County: Centuries of Change | publisher = American Historical Press | year = 1999 | pages = 165}}</ref> Hughes received permission from Congress for a [[Post road|postal route]] through the town. Hughes called his town "The Pleasant Plains of Damascus" after [[Damascus|Damascus, Syria]]. A newspaper in [[Frederick, Maryland|Frederick]] wrote of Hughes's growing town: "There is at this place an extensive opening for mechanics of all the different kinds, and it bids fair to improve very fast; ... There is at present two blacksmith shops, a saddler's shop and a store in the place -- a tailor, a wheel wright, and a shoemaker are much wanted, and would meet with great encouragement." This was the Damascus of 1816. The new township drew settlers from [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel County]] as well as from Montgomery County. On September 12, 1862, U.S. Army troops marched through the "village" of Damascus via what is now Route 27 on their way to the town of [[Sharpsburg, Maryland|Sharpsburg]], where they engaged Confederate troops commanded by General [[Robert E. Lee]] at the [[Battle of Antietam]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}}

The town was incorporated from 1890 until 1914, when the townspeople requested the incorporation be withdrawn so that Old Quaker Road, used since [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary]] times and before, could be paved into a state highway. The town remains a commercial center for rural communities like Clagettsville, Browningsville, Cedar Grove, Woodfield, King's Valley, Purdum, and Lewisdale, although it is more developed today.<ref name="Offutt"/>

In spite of spiraling population growth and encroaching urban development, old-timers feel like Damascus retains its rural, small-town character. The Damascus Community Fair—a fully agricultural fair that has been in operation since 1940—attracts thousands of visitors annually in the first weekend of September. [[4-H]] clubs and equestrian centers have retained their popularity in the area.{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}}

November 17, 2009 marked the grand opening of the Damascus Heritage Society Museum.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}

Damascus was Maryland's last [[dry county|dry town]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://wtop.com/news/2012/03/damascus-mds-last-dry-town-may-get-a-drink/|title=Damascus, Md.’s last dry town, may get a drink|date=March 16, 2012|work=WTOP}}</ref> until 2013, when townspeople passed a bill by referendum to allow the sale of beer and wine.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hendrix|first=Steve|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/in-montgomery-dry-damascus-prepares-to-embrace-beer-and-wine/2013/01/06/a362a1ac-447e-11e2-8e70-e1993528222d_story.html|title=In Montgomery, dry Damascus prepares to embrace beer and wine|date=January 6, 2013|work=The Washington Post}}</ref>

In 2017, Damascus parents and teachers raised funds to paint the town's [[water tower]] with the green-and-gold "D" logo displayed on the high school football helmets, as a way to honor the prestigious football team and turn the formerly plain-looking tower into an iconic town landmark. The tower can be seen from all around Damascus, and from the high school football field. Initially, the organizers planned to use the school's Swarmin' Hornet mascot, but [[Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets|Georgia Tech]] did not allow them to because of its similarity to their trademarked yellow-jacket logo.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Trull|first=Armando|url=https://wamu.org/story/17/07/06/georgia-techs-buzz-bests-damascus-high-swarmin-hornets-fight-logo-rights/|title=Georgia Tech’s Buzz Bests Damascus High Swarmin’ Hornets In Fight Over Logo Rights|date=July 6, 2017|work=WAMU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Chason|first=Rachel|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/no-swarmin-hornet-on-damascus-water-tower-but-a-d-will-be-added-to-show-school-spirit/2017/07/08/79c234ae-63f8-11e7-84a1-a26b75ad39fe_story.html|title=No Swarmin’ Hornet on Damascus water tower, but a ‘D’ will be added to show school spirit|date=July 8, 2017|work=The Washington Post}}</ref>