Cottage City is "United in Diversity"
Cottage City is a small Maryland community of just over 1,000 residents. Though it borders Washington, D.C., it’s known for being a quiet refuge from the busy city. The neighborhood was established due to its proximity to Harrison’s Landing, a deep-water port in the Anacostia River. Goods imported to the port were then sent to Moyer’s Grist Mill, the first mill of its kind between Baltimore and Alexandria, Virginia. But Cottage City has evolved from a mill town to a diverse community with small cottage-style houses, alluding to the neighborhood’s name. The neighborhood’s motto is “United in Diversity,” and Cottage City Town Manager Michael Fowlkes says, “We have a mix of races, everyone comes from different walks of life. It’s very neighborly.”
Cottage City Community Garden, Cottage City Park and more
The Cottage City Community Garden has been a community hub since 2010, where residents can rent a plot and grow fruits and vegetables alongside their neighbors. And there have been recent renovations. Bees in the back corner have received new hives and homes, a renovated fence keeps pesky animals from eating produce, there’s a new cistern and rainwater system and a hoop house that maintains plants during colder months in a warm, safe environment. The riverside Cottage City Park spans 5.5 acres and gives locals a space to get active, with tennis courts, paved walking trails, a basketball court and a new playground. From here, the Anacostia Tributary Trail leads to Colmar Manor Community Park, which offers a playground, tennis courts, basketball courts and ball fields where local leagues play games. It spills into Anacostia River Park, which has the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, creating an expansive outdoor experience.
Cottage City Day and Children’s Winter Festival
Residents gather once a year to celebrate Cottage City’s founding during Cottage City Day. Vendors line the streets, live music floats through the air and residents enjoy a lot of food. “It brings out a lot of residents,” Fowlkes says. Around the holidays, Santa visits kids at the Children’s Winter Festival, bringing them all a gift.
Cottage-style homes
As the name suggests, Cottage City’s homes are small – bungalows, Cape Cods and American Foursquare properties line the narrow streets. Cars are parked on the curb, and above-ground powerlines cast shadows onto narrow concrete sidewalks. Potential homebuyers can find a two-bedroom, one-bathroom property here for about $250,000, while larger four-bedroom, three-bathroom homes with updated interiors can cost up to $600,000.
Prince George’s County Public Schools
Students are zoned for Prince George’s County Public Schools. They can attend Rogers Heights Elementary School, William Wirt Middle School and Bladensburg High School, all of which receive C-minus scores from Niche. Bladensburg High School has an award-winning Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps that helps students develop a sense of self-discipline, character, and personal responsibility. It also prepares them for successful careers in the military, if desired but not required.
Amenities in nearby Colmar Manor and along Rhode Island Avenue
Cottage City is almost entirely residential, so locals must travel outside their neighborhood to eat out or get groceries. Directly south, in Colmar Manor, there’s a Compare Foods of Colmar Manor grocery store, and 3 miles to the west, residents can get ingredients for dinner from Giant Food. The bustling Rhode Island Avenue, peppered with local businesses, is within walking distance. Little Miner Taco, known for its authentic Mexican platters and quick service and Dodah’s Kitchen, a spot that puts a vegan twist on class soul food dishes like mac n’ cheese and barbecue ribs, are some popular spots to dine out.
Bordering Washington, D.C.
The neighborhood borders Washington, D.C., and locals can get to the city's heart by car using Rhode Island Avenue. Or, to reach the nation’s capital using public transit, locals can hop on a bus on Bladensburg Road, which leads to the Rhode Island Avenue and Takoma Metro stations.
Photography Contributed By
Jack Adams
