Takoma Park is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Washington, and part of the Washington metropolitan area. Founded in 1883 and incorporated in 1890, Takoma Park, informally called “Azalea City ”, is a Tree City USA and a nuclear-free zone. A planned commuter suburb, it is situated along the Metropolitan Branch of the historic Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, just northeast of Washington, and it shares a border and history with the adjacent D.C. neighborhood of Takoma. It is governed by an elected mayor and six elected council members, who form the city council, and an appointed city manager, under a council-manager style of government. The city’s population was 17,629 at the 2020 census.

Since 2013, residents of Takoma Park can vote in municipal elections when they turn sixteen. It was the first city in the United States to extend voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds in city elections. Since then, the City of Hyattsville has followed suit.

Takoma Park sits on the edge of the Mid-Atlantic fall line and is thus quite hilly, with many narrow, gridded streets. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.09 square miles (5.41 km2), of which, 2.08 square miles (5.39 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water. Sligo Creek and Long Branch (both tributaries of the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River) flow through the area. Sligo Creek Park and the 9-mile (14 km) Sligo Creek Trail bisect the area. The main street, Carroll Avenue, and the main state highway, Route 410/East West Highway, narrow to two lanes within city limits. Takoma Park has an extensive hardwood tree canopy which is protected by local ordinance.

Takoma Park is bounded by downtown Silver Spring, a major urban center to the northwest, by Montgomery College campus; East Silver Spring, a community of houses, apartments and small shops, along Flower Avenue and Piney Branch Road, to the north; Langley Park, a community of apartments and shopping centers, along University Boulevard to the northeast; Chillum, in Prince George’s County to the southeast, bounded by New Hampshire Avenue, a state highway; and Takoma to the southwest, separated by Eastern Avenue, which follows the District of Columbia line.

The corner of Eastern and Carroll Avenues roughly marks the center of the old commercial district. Other town centers include: “Takoma Junction”, the corner of Carroll Avenue and Route 410 in the geographic center of town, home to the city’s large food co-op; Takoma-Langley Crossroads in downtown Langley Park, and the Flower shopping district, both of which are home to many immigrant-owned establishments. Takoma Park’s municipal center is located at the corner of Maple Avenue and Route 410. Washington Adventist University marks the corner of Carroll and Flower Avenues.

Takoma Park is a great place for lovers of the outdoors and nature with many parks and recreation areas. Silver Spring Intermediate Neighborhood Park is a 4-acre urban park with tennis courts, multi-use fields, a playground & peaceful green spaces. Belle Ziegler Park is a lovely community park. And Becca Lilly Neighborhood Park is a good park for families and children. 

Great schools are another feature of living in Takoma Park. Highly rated schools in Takoma Park include Takoma Park Elementary School, Takoma Park Middle School, Piney Branch Elementary School, Takoma Academy, Carole Highlands Elementary School, Takoma Montessori School, Takoma Academy Preparatory School, Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School, Takoma Park Cooperative Nursery School, Takoma Park Campus, SMA House of Studies, Montgomery College, Botev Academy Bulgarian School, Richards Hall, Estrellitas Montessori Takoma, Takoma Park Child Development Center, and Pavilion Four.

Takoma Park is known as a great place for foodies and is full of great restaurants 

including Republic, Cielo Rojo Restaurant, Seoul Food D.C., Kin Da, Trattoria da Lina, Mark’s Kitchen, Roscoe’s Pizzeria, Los Pollos Restaurant, Olive Lounge & Grill, and Mansa Kunda Restaurant. 

Takoma Park is a great location for shopping with destinations. Takoma Park Shopping Center, District Plaza Shopping Center, Takoma Park Plaza, Hey, Beauty Island beauty supply, Tabletop, The Covered Market,  Amano, Discount Mart, and Capital Stores Ⅱ, Inc.