The Neighborhood
About Kemp Mill
Kemp Mill is a well-established residential community spanning 2.54 square miles in Silver Spring, Maryland, situated between Wheaton and downtown Silver Spring. The neighborhood takes its name from George Kemp, who purchased a grist and saw mill along what is now Kemp Mill Road in 1857—though milling at the site dates back to at least 1794.
The suburban community was developed primarily in the late 1950s by Kay Construction Company, led by Jack Kay and Harold Greenberg. Kemp Mill Estates and Kemp Mill Farms were among the first subdivisions, featuring the brick split-levels, ramblers, and colonials that define the neighborhood's character. Additional homes were built through the 1980s and 1990s on streets like Yeatman, Bromley, and Kersey roads.
Bordered by Wheaton Regional Park's 538 acres to the west and the Northwest Branch Stream Valley to the east, Kemp Mill offers exceptional access to trails, gardens, and green space. The neighborhood is well served by transit, with Wheaton and Silver Spring Metro stations nearby, and has developed into a walkable community where residents can reach shops, parks, and community amenities on foot.
A Name with History
A historical marker at 930 Randolph Road commemorates the Kemp Mill site. The mill operated for over a century, passing through multiple owners before the Kemp family ran it from 1857 to 1905. The mill burned in 1919, and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission acquired the property in 1957. During the 1830s, a small settlement called Claysville—including a store and tanyard—grew up around the mill.
