Potomac Homes for Sale

The land that is now Potomac Village was first settled by Edward Offutt in 1714 after he received a 600-acre land grant “Clewerwell” from Lord Baltimore.  Throughout the 18th century, what became known as Offutts Crossroads was a small, rural community which served planters and travelers. In the 19th century, a few small dwellings had been built along with a tavern established in 1820. By the Civil War, the community contained two general stores, a blacksmith shop, and a post office which served a community of 100.

Offutts Crossroads became Potomac in 1881 and began to grow in the early 20th century, becoming a true bedroom community of Washington DC by the late 1950s. In the 1960s Potomac Falls and River Falls were developed, creating some of the most popular communities in Potomac.  Avenel joined the long list of desirable Potomac communities in the 1980s-1990s.

Potomac is further out than some other luxury communities such as Kenwood in Bethesda, but the many of the homes sit on even larger lots and offer valuable peace and quiet.

There are a number of excellent schools in Potomac, including Whitman High School and Wootton High School.  Potomac Elementary is popular for its Chinese immersion program.  Nearby private schools offer a wide range of choices including Holton Arms, Bullis, Landon, Primary Day, The German School, Holy Child and St. Andrew’s.  There are lots of good schools near the Potomac homes for sale.

Potomac Village offers several restaurants and bakeries, but you might want to check out Old Angler’s Inn with its great al fresco patio across from the parking lot for Wide Water and the C&O canal. If you want to visit a museum but don’t want to head back into DC, you should visit Glenstone,  a privately owned contemporary art museum holding a collection of about 1,300 works of art created post-World War II by artists from all over the world. The museum, set in a beautiful natural landscape, was established and funded by American businessman Mitchell Rales. The museum opened to the public on October 4, 2018 after Its largest expansion with new landscaping, outdoor sculpture installation and a new museum complex called the Pavilions.

For outdoor enjoyment, be sure to plan a trip to Great Falls with its spectacular views of the Potomac River and hikes along the Billy Goat Trail. The Billy Goat Trail is a 4.7-mile long hiking trail between the C&O Canal and the Potomac River. It is located near Great Falls in Montgomery County, Maryland, within the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. The trail is divided into three sections and was laid out in 1919 by the YMCA Triangle Club. Section A of the trail crosses Bear Island, through rough and rocky terrain that includes a steep climb along a cliff in the Mather Gorge on the Potomac River. At one point on this trail, hikers have to scramble over or around giant boulders. The other sections of the trail are much easier. Most of the trail is well marked. .The access to the trail is free, although there is an entrance fee to the park.

Have all these activities made you want to look at Potomac homes for sale?