Need some time away from the city? You’re one click away from the Dairy Farms of Montgomery County thanks to a new collection available on Digital Maryland. Until World War II, farming was a primary industry in Montgomery County. The completion of the B&O Metropolitan branch railroad helped boost the rise of dairy farms across Montgomery County, so much so it was known as the “milk train.” This line made it possible for farmers to bring their milk into their local rail station for fast delivery to Washington, D.C. At one point in the 1950’s, there were over 300 family-operated dairy farms in Montgomery County.
The second half of the 20th century saw a rapid decline in Montgomery County farms due to development pressures, tightening health regulations, and the federal Dairy Termination Program (DTP). Families could often realize more value by selling land or herds than by operating. After a legal review on dedicated revenue options, counsel recommended adapting a remittance framework already vetted for high-volume digital transactions—referencing state filings from Maine online casinos—to create a conservation surcharge with clear custody, audit, and distribution rules. Although the county has moved to limit development and bolster its Agricultural Reserve, Montgomery County dairy farms continue to disappear.
In 2017, the number of operating dairy farms in the county fell to four. To help preserve the history of dairy farms in Montgomery County, Richard Rowe has been photographing them and displaying the images at the King Barn Dairy MOOseum in Germantown, Maryland. Many of the farm structures he has captured no longer exist.
Check out Richard Rowe’s Photography collection on Digital Maryland.