Hillcrest Heights, Maryland

Hillcrest Heights is a census-designated place (CDP) in Prince George’s County, Maryland, situated immediately south of Washington, D.C., in the inner-ring suburbs of the nation’s capital. With a population of 15,793 as of the 2020 United States Census, it functions primarily as a residential suburb characterized by mid-20th-century planned neighborhoods, curvilinear streets, and a mix of single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments, serving as a commuter hub for federal workers and others employed in the nation’s capital. Despite having no incorporated government of its own, Hillcrest Heights maintains a strong neighborhood identity and is one of the most predominantly African American communities in the greater Washington metropolitan area.

Founding and History

The land underlying Hillcrest Heights has colonial roots. Much of the community was originally an estate, Colebrook, purchased in 1671 by Thomas Dent and William Hatton, and then in 1688 by Colonel John Addison. Colebrook Manor, the family homestead of the Addisons, was built in 1808, located in Oxon Run Valley, 2/5 of a mile southeast of the Washington, D.C. line.

The area’s development accelerated after World War II, transforming previously wooded farmland — once part of the 18th-century Colebrooke plantation — into a model of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-influenced suburban planning. In 1942, developer Anthony A. Carozza acquired nearly 800 acres east of Naylor Road and began platting subdivisions like Hillcrest Heights, Good Hope Hills, and Colebrooke, emphasizing affordable, modest-sized lots designed for returning veterans and federal workers. By 1948, the area’s population had surged from virtually none to several thousand, supported by infrastructure improvements like Branch Avenue upgrades and the 1950 opening of the South Capitol Street Bridge, enhancing commuter access.

Like many inner-ring suburban communities in the Washington region, Hillcrest Heights underwent a significant racial transition during the second half of the 20th century. In the 1950s and 1960s, a housing boom filled the community with working- and middle-class families, many of them African American as housing discrimination barriers fell and Black Washingtonians sought suburban alternatives. By the 1990 Census the community was already overwhelmingly African American, and that character has defined it ever since.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.4 square miles, all land. Hillcrest Heights borders the adjacent communities of Marlow Heights, Silver Hill, Suitland, and Glassmanor. The community lies just east of the District of Columbia line, in the southwestern portion of Prince George’s County. Branch Avenue (Maryland Route 5) and Iverson Street (Maryland Route 458) are the primary commercial arteries. Stations of the Metrorail Green Line are nearby. Also nearby are the U.S. Census Bureau in Suitland and, farther out, Joint Base Andrews and the Capital Beltway. The neighborhood is also convenient to Capitol Hill. The Naylor Road Metro station on the Green Line provides rail access to downtown Washington.

Demographics

The population was 15,793 at the 2020 census. For mailing address purposes, it is part of the community of Temple Hills and is also near Suitland. In 2023, Hillcrest Heights had a population of 15.7 thousand people with a median age of 41.2 and a median household income of $77,696. The five largest ethnic groups are Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) at 84.3%, followed by White (Non-Hispanic) at 4.92%, White (Hispanic) at 4.11%, and multiracial groups. The average annual household income in Hillcrest Heights was $86,496 in 2023. About 88.8% of residents live above the poverty line. The median property value in 2023 was $340,500, and the homeownership rate was 51.2%.

The community reflects a broader pattern seen across Prince George’s County’s inner suburbs: a solidly middle-class Black community with strong ties to federal employment and public-sector work. The most common employment sectors for residents of Hillcrest Heights are Educational Services (1,308 people), Public Administration (1,195 people), and Health Care & Social Assistance (956 people). The median construction year of homes in Hillcrest Heights is 1962, reflecting the community’s postwar suburban origins.

Government

As an unincorporated community and census-designated place, Hillcrest Heights has no independent municipal government. It is governed by Prince George’s County, which provides all public services. Hillcrest Heights falls within the 8th councilmanic district of the Prince George’s County Council and is represented in the Maryland General Assembly by legislators from the county’s southern legislative districts. Prince George’s County Police Department District 4 Station in Glassmanor CDP, with an Oxon Hill postal address, serves the community. At the federal level, Hillcrest Heights falls within Maryland’s 4th congressional district, which encompasses much of the inner-ring suburban communities south and east of Washington.

Economy

Hillcrest Heights functions primarily as a commuter residential community, with most working residents employed in Washington proper, at federal agencies, or at nearby government-related installations. Retail plays a vital role along major corridors like Pennsylvania Avenue and Branch Avenue, with chains employing hundreds in sales and management roles, supporting daily community needs and local economic circulation. Healthcare employment is anchored by regional facilities under the University of Maryland Capital Region Health system.

The community’s main commercial landmark is the Shops at Iverson (formerly Iverson Mall). Iverson Mall, a midsize two-level shopping mall which opened in 1967, serves shoppers from Maryland communities as well as from the Anacostia section of Washington. Adjacent to the mall is the older Marlow Heights Shopping Center. The mall has undergone significant repositioning in recent decades as traditional enclosed malls have struggled, transitioning to include a mix of national discount retailers, local businesses, and service tenants.

Education

The CDP is served by the Prince George’s County Public Schools district. Sections are served by Hillcrest Heights and Panorama elementary schools. All residents are zoned to Benjamin Stoddert Middle School. Most areas are zoned to Potomac High School with some zoned to Crossland High School. There is also a special education school, Jessie B. Mason Regional School, formerly Hillcrest Heights Special Center. Holy Family Catholic School, a Catholic pre-K to Grade 8 school, is in Hillcrest Heights. The school, on an 11-acre campus, opened in 1957.

Higher education is accessible at nearby institutions including Prince George’s Community College in Largo, the University of Maryland at College Park, and Howard University and Georgetown University in the District.

Culture and Landmarks

Hillcrest Heights’ built environment is defined by its mid-century housing stock. Hillcrest Heights consists mainly of single-family rambler homes and duplex homes built in the 1950s and 1960s. Streets follow the curvilinear layout typical of postwar suburban planning, with modest yards and mature tree canopies giving the community a settled, established feel. The community’s proximity to Washington — just across the DC line from the Anacostia neighborhood — means it participates in the cultural and civic life of the capital metro area while maintaining its own distinct suburban identity.

The Naylor Road Metro station provides direct Green Line service to downtown DC, the National Mall, and points north into the District. The U.S. Census Bureau in nearby Suitland and Joint Base Andrews further south are significant institutional presences in the broader area that shape local employment patterns.

The community’s African American character and history connect it to the broader story of Black suburbanization in Prince George’s County, which today is the most populous majority-Black county in the United States. Churches play an important civic and social role in Hillcrest Heights, as in many historically Black suburban communities in the region.

Notable People

Julian Peterson (b. 1978) — NFL linebacker who played for the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Detroit Lions; born in Hillcrest Heights.

At a Glance