Silver Spring is an urbanized, unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland _ the third most populated area in Maryland behind Baltimore and Columbia. The southernmost part of Silver Spring is a major business hub that lies at the north apex of Washington, D.C. The community has recently undergone a significant renaissance, with the addition of major retail, residential, and office developments.

As an unincorporated area, Silver SpringÍs boundaries are not officially defined. Residents of a huge swath of Montgomery County have Silver Spring mailing addresses. This area extends roughly from the Washington, D.C., Prince GeorgeÍs County, Maryland and Howard County, Maryland lines to the south, east and north, and Rock Creek Park and Plyers Mill Road to the west and north-west. These boundaries make Silver Spring larger in area than any city in Maryland except for Baltimore. Rock Creek Park passes along the west side of Silver Spring, and offers hiking trails, picnic grounds, and bicycling. Sligo Creek Park follows Sligo Creek through Silver Spring; it offers hiking trails, tennis courts, playgrounds and bicycling. The Silver Spring Metro Red Line Station provides easy commuting access. The zip codes for the neighborhood begin with 209.