Bethesda, Maryland

Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda Urban Partnership, Inc.
From top: Bethesda Meeting House, Bethesda's Madonna of the Trail statue, the National Institutes of Health, downtown Bethesda near the Bethesda Metro station, Bethesda Avenue at night, Bethesda Theatre, and the Connie Morella Library.
Boundaries of Bethesda CDP from U.S. Census Bureau
Location of Bethesda in Montgomery County, Maryland
Coordinates: 38°59′5″N 77°6′47″W / 38.98472°N 77.11306°W / 38.98472; -77.11306
Country United States
State Maryland
County Montgomery
Government
  TypeManagement organization with county sanction
  Executive directorJeff Burton
  Marketing and communications directorStephanie Coppula
  Finance and operations directorJeff Oyer
  Field operations managerEli Banks
  Office managerChiqui Laboy
Area
  Total
13.33 sq mi (34.52 km2)
  Land13.26 sq mi (34.35 km2)
  Water0.07 sq mi (0.17 km2)
Elevation
354 ft (108 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
68,056
  Density5,131.65/sq mi (1,981.30/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
20800–20899
Area codes301, 240
FIPS code24-07125
GNIS feature ID2389206

Bethesda (/bəˈθɛzdə/) is an unincorporated, census-designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. Located just northwest of Washington, D.C., it is a major business and government center of the Washington metropolitan region and a national center for medical research. According to the 2020 census, the community had a population of 68,056.