Silver Spring is an unincorporated area of Maryland. It is the second most populated area in the state, after Baltimore, with an estimated population of 76,540 as of 2000. The exact boundaries of this area are defined different by various government and business entities; however, it is most commonly referred to as a city.
There are many neighborhoods within the area, though they are split into two different locations: inside and outside the central area of Silver Spring. There are many parks in the area, including Rock Creek Park which is very popular during the weekend with its hiking trails, picnic grounds, and bicycling paths. Sligo Creek Park, Acorn Park, Jesup Blair Park, and Brookside Gardens are also outdoor areas open to the public.
Silver Spring is served by a county-wide public school systems, which include eight high schools. There are also several colleges that have parts of campuses that lie within the unincorporated area; Montgomery College, the community college, the National Labor College, and Howard University.
There are no major league franchises held to the city. There have been some smaller teams that have played here, such as the Silver Spring Saints, a football club formed in 1995 that competes in the Capital Beltway League, but the league was discontinued soon after. Silver Spring is home to roughly 10 MCSL swim teams.