The historic Chevy Chase area was developed in “modern” times by sections, each section being given a number. Chevy Chase Section 5 took form as a formal entity through the efforts of a small group of residents who met in 1916 to discuss their concerns about the lack of street lighting and other matters pertaining to the welfare of the neighborhood. Thus was born the Section 5 Chevy Chase Citizen’s Association complete with constitution, by-laws, and dues set at $4 a year.

In 1922, Chevy Chase Section 5 became a Special Taxing District chartered by the Maryland General Assembly. Under that status, there was a five-member volunteer council to set policy and a part-time salaried manager to take care of the day-to-day administrative matters of the town. Section 5 functioned in this manner until 1982, at which time the residents petitioned the Montgomery County Council to become an incorporated municipality. With incorporation approved, the governing structure of the new municipality remained the same as it was under the Special Taxing District.

It is likely that the name Chevy Chase derives from a popular Scottish/English poem, “Ye Cheviat Chays Ballade” from a collection called “Reliques of Ancient Poetry.” It commemorates the Battle of Otterburn in 1388, which resulted from a feud between English and Scottish Lords over who had rights to the hunting grounds, or chase, of a Northumberland forest called Cheviat. Centuries later on a distant continent, Colonel Joseph Belt must have recalled the poem when he chose the name “Cheivy Chace” for the 560 acres of rolling Maryland woodland he was granted by Lord Baltimore.

Today, Section 5 is a small, quiet community of 223 houses and one restaurant. Trees line the quiet streets where children can be heard laughing as they play in the rear yards—and even on the streets. It is a town known for its friendly neighborhood atmosphere. The annual 4th of July parade led by a Chevy Chase fire engine is the highlight of the summer. The morning parade of costumed bicyclists, tri-cyclists, roller-bladers, and walkers makes its way through the streets and stops at Williams Lane for patriotic songs, refreshments, and games. The stop on Williams Lane is at one of the oldest houses in Chevy Chase. The house was built by Richard Williams in 1868 for his daughter, Bettie. It is now the residence of Irene Emmet.

The majority of homes in Section 5 were built before the Second World War and were designed and constructed by local architects and builders. Seventeen homes have been identified as having features of possibly historic significance and have been nominated for listing on the Montgomery County Historic Register. From its very beginning, Section 5 has been the type of place that home hunters seek out. It continues to attract people who are looking for a friendly, peaceful place, even if for many it means a tedious commute to work in Washington, D.C.