Nicknamed the "Gateway to the Nation's Capital, " Montgomery County is home to a number of federal agencies and a highly educated and affluent population that has grown increasingly diverse in recent years. Established in 1776, Montgomery County now consists of urban centers like Bethesda and Silver Spring, suburban neighborhoods like Wheaton, Germantown, and Potomac, and scenic rolling farmland interspersed with historic villages, like Brookeville and Barnesville. An additional 50, 000 acres of federal, state, and county parkland provide numerous recreational opportunities for its residents.