The Smartest City

Although it may appear unremarkable at first glance, Bethesda, Maryland is the best-educated city in the U.S.

1 minute read

September 19, 2002, 9:00 AM PDT

"Maybe it's the advanced degrees, maybe it's the lawyers, but whatever it is, spending just a little time here makes it clear that Bethesda is not just another suburb. Throughout the history of political philosophy from Plato to Jefferson "rule by the wise" has been an ideal. But what really happens when all the smart kids start their own city? You get Bethesda, a slice of meticulously planned America, where the streets are immaculate, dogs get their own bakery, and upscale élan is a way of life."

Thanks to Chris Steins

FULL STORY: Smartest city: PhDs, planning, and pet bakeries

Wednesday, September 18, 2002 in The Christian Science Monitor

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

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