Silver Spring is located inside of the I-495 beltway and just north of Washington, D.C. and is one of the most demographically diverse areas in Montgomery County and in the nation. For more than two decades, planners have been envisioning downtown Silver Spring as an urban center that provides a hub of activity for the surrounding residential communities and beyond. The downtown has evolved into a lively mix of shops, restaurants, offices and civic uses that draws visitors throughout the down county area, especially on weekends. Silver Spring features an active downtown that serves both the surrounding residential communities and a broader regional market.