[4] Cottage City is a small, quiet community lying between Eastern Avenue (the border with Washington), Brentwood, Colmar Manor, and the Anacostia River.

[5] Its history dates to pre-revolutionary America; old records indicate that the area was home to several of the Potomac River Indian tribes.

With the coming of European settlers, the area became noted for its deep-water Anacostia River port, known then as Harrison's Landing.

Cottage City and Moyer's Mill played a key role in the Battle of Bladensburg during the War of 1812.

American forces were repulsed in a bitter fight in Mr. Moyer's orchards, an event that resulted ultimately in the burning of the nation's capital.

During the post-Civil War years, President Ulysses S. Grant stayed at a summer retreat known as the Friendship House located in Cottage City.

"The Highlands" would feature cottages and villas on wide avenues, a good view, nominal taxes, and was close to Washington, D.C., the historic Bladensburg battlefield, spa spring, and dueling ground.

Consisting of one-story cottages with four rooms and no running water, the housing was attractive to veterans returning from World War I who needed economical homes which were ready to inhabit.

[7] The exorcism of Roland Doe, the story that was the basis for the 1971 novel and 1973 film The Exorcist, has its roots in Cottage City.

[8] In 1999, Cottage City, Bladensburg, and Colmar Manor were lauded by the Joint Center for Sustainable Communities for their collaboration with Prince George's County for the Port Towns Revitalization Initiative, which created a common Port Towns identity for the towns; encouraged businesses development through infrastructure and façade improvements; acquisition of historic properties and plans for their reuse; and reconstruction of the Bladensburg waterfront and marina.

Today, Cottage City is a small, ethnically mixed community with old cottage-style homes that sit on tree-lined streets.

The community is an active and enthusiastic partner with the county in the Port Towns Redevelopment Plan, an effort to revitalize the neighborhoods while preserving their historic heritages.

[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.25 square miles (0.65 km2), all land.

Prince George's County Police Department District 1 Station in Hyattsville serves Cottage City.