 The city is named for its founder, Christopher Clark Hyatt (1799–1884), who purchased his first parcel of land in the area in 1845.Hyatt opened a store and began mail delivery, officially naming the nascent community "Hyattsville" in his 1859 application to become postmaster.The community's location at the intersection of the Washington and Baltimore Turnpike (modern day ) and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad line made the land attractive for development.