Lansdowne-Baltimore Highlands, Maryland

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Lansdowne-Baltimore Highlands is a census-designated place (CDP) in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The census area is made up of the unincorporated communities of Lansdowne and Baltimore Highlands. The population was 15,724 at the 2000 census.

Location of Lansdowne-Baltimore Highlands, Maryland

1 History
2 Transit
3 Geography
4 Demographics
5 External links

[edit] History

In the late 1800s the Whitaker Iron Co. mined for ore in Lansdowne. Abandoned pits from the mining were filled up by underground springs creating small ponds and lakes. Lansdowne was mostly farmland including the Kessler farm, MacLeod farm and Wades farm. The name Lansdowne came from the British who named it after the Prime Minister William Petty, the Marquess of Lansdowne.

When the railroad came Lansdowne became known as a B&O town. Most people worked for B&O, commuting by train into Baltimore City. The first station was named Coursey Station. The current Coursey Station senior housing center takes its name from this.

The two main roads were Hammonds Ferry Road and Hollins Ferry Road, both of which led to the Patapsco River where you could take a ferry across to the other side.

Early churches included the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, St. Clement's Catholic Church, Lansdowne United Methodist Church, Lansdowne Christian Church and the First Baptist Church. The site of the original wooden school house was on the property that is now St. Clement's.

In the area known as Baltimore Highlands is a legendary mansion called English Consul. The land and house were owned by William Dawson, the first English Consul to Maryland. One legend claims that Dawson had a brother who was transported from England to America in disgrace. Each year he was to receive a whip lashing as punishment for the crime he had committed. This took place on the English Consul estate. Another legend has it that the mansion was a stop on the Underground Railroad before the Civil War. In 1909 a developer purchased the estate. It was eventually divided into the areas known as Baltimore Highlands, Rosemont, Friendship Gardens and the small section still called English Consul.

In the 1950s housing developments sprang up in the Baltimore Highlands and Riverview areas. Schools were built for these neighborhoods. In Lansdowne the Lansdowne Elementary School, Lansdowne Junior High (middle school) and Lansdowne Senior High were known as the "Golden Education Triangle".

In the early 1960s the B&O closed the railroad crossing and Lansdowne Boulevard was constructed, connecting Lansdowne to Washington Boulevard, bridging over the railroad tracks. A tunnel was also constructed under the tracks for pedestrian crossing. Some old railroad cars were erected as a museum and shopping area alongside Hammonds Ferry Road and the railroad tracks.

In the 1980s Baltimore County Recreation and Parks opened a large parcel of land for public use. Southwest Area Park is located on the Patapsco River just below Baltimore Highlands.

A small library was built by Baltimore County in 1966, on Third Avenue. In 1993 the Lansdowne Library was closed due to budget cutbacks. The building is now used as the Southwest Community Center and serves the area's needs for adult education and other county services. In 1989 the Lansdowne/Baltimore Highlands Senior Center was built directly behind the library building. In 2006 the Library was reopened.

Source: Baltimore County Public Library

[edit] Transit

The Baltimore Light Rail passes through the community, with a stop in Baltimore Highlands.

[edit] Geography

Lansdowne-Baltimore Highlands is located at 39°14′20″N, 76°39′4″W (39.238782, -76.651246)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 11.1 km² (4.3 mi²). 10.6 km² (4.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (4.21%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 15,724 people, 5,796 households, and 4,190 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,480.7/km² (3,836.8/mi²). There were 6,041 housing units at an average density of 568.9/km² (1,474.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 75.70% White, 18.37% African American, 0.36% Native American, 1.86% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.74% from other races, and 1.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.54% of the population.

There were 5,796 households out of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 24.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $37,160, and the median income for a family was $41,559. Males had a median income of $33,244 versus $22,906 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,348. About 12.7% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.