Towson, Maryland

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Towson, Maryland
Image:Baltimore County Maryland Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Towson Highlighted.svg
Location of Towson, Maryland
Coordinates: 39°23′35″N 76°36′34″W / 39.39306, -76.60944
Country United States
State Maryland
County Baltimore
Area
 - Total 14.2 sq mi (36.8 km²)
 - Land 14.0 sq mi (36.4 km²)
 - Water 0.1 sq mi (0.4 km²)
Elevation 463 ft (141 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 51,793
 - Density 3,688.7/sq mi (1,424.2/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 21200-21299
Area code(s) 410
FIPS code 24-78425
GNIS feature ID 0591420

Towson is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 51,793 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Baltimore CountyGR6. It's also the largest unincorporated county seat in the United States.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

As provided on the Towson Chamber of Commerce website:

The community of Towson began about 1750 when two brothers, William and Thomas Towson, emigrated from Pennsylvania and started farming on Sater's Hill, to the northeast of York and Joppa Roads. In 1768 Thomas' son, Ezekiel built a large tavern at the crossroads, just north of where the Recher Theater is now. A small village called "Towsontown" began to grow around it, serving area farmers who traveled on York, Dulaney Valley, and Joppa Roads. In 1790, the Ridgely family completed the magnificent Hampton Mansion, then the largest home in America.[1] On the estate, other buildings were erected by the Chews, Shealeys, Schmucks, Phipps, Paynes, Lees, Bowens, Wares, and Bosleys. In 1839, Epsom Chapel became the first house of worship for the community. (It was demolished in 1950, making way for Towson Plaza, now Towson Town Center.) A new era began in 1854 when the Court House construction started and Towson officially became the Baltimore County Seat. Numerous buildings were built in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and styles, giving the community a distinctive 19th Century atmosphere that is still visible.[2]

[edit] Geography

Towson is located at 39°23′35″N, 76°36′34″W (39.392980, -76.609562)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 14.2 square miles (36.8 km²), of which, 14.0 square miles (36.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (1.06%) is water.

The community is located immediately north of Baltimore City, inside the Beltway (I-695), east of I-83 and along York Road. Its census boundaries include Pikesville to the west, Lutherville-Timonium and Hampton to the north, Parkville to the east, and Baltimore to the south.

Major neighborhoods in Towson include: Anneslie, Rodgers Forge, Stoneleigh, Wiltondale, Southland Hills, Hunt Crest Estates, East Towson, and West Towson. Ruxton, which lies to the west, is sometimes considered a part of Towson.

[edit] Climate

Lying north of the city of Baltimore, and at the southern edge of the Piedmont gives Towson an "in-between" climate, lying between the Humid subtropical climate zone to the south and the Humid continental climate zone to the north. Summers are hot and humid, with daytime highs reaching into the 90s in July and August. Spring and fall bring pleasant temperatures in the 60s and 70s with moderate rainfall. Winters are mild by American standards but can still include occasional snowfall and freezing rain, with typical highs just above 40 degrees and lows in the mid 20s. Annual rainfall totals 45 inches.

[edit] Demographics

Towson Population History
Census year Population
1960 19,000
1970 77,768*
1980 51,083
1990 49,445
2000 51,793
*Census Boundaries in 1970 extended beyond the community proper

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 51,793 people, 21,063 households, and 11,331 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,688.7 people per square mile (1,424.3/km²). There were 21,997 housing units at an average density of 1,566.6/sq mi (604.9/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 69.9% White, 7.53% African American, 0.20% Native American, 7.30% Asian, 1.9% Hispanic, and 0.60% Pacific Islander.

There were 21,063 households out of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.2% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 17.4% under the age of 18, 17.5% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $53,775, and the median income for a family was $75,832. Males had a median income of $49,554 versus $38,172 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $32,502. About 2.5% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Transportation

See also: Roads in Towson, Maryland

The primary mode of transportation in Towson is the automobile. The streets are wide and, with the exception of the downtown area, shops and restraurants have their own free parking for customers. Towson is accessible from I695 (Baltimore Beltway), exits 25 through 29B.

[edit] Public Transportation

The Towson area has several bus lines operated by the Maryland Transit Administration. These include:

  • Route 8, which operates along York Road to Lutherville and downtown Baltimore
  • Route 11, which serves the Charles Street corridor and GBMC hospital
  • Route 55, which operates cross-county service to Parkville, Overlea, Rosedale, and Essex
  • Route 3, which serves the Loch Raven Boulevard corridor, with selected trips along Joppa Road.

Towson also has Baltimore Light Rail service to downtown Baltimore and BWI Airport along its periphery via the Lutherville and Falls Road stops.

Towson University and Goucher College also operate bus services for their students, and the Collegetown Shuttle has several stops in the area.

[edit] Education

[edit] Public schools

Image:Towson High School.jpg
Towson High School

Towson is served by the Baltimore County Public Schools district, and the Baltimore County Board of Education headquarters is located here as well. There are three high schools. Towson High School, was the first secondary school founded and is Towson's largest, while Loch Raven High School dates from 1972. The Carver Center for Arts and Technology is a local magnet school.

Towson University is a public school in southern Towson. With 18,000 students it is part of the University System of Maryland. North of downtown is a small private liberal arts school, Goucher College which was founded in 1885 as The Woman's College of Baltimore, the sister school to Johns Hopkins University.

[edit] Private schools

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[edit] Notable residents and natives

[edit] Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Towson, Maryland: A Great Place to Live, Work & Play!—A Synopsis of Towson, MD. Towson Chamber of Commerce.
  2. ^ Towson Chamber of Commerce.

[edit] External links

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