Highlandtown, Baltimore
Encyclopedia
Highlandtown is a neighborhood of Baltimore
, Maryland
, United States
.
The area currently known as Highlandtown was established in 1866 when the area known as "Snake Hill" was established as a village outside of the Baltimore city limits. The first settlers of the community were primarily Greek American
s. In 1870 residents renamed the neighborhood "Highland Town" because of the views it offered over the city. The neighborhood was made part of Baltimore city in 1919.
The neighborhood today is bounded by Haven Street to the east, Baltimore Street to the north, Ellwood to the west, and Eastern Avenue
to the south. The long stretch of Eastern Avenue that runs through the neighborhood is notable as the Highlandtown's main commercial thoroughfare. The area was designated as a "Main Street District" by a previous mayor Martin O'Malley
, seeking to promote commercial revitalization through economic incentives from the National Main Street Program.
Highlandtown is one of Baltimore's traditional blue-collar neighborhoods, and for this reason was designated as part of the Patterson Park/Highlandtown Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places
. In Baltimorese
the neighborhood is pronounced "Hollantown". Historically one of the city's main commercial and industrial hubs, the neighborhood suffered a period of decline beginning in the 1970s as the manufacturing sector declined and department stores were replaced by shopping malls.
Modern Highlandtown is in transition. The Polish
, Italian
, Irish
, and Greek population are being augmented with a growing Latino community. The headquarters of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society
can be found on the northern edge of Highlandtown.
of 2005, there were 2,820 people residing in the neighborhood. The racial makeup of Highlandtown was 62.5% White, 16.9% African American, 2.1% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 5.5% from other races
, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.2% of the population. 67.8% of occupied housing units were owner-occuped. 14.5% of housing units were vacant.
52.0% of the population were employed, 5.0% were unemployed, and 42.7% were not in the labor force. The median household income was $28,813. About 14.8% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line.
, Creative Alliance at the Patterson, the new Southeast Anchor Library, Matthews Pizza, Santoni’s Market, Eastern House, G&A, John’s Groceries, Filippos Pizzeria, Spartan’s Pizzeria, The Baltimore Trophy House, The Baltimore Resettlement Center, North Pole, Bolewicki's Appliances, Gaffney's, Jacob's Athletic, The Markets at Highlandtown, Stella's Bridal, Tuxedo Zone, Hoehn's Bakery, Law Office of Dennis E. Cuomo, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Breath of God Lutheran Church, Abbott Memorial Presbyterian Church, Salem United Methodist Church, Nazareth Lutheran Church, Archbishop Borders School (formally known as Our Lady of Pompei School), Highlandtown Middle School, Baltimore Science Fiction Society
, DiPasquale's Deli and Marketplace, The Laughing Pint, Nicky's Carry Out, Vitamin, Schiavone Fine Art.
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The area currently known as Highlandtown was established in 1866 when the area known as "Snake Hill" was established as a village outside of the Baltimore city limits. The first settlers of the community were primarily Greek American
Greek American
Greek Americans are Americans of Greek descent also described as Hellenic descent. According to the 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimation, there were 1,380,088 people of Greek ancestry in the United States, while the State Department mentions that around 3,000,000 Americans claim to be of Greek descent...
s. In 1870 residents renamed the neighborhood "Highland Town" because of the views it offered over the city. The neighborhood was made part of Baltimore city in 1919.
The neighborhood today is bounded by Haven Street to the east, Baltimore Street to the north, Ellwood to the west, and Eastern Avenue
Maryland Route 150
Maryland Route 150 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as either Eastern Avenue or Eastern Boulevard, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 40 in Baltimore east to Graces Quarters Road in Chase in eastern Baltimore County. MD 150 connects Baltimore...
to the south. The long stretch of Eastern Avenue that runs through the neighborhood is notable as the Highlandtown's main commercial thoroughfare. The area was designated as a "Main Street District" by a previous mayor Martin O'Malley
Martin O'Malley
Martin Joseph O'Malley is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as the 61st Governor of Maryland. Previously, he served as the mayor of Baltimore from 1999 to 2007. He is currently the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.-Early life, education and career:O'Malley...
, seeking to promote commercial revitalization through economic incentives from the National Main Street Program.
Highlandtown is one of Baltimore's traditional blue-collar neighborhoods, and for this reason was designated as part of the Patterson Park/Highlandtown Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. In Baltimorese
Baltimorese
The Baltimore dialect, most popularly known as Baltimorese , is a dialect of American English in the Mid-Atlantic United States that originated among the White blue-collar residents of South and Southeast Baltimore...
the neighborhood is pronounced "Hollantown". Historically one of the city's main commercial and industrial hubs, the neighborhood suffered a period of decline beginning in the 1970s as the manufacturing sector declined and department stores were replaced by shopping malls.
Modern Highlandtown is in transition. The Polish
Polish American
A Polish American , is a citizen of the United States of Polish descent. There are an estimated 10 million Polish Americans, representing about 3.2% of the population of the United States...
, Italian
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
, Irish
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
, and Greek population are being augmented with a growing Latino community. The headquarters of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society
Baltimore Science Fiction Society
The Baltimore Science Fiction Society is a literary society focusing on science fiction, fantasy and related genres. A 501c3 literary society based in Baltimore, Maryland, the BSFS sponsors Balticon, the Maryland Regional Science Fiction Convention....
can be found on the northern edge of Highlandtown.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2005, there were 2,820 people residing in the neighborhood. The racial makeup of Highlandtown was 62.5% White, 16.9% African American, 2.1% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 5.5% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.2% of the population. 67.8% of occupied housing units were owner-occuped. 14.5% of housing units were vacant.
52.0% of the population were employed, 5.0% were unemployed, and 42.7% were not in the labor force. The median household income was $28,813. About 14.8% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line.
Hallmarks
Our Lady of Pompei Church, Patterson ParkPatterson Park
Patterson Park is a public park in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States. The park is bordered by East Baltimore Street on the north, Eastern Avenue on the south, South Patterson Park Avenue on the west, and South Linwood Avenue on the east...
, Creative Alliance at the Patterson, the new Southeast Anchor Library, Matthews Pizza, Santoni’s Market, Eastern House, G&A, John’s Groceries, Filippos Pizzeria, Spartan’s Pizzeria, The Baltimore Trophy House, The Baltimore Resettlement Center, North Pole, Bolewicki's Appliances, Gaffney's, Jacob's Athletic, The Markets at Highlandtown, Stella's Bridal, Tuxedo Zone, Hoehn's Bakery, Law Office of Dennis E. Cuomo, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Breath of God Lutheran Church, Abbott Memorial Presbyterian Church, Salem United Methodist Church, Nazareth Lutheran Church, Archbishop Borders School (formally known as Our Lady of Pompei School), Highlandtown Middle School, Baltimore Science Fiction Society
Baltimore Science Fiction Society
The Baltimore Science Fiction Society is a literary society focusing on science fiction, fantasy and related genres. A 501c3 literary society based in Baltimore, Maryland, the BSFS sponsors Balticon, the Maryland Regional Science Fiction Convention....
, DiPasquale's Deli and Marketplace, The Laughing Pint, Nicky's Carry Out, Vitamin, Schiavone Fine Art.
External sources
- Healthy Neighborhoods: Southeast Baltimore
- Highlandtown Community Association
- Southeast Community Development Corporation
- Greetings from Highlandtown
- Highlandtown Arts
- National Main Street Program
- Demographics from Neighborhood Indicators Alliance
- Patterson Park/Highlandtown listing at Maryland Historical Trust
- Patterson Park/Highlandtown listing at CHAP includes map