Joseph Lee, Baltimore
Encyclopedia
Joseph Lee, the residential part of Bayview, is a neighborhood located in Baltimore
, Maryland
, United States
. Sometimes called the "A to K" or "ABC neighborhood" since all of the north-south streets are arranged in alphabetical order. (Anglesea, Bonsal, Cornwall, Drew, Elrino, Folcroft, Gusryan, Hornel, Imla, Joplin, and Kane.)
This neighborhood is a part of the larger Bayview or Hopkins Bayview
neighborhood and borders the Greektown neighborhood.
Most of the homes in the community are traditional Baltimore row homes. The earliest homes built in the 1920s are on the western portion of the neighborhood and generally have three bedrooms. The homes in the eastern portion, built in the 1950s, typically have two bedrooms. Though not as prolific as Highlandtown
, some homes have formstone
fronts made popular in the 1940s. The neighborhood is also known for its azalea
bushes that line some of the streets.
Several development projects in and around the neighborhood have been started in recent years to improve the look and value of the community. In early 2006, a former Anchor Fence plant and headquarters was redeveloped into "Anchor Square" an open-air shopping center. Also in 2006, a new 563000 square feet (52,304.4 m²) biomedical research facility opened on the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
campus to house the National Institutes on Aging
and Drug Abuse
. An urgent-care center, Patient First
, opened on the Bayview campus in 2007. In late 2007, a "Streetscape" project was initiated to beautify and improve the road and sidewalks of Eastern Avenue.
, William Patterson, Robert Oliver, and Columbus O'Donnell) original purchase of 3000 acres (12.1 km²) of land in 1828. While most of the development of the land occurred nearer to the waterfront before the 1900s, the company was still involved in the development when the Joseph Lee neighborhood was created. In the book, "Streetwise Baltimore: the stories behind baltimore street names" by Carleton Jones, an entry for "Drew Street" is found on page 66 that reads:
The land became part of Baltimore City with the March 29, 1918 annex that expanded the city limits, which have remain unchanged to the present day. The neighborhood was built in the shadow of the existing City Hospitals (Francis Scott Key Medical Center)
, which housed the Bay View Asylum, acute care, chronic care, and tuberculosis (TB) wards. Construction of the homes in the neighborhood began as early as 1926, beginning on Anglesea and Bonsal streets. By 1933, home construction was complete for the homes through to Cornwall street. New homes continued to be built continuing westward from Drew to Kane Streets through the 1950s.
of 2000, there were 2,175 people residing in the neighborhood. The racial makeup of Joseph Lee was 86.2% White, 4.4% African American, 0.7% Native American, 3.4% Asian, 0.9% from other races
, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.0% of the population.
There were 1,165 housing units in the neighborhood.
49.4% of the population were employed, 0.8% were unemployed, and 50.6% were not in the labor force. The median household income was $27,569.
Our Lady of Fatima School is a private grade K - 8 school run by the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Located to the south of Patterson High school on Pratt Street.
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...
. Sometimes called the "A to K" or "ABC neighborhood" since all of the north-south streets are arranged in alphabetical order. (Anglesea, Bonsal, Cornwall, Drew, Elrino, Folcroft, Gusryan, Hornel, Imla, Joplin, and Kane.)
This neighborhood is a part of the larger Bayview or Hopkins Bayview
Bayview, Baltimore
Bayview, or Hopkins-Bayview, is a neighborhood located in Baltimore, Maryland, United States.The neighborhood is bounded by Lombard Street to the North, Kane Street to the East, Eastern Avenue to the South, and I-895 to the West. Also included in this area is the Joseph Lee neighborhood...
neighborhood and borders the Greektown neighborhood.
Most of the homes in the community are traditional Baltimore row homes. The earliest homes built in the 1920s are on the western portion of the neighborhood and generally have three bedrooms. The homes in the eastern portion, built in the 1950s, typically have two bedrooms. Though not as prolific as Highlandtown
Highlandtown, Baltimore
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...
, some homes have formstone
Formstone
Formstone is a type of stucco commonly applied to brick rowhouses in many East Coast urban areas in the United States, although it is most strongly associated with Baltimore...
fronts made popular in the 1940s. The neighborhood is also known for its azalea
Azalea
Azaleas are flowering shrubs comprising two of the eight subgenera of the genus Rhododendron, Pentanthera and Tsutsuji . Azaleas bloom in spring, their flowers often lasting several weeks...
bushes that line some of the streets.
Several development projects in and around the neighborhood have been started in recent years to improve the look and value of the community. In early 2006, a former Anchor Fence plant and headquarters was redeveloped into "Anchor Square" an open-air shopping center. Also in 2006, a new 563000 square feet (52,304.4 m²) biomedical research facility opened on the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, formerly known as Francis Scott Key Medical Center, is a hospital and medical office center in East Baltimore.It is located along Eastern Avenue near Bayview Boulevard...
campus to house the National Institutes on Aging
National Institute on Aging
The National Institute on Aging ' is a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health , located in Baltimore, Maryland.The NIA leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life...
and Drug Abuse
National Institute on Drug Abuse
The National Institute on Drug Abuse is a United States federal-government research institute whose mission is to "lead the Nation in bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction."-History:...
. An urgent-care center, Patient First
Patient First
Patient First is a chain of patient care centers in the United States. The centers allow patients to walk in and receive diagnosis and treatments for common symptoms and ailments that can receive outpatient care without an appointment. The company, which is based in Glen Allen, Virginia, currently...
, opened on the Bayview campus in 2007. In late 2007, a "Streetscape" project was initiated to beautify and improve the road and sidewalks of Eastern Avenue.
History
The area that comprises the current day Joseph Lee neighborhood was part of the Baltimore Canton Company's (founded by Peter CooperPeter Cooper
Peter Cooper was an American industrialist, inventor, philanthropist, and candidate for President of the United States...
, William Patterson, Robert Oliver, and Columbus O'Donnell) original purchase of 3000 acres (12.1 km²) of land in 1828. While most of the development of the land occurred nearer to the waterfront before the 1900s, the company was still involved in the development when the Joseph Lee neighborhood was created. In the book, "Streetwise Baltimore: the stories behind baltimore street names" by Carleton Jones, an entry for "Drew Street" is found on page 66 that reads:
Dan DrewDaniel Drew-Biography:He was born in Carmel, New York.Drew was poorly educated. His father died when Daniel was fifteen years old. Drew enlisted and drilled, but because he enlisted too late, never fought in the War of 1812. After the war, he started a successful cattle-driving business. In 1823, he married...
was one of the slipperiest Wall Street customers who ever graced New York, but he also invested in Baltimore's Canton Company. In a 1918 annexation the firm, large east side landowners, christened the street in Drew's name. It is just west of Key Medical Center and leads into and across Eastern Avenue.
The land became part of Baltimore City with the March 29, 1918 annex that expanded the city limits, which have remain unchanged to the present day. The neighborhood was built in the shadow of the existing City Hospitals (Francis Scott Key Medical Center)
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, formerly known as Francis Scott Key Medical Center, is a hospital and medical office center in East Baltimore.It is located along Eastern Avenue near Bayview Boulevard...
, which housed the Bay View Asylum, acute care, chronic care, and tuberculosis (TB) wards. Construction of the homes in the neighborhood began as early as 1926, beginning on Anglesea and Bonsal streets. By 1933, home construction was complete for the homes through to Cornwall street. New homes continued to be built continuing westward from Drew to Kane Streets through the 1950s.
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 2000, there were 2,175 people residing in the neighborhood. The racial makeup of Joseph Lee was 86.2% White, 4.4% African American, 0.7% Native American, 3.4% Asian, 0.9% 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 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.0% of the population.
There were 1,165 housing units in the neighborhood.
49.4% of the population were employed, 0.8% were unemployed, and 50.6% were not in the labor force. The median household income was $27,569.
Schools
Patterson Senior High is a school that is part of the Baltimore City Public School System. Located on the eastern side of the neighborhood on Kane Street.Our Lady of Fatima School is a private grade K - 8 school run by the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Located to the south of Patterson High school on Pratt Street.