Dundalk, Maryland

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Dundalk, Maryland
Old Dundalk Shopping Center
Old Dundalk Shopping Center
Official flag of Dundalk, Maryland
Flag
Location in the state of Maryland, USA
Location in the state of Maryland, USA
unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States {{{subdivision_name}}}
Founded 1895
Time zone EST (UTC)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC)

Dundalk is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 62,306 at the 2000 census. In 1960 and 1970, Dundalk was the largest unincorporated community in Maryland.

Contents

[edit] History

The area now known as Dundalk was first explored by John Smith in 1608, when while conducting an expedition up the Chesapeake Bay he landed on the area known as the Patapsco Neck. Up until this time, the area was occupied by the tribes of the Susquehanna Indians.

In 1664 Thomas Todd of Virginia purchased 1,150 acres (4.7 km²) of land on the Patapsco Neck, this being the first deed in Baltimore County. The original house, “Todd’s Inheritance”, was burnt by the British during the War of 1812, Battle of North Point. After the war the house was rebuilt, and it still stands today as a historical landmark.

In 1895 Henry McShane, an immigrant from Ireland, established the McShane Bell Foundry on the banks of the Patapsco River in the then far southeastern outskirts of Baltimore. The foundry, today gone, manufactured cast iron pipes and furnace fittings. When asked by the Baltimore and Sparrows Point Railroad for a name of a depot for the foundry, which was on their rail line, he wrote Dundalk, after the town of his birth Dundalk, Ireland.

One of the original stucco houses in Old Dundalk.
One of the original stucco houses in Old Dundalk.

In 1916 the Bethlehem Steel Company purchased 1,000 acres (4 km²) of farmland, near the McShane foundry, to develop housing for its shipyard workers. The Dundalk Company was formed to plan a town in the new style, similar to that of the Roland Park area of Baltimore, excluding businesses except at specific spots and leaving land for future development of schools, playing fields, and parks. By 1917 Dundalk proper was founded, by then it had 62 houses, 2 stores, a post office, and a telephone exchange. Streets were laid out in a pedestrian-friendly open grid, with monikers like "Shipway," "Northship," "Flagship," and "Admiral." The two-story houses had steeply pitched roofs and stucco exteriors.

[edit] Geography

Dundalk is located at 39°15′57″N, 76°30′19″W (39.265957, -76.505182)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 45.0 km² (17.4 mi²). 34.4 km² (13.3 mi²) of it is land and 10.6 km² (4.1 mi²) of it (23.58%) is water.

Most of Dundalk is flat and very near sea level, with a few small hills as you move closer to the city of Baltimore. It is a part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The climate is a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild, wet winters.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 62,306 people, 24,772 households, and 16,968 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,810.1/km² (4,689.5/mi²). There were 26,385 housing units at an average density of 766.5/km² (1,985.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.58% White, 7.51% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.43% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.45% of the population.

There were 24,772 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.5% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.5% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

A lovely springtime scene in Dundalk.
A lovely springtime scene in Dundalk.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,789, and the median income for a family was $46,035. Males had a median income of $36,512 versus $25,964 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,543. About 6.6% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Population History

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Public transit

Public transportation between Sparrows Point, Dundalk and Baltimore City was operated by the United Railways and Electric Company's (later the Baltimore Transit Company) #26 streetcar line which ran down the middle of Dundalk Avenue until August 1958. Until the early 1950s, the line carried the famous "Red Rocket" streetcars which were two and three car trains of wooden trolleys. During World War II's rush hours on the line, trains operated on a 30 second headway. Public transportation is now provided by the Maryland Mass Transit Administration. Three major MTA lines that serve the area are the #4,#10 and #20.

[edit] Education

Dundalk contains a campus of the Community College of Baltimore County, known as CCBC-Dundalk. It was formerly known as Dundalk Community College.

For primary and secondary education Dundalk is served by the Baltimore County Public Schools system, with Dundalk High School, Sparrows Point High School and Patapsco High School being the major high schools to serve the area.

[edit] Natives and residents of note

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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