Phoenix, Maryland

Not to be confused with Phoenix, Arizona.
Phoenix, Maryland
Unincorporated community
Phoenix, Maryland

Location within the state of Maryland

Coordinates: 39°30′59″N 76°36′58″W / 39.51639°N 76.61611°WCoordinates: 39°30′59″N 76°36′58″W / 39.51639°N 76.61611°W
Country  United States of America
State  Maryland
County Baltimore
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
  Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
GNIS feature ID 591002

Phoenix is an affluent unincorporated community located in Baltimore County in the State of Maryland in the United States of America. It is located at latitude 39°30'59" North, longitude 76°36'59" West.[1] The United States Postal Service has assigned Phoenix the ZIP code 21131. In 2013, Baltimore Magazine rated Phoenix, Maryland as the most expensive neighborhood in Baltimore County, where sales prices top the metro-area charts. http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/2013/4/best-places-to-live-2013-baltimores-top-selling-and-most-expensive-neighborhoods

Part of the area is also known as Jacksonville, although Jacksonville was once a separate community to the east.[2]

Housing prices in the area have risen in recent years due to its prime location in one of the county's wealthiest areas, Hunt Valley

Hunt Valley Golf Club, a 36 hole private golf course, is also located in Phoenix, Maryland.

Phoenix has an elementary school. Manor Shopping Center has a Safeway grocery store, a McDonald's, a 7-11, Rite-Aid, Bank of America, Bagelmeister, Strapasta Trattoria, and a liquor store. Phoenix is also served by a Kleins Shoprite grocery store. The town also has two gas stations, an airport (PMD) and a Volunteer Fire Department.

Phoenix provided the setting for scenes in Baltimore native John Waters' 1972 cult classic film Pink Flamingos

Eagle's Nest was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.[3]

Fashion designer Jhane Barnes was born there.[4]

MTBE spill

Phoenix was the location of a January 2006 Exxon Mobil gas leak, where over 26,000 gallons of gas seeped out of a punctured pipe at a station at the intersection of Maryland Route 145 and Maryland Route 146. The area affected by the gas leak was about a half-mile downhill from the location of the gas station. Six wells were contaminated, and 62 residential wells showed traces of MTBE. The state filed a $12 million suit against Exxon Mobil in April 2006. In September 2008, the state settled the case with Exxon Mobil, imposing a $4 million civil penalty. In addition, about 300 Jacksonville residents sought compensatory and punitive damages from the company worth several billion dollars. A jury awarded the plaintiffs $1B in punitive damages, which decision was later reversed. This was the largest amount of money ever awarded in history involving oil spills. In March 2009, a Baltimore County jury found Exxon Mobil liable and awarded compensatory damages to the plaintiffs. Several other cases are ongoing as of 2015.

Read more on the exxon spill in the article Jacksonville, MD Exxon Mobile Gas Leak Case.

References