Arnold, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Arnold, Maryland
Census-designated place
Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard in Arnold
Location of Arnold, Maryland
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Anne Arundel
Area
• Total	13.56 sq mi (35.11 km2)
• Land	10.82 sq mi (28.02 km2)
• Water	2.74 sq mi (7.09 km2)
Elevation	128 ft (39 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	24,064
• Density	2,224.24/sq mi (858.80/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	21012
Area code(s)	410
FIPS code	24-02275
GNIS feature ID	582920

Arnold is a community in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. It's a "census-designated place" (CDP), which means it's a specific area defined for gathering population data. Arnold is located right outside Annapolis, the state capital. It's also about 19 miles south of Baltimore and 30 miles east of Washington, D.C..

In 2020, the population of Arnold was 24,064 people. The community sits on the beautiful Broadneck Peninsula. Its ZIP code is 21012. Arnold is surrounded by other towns like Severna Park, Cape Saint Claire, Annapolis, and Lake Shore.

History of Arnold

Long, long ago, Native Americans lived in the Arnold area. We know this because old tools and items have been found. These artifacts, found near Ulmstead Point, date back to a time called the Archaic period (5000–1500 BC). Later, tribes like the Algonquin lived here. However, when Captain John Smith explored the area in 1608, he didn't report seeing any Native Americans.

The early settlement of Arnold began with a farm. This farm belonged to John Arnold. He was a soldier who fought in the War of 1812. He bought about 300 acres of land on the north side of the Severn River. One of his sons, Thomas Arnold, inherited the land. Thomas later worked as the local station master for the Baltimore and Annapolis Short Line Railroad.

People who live in Arnold know that the area used to have fun attractions. There was once a racetrack in what is now the Revell-Downs community. There was even a rollercoaster and a boardwalk at Mago Vista Beach.

Education in Arnold

Children in Arnold go to public schools that are part of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools district.

Elementary schools:

• Belvedere Elementary
• Broadneck Elementary
• Arnold Elementary
• Jones Elementary (located in Severna Park)
• Windsor Farm Elementary
• Cape St. Claire Elementary

Middle schools:

• Severn River Middle School
• Magothy River Middle School
• Severna Park Middle School (located in Severna Park)

High schools:

• Broadneck High School
• Severna Park High School

Private schools:

• Arnold Christian Academy
• Severn School

Colleges:

• Anne Arundel Community College

Geography of Arnold

Arnold is located at coordinates 39°2′50″N 76°29′48″W. It is about 5 miles north of Annapolis, the state capital. It's also about 24 miles south of downtown Baltimore.

The total area of Arnold is about 13.56 square miles (35.1 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 10.82 square miles (28.0 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 2.74 square miles (7.1 square kilometers), is water. This water includes parts of the Severn River to the southwest and the Magothy River to the northeast.

People of Arnold

In 2020, the population of Arnold was 24,064 people. The community is home to a diverse group of people. Most residents are White, with smaller populations of African American, Asian, and Native American people. Many people also identify as Hispanic or Latino.

The average household in Arnold has about 2.76 people. The median age of residents is 37 years old.

Fun Things to Do in Arnold

Arnold has many beautiful places along its rivers. These areas have cliffs and beaches, perfect for relaxing and enjoying the views. There are 12 marinas in Arnold, which are places where boats can dock.

The Baltimore-Annapolis Bike Trail is a great place for jogging and biking. This trail connects Arnold to Annapolis and Severna Park. Arnold Park has a playground and open fields for sports. Twin Oaks Park offers play equipment and a walking trail. Broadneck Park, located east of Arnold, has two enclosed areas for dogs to play.

Bay Hills Golf Club is a scenic 18-hole golf course. It was designed in 1969 by a famous golf course architect named Ed Ault. The course is known for its beautiful wooded hills.

Arnold is only about 5 miles from downtown Annapolis. Sandy Point State Park is also about 5 miles east of Arnold. This park has a beach on the Chesapeake Bay. You can see the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and the Sandy Point Lighthouse from here. The park's marshes and creeks are home to many animals. These include blue crabs, herons, terrapins, rockfish, and eagles.

Anne Arundel Community College is located in Arnold. It's often ranked as one of the top community colleges in the country. Temple Beth Shalom, a historic synagogue, is also in Arnold.

Maryland's State Tree

The Wilmer Stone White Oak in Arnold Park is a very special tree. It is set to be named the official Maryland State Tree. This amazing tree is about 200 years old! It scored 402 points in a system that measures a tree's height, how wide its branches spread, and its trunk size.

The tree was named after Wilmer Stone, a well-known forester. He used to own the land where Arnold Park is now. The Wilmer Stone White Oak is 128 feet tall. Its branches spread 83 feet wide, and its trunk is 253 inches around. This score of 402 is higher than any other white oak in Maryland. This makes it the Maryland Champion of its species.

A part of the oak tree was damaged in 1988. This made it jut out to the side in a broken Y shape. If it hadn't been damaged, it would have been even bigger than the National Champion white oak in Virginia. The honored tree stands proudly in the quiet Arnold forest. You can hear calls from ospreys, wrens, blue jays, and cardinals. Deer and fox also live in these woods. They dart among the black locust trees, wild grape vines, and Virginia creeper.

Tall Trees of Chase Creek Woods

Chase Creek Woods in Arnold is known for having some of the tallest privately owned woodlands in the eastern United States. It has an average height of 130.19 feet for its ten tallest tree species. This area has many different types of habitats. This allows for large examples of nearly fifty native tree species to grow there.

Chase Creek Woods is home to twelve of the tallest trees of their species ever recorded in Maryland. Even with recent building nearby, Chase Creek Woods is one of the county's most important natural areas. A study in 2003 showed that Chase Creek Woods is a valuable natural place that needs to be protected.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

Arnold is home to a special memorial for Martin Luther King Jr.. This is the first memorial in Maryland built to honor him. It stands on the west campus of Anne Arundel Community College. The memorial is on a well-kept terrace that looks over an outdoor amphitheater.

Behind the statue, there are five bronze plaques on a stone wall. These plaques have quotes from Dr. King's speeches. They talk about his calls for equal opportunities in education and a fair society. The statue itself is nine feet six inches tall. It stands on a five-foot granite base.

Notable People

• Diane Black, a congresswoman
• Matthew Centrowitz Jr., an Olympic track and field gold-medal winner

See also

In Spanish: Arnold (Maryland) para niños