Londontowne, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Londontowne, Maryland
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Former census-designated place
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Location of Londontowne, Maryland
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maryland |
| County |  Anne Arundel |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.8 sq mi (9.8 km2) |
| • Land | 3.0 sq mi (7.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.8 sq mi (2.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 26 ft (8 m) |
| Population
(2000)
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| • Total | 7,595 |
| • Density | 2,517.3/sq mi (971.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| FIPS code | 24-47925 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0588901 |
Londontowne is a historic area in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. It was once a busy colonial seaport founded in 1683 on the South River. In the year 2000, about 7,595 people lived there. By 2010, this area became part of the Edgewater community.
Contents
Where is Londontowne?
Londontowne is located in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, in the United States. It covers about 3.8 square miles (9.8 square kilometers). A good part of this area, about 0.8 square miles (2.0 square kilometers), is water. This includes parts of the South River, which was very important for the old port.
A Look Back: Londontowne's History
London Town was a very important colonial settlement. It was started in 1683 near what is now Annapolis. The first dock was built by Colonel William Burgess, one of the first people to settle in the area. He divided his land into smaller pieces and sold them, and that's how the town began.
For a while, London Town was considered to be the capital of the Province of Maryland. It was just as important for trade as Annapolis and Williamsburg, Virginia. However, the town slowly faded away by the 1800s. This happened for a few reasons. It wasn't chosen as a special place for inspecting tobacco, which was a big business back then. There was also an economic downturn, and the Revolutionary War affected its trade.
Some people believe that the first clubhouse for the South River Club, a very old social club, was built right here in London Town.
Historic London Town and Gardens
Today, you can visit the area of the old town at Historic London Town and Gardens. This special park covers 23 acres (about 9.3 hectares). Anne Arundel County owns it, and a non-profit group called the London Town Foundation manages it.
The park has many interesting things to see:
- The London Town Publik House: This old building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's also a National Historic Landmark, which means it's super important to American history.
- Reconstructed buildings: These buildings show what the town looked like long ago.
- A public museum: Here you can learn more about the history of the area.
- An archaeology lab: See how experts dig up and study old artifacts.
You can take guided tours at the park. Sometimes, they even show how muskets (old-fashioned guns) were fired! The park also hosts many educational events. You can even rent parts of the park for special events.
Exploring the Gardens
The woodland gardens at London Town cover 8 acres (about 3.2 hectares). They started in the late 1960s as natural, shady gardens. Today, they are home to many different plants:
- An azalea glade: This area has many types of azaleas, some that lose their leaves in winter and some that stay green all year.
- A camellia walk: Enjoy beautiful camellias that bloom even in winter.
- A holly collection: See different kinds of holly plants.
- A winter garden: This part of the garden features plants that look great even in winter, like mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia).
