Phoenix, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phoenix, Maryland
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 Phoenix, Maryland
Location in Maryland
Phoenix, Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maryland |
| County |  Baltimore |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 591002 |
Phoenix is a small community in Baltimore County, Maryland, in the United States. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it's governed by Baltimore County. Phoenix is located at 39°30'59" North and 76°36'59" West. The United States Postal Service uses the ZIP code 21131 for Phoenix.
A part of this area is also known as Jacksonville. Jacksonville used to be a separate community located to the east of Phoenix.
About Phoenix
The Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail, also known as the NCR Trail, goes right through Phoenix. This trail is a popular spot for walking, running, and biking. Phoenix even has one of the main parking areas for people who want to use the trail.
Community Life
Phoenix has a few important places for its residents. There is Jacksonville Elementary, a school for younger students. The community also has the Jacksonville Senior Center. This center offers many fun activities for people aged 60 and older. It's open five days a week and has a fitness studio, a room for different activities with a kitchen, classrooms, and offices.
The community also has two gas stations, a volunteer fire company, and a post office. These places help meet the daily needs of the people living in Phoenix.
Phoenix in Pop Culture
Phoenix has been featured in movies and TV shows. Scenes for the 1972 film Pink Flamingos, made by Baltimore native John Waters, were filmed here. Phoenix was also the setting for an episode of the TV series Route 66. The episode was called "The Mud Nest" and even featured some local people from the town.
A historic house called Eagle's Nest is located in Phoenix. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 because of its historical importance. Also, the well-known fashion designer Jhane Barnes was born in Phoenix.
Protecting Our Environment
In January 2006, there was a gas leak in Phoenix from an Exxon Mobil gas station. Over 26,000 gallons of gas leaked from a broken pipe. This happened near the intersection of Maryland routes 145 and 146. The gas spread about half a mile downhill from the station.
The leak caused six water wells to become contaminated. Also, 62 home wells showed small amounts of a substance called Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE). The state of Maryland took action and filed a lawsuit against Exxon Mobil in April 2006. In September 2008, the state and Exxon Mobil reached an agreement. Exxon Mobil had to pay a $4 million civil penalty. Many local residents also sought money from the company for the problems caused by the leak. A jury decided that Exxon Mobil was responsible for the damages. Several other legal cases related to this leak were still ongoing as of 2015.
