Pigtown, Baltimore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pigtown Historic District
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Pigtown Historic District, December 2010
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 Location in Baltimore
Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by McHenry, Ramsay, West Barre, South Paca, West Ostend, Wicomico, Bush and Bayard Streets, plus B&O Railroad (CSX/Amtrak), Baltimore, Maryland |
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| Area | 50 acres (20 ha), .325 sq mi |
| Architectural style | Federal, Greek Revival, Italianate |
| Added to NRHP | December 28, 2006 |
Pigtown is a lively neighborhood in southwest Baltimore, Maryland. It's located near important places like I-95, the University of Maryland Medical Center, and sports stadiums. The neighborhood got its interesting name in the mid-1800s. Back then, pigs from the Midwest were brought here by train. They were then herded through the streets to local butcher shops.
Pigtown is known for its yearly festival. A fun part of the festival is "The Squeakness," a pig race! This race celebrates the neighborhood's unique history. Pigtown has a mix of classic Baltimore rowhouses and newer homes. It's a diverse area, home to longtime residents, students, and people who travel to Washington, D.C. for work. Did you know that the famous baseball player Babe Ruth was born and grew up in Pigtown?
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Pigtown's Past: A Look Back in Time
The land where Pigtown now stands was once part of a large estate called Mount Clare. This estate belonged to Dr. Charles Carroll in the 1700s. He built one of Maryland's first iron factories there.
In 1827, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) was started in Baltimore. The very first stone for the railroad was laid on the Mount Clare property in 1828. The B&O Railroad began running its first passenger trains in 1830. These early trains were pulled by horses!
Houses for railroad workers began to appear in Pigtown in 1833. More industries grew in the area during the 1850s and 1860s. Slaughterhouses near the train yards led to the area being called Pigtown. Workers would guide pigs from the trains to the shops for processing.
Even though official records sometimes called the neighborhood "Washington Village" in the 1970s, local groups insisted on keeping the name Pigtown. Since 2006, it has been officially known as Pigtown again.
Historic Places in Pigtown
Pigtown has several important historic spots. Some are even national landmarks!
Patrick's of Pratt Street was an Irish pub that operated for almost 170 years. It was thought to be "America's Oldest Irish Pub." The same family ran it since 1847 until it closed in 2016.
The Bayard Station valve house was built in 1885. It was used by the Chesapeake Gas Company to deliver gas in Baltimore. Today, it's home to Housewerks, a store that sells old architectural items.
Pigtown is also home to the famous B&O Railroad Museum. This museum has a huge collection of old trains. It also shows items important to the Pigtown community's history.
Mount Clare Mansion
Mount Clare Mansion is a beautiful brick house built in 1763. It's the oldest building from the Colonial era still standing in Baltimore. The city bought it in 1890, along with 70 acres of land, to create a park. Since 1917, a group called The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America has kept the mansion as a museum. You can visit it at 1500 Washington Boulevard.
Pigtown's Culture and Community
Pigtown's culture began with the railroad workers and German immigrants who opened butcher shops. Community groups have worked hard to keep the neighborhood's history alive.
The Pigtown Festival is a big yearly event that celebrates the area's culture. It has local food, entertainment, and the famous "Squeakness" pig race! This race honors the neighborhood's start with the railroad and its early workers.
The Horseshoe Pit
Since the 1970s, an empty lot at the corner of Ward and Bayard Streets has been a community horseshoe pit. It's so important that there's a mural next to it, painted about 15 years after the first horseshoe stakes were put there. The city sold the land in 2007, but then bought it back in 2010. Now, a local group called Baltimore Green Space helps keep it as the community horseshoe pit. The first Annual Horseshoe Tournament was held there in 2011.
Fun Things to Do in Pigtown
- Mobtown Ballroom: This place brings many people to Pigtown for swing dance, Belly dance, and Lindy Hop lessons. It's a great spot to learn new dance moves!
- B&O Railroad Museum: Located at the northern edge of Pigtown, this museum has the largest collection of 19th-century trains in the United States. It's a must-see for train lovers!
- Second Chance, Inc.: This huge 200,000 square foot store sells reclaimed furniture and building materials. It's a cool place to find unique items and give them a new life.
Pigtown's People
Pigtown is part of the Gwynn Falls trail, which connects over thirty Baltimore neighborhoods. It's also home to the historic Carroll Park. This park has baseball fields, football fields, basketball courts, a skate park, and playgrounds.
In 2010, about 5,503 people lived in the Pigtown area. There were around 2,740 homes, including new townhomes, older row houses, and apartments. The population was quite diverse, with a mix of African American, white, and Hispanic residents. Most people living in Pigtown were between 25 and 64 years old.
Getting Around Pigtown
Pigtown is easy to get around! Some parts are close enough to walk to Camden Station. From there, you can catch the Baltimore Light Rail or the MARC Camden Line. Being near Camden Station, I-95, and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway makes it easy for residents to travel to other areas.
Local bus service is also available along Washington Boulevard. Route 36 (MTA Maryland) connects the neighborhood to other parts of the city.
Schools in Pigtown
Pigtown has several elementary schools:
- George Washington Elementary
- Charles Carroll Barrister Elementary
- Southwest Baltimore Charter School
There are two middle schools in Pigtown:
- Mount Clare Christian School
- Franklin Middle
There are no high schools located directly in the neighborhood.
In 2011, most children in Pigtown received free or reduced-price school lunches. The students were a mix of African-American, white, and Hispanic backgrounds. Many adults in Pigtown had at least a high school diploma, and some had college degrees.
