Ruxton-Riderwood, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ruxton-Riderwood
|
|
|---|---|
| Country | US |
| State |  Maryland |
| County |  Baltimore County |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 21,378 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
21204
|
| Area code(s) | 443|667 |
| Website | rrlraia.org |
Ruxton and Riderwood are two special areas in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. They are called "unincorporated communities," which means they don't have their own local government like a city or town. Instead, they are managed by the county. Sometimes, people think of them as part of Towson, and they are included in Towson's official population count.
The borders of Ruxton are mostly known by local tradition. Charles Street is generally the eastern border, and Falls Road is the western border. The northern and southern borders are a bit less clear. To the north, Ruxton follows Joppa Road, the Old Court Road extension, and Ruxton Road. The southern border is roughly a line from Bellona Avenue and Charles Street to Lake Avenue and Falls Road. Riderwood's northern border is usually considered the Baltimore Beltway (I-695). To the south and east, Riderwood follows Joppa Road and Charles Street.
Ruxton has a small commercial area called Ruxton Village, located where Bellona Avenue and Ruxton Road meet. Riderwood has two smaller village areas. One is along Bellona Avenue, just north of Joppa Road. The other is where Joppa Road and Thornton Road cross.
Contents
History of Ruxton and Riderwood
How Ruxton and Riderwood Got Their Names
Ruxton is named after Nicholas Ruxton Moore. He was a captain during the American Revolution War and later served in the United States Congress. In 1794, he bought the land that would become Ruxton. Riderwood got its name from the Rider family. Edward Rider bought a 150-acre farm and mill near Thornton Road in 1824.
From Country Estates to Modern Homes
Long ago, Ruxton was where many wealthy families from Baltimore had their large country homes. Over time, in the 1900s, the area became more suburban, meaning more homes were built. Even today, Ruxton is still seen as one of the nicest neighborhoods in the Baltimore area. Many of the original large estates are still there, but many new homes have also been built around them. One interesting house from 1905, which used to be a train station, was designed by a famous architect named Frank Furness.
Early Communities and Important Events
In the 1700s, some people in Ruxton and Riderwood had enslaved people, even though local groups like the Quakers and Methodists were against it. By 1790, nearly half the people living in the area were enslaved. In 1833, a free Black man named J. Aquilla Scott started St. John's Church. The first church building burned down, but a new one was built in 1886. This historic church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
President Abraham Lincoln traveled through Ruxton and Riderwood in November 1863 on his way to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to give his famous Gettysburg Address speech. Less than two years later, in April 1865, Lincoln's funeral train also passed through these communities as it carried him from Washington, D.C., to his final resting place in Springfield, Illinois.
In 1854, a serious train accident happened in the neighborhood. It was one of the worst railroad accidents in the United States at that time.
Getting Around Ruxton and Riderwood
Main Roads in the Area
Ruxton Road: A Key Route
Ruxton Road is about 1.5 miles long and gives the area its name. It's the main road that runs from west to east through Ruxton. Most of the road is lined with nice houses. It also has an exit with the Jones Falls Expressway (exit 12). The road starts as a continuation of Old Court Road and goes past Bellona Avenue, crossing over the Light Rail tracks before ending at Malvern Avenue. There is no Light Rail stop here.
Bellona Avenue: North to South
Maryland Route 134, also known as Bellona Avenue, is the main road running north to south through Ruxton and Riderwood. From this road, you can see the Light Rail tracks, but there are no stops in these communities. You can find a few apartments and historic shopping areas along Bellona Avenue, but most of the road is undeveloped.
West Joppa Road: Connecting Communities
West Joppa Road is a major road that crosses through the county. It passes through Riderwood and crosses Bellona Avenue. This road is mostly lined with upscale homes. West Joppa Road ends to the west at nearby Greenspring Station.
Falls Road: Western Border
Maryland Route 25, known as Falls Road, forms part of the western edge of Ruxton and Riderwood. It leads to the Brooklandville area. While the road looks mostly open, you can see a few landmarks like The Cloisters and Brightwood Nursing Home.
Charles Street: Eastern Boundary
Maryland Route 139, or Charles Street, is often considered the eastern border of Ruxton. Several places along this road, which connects with I-695 (exit 25), have "Ruxton" in their names.
Thornton Road: Local Connection
Thornton Road connects the Riderwood neighborhood to Ruxton. It stretches from West Joppa Road to the Mays Chapel area, passing under the Baltimore Beltway. This road provides access to Riderwood Elementary School, the Village Green neighborhood, and Valley Country Club.
Public Transportation Options
Before 1990, buses used to run along Ruxton Road. Today, bus service in the Ruxton area is very limited. LocalLink Route 34 runs on Falls Road on weekdays, but it's not often used by people trying to reach this specific area. Another bus, LocalLink Route 51, used to have two daily trips along Bellona Avenue through Ruxton, but these trips were stopped in 2017 because very few people used them.
A railroad has been in Ruxton and Riderwood since 1831. It was first built as the Baltimore & Susquehanna Railroad and later became part of the Northern Central Railway. In the 1900s, long-distance passenger trains traveled on this line to places like Harrisburg, Chicago, and St. Louis. Local commuter trains also stopped at stations in both Ruxton and Riderwood until 1959. Long-distance passenger train service ended in the late 1960s.
Even though the Light Rail tracks run through the area, no Light Rail trains stop in Ruxton or Riderwood. Stops were considered when the light rail was planned, but local residents did not want them.
Ruxton and Riderwood in Movies
Ruxton has been a filming location for several movies:
- In 1994, the movie Serial Mom was filmed at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Boyce Avenue in Ruxton.
- In 2005, Australian actress Nicole Kidman rented a house in the Four Winds neighborhood of Ruxton while she filmed her movie The Invasion in Downtown Baltimore.
- Scenes for the movie Runaway Bride, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, were filmed at Gill's Garage on West Joppa Road.
Schools in the Area
Students in Ruxton usually attend Riderwood Elementary School, Dumbarton Middle School, and Towson High School. All of these are Blue Ribbon Schools, which means they are recognized for being excellent. They are part of the Baltimore County Public Schools system. However, many students from Ruxton also go to private schools in the area. Some of these include St. Paul's School, Gilman School, Loyola Blakefield, Roland Park Country School (RPCS), Friends School, McDonogh School, Bryn Mawr School, Boys' Latin School, and Garrison Forest School in Owings Mills.
Fun and Recreation
Clubs and Activities
The L'Hirondelle Country Club is located in Ruxton, offering various recreational activities.
The Valley Country Club is in Riderwood. It has a pool, tennis courts, and basketball courts. The club's mansion used to be owned by Art Donovan, a famous NFL Hall of Famer and defensive player for the Baltimore Colts.
Exploring Nature at Lake Roland Park
Lake Roland Park covers a large area in and around Ruxton. This park is a great place to explore nature. It has thick woods, hiking trails, a stream, and Lake Roland itself.
Images for kids
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Passenger train at Riderwood station in 1917
