Towson, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Towson, Maryland
Census-designated place
Motto(s):
Location within Baltimore County
Country	United States
State	Maryland
County	Baltimore
Area
• Total	14.29 sq mi (37.01 km2)
• Land	14.15 sq mi (36.66 km2)
• Water	0.14 sq mi (0.35 km2)
Elevation	463 ft (141 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	59,553
• Density	4,207.80/sq mi (1,624.62/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	21286, 21204, 21252, 21212, 21209, 21210, 21239 (county)
Area code(s)	410, 443, and 667
FIPS code	24-78425
GNIS feature ID	0591420

Towson (/ˈtaʊsən/) is a community in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It's not officially a city, but a "census-designated place." This means it's a place the government counts for population, but it doesn't have its own city government.

In 2020, about 59,533 people lived there. Towson is the main town for Baltimore County. It's the second-largest county seat in the U.S. that isn't an official city.

History of Towson

The historic 1854 Baltimore County Courthouse in Towson, Maryland.

Early Days: 1600s and 1700s

The first people to live in the Towson area were the Susquehannock tribe. They hunted here long ago. Their lands covered all of Baltimore County.

Towson started as a settlement in 1752. Two brothers, William and Thomas Towson, moved from Pennsylvania. They began farming in the area. William's son, Ezekiel, opened the Towson Hotel. This hotel helped farmers who brought their goods to the port of Baltimore. The hotel was near the main roads, and the village became known as "Towsontown."

In 1790, a businessman named Charles Ridgely III finished building Hampton Mansion. This huge house was just north of Towsontown. It was one of the biggest private homes in America at the time. The Ridgely family lived there for many years. Today, it's a historic site called Hampton National Historic Site. You can visit it!

Growing Up: The 1800s

In 1854, Towson became the new main town, or county seat, for Baltimore County. Before this, the city of Baltimore was the county seat. But Baltimore City became its own separate area. So, the county needed a new center. People voted, and Towson was chosen.

The Baltimore County Courthouse was built in 1854. It was made from limestone and marble. This stone was given by the Ridgely family from Hampton Mansion. The courthouse has been made bigger several times since then. A new modern building for county offices was built next to it in the 1970s.

The old Baltimore County Jail was built in 1855. A new, more modern jail was built in the 1980s.

The former Grafton Bosley estate "Uplands," which later became the Presbyterian Home of Maryland (photo c. 1930).

Towson During the Civil War

During the American Civil War, Towson saw some small battles. Many people in Towson supported the Southern Confederate side. Some even flew the Confederate flag.

On June 2, 1861, the Union Army came to Towson. They took weapons from citizens at Ady's Hotel. A local newspaper joked about the "strongly fortified" town.

Another event happened around July 12, 1864. A Confederate cavalry group, led by Major Harry Gilmor, attacked areas near Towson. They cut telegraph wires and captured trains. Gilmor's men stayed overnight at Ady's Hotel in Towson.

The next day, a larger Union cavalry unit came from Baltimore. Even though they were outnumbered, Gilmor's men attacked. They chased the Union soldiers down York Road.

After the war, Gilmor became a police commissioner in Baltimore.

Modern Changes: 1900s

At the start of the 1900s, Towson was still mostly a farming area. But things began to change.

In the 1910s, the Maryland State Normal School moved to Towson. This school, now called Towson University, trained teachers. It started in 1865 in Baltimore. But it grew too big for its old location. In 1912, the state decided to move it to Towson. Construction began in 1913. The new campus opened in 1915.

After World War II, more people moved to the suburbs. Towson grew a lot. Many old homes were replaced by offices and parking lots.

Towson United Methodist Church.

The first church in Towson, Epsom Chapel, was built in 1839. As Towson grew, more churches were built. These included Calvary Baptist Church and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Epsom Chapel was torn down in 1950. This happened when Goucher College sold land for the Towson Plaza shopping center.

Some areas in Towson used to have rules that kept African-Americans and other minority groups from living there. These rules were called "racially restrictive covenants." They were used before the Fair Housing Act of 1968 made them illegal.

Geography of Towson

Towson is located just north of Baltimore City. It's inside the main highway loop, I-695. The community covers about 14.2 square miles (37 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

Towson is near other towns like Pikesville to the west. Lutherville and Hampton are to the north. Parkville is to the east.

Major neighborhoods in Towson include Rodgers Forge, Stoneleigh, and East Towson.

Climate in Towson

Towson has a climate with hot, humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of climate is called a humid subtropical climate.

People in Towson (Demographics)

Towson's Population in 2020

In 2020, Towson had 59,533 residents.

• About 72.3% of residents were White.
• About 15.8% were African American.
• About 5.9% were Asian.
• About 4.2% were Hispanic or Latino.

Most adults in Towson have a high school diploma or higher (96.5%). Many also have a college degree (66.9%). The average household income was about $93,435. About 11.3% of people in Towson lived in poverty.

Getting Around Towson (Transportation)

Main Roads

Many important roads run through Towson. These include:

• Allegheny Avenue
• Charles Street (MD-139)
• Chesapeake Avenue
• Dulaney Valley Road (MD-146)
• Joppa Road
• Pennsylvania Avenue
• Towsontown Boulevard
• York Road (MD-45)

Public Transportation

The Baltimore Light Rail provides service at the Lutherville Station.

Towson has several bus lines run by the Maryland Transit Administration. These buses connect Towson to other parts of Baltimore County and downtown Baltimore.

There is also a light rail service nearby. You can catch the light rail at the Lutherville or Falls Road stops. These stops can take you to downtown Baltimore and even to BWI Airport.

Towson University and Goucher College also have their own bus services for students. In 2021, Towson started a free bus service called the Towson Loop. It goes around the downtown Towson area.

Biking and Walking

The Towson Bike Beltway opened in 2014. It has bike lanes on several main streets around downtown. This makes it easier and safer for people to ride bikes in Towson.

"Ma and Pa" Railroad

"Ma & Pa" train crossing York Road, Towson, in the 1950s. The bridge was removed in 1959.

The remaining bridge supports in 2014.

Ma and Pa Abutment Commemorative Plaque in Towson.

Towson used to have train service! The "Ma and Pa" Railroad ran between Baltimore and York, Pennsylvania. Its station in Towson was on Susquehanna Avenue. Passenger trains stopped running in 1954. The railroad line through Towson closed in 1958. Today, you can still see the stone supports where the tracks crossed York Road. A plaque was placed there in 1999 to remember the railroad's history.

Fun Things to Do in Towson (Shopping and Attractions)

Towson has some of Baltimore County's biggest shopping centers. It also has other fun places to visit.

Hampton Mansion

The Hampton Plaza.

Hampton National Historic Site is a large historic estate. It used to belong to the Ridgely family. You can visit the old manor house, gardens, and even the original slave quarters. The National Park Service runs the site and offers free tours.

Towson Town Center

Towson Town Center is the biggest indoor mall in Baltimore County. It has four floors of shops and a large parking garage. Nearby, Allegheny Avenue is the main street of downtown Towson. It has many restaurants and stores.

Towson Square

Towson Square is an outdoor mall that opened in 2014. It has many stores and places to eat.

The Shops at Kenilworth

The Shops at Kenilworth is a smaller indoor mall. It's located on Kenilworth Drive.

Towson Place

Towson Place is a large outdoor shopping area. It has many big stores and restaurants. It's built on the site of an old hospital called the Eudowood Sanatarium.

SECU Arena and Unitas Stadium

Towson University has two major sports venues. The Towson Center and Johnny Unitas Stadium are home to the Towson Tiger sports teams. SECU Arena opened in 2013. It hosts basketball, gymnastics, and volleyball games.

Learning in Towson (Education)

Colleges and Universities

Towson University is a large public school in Towson. It has over 20,000 students. This makes it the second-largest school in the University System of Maryland. Towson University started in 1866 as a school for training teachers. It moved to its current campus in Towson in 1915.

Goucher College is a smaller private school in Towson. It focuses on liberal arts. Goucher was founded in 1885. It used to be a college only for women. But in 1986, it started accepting both male and female students. The campus is known for its unique architecture.

Public Schools

Towson High School.

Towson is part of the Baltimore County Public Schools district. The main office for the school district is also in Towson.

There are three high schools in Towson:

• Towson High School: Founded in 1873, it's the oldest and largest high school in Towson.
• Loch Raven High School: This school opened in 1972.
• Carver Center for Arts and Technology: This is a special school for students interested in arts and technical skills. It was named after the famous scientist George Washington Carver. It also remembers an older school that served black students during a time when schools were separated by race.

Towson has nine public elementary schools, including Rodgers Forge and Stoneleigh. There are two public middle schools: Dumbarton Middle School and Loch Raven Technical Academy.

Ridge Ruxton School is a special education school in Towson. It helps students with developmental delays or other special needs.

Private Schools

The Towson area also has several private high schools. These include:

• Loyola Blakefield
• Calvert Hall College High School
• Concordia Preparatory School
• Notre Dame Preparatory School

Famous People from Towson

Many notable people have lived in or are connected to Towson:

• Spiro Agnew (1918–1996): A former Vice President of the United States.
• All Time Low: A popular pop punk band.
• Divine (1945–1988): An actor known for his drag persona.
• F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940): A famous writer.
• Mel Kiper Jr. (born 1960): An ESPN sports analyst.
• Dorothy Lamour (1914–1996): A film actress.
• Gino Marchetti: A Hall of Fame NFL player.
• Kimmie Meissner: A figure skater and world champion.
• Michael Phelps (born 1985): A swimmer who holds the record for the most Olympic gold medals.
• Charles Ridgely III (1733–1790): The founder of the Hampton estate.
• Don Shula (1930–2020): A legendary NFL head coach who led the Miami Dolphins to a perfect season.
• Johnny Unitas (1933–2002): A Hall of Fame NFL quarterback.
• John Waters: A filmmaker and activist.

Hospitals and Medical Centers

Towson has several important medical facilities:

• Greater Baltimore Medical Center
• St. Joseph Medical Center
• Sheppard Pratt Hospital

See also

In Spanish: Towson (Maryland) para niños