Woodlawn

Woodlawn is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 36,079 at the 2000 census. It is home to both the headquarters of the Social Security Administration (SSA) as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). It is bordered by Catonsville on the south (many parts of Woodlawn are considered Catonsville by residents, especially those parts sharing the Catonsville zip code), by Randallstown on the west, by Lochearn to the north, and by the City of Baltimore to the east. Parts of Woodlawn are sometimes informally referred to as Security, Maryland, due to the importance of the SSA's headquarters as well as nearby Security Boulevard (Maryland Route 122) and Security Square Mall.

Geography

Woodlawn is located at 39°18′13″N 76°44′15″W / 39.30361°N 76.7375°W / 39.30361; -76.7375 (39.303695, -76.737425)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 9.6 square miles (24.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 36,079 people, 13,936 households, and 9,281 families residing in the community. The population density was 3,758.6 people per square mile (1,451.1/km²). There were 14,547 housing units at an average density of 1,515.5/sq mi (585.1/km²). The racial makeup of the community was 38.39% White, 51.50% African American, 0.30% Native American, 6.22% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.06% from other races, and 2.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.35% of the population.

There were 13,936 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.13.

The community's age distribution is: 26.7% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $48,878, and the median income for a family was $54,490. Males had a median income of $36,789 versus $31,242 for females. The per capita income for the community was $21,710. About 4.3% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Roads

Security Boulevard

Maryland Route 122, better known as Security Boulevard, is the main commercial corridor in the Woodlawn area on which the area's best known landmarks, Security Square Mall and the Social Security Administration, as well as other smaller shopping centers, office buildings, car dealerships, and other businesses are located. The road, which begins a few blocks west of Rolling Road, continues as a 6+ lane divided roadway until where it meets the end of I-70, then narrows down to the two-lane, mostly residential Cooks Lane before reaching Edmondson Avenue.

Windsor Mill Road

Windsor Mill Road is a two-lane road that runs from Baltimore City, then west-east through the residential part of Woodlawn. Located on the road are landmarks such as schools, cemeteries, and Kernan Hospital.

Rolling Road

Rolling Road is one of the main cross-county roads in the western part of Baltimore County. During the 1980s and 1990s, the road saw a lot of development in the Woodlawn area, being expanded from a two-lane road to 4+ lanes in most areas, as well as the addition of new residential and commercial areas along the corridor.

Ambassador Road/Belmont Avenue

A major shortcut that parallels with Lord Baltmore Drive with less traffic, passing Rutherford business areas, after passing Dogwood Road, the name changes to Belmont Avenue which goes pass Best Buy, Burger King, a car wash, McDonald's, gas station and the Ford Dealer which ends at Security Square Mall (and Security Boulevard as the MD-122).

Windsor Boulevard

A 4-lane road that travels through Rutherford Business Center, and other businesses, once you pass Lord Baltimore Drive the road continues after Rolling Road and changes name to Clays Lane.

Whitehead Road

A shortcut that contains most of Woodlawn Drive traffic to Woodlawn Drive past many businesses and hotels around the area and a few warehouses, Whitehead Court is on the right hand side of Security Boulevard ending at a dead-end street.

Dogwood Road

Dogwood Road is an old road that winds through the Woodlawn area, beginning at Old Court Road near Granite, and changing name when it reaches the Baltimore city line to Franklintown Road, where it continues to Poplar Grove Street in the Rosemont area. Most of the route of Dogwood Road is undeveloped until you reach Pleasant Street which is a street on the left hand side.

Lord Baltimore Drive

Lord Baltimore Drive is a mostly commercial road that runs between Liberty Road and Security Boulevard parallel and very close to the Beltway. The connection to Liberty Road was made as part of an early 2000s project to make the interchange between Liberty Road and the Beltway safer [1], but also enabled the road to become an alternative to the Beltway between Liberty and Security when congested. I-695 traffic from nearby I-795 exit passing many communities, and businesses throughout the area, the road crosses Windsor Mill Road, Windsor Boulevard, Tudsbury Road, and Dogwood Road. The road ends at Security Square Mall.

Gwynn Oak Avenue/Woodlawn Drive

Gwynn Oak Avenue begins in Baltimore City in the Arlington area and passes through Gwynn Oak before reaching Woodlawn near the county line, close to Gwynn Oak Park. Near Windsor Mill Road, Gwynn Oak Avenue splits. While traffic in a "straight" direction is diverted onto Woodlawn Drive, a left turn is required in order to remain on Gwynn Oak. At Windsor Mill Road, Gwynn Oak Avenue becomes one-way northbound until it ends at Security Boulevard. Southbound traffic usually travels via Englewood Avenue, which forks to the right at the Windsor Mill intersection.

Woodlawn Drive, which is the main road from this point on, passing Security Boulevard and entrances to the Social Security Administration before turning into Crosby Road. Crosby Road continues to and past Rolling Road into the Ellicott Mills development of Catonsville. Crosby Road has an overpass over the Baltimore Beltway without an interchange, and this is frequently mentioned as an identifying point in traffic reports.

Forest Park Avenue

Forest Park Avenue is a continuation to Ingleside Avenue from Catonsville. The road continues northeast through Woodlawn into Baltimore City, through the historic Dickeyville Historic District, Forest Park and Windsor Hills communities.

Public Transportation

Two Maryland Transit Administration bus lines operate along Gwynn Oak Avenue and Woodlawn Drive: Routes 44 and M-6. Both lines have branches to both Security Square Mall and the Social Security Administration, and both reach the Rogers Avenue Metro Subway Station, each via a slightly different route.

Bus Route 77 operates on Woodlawn Drive south of Security Boulevard, and Route 20 along Crosby Road, with both these lines traveling to Westview Mall and then their respective destinations.

Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Company

The Woodlawn Volunteer Fire Company was founded in 1941 as a civil defense unit. At the conclusion of WWII, the fire company incorporated and began to provide fire suppression and ambulance service to the community. The fire house is currently located on Woodlawn Drive near Windsor Mill. It is one of 33 volunteer fire companies in Baltimore County. The County Fire Department comprises 26 "career" (paid) fire companies and 33 volunteer companies. ^[3]

Famous natives and residents

• Kevin Clash, Puppeteer with the Muppets, voice of Tickle-Me Elmo
• Robert Curbeam, Jr., American Astronaut
• Kevin Liles, American record executive
• Mo'Nique Imes-Jackson, African-American actress/comedian, Tv sitcom star
• Nancy Travis, American actress.
• Darren Flutie, former professional American football player, brother of Doug Flutie.
• Michael S. "Mike" Burns, former professional duckpin bowler.
• Christopher "Chris" Burns, former minor league baseball player, Bluefield Orioles.
• Jim Ackman, former minor league pitcher, St. Paul Saints.
• David Lang, former minor league outfielder, Billings Mustangs.
• Tracy Ham, former Canadian Football League quarterback, Baltimore Stallions.
• Melvin McNeal, former center, Continental Basketball Association Lancaster Lightning.
• John Astin, American actor.

References

1. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/fire/index.html

External links

• Woodlawn, Baltimore County, Maryland is at coordinates 39°18′13″N 76°44′15″W / 39.303695°N 76.737425°W / 39.303695; -76.737425 (Woodlawn, Baltimore County, Maryland)Coordinates: 39°18′13″N 76°44′15″W / 39.303695°N 76.737425°W / 39.303695; -76.737425 (Woodlawn, Baltimore County, Maryland)

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