Keswick, Baltimore

Keswick is a residential, family centered community located in Baltimore, Maryland. It rests just south of Cold Spring Lane. It is surrounded by many similar communities such as Roland Park, Blythewood, Guilford and Hoes Heights. It is also right down the road from Loyola College and The College of Notre Dame of Maryland. There are parks, restaurants, and other recreational areas around Keswick that make it a charming neighborhood. The accurate borders that define Keswick are Somerset Rd., Evan's Chapel Rd., Stony Run Park, and Stony Spring. Within those boundaries is the town that is Keswick.

History

A sub-neighborhood within (and adjacent to what is currently known as) Roland Park, the community of Keswick is located in Baltimore, Maryland and is bordered by Somerset Road, Evans Chapel Road, Stoney Run Park, and Stoney Spring Road. Being that it is a part of the Roland Park geographic outline, it's history is quite extensive though not cited as a history of the development of Keswick, but rather a history of the development of Roland Park.

Throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the land comprising the community was mostly attached to large estates. "The extensive "Woodlawn," one of several estates of the same name in this area, ran roughly from the Stony Run to Falls Road and Wyndhurst Avenue (formerly called Cedar Lane) to Cold Spring Lane. It was owned through much of the nineteenth century by the Fendall family. In 1862 the Greenway family sold the tract to Hiram Woods, a Baltimore sugar refining merchant. Woods immediately built there a large square house with central cupola, at the northwest comer of today's Upland Road and Woodlawn Avenue. He located stables and outbuildings nearby. The main approach to his estate ran northwest from Cold Spring Lane, while a second drive entered his property near the intersection of Roland Avenue and today's Elmhurst Road. Woods spent six months of the year at "Woodlawn," living close to nature, often accompanied by numerous visitors. The Stony Run had formed a lake nearby, which was used for boating and fishing. Near the end of Woods' occupancy, the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad was built through the Stony Run Valley. Its embankment cut the lake in half and spoiled it. Richard J. Capron, the first president of the Roland Park Company, bought the estate in 1874, and after seventeen years, in 1891, this 112-acre property and a few smaller adjacent tracts became the first area in Roland Park to be developed." [ [http://www.livebaltimore.com/nb/list/rlndprk/Index.cfm Live in Baltimore - Roland Park ] ]

For more than three decades, Keswick has been an active and close-knit community that host numerous community events. This past May the residents of the Keswick community celebrated their 36th annual Bar-B-Que commemorating Memorial day. Many of the residents also take part in an annual parade within the community.

Keswick is also home to one of the first non-for-profit multi-care centers in the United States. The Keswick Multi-Care Center [www.keswick-multicare.org] was inspired by"Charles Dickens who donated money in the early 1880s to help establish the Royal Hospital for Incurables in England. Taking the cue from Dickens, a group of women volunteers created The (Keswick) Home for Incurables of Baltimore City in 1883."

Recently the Keswick Multi-Care Center entered into a deal to purchase a 17-acre piece of land from the Baltimore Country Club for 12.5 million dollars. [ [http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/06/30/daily37.html Keswick CEO says changes possible to Roland Park development - Baltimore Business Journal: ] ]

Types of Houses

Keswick’s housing community offers many beautiful styles. There are single family homes, detached town houses, apartments and condos. It is mostly comprised of residential properties and it is a quiet neighborhood.While walking through Keswick, you come across styles that include; Federal, Tudor revivals, Bungalows, Shingled houses, American four squares, Stick style, Italianate, Queen Anne, Victorian, and Eastlake. No doubt that Keswick has an interesting variety of houses that make it such a charming neighborhood.

Highlights

Keswick is a family oriented neighborhood that offers a sense of security as well as privacy. Though tucked away in Roland Park there are many attractions surrounding the neighborhood. Notable Restaurants close by on Coldspring lane are Miss Shirley’s, The Evergreen, and Loco Hombre provides a combination of great food and friendly atmosphere. Renowned restaurant Miss Shirley’s serves unique yet tasty adaptations of America’s favorite breakfast and brunch. The Evergreen Café is a quaint coffeehouse with a relaxed atmosphere, offering free wireless internet, books to browse, comfortable seating, sandwiches, and fresh roasted coffee. Loco Hombre is a Cuban inspired restaurant with a bar that maintains a festive atmosphere. The food ranges from lasagna to quesadilla. There are a range of things to do and see including short drives to the Baltimore Museum of Art, Inner harbor, Baltimore Zoo, The National Aquarium, Pimlico Race Track. Sherwoods Gardens, or the Senator Theater.

Demographics

* Male and Female population in Keswick is roughly split 50/50.
* The percentage of family to non-family households is also roughly 50/50.
* Keswick is populated by 90% Caucasian, followed by 4% African American, and small percentages of various other races.
* 11.4 percent of residents make an annual salary of $200,000 or more, a year.
* The median household income in Keswick is $61,000.
* Industry is dominated by educational, health, and social services.
* There are approximately 3,732 residential properties in Keswick.
* year 2000

References

* Community Statistical Area Profile
* www.explorebaltimore.com
* www.keswickbaltimore.com
* www.livebaltimore.com
* Enoch Pratt Public Library