Wilson Park, Baltimore

Wilson Park is a small community in northheast Baltimore, Maryland and one of the first African-American communities in the city. Its bounded on the south by 43rd Street and the east the Alameda. Two community associations serve the area: the Kimberleigh Road Community Association and the Wilson Park Improvement Association. [cite web|url=http://www.baltimorecitycouncil.com/District4/neighborhoods.htm|title=District 4 Communities|publisher=Baltimore City Council|accessdate=2008-05-04] The homes range from large single family homes to semi-detached and townhouses in a number of different styles. A majority of homes are owner-occupied.

Demographics

According to the 2000 US Census, 1,355 people live in Wilson Park with 97.8% African-American and .7% White. The median family income is $45,208. 86% of the houses are occupied and 78.5% of those are occupied by the home's owner. [cite web|title=Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: Wilson Park|publisher=Baltimore City Planning Department|url= http://censusprofile.bnia.org/Wilson%20Park%20Demographic%20Profile.pdf|accessdate=2008-05-05]

chools

Wilson Park has two public elementary schools: Walter P. Carter elementary and Guildford elementary. The area is served by the Winston Middle School and the Chinquapin Middle School. High school students generally attend nearby Mervo , City, DuBois or Lewis highschools.

History

Wilson Park, considered one of Baltimore’s first African-Americansuburbs, was developed by Harry Wilson, an African American, who began to buildhouses as early as 1917. In addition to some of the neighborhoods being culturallyhistoric, several are architecturally significant. [cite web|url=http://baltimorecity.gov/government/planning/images/SNAPYorkRoad.pdf|title=THE YORK ROAD COMMUNITY: Housing and Neighborhood Revitalization|last=Woods|first=Tamara|coauthors=Kristin Smith|date=2006-02-02|publisher=City of Baltimore Planning Commission|accessdate=2008-05-04] Wilson's family began to sell large tracts of land in the early 1950s to developers who built dozens of new homes on St. Georges Ave. and Coldspring Lane. Kimberleigh Road was created in 1953 as part of the development. These homes were bought by a variety of upwardly mobile African-American families including those of steelworkers from the Sparrows Point Shipyard, postal workers, teachers and Morgan State College administrators.

References