Armistead Gardens | |
|---|---|
neighborhood statistical area | |
_at_North_Macon_Street_in_Baltimore%2c_Maryland.jpg) View north along 4800 block of Erdman Avenue with houses in Armistead Gardens, Baltimore to the right | |
  Armistead Gardens | |
| Coordinates:39°18′8″N76°32′59″W / 39.30222°N 76.54972°W /39.30222; -76.54972 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maryland |
| City | Baltimore |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.529 sq mi (1.37 km2) |
| • Land | 0.529 sq mi (1.37 km2) |
| Population (2009)[1] | |
• Total | 2,864 |
| • Density | 5,400/sq mi (2,100/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code | 410, 443, and 667 |
Armistead Gardens is aneighborhood in the Northeast District ofBaltimore. It is located north of Pulaski Highway and east ofErdman Avenue, between Herring Run Park (northeast) and the East District neighborhood ofOrangeville (southwest).[2][3]
Armistead Gardens is home to four churches, Armistead Gardens Elementary School, and theBohemian National Cemetery. The nearest major highways are Pulaski Highway (U.S. Route 40) and Erdman Avenue.
Known as the White Ghetto, it was originally built by theHousing Authority of Baltimore City aspublic housing forwhite people coming to work in industries supplyingWorld War II. Most of these white workers were from states ofAppalachia such asWest Virginia,Kentucky, andTennessee and came to Baltimore to work atGlenn L. Martin Company and other major defense plants.[4] The first section was built in 1939, with two additions in 1941. Even though it is only 60 years old, many of the homes are destroyed and many have moved out. In 1956 a cooperative (Armistead Homes Corporation) was formed by the residents and the 1500 homes were acquired from the Housing Authority. Because of the unit construction with common utilities, homes are not individually owned, but rather members have a 99-year lease with two 99 year options. Many of the current members are third and fourth generation.[citation needed]
As of thecensus[5] of 2008, there were 3,150 people living in the neighborhood. The racial makeup of Armistead Gardens was 81.4%White, 1.0%African American, 1.0%Native American, 1.0%Asian, 2.7% fromother races, and 4.0% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 10.0% of the population. 65.0% of occupied housing units were owner-occupied. 35.0% of housing units were vacant.
20.0% of the population were employed, 12.1% were unemployed, and 55.9% were not in the labor force. The median household income was $15,123. About 42.8% of families and 34.5% of the population were below thepoverty line.
John Waters mentions both the neighborhood and the Bohemian National Cemetery in his bookRole Models:
Armistead Gardens, a neighborhood originally built as public housing for the influx of people coming to work in factories during World War II. It has been called a "white ghetto" of "row-ranchers," surprising in their "now outdated modernity." There is an amazing graveyard nearby where the star of my early movieEat Your Makeup, Maelcum Soul, is buried. No oneever shops in Armistead Gardens.
