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Ridgely's Delight

Location

Adjacent to Camden Yards and University Center,

and within walking distance of the Inner Harbor.

Zip Code: 21230

Description

Tucked between the University Hospital and Camden Yards, Ridgely's Delight is a friendly, diverse neighborhood of tree-lined streets with brick rowhouses mostly dating to the mid-19th century. This Baltimore City Historic District features many interesting renovations and gardens, and it's a convenient spot for professionals working at University Center or downtown, and for commuters using light rail, MARC trains or the Beltway. Residents can also walk or take the Charm City Circulator to the Inner Harbor, and other downtown neighborhoods to take advantage of shopping, restaurants, cafes and other city amenities. A large park is a popular place for residents to walk their dogs, have picnics and hold community events. A growing number of families appreciate the playground and several nearby schools. The active neighborhood association also sponsors many activities to help neighbors meet and interact, including a running club, game club, gardening club, community meetings, holiday parties, outdoor concerts and monthly happy hours.



Download a postcard that provides more information about Ridgely's Delight or View a 2-minute video that provides a look at neighborhood life.

History

The name of this charming neighborhood is derived from a plantation owned by Charles Ridgely, who acquired the estate as dowry from his wife, Rachael, the daughter of John Eager Howard. In 1732 he combined the property with another known as Brotherly Love and named the entire area Ridgely's Delight.



Legend has it that George Washington stopped in one of the homes in Ridgely's Delight to nurse an injured arm, the same home that later became a stop on the Underground Railroad and is now Rachael's Dowry Bed and Breakfast.



Participation in the events of both the Revolutionary era and Civil War era is quite an incredible mixture for one neighborhood, and especially one house, but Ridgely's Delight is full of interesting mixtures and characters.



Ridgely's Delight's most famous son, baseball superstar Babe Ruth was born at his grandfather's house, which is now the Babe Ruth Museum.



The neighborhood has been a true melting pot for centuries, successfully blending a variety of ethnic groups and income levels.In the early 19th century, craftspeople were the first settlers in the small, cozy, Federal-style houses. In the latter part of the century, when the affluent professionals moved in (the area was once nicknamed Professional Row because of the many lawyers and doctors associated with the University of Maryland), they built more ornate rowhouses. In the 1970s, gradual urban decay resulted in a resurgence of lower income residents in the area until the City's $1 homesteading program, launched in 1973, helped rebuild Ridgely's Delight to its former splendor without displacing its original residents.

Contacts

Sharon Reuter
Ridgely's Delight Association, Inc.
E-mail: sharon@reuter.net

 

Ridgely's Delight Website 

Parks and Recreation

  • Conway Park

Arts and Culture

Educational Resources

From pre-school to high school, Baltimore City’s schools serve students and families across more than 225 neighborhoods. Parents and students have numerous choices from public, private, parochial, and charter schools. Many elementary schools are zoned geographically, but are increasingly becoming schools of choice. All high schools are choice schools and all middle schools are becoming schools of choice in 2010-2011. This means students can apply to attend any school in the City regardless of their home address; some schools do have admission criteria. All charter schools and Transformation Schools have lotteries for admission.

Baltimore offers a wealth of opportunities when it comes to higher education at both the undergraduate, graduate and technical education levels. The seventeen colleges and universities within or near the City enroll more than 120,000 students. Through the Baltimore Collegetown Network, 16 area colleges cooperate and share resources, such as shuttle buses and libraries.

Community Personality


  • Close-knit
  • Friendly
  • Hip
  • Historic
  • Social

Housing Types

To Buy

Condominums,Historic Houses,Rowhomes

To Rent

Apartments,Rental home

Resident Referral

Interested in this neighborhood and wish you could talk to someone who lives there? Click here to request a Residential Referral from one of Live Baltimore’s Ambassadors!


Homeownership Counseling


These agencies also offer other services, such as post-purchase education, default and delinquency counseling, community outreach, and credit and budgeting classes. Click here for a list in your area.

Neighborhood Statistics and Resources


Average Home Sales
Prices by neighborhood

Baltimore CityView
Mapping tool for cultural, civic, and property info

Crime Mapping
Crime data by address from the Baltimore Police Department


Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance 
Census-based interactive mapping data