Jonestown

Jonestown is an area of Baltimore that demonstrates what can happen when a city fails to preserve its historical areas. The neighborhood is in a section of Southeast Baltimore originally laid out in 1732. It is bounded by Little Italy, Oldtown, Washington Hall, and Downtown Baltimore and is only a few blocks away from the Inner Harbor. Featuring a mixture of industrial, commercial, and residential buildings, Jonestown has shifted form being an Eastern European and Jewish neighborhood in the 19th century to a predominately African-American community by the mid 20th century. In a misplaced attempt at urban renewal, the original row houses and townhomes in the area were torn down and replaced by public housing projects. By the early 21st century, however, these run-down projects were themselves being torn down and replaced by modern rowhouses resembling suburban townhomes. As one of the oldest areas of Baltimore, Jonestown features 8 City Landmarks, including the Flag House.

Over time, the area continues to show signs of renewal, particularly because of its close proximity to Inner Harbor. While currently a lower-income African-American community, the area should attract those with higher incomes as housing opportunities improve. Those who want to try a revitalizing neighborhood close to shopping, nightlife, and work may want to try this area.