# Linthicum, Maryland

Linthicum is a census-designated place (CDP) and unincorporated community in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. The population was 10,324 at the 2010 census. It is located directly north of Baltimore–Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
Designated as "Linthicum Heights" and zip code 21090 by the U.S. Postal Service, Linthicum has been traditionally divided into two distinct communities each with its own community association and identity. These two communities, split by the Baltimore Beltway in 1957, are Linthicum and North Linthicum (or, alternatively, Linthicum-Shipley and North Linthicum.) Both communities developed as a result of their locations adjacent to the Baltimore and Annapolis Short Line railroad which brought commuters to the original truck farming community.
As a developed community, Linthicum began with the 1908 founding of the "Linthicum Heights Company", though a "Linthicum" or "Linthicum's" station on the 1887 Annapolis and Baltimore Short Line railroad existed at least as early as 1889. The community's name was from the area's primary land-owning family since an 1801 purchase by Abner Linthicum.
The Linthicum Heights Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.

## Geography

Linthicum is located at 39°12′14″N 76°39′38″W﻿ / ﻿39.20389°N 76.66056°W﻿ / 39.20389; -76.66056 (39.203876, −76.660506) in northern Anne Arundel County. It extends from the Patapsco River in the north (the Baltimore County line) to Maryland Route 170 (Aviation Boulevard) in the south, and from Interstate 195 in the west to Maryland Route 648 (Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard) in the east. It is bordered by the CDPs of Baltimore Highlands to the north (in Baltimore County), Brooklyn Park to the east, and Ferndale to the southeast, and by the Baltimore–Washington International Airport to the south.
The BWI Business District West Nursery area is located in Linthicum along the West Nursery Road corridor. The business district is home to numerous companies, offices, and commercial services.
Two major highways run through the CDP. The Baltimore Beltway (Interstate 695) runs northwest–southeast through Linthicum and intersects with the Baltimore–Washington Parkway (Maryland Route 295), which runs northeast-southwest. By the parkway it is 6 miles (10 km) northeast to downtown Baltimore and 32 miles (51 km) southwest to Washington, D.C.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.3 km$^2$), of which 5.4 square miles (14.1 km$^2$) is land and 0.039 square miles (0.1 km$^2$), or 0.81%, is water.

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,539 people, 2,877 households, and 2,206 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,793.1 inhabitants per square mile (692.3/km$^2$). There were 2,950 housing units at an average density of 701.6 per square mile (270.9/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.39% White, 1.76% African American, 0.24% Native American, 2.44% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.
There were 2,877 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.3% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 21.3% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $61,479, and the median income for a family was $72,821. Males had a median income of $46,586 versus $35,104 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $27,559. About 2.0% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

## Economy

Ciena and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems are among the companies based in Linthicum.

## Public transportation

Linthicum is served by buses and three stops on the Baltimore Light Rail:
* Nursery Road, 6825 Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard
* North Linthicum, 450 N. Camp Meade Road, Linthicum Heights
* Linthicum, 308 S. Camp Meade Road, Linthicum Heights
From 1887 to February 1950, Linthicum was served by the now-defunct Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad's line between Baltimore and Annapolis, Maryland.

## North Linthicum

The community of North Linthicum is defined by the North Linthicum Improvement Association as the area bounded by the Patapsco River from the Baltimore Beltway (I-695) to Old Annapolis Road (MD 648), Old Annapolis Road from the Patapsco River to the Baltimore Beltway, the Baltimore Beltway from Old Annapolis Road to the Baltimore–Washington Parkway, the Baltimore–Washington Parkway from the Baltimore Beltway to Hammonds Ferry Road, and Hammonds Ferry Road from the Baltimore–Washington Parkway to the Patapsco River.

## Adjacent towns

* Glen Burnie
* Baltimore
* Hanover
* Elkridge

## Points of interest

* National Electronics Museum
* William P. Didusch Center for Urologic History
* Benson-Hammond House
* Friendship Church of the Brethren
* Overlook Elementary School
* Linthicum Elementary School
* Lindale Middle School
* St. Philip Neri School
* Hutman Artistic "Environment", a library and car art studio
* The Performing Arts Association of Linthicum
* Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Church

## Notable people

* Rafael Alvarez (born 1958), journalist, author, television writer
* Helen Delich Bentley (1923–2017), U.S. congresswoman (1985–1995)
* Pamela Beidle (born 1958, date questionable), Member, Maryland State Senate (District 32) and Maryland House of Delegates (District 32)
* Diane Lynn Warren Black (born 1951), U.S. congresswoman (2011–2019), Tennessee General Assembly (1998–2010)
* Michael W. Burns (born 1958), Maryland House of Delegates member (1994–1998), administrative law judge and attorney
* Robert A. Costa (born 1958), Maryland House of Delegates member since 2003
* John C. Inglis (born 1954), National Security Agency Deputy Director (2006–2014)
* John Charles Linthicum (1867–1932), U.S. congressman (1911–1932)
* G. E. Lowman (1897–1965), national radio evangelist
* Dorothy Mays (born 1957), Playboy July 1979 Playmate of the Month
* Brian Knighton aka Axl Rotten was found dead in a McDonald's restroom near a motel in Linthicum in 2016.
* Donald E. Murphy (born 1960), Maryland House of Delegates member (1995–2003)
* Leonard T. "Max" Schroeder, Jr. (1918–2009), U.S. Army colonel
* Jim Spencer (1947–2002), Major League Baseball player (1968–1982, 1973); Major League Baseball All-Star Game