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Sandtown-Winchester

“Unfortunately, too many people in this country believe that the type of poverty that exists in Sandtown-Winchester is a permanent part of the American fabric…We’ve come to accept the litany of poverty as part of America, that there is nothing we can do about it because it’s too big, too costly.”
- James W. Rouse, founder of “Community Building in Partnership”¹

West Baltimore’s largest urban neighborhood formed within the 1816 annex, is the community of Sandtown-Winchester.² With a recorded population in 2000 of 9, 254,³ it is a neighborhood rich in history and heritage, situated on a gradual topographic ascent, south to north, forming the highest elevation of Baltimore until 1888.⁴ This 72 square foot block area bordered by North Ave (north), Pennsylvania Ave (northeast), Fremont Ave (southeast), Lafayette Ave (south), and Fulton Ave (west), has its historical roots originating back to the early 1800’s. The name of the community combines two different meanings: Sandtown, which in oral tradition is a sand quarry where people left trails of sand when they cut through the neighborhood; and Winchester, which was named after General George Winchester who was the President of the Baltimore and Susquehanna railroads.⁵

Sandtown-Winchester has a wonderful rich tradition as an African American community located in the western section of Baltimore City.⁶ Not only does it have over 40 churches within its 72 blocks, many with very strong social missions, Sandtown also has a rich social and cultural heritage. It was the birthplace or early home of Judge Thurgood Marshall, jazz musicians Billie Holiday and Cab Calloway, and actor Harold Rollins.⁷ The Royal Theatre on legendary Pennsylvania Avenue was one of the major stops for artists heading to Philadelphia and Harlem. Musical pioneers, such as Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross and James Brown, performed at the theater. ⁸

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