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Bel Air, Maryland

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Bel Air, Maryland
Location in Maryland
Location in Maryland
CountyHarford County
Founded1856
Incorporated1945
Government
 • MayorTerence O. Handley
Area
 • City7.3 km2 (2.8 sq mi)
 • Land7.3 km2 (2.8 sq mi)
 • Water0 km2 (0 sq mi)  0.0%
Population
 (2000)
 • City10,080
 • Density1,385.0/km2 (3,587/sq mi)
 • Metro
72,000
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
Websitewww.belair.bel-air.md.us

Bel Air is the county seat of Harford County, Maryland, United States. The population was 10,080 at the 2000 census. Bel Air formally refers to the town proper; if Bel Air North and Bel Air South were included in the designation, the population would be about 75,000.

Bel Air is Harford County's commercial and nightlife center, with more retail stores and restaurants than other towns in the county.

Geography

Bel Air is located at 39°32′12″N 76°20′54″W / 39.53667°N 76.34833°W / 39.53667; -76.34833Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (39.536707, -76.348280)1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²), all of it land. Also belair is the name of

Will Smith Show "Fresh Prince of Belair."

Transportation

Bel Air is located on U.S. Route 1, and several miles north of I-95. Route 1 has both a bypass around Bel Air and Hickory, and a business route snaking through downtown. Both are connected by Maryland Route 24 to I-95 in Edgewood.

The Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad ("Ma and Pa") ran through town in the early part of the 20th century, but the tracks have since been dismantled. The Ma and Pa Trail walking trail runs its course, creating shortcuts through wooded portions of town, around Heavenly Waters Park. The main link runs from Williams Street downtown, and east to the equestrian center. A second link already built in Forest Hill was planned to merge with the main trail, but as of late 2006 the link has not been constructed.

A six-level parking garage is located on Hickory Avenue downtown, with plans to build a second parking garage elsewhere in town.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,080 people, 4,235 households, and 2,511 families residing in the town. The population density was 3,583.7 people per square mile (1,385.0/km²). There were 4,444 housing units at an average density of 1,580.0/sq mi (610.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.82% White, 4.38% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.

There were 4,235 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $44,135, and the median income for a family was $58,299. Males had a median income of $42,412 versus $29,207 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,737. 6.4% of the population and 4.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 7.6% are under the age of 18 and 6.5% are 65 or older.

Property taxes

Property Tax Information

History

Bel Air's identity has gone through several incarnations since 1780. Landowner Aquilla Scott planned the town on a portion of inherited land known as "Scott's Improvement Enlarged," which he called "Scott's Old Fields." Four years later, the town had expanded as local politicians, merchants and innkeepers purchased lots from Scott, and the county commissioners decided to change its name to the more appealing "Belle Aire." In his deeds, Scott dropped one letter, renaming the town, "Bell Aire." Around 1798, court records decided to drop two more letters and "Bel Air" was born.

During this period, Bel Air began to show strong communal legs. In 1782, just two years after its conception, it became Harford's county seat, and Daniel Scott (Aquilla's son) started building a courthouse on Main Street, which is still the town's main road. In the late 18th century, Bel Air's city limits encompassed both sides of Main Street, but the days following the Civil War ignited a building and land-development boom that remains in full swing today.

Several fires swept through the downtown area in the early 20th century, notably in 1900 and 1942. In 1972, a fire decimated the street, causing $2 million dollars worth of damage.

In 1970, notorious Black Panthers member H. Rap Brown was on a safety-relocation trial in the courthouse for instigating a riot after a rally in Cambridge. Radicals sent to eliminate Brown drove to Bel Air in a car laden with plastic explosives, intending to take down the courthouse, but the car exploded too early, leaving a crater in the road less than a mile away. The trial was eventually moved again.

The town once boasted a regionally featured horse track, which stood where the Harford Mall is today.

Noted natives and residents

Schools

Colleges and universities

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

Harford County Public Schools serves Bel Air.

Private schools

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