Introduction to Towson, Maryland
Towson is an unincorporated community located in Baltimore County, Maryland. Although unincorporated, the community serves as the county seat and it is one of the largest unincorporated county seats in the nation. A suburb of Baltimore, Towson lies 11 miles north of Maryland's largest city, just inside the Beltway (Interstate I-695). Maryland State Highway 45 also services Towson and Interstate I-83 is situated just to its west. Nearby communities include Hampton (to the north), Parkville (to the east), and Riderwood (to the west). Towson is home to Towson State University.
The community traces its roots to the mid-18th century when two Pennsylvania brothers, William and Thomas Towson, began farming the area. A small village (then called "Towsontown") soon developed, and in 1854 Towson officially became the Baltimore County Seat. A period of construction followed, leaving many structures built in distinctive 19th Century style that are still visible today. The community has grown rapidly since World War II, and now serves as a center for education, medicine, county government, and as of recent years also a retail destination.
Arts, Culture, and Entertainment in Towson
There is an abundance of historic buildings in Towson. The Hampton National Historic Site contains a beautiful mansion built in the late 18th century which houses ancient paintings and antique furniture, and also a farmhouse. The Trinity Episcopal Church, Towson's oldest standing church, was built with stone and dedicated in 1860. The Gothic Revival structure has two signed Tiffany stained glass windows. The Schmuck House, Towson's oldest remaining building, is a Federal-style stone house built between 1833 and 1841. The Courthouse, constructed with local limestone and granite, was built between 1854 and 1856 on land donated by Dr. Grafton Bosley.
Musical entertainment of all types is performed at Towson's Recher Theatre. Located right in the heart of Towson, the theatre attracts crowds that gather to enjoy reggae, rap, pop, blues, and other types of contemporary music. Towson also hosts a number of annual events. The Towsontown Spring Festival features over 400 vendors, along with a variety of ethnic foods and musical entertainment on four stages. The Oktoberfest at Timonium Fairgrounds features food, drink, music, dancing, and loads of fun.
Sports fans have lots to look forward to only a few minutes away in nearby Baltimore. The U.S. Lacrosse Museum and National Hall of Fame is located in the city, as is the Babe Ruth Museum (Baltimore is the birthplace of the baseball great). The city is also home to several major-league teams, including the Orioles (Major League Baseball), Ravens (National Football League), Bayhawks (Major League Lacrosse), Pearls (American Basketball Association), and Blast (Major Indoor Soccer League)
