Randallstown is truly a great community to live and work in, the following article was printed by the Baltimore sun papers a few years ago, but still pretty much holds true today,except there have been many improvements and new businesses added to the community. Which seems to keep getting better all the time.
By: Adam Stone
Special to SunSpot
Originally published April 15, 2003
The Randallstown neighborhood in Northwest Baltimore County is known
almost interchangeably by the name of the main thoroughfare that
defines it. While residents readily identify themselves as living in
Randallstown, those outside the area just as easily refer to the
"Liberty Road corridor."
Whichever name one may apply, it is fair to say that the evolution of
Liberty Road has everything to do with the state of things in
Randallstown. In recent years this has been a positive statement to
make, as grassroots civic action and major public works efforts have
helped to revive a commercial zone that had been marked by its aging
properties and tenuous retail offerings.
The Liberty Road corridor in Randallstown is always busy. (Photo by
Jessica M. Garrett, Special to SunSpot)
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Much of that changed in the fall of 2002 with the completion of a $2.4
million streetscape renovation that affected Liberty Road from near the
Beltway through to Randallstown, giving the street a fresh, updated
look with improved aesthetics and new traffic and pedestrian measures.
New landscaping, brick accents along sidewalks, benches, litter
containers and other improvements all helped to put a new face on the
road.
The business community has responded in a variety of ways, with
everything from auto dealerships to a state-of-the-art emergency
facility at Northwest Hospital. A number of restaurants have opened in
recent years, and the Randallstown Library has received a facelift,
too.
While the government's infrastructure investments have helped to fuel
these changes, grassroots neighborhood groups also have played a role.
Take for instance the Liberty/Randallstown Coalition (LRC), which has
worked to stabilize the Liberty Road corridor by facilitating
communication among a range of area groups. The LRC has gotten
apartment tenants and apartment managers talking to one another; it has
initiated dialogue between Randallstown newcomers and longtime
residents; and it has opened lines of communication between the
business community, residents and others.
The buffet table at Akbar Palace offers diners many choices of Indian
cuisine. (Photo by Jessica M. Garrett, Special to SunSpot)
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The area's roots date back to colonial times, specifically to
Englishman Christopher Randall, who settled in Anne Arundel County in
1679. He purchased three tracts of land there, naming them Randall's
Fancy, Randall's Purchase and Randall's Range. The Randalls later moved
to Northwest Baltimore County where, having used up all the colorful
names, the family eventually attached their moniker to what is now
Randallstown.
Randallstown's reputation as a multi-ethnic community goes back many
years. In 1870, a one-room school -- one of two in the area designated
for the education of African-American children -- stood in
Randallstown.
Today, Randallstown is a true multi-cultural community. While
approximately 70 percent of local residents identify themselves as
African-American, there are many other ethnicities and nationalities
represented here, along with a wide spectrum of religions. Perhaps the
next most prevalent group is the Russian-Jewish immigrants, who began
arriving in 1975 and whose numbers increased greatly after the break-up
of the Soviet Union. Their presence has become so great, in fact, that
the Randallstown Library developed a special Russian-language
collection to help in their efforts at acculturation.
Nowhere is Randallstown's ethnic diversity more apparent than in its
dining establishments, which represent a global span of culinary
offerings.
Colorful displays are just part of the shopping experience at Aquarium
Center. (Photo by Jessica M. Garrett, Special to SunSpot)
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Diners can sample chutney, curry and other more exotic Indian fare at
Akbar Palace. Symone's Soul Cafe serves up Southern comfort food, from
crispy fried chicken to smothered pork chops, black-eyed peas to
candied yams. Nino Taco prepares top-notch Mexican staples at no-frills
prices and Sea King Crab House offers -- you guessed it.
As a destination, Randallstown is perhaps best known for the Aquarium
Center, a retail fish supply store whose reputation extends throughout
the region. With 15,000-square-feet of retail space, the center's fish
department has more than 600 aquariums, with new fish arriving daily
from all over the world. There is also a reptile house, a dry goods
department and a tank showroom.
Liberty Reservoir is the perfect place to spend a peaceful afternoon
fishing or just enjoying the scenery. (Photo by Jessica M. Garrett,
Special to SunSpot)
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Locals also point proudly to the parklands surrounding Liberty
Reservoir in nearby Eldersburg. The reservoir covers more than 3,000
acres and includes 82 miles of shoreline. There are extensive trails
and sizable public recreation areas. The park is especially known for
its angling opportunities, as the reservoir is home to bass, walleye,
crappie, pickerel, northern pike and especially striped bass, or
rockfish.
Such attractions notwithstanding, Randallstown is widely perceived as a
struggling neighborhood. As a result, some impressive mid-century stone
homes can be had here for far less than in other neighborhoods. While
the low prices have not yet been enough of an incentive to spark a
full-scale turnaround, Randallstown advocates say the area is ripe for
a rejuvenation that could bring new energy to its streets.
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