Editing Braddock Heights, Maryland

{{more citations needed|date=March 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Braddock Heights, Maryland
|settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Jefferson Blvd Mid.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Jefferson Boulevard in Braddock Heights with a [[Hagerstown and Frederick Railway]] trolley
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map = Frederick_County_Maryland_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Braddock_Heights_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location of Braddock Heights in [[Maryland]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = {{nowrap|{{flag|United States}}}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Maryland}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Maryland|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = {{flagicon image|Flag of Frederick County, Maryland.svg}} [[Frederick County, Maryland|Frederick]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_24.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=April 26, 2022}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 13.85
|area_land_km2            = 13.82
|area_water_km2           = 0.03
|area_total_sq_mi         = 5.35
|area_land_sq_mi          = 5.34
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 3075
|population_density_km2   = 222.50
|population_density_sq_mi = 576.27

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = &minus;5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = &minus;4
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 656
|coordinates              = {{coord|39|24|32|N|77|30|12|W|region:US-MD_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 21703
|area_code                = [[Area codes 301 and 240|301, 240]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 24-09100
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2389228<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2389228}}</ref>
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
}}
[[Image:Braddock hotel 1908.jpg|thumb|Braddock Hotel]]
[[Image:Jefferson Blvd Far North.jpg|thumb|200px|Jefferson Boulevard, looking south from Maryland Avenue]]
[[Image:Jefferson Blvd North.jpg|thumb|200px|Jefferson Boulevard, looking north]]
'''Braddock Heights''' is an [[Unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Frederick County, Maryland|Frederick County]], [[Maryland]], United States. The population was 2,608 at the 2010 census.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US2409100| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Braddock Heights CDP, Maryland| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American FactFinder| accessdate=May 31, 2016| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213062354/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US2409100| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> The local [[ZIP code]]s are 21714 (post office boxes only) and 21703.

==History==
Braddock Heights is located at an elevation of {{convert|950|ft}} atop Braddock Mountain (as [[Catoctin Mountain]] is locally known) near the pass at Braddock Springs, so named after British General [[Edward Braddock]] and Lt. Colonel [[George Washington]]'s use of the mountain pass on their way to [[Fort Duquesne]] during the [[French and Indian War]] on April 29, 1755. During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], Braddock Heights was the site of a minor cavalry battle between generals [[J.E.B. Stuart]] (CSA) and [[Alfred Pleasonton]] (USA) on September 13, 1862; it was at that time known as "Fairview Pass". One mile east of Braddock Heights, near the base of Braddock Mountain, are the older communities of Clifton and Old Braddock.

The picturesque view of the city of [[Frederick, Maryland|Frederick]] from Old Braddock, also known as "Fairview", elevation {{convert|550|ft}}, was the inspiration for [[Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.]] to record in his 1862 journal:

{{Cquote|''In approaching Frederick the singular beauty of its clustered spires struck me very much, so that I was not surprised to find Fair View laid down about this point on a railroad map. I wish some wandering photographer would take a picture of the place, a [[stereoscopic]] one, if possible, to show how gracefully, how charmingly, its group of steeples nestles among the Maryland hills. The town has a poetical look from a distance, as if seers and dreamers might dwell there.''}}

This journal entry was in turn an inspiration for Holmes' close friend [[John Greenleaf Whittier]] when composing the famous Civil War poem ''[[Barbara Fritchie]]''.

Braddock Pass is near the locations at which [[Interstate 70 in Maryland|Interstate 70]] and the [[National Road|National Pike]] ([[U.S. Route 40 in Maryland|U.S. Route 40]]) cross [[Catoctin Mountain]]. Braddock Heights was founded in 1896 by George William Smith as a summer resort community that eventually included several hotels, a community pool, a wooden-floor skating rink, an amusement park, scenic overlooks, nature trails, and until 1980, a small ski resort. Braddock Heights has been host to many national political figures, including [[Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.]], [[Edwin Warfield]], President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], [[Earl Warren]], [[Ethel Kennedy]], and (then) Senator [[Richard Nixon]].

Braddock Heights was one of the first modern planned communities in the United States,{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} and custom housing development has continued since 1901. Braddock Heights is now known for its eclectic houses and its views of Frederick and the [[Monocacy River|Monocacy]] and [[Middletown Valley|Middletown]] valleys. Following the end of [[World War II]], and the decline of the amusement park, Braddock Heights' demographic changed from commercial summer boarding houses to that of an unincorporated community with permanent residents.

Braddock Heights, similar to the other Maryland cottage parks of [[Pen Mar, Maryland|Pen Mar]] and [[Glen Echo Park, Maryland|Glen Echo]], has evolved into an artisans' community. The Braddock Heights Community Association and the Braddock Heights Historical Society continue to maintain and hold public events at Braddock Heights Park.

Braddock Heights was once home to the oldest [[roller rink]] in the United States, the Stargaze Skateway. It burned to the ground as the result of [[arson]] on August 18, 1998.<ref>http://www.mudnrox.com/brr/firearticle1.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714131235/http://www.mudnrox.com/brr/firearticle1.html |date=July 14, 2011 }} {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref><ref>http://www.mudnrox.com/brr/firearticle2.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714131228/http://www.mudnrox.com/brr/firearticle2.html |date=July 14, 2011 }} {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>

Braddock Heights is said to be the roost of the [[Snallygaster]], a chimeric bird-like creature claimed to be responsible for the disappearance of livestock, and the occasional Middletown Valley resident, since the mid-18th century.

===Hagerstown & Frederick Railway===
The [[Hagerstown & Frederick Railway]], a suburban and [[interurban]] [[Tram|trolley]] system, was developed by George William Smith and initially called the Frederick and  Middletown Railway. Service between Frederick and Braddock Heights commenced on August 22, 1896. The [[Jefferson, Maryland|Jefferson]] branch was added in 1906, running down the east side of Jefferson Boulevard. The right of way is still visible as a strip between the set-back sidewalk and the street.

Service to Jefferson lasted until 1940, although a short section was kept open to serve the Vindobona Hotel. Service to Braddock Heights and Middletown from Frederick was finally discontinued in 1946.

==Geography==
Braddock Heights is located in west-central Frederick County along the ridgecrest of [[Catoctin Mountain]], known locally as "Braddock Mountain". [[U.S. Route 40 Alternate (Hagerstown–Frederick, Maryland)|U.S. Route 40 Alternate]] crosses the mountain near the center of the community, leading east {{convert|5|mi|0}} to [[Frederick, Maryland|Frederick]] and west {{convert|2.5|mi}} to [[Middletown, Maryland|Middletown]]. [[Interstate 70 in Maryland|Interstate 70]] crosses the northern part of the CDP, with access from partial Exit 49 (U.S. Route 40 Alt.) at the east base of the mountain. [[U.S. Route 40 in Maryland|U.S. Route 40]] forms the northern edge of the CDP.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the Braddock Heights CDP has a total area of {{convert|12.2|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.03|sqkm|order=flip|2}}, or 0.23%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2020= 3075
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |accessdate=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 4,627 people, 1,684 households, and 1,343 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|626.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,733 housing units at an average density of {{convert|234.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.17% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.19% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.02% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.35% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.25% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.73% of the population.

There were 1,684 households, out of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.2% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 31.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $71,932, and the median income for a family was $78,779. Males had a median income of $52,179 versus $38,063 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $29,621. About 1.0% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including none of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Braddock Heights is part of the [[Middletown, Maryland|Middletown]] School District.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|author=McCardell, Lee|year=1958|title=Ill-Starred General : Braddock of the Coldstream Guards|publisher= [[University of Pittsburgh Press]]|isbn=0-8229-5903-8}}
*{{cite book|author=Hooper, Anne B. |year=1974|title=Braddock Heights, A Glance Backward|publisher= [[French-Bray Printing Company]]|id=LCCCN 74021875}}
*{{cite book|author=Harwood Herbert H., Jr. |year=1970|title=Blue Ridge Trolley|publisher= [[Golden West Books]]|isbn=0-87095-034-7 |location=[[San Marino, California]]}}
*{{cite book|author=Rhodes, Jason |year=2005|title=Images of America - Maryland's Amusement Parks|publisher= [[Arcadia Publishing]]|isbn=0-7385-1795-X}}
*{{cite book|author=Poole, Russell C.|year=2006|title=America's Road - A Photographic Journey Across The National Road from Baltimore to East St. Louis|publisher= [[Phoenix Imagery Press]]|isbn=0-9770994-0-7}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Braddock Heights}}
* [http://www.braddockheights.org/ Braddock Heights Community Association]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070405015831/http://braddockhistory.org/ Braddock Heights Historical Society]
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/02/AR2005120200718.html?nav=rss_business/localbusiness/ 2005 Washington Post Braddock Heights Article]

{{Frederick County, Maryland}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Frederick County, Maryland]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Maryland]]
[[Category:Streetcar suburbs]]