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Population Density
The density of people living in residential areas affects the character and quality of both the environ-ment
and the community. High population densities may indicate multiple-story housing, multiple-unit
housing, tightly packed row houses, and/or crowding. Low densities may indicate neighborhoods with larger
houses, larger yards, and more open spaces. Alternatively, they may indicate areas with non-residential land
or high rates of vacancy in the community. Although it may seem counter-intuitive, higher density areas may
be environmentally preferable as they result, overall, in less impervious surface area per person.
In addition, population density provides an indication of the number of people who will be affected by
the quality of the local environment, both positive and negative.
Key Findings about Population in the Gwynns Falls Watershed:
- Within the Gwynns Falls, population density ranges from .26 to 49.8 people per acre.
- The highest concentrations of people occur in Baltimore City, Owings Mills New Town, and along
the Liberty and Reisterstown Road corridors. The lowest concentrations currently occur within the
upper watershed outside of the Owings Mills area.
- While the upper portion of the watershed is slated for new growth and development, the overall
population for the Gwynns Falls is projected to hold steady or even decline slightly by the year
2020. For this reason, population density will continue to decrease even though more residential,
commercial, industrial, and institutional development will occur within the watershed by 2020.
This development will continue to replace forest and agricultural land with impervious and com-pacted
surfaces.
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