What's the deal with Severna Park?

[Anonymous]

I know a handful of families that have moved there recently and heard a buzz in general. What is the sudden draw?

[Anonymous]

It's very white. Fairly conservative. Good schools -- some nice, water privileged communities. I think what's appealing is that the houses are generally affordable considering you have one of the top performing high schools in the state. I believe Severna Park HS was recently designated as a blue ribbon school. I like Severna Park and have seen a number of friends from Bowie make the move there, for the schools. They are all very happy. It is a community of very pleasant, middle class communities. I'll still take PG County, warts and all. I like the diversity -- we are a little more progressive and we have a nice mix of working class folks and more affluent families. But different strokes, I guess.

[Anonymous]

Wow, I went to college in Baltimore. In the late 90's Severna Park was a slight step above Glen Burnie...comparable to maybe Laurel. Yuck, it's probably the next closest area where all the white people who lived in Laurel wanted to get away from the black people who were moving in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I went to college in Baltimore. In the late 90's Severna Park was a slight step above Glen Burnie...comparable to maybe Laurel. Yuck, it's probably the next closest area where all the white people who lived in Laurel wanted to get away from the black people who were moving in.

Hahaha, really?! Apparently, since you went to college in Baltimore, you know all about Maryland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I went to college in Baltimore. In the late 90's Severna Park was a slight step above Glen Burnie...comparable to maybe Laurel. Yuck, it's probably the next closest area where all the white people who lived in Laurel wanted to get away from the black people who were moving in.

I grew up in AA county and graduated in the late 90s. That couldn't be further from the truth. Severna Park is like AAs version of Bethesda/McLean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I went to college in Baltimore. In the late 90's Severna Park was a slight step above Glen Burnie...comparable to maybe Laurel. Yuck, it's probably the next closest area where all the white people who lived in Laurel wanted to get away from the black people who were moving in.

I grew up in AA county and graduated in the late 90s. That couldn't be further from the truth. Severna Park is like AAs version of Bethesda/McLean.

Absolutely, maybe you are confusing it with somewhere else. Glen Burnout is worlds away from Severna Park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I went to college in Baltimore. In the late 90's Severna Park was a slight step above Glen Burnie...comparable to maybe Laurel. Yuck, it's probably the next closest area where all the white people who lived in Laurel wanted to get away from the black people who were moving in.

Some of us in Laurel prefer to pronounce it Lauh - REL. Thank you very much.

[Anonymous]

It's blue collar rich. Lots of shiny Ram 2500's and people have elaborate billiard rooms (read Florida rooms with pool tables in them). Isn't it on some swampy river?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's blue collar rich. Lots of shiny Ram 2500's and people have elaborate billiard rooms (read Florida rooms with pool tables in them). Isn't it on some swampy river?

This is inaccurate (that would be more along the lines of Pasadena). Severna Park is where many of the area's doctors/lawyers/entrepreneurs live. When I was growing up, Severna Park High was school full of preppy rich kids.

[Anonymous]

To 22:42-- hahaha! NP here, Baltimore born and raised. Severna Park is very blue collar, and that is stating it nicely. Not too long ago, others might have used another time, initials W.T.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I went to college in Baltimore. In the late 90's Severna Park was a slight step above Glen Burnie...comparable to maybe Laurel. Yuck, it's probably the next closest area where all the white people who lived in Laurel wanted to get away from the black people who were moving in.

I went to college in Baltimore too, in the 80's. I moved to Laurel in the 90's and never left. I'm surprised you have no idea what Laurel is like. It's always been a very mixed racial community. The diversity has expanded over the years. Where it was a strong mix of black and white with a slight population of Hispanic and Asian, the Hispanic community has grown and now it is a truly mixed racial community. And I like raising my children in that environment. I want them to truly feel comfortable in a mixed race environment. Having lived here for nearly 20 years I don't know too many people who moved out to "get away from the black people who were moving in." Or at least not who ever made an issue to say or imply this.

[Anonymous]

Median household incomes in 2009:
Maryland (entire state) - $69,272
Severna Park -- $109,646
Glen Burnie -- $56,668

[Anonymous]

Wow. Some of you have either NO idea or you are about two decades behind. Admittedly, much of Anne Arundel County was redneck, but has vastly improved, thanks to the success of their schools, bringing middle class families in. But I wouldn't put Severna Park in that category -- it's always been middle class. Whenever there is a thread on DCUM, there's always someone who will chime and say it's WT or for 'the poors,' regardless of whether this is actually true.

The people I know in SP are attorneys, professors, accountants...I don't know anyone who drives pickup, although I am sure there are some.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's blue collar rich. Lots of shiny Ram 2500's and people have elaborate billiard rooms (read Florida rooms with pool tables in them). Isn't it on some swampy river?

Like most of Baltimore. They relate to Baltimore, not DC

[Anonymous]

Maybe like most areas there are really nice parts near the water, but towards the outskirts it's pretty blue collar. But upper blue collar, like giant boat in the driveway, bigger than the house