Federal Hill, Baltimore

The neighborhood is named for the prominent hill that is easily viewed from the Inner Harbor area. The hillside is a lush green and serves as a community park. The hill itself was given the name because it was the site of a Union artillery battery when Baltimore was under martial law after the Baltimore riot of 1861.

The neighborhood occupies the northwestern part of a peninsula that extends along two branches of the Patapsco River—the inner harbor and the Middle Branch. Traditionally, the neighborhood was roughly triangular, borded by I-395 to the west, Hughes Street, the harbor, and Key Highway to the north and east, and Fort Avenue to the south. However, over the past decade, Federal Hill has become one of Baltimore's most desirable addresses. Much of working class South Baltimore to the south of Fort Avenue has been redefined as part of Federal Hill. One resident noted in an interview with the Baltimore Sun that he "lived all his life in South Baltimore and then woke up one day in Federal Hill."

Federal Hill was originally a working class neighborhood itself, and by the late 1970s was a blighted area dominated by vacant housing. However, city officials, realizing its potential, used it as the basis for an innovative urban renewal program: the city government seized vacant houses and sold them to individuals for $1; in return the buyers promised to restore and live in the houses. Despite the modest size of many of the area's rowhouses, the neighborhood rapidly became an affluent residence, especially for young adults, due to its inner city access, views of the Harbor and city skyline, and access to Interstate 95 and such Baltimore institutions as the Camden Yards sports complex and the Canton and Fells Point neighborhoods by water taxi. Since the mid 1990s property values in the neighborhood have skyrocketed, leading to an influx of not only redevelopment but new development, including homes, restraunts and shops. The neighborhood is also a popular destination for tavern goers and music lovers, with street festivals several times a year.

The Cross Street Market, a historic marketplace built in the 19th century, continues to serve residents and serves as a hub for the neighborhood. The neighborhood is also home to the American Visionary Art Museum.