Lake Arbor, Maryland

History

Lake Arbor was originally known as Newbridge, a development of Levitt & Sons, developers of the early planned communities of Levittown in Pennsylvania and Long Island, New York, respectively. When the project went bankrupt in the mid-1970s after selling only 41 houses, Manufacturer's Hanover Trust acquired the debt and held it as REO (real estate owned) for approximately 10 years until a limited partnership composed of David A. Gitlitz, Alvin Dworman, Phillip Abrahms, Phillip D. Winn, and Gary S. Lachman acquired it. Under the direction of Gitlitz, and with technical engineering assistance from Abrahms, Lachman changed the name of the property to Lake Arbor.

The story of Lake Arbor is emblematic of the socio-economic and demographic evolution of Prince George's County that occurred in the mid-1980s. Against the strong resistance of many large national builders who perceived Prince George’s County as a price-sensitive retreat for urban African Americans who neither wanted nor could afford upscale amenities for their homes, community developers like Porten Sullivan, Pulte, Winchester, George T. Farrell of Morgan Investments and Jon Laria from Laria Builders built features like two-car garages, brick, fronts and elaborate landscaping and built 2000 luxury homes in this community in the 1980s, initiating a new path for the rest of Lake Arbor Community. Reynolds Real Estate acted as selling realtor and Industrial Bank of Washington provided construction and purchase financing. To the pleasant surprise of the builders, buyers rushed to embrace (and pay for) these features. Firmly demonstrating both the sophisticated tastes and buying power of the predominantly African American market, as well as codifying architectural standards requested (but not mandated) by county executives such as Winnie Kelly and Governor Parris Glendening, Lake Arbor established Prince George’s County as the most desirable destination for young, affluent African American families moving from Washington, DC for a suburban lifestyle.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.2 sqmi, of which 3.1 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi, or 1.58%, is water.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 2010 2020

2020 census

2000 Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,533 people, 3,493 households, and 2,165 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,751.6 PD/sqmi. There were 3,662 housing units at an average density of 1,180.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 7.20% White, 88.74% African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.77% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.64% of the population.

There were 3,493 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.1% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 36.9% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 76.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $74,599, and the median income for a family was $89,775. Males had a median income of $52,617 versus $45,644 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $35,700. About 0.6% of families and 1.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.4% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

When it was in operation, The Boulevard at the Capital Centre was in Lake Arbor CDP.

When it existed, Crown Books had its headquarters in what is now Lake Arbor.

Government

The U.S. Postal Service operates the Largo Post Office in Lake Arbor CDP, with a Largo postal address.

Education

Prince George's County Public Schools serves Lake Arbor.

The zoned schools are Lake Arbor Elementary School, Ernest Everett Just Middle School, and Charles Herbert Flowers High School.

Transportation

Washington Metro Downtown Largo station is in Lake Arbor CDP.

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. {{gnis. 1852596
3. "Lake Arbor CDP, Maryland".
4. [http://www.zipmap.net/Maryland/Prince_George's_County/Lake_Arbor.htm Zip Codes for Lake Arbor, Prince George's County, Maryland.] Retrieved 2013-12-27.
5. "1990 COUNTY BLOCK MAP" for Prince George's County ([https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st24_Maryland/24033_PrinceGeorges/90B24033_000.pdf see index map]). [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on September 9, 2018. Pages showing what is now Lake Arbor as being in Mitchellville are: [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st24_Maryland/24033_PrinceGeorges/90B24033_018.pdf 18] and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk1990/st24_Maryland/24033_PrinceGeorges/90B24033_019.pdf 19].
6. "[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/blk2000/st24_Maryland/Place/2444817_LakeArbor/CBP2444817_001.pdf CENSUS 2000 BLOCK MAP: LAKE ARBOR CDP]." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on September 9, 2018.
7. Yorke, Jeffrey. (October 24, 1987). "LAKE ARBOR COMES OF AGE". The Washington Post.
8. Daily Record Staff. (February 26, 2021). "Jon Laria".
9. Wolfrom, Jessica. (April 28, 2021). "Lake Arbor in Prince George's County prepares for change but remains tightknit". Washington Post.
10. LeDuc, Daniel. (April 6, 1999). "Glendening Plan Rewards His Backers". Washington Post.
11. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". [[US Census Bureau]].
12. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lake Arbor CDP, Maryland".
13. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Lake Arbor CDP, Maryland".
14. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
15. "[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2444817_lake_arbor/DC10BLK_P2444817_000.pdf 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Lake Arbor CDP, MD]." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on September 1, 2018. Pages: [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2444817_lake_arbor/DC10BLK_P2444817_001.pdf 1] and [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2444817_lake_arbor/DC10BLK_P2444817_002.pdf 2].
16. [https://web.archive.org/web/20071113001653/http://www.shopcapcentre.com/Contact/ContactUs/Index.htm Contact Us]." [[The Boulevard at the Capital Centre]]. Retrieved on September 9, 2018. "Boulevard at the Capital Centre 900 Capital Centre Boulevard Largo, MD 20774"
17. ''Directory of Corporate Affiliations, Volume 5''. [[National Register Pub. Co.]], 2001. [https://books.google.com/books?id=IpMgAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Crown+Books%22+%22Largo,+MD%22 455]. Retrieved on January 18, 2011. "CROWN BOOKS CORPORATION 1601 McCormick Dr. Largo, MD "
18. "[http://gis.pgcps.org/mapgallery/Maps/Boundaries%20-%20Elementary.pdf NEIGHBORHOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND BOUNDARIES SCHOOL YEAR 2018-2019]." [[Prince George's County Public Schools]]. Retrieved on September 1, 2018.
19. "[http://gis.pgcps.org/mapgallery/Maps/Boundaries%20-%20Middle.pdf NEIGHBORHOOD MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND BOUNDARIES SCHOOL YEAR 2018-2019]." [[Prince George's County Public Schools]]. Retrieved on September 1, 2018.
20. "[http://gis.pgcps.org/mapgallery/Maps/Boundaries%20-%20High.pdf NEIGHBORHOOD HIGH SCHOOLS AND BOUNDARIES SCHOOL YEAR 2018-2019]." [[Prince George's County Public Schools]]. Retrieved on September 1, 2018.