2008 2007 % Change
Total Sold Dollar Volume: $ 5,600,400 $ 10,612,690 - 47.23 %
Average Sold Price: $ 280,020 $ 294,797 - 5.01 %
Median Sold Price: $ 262,950 $ 281,950 - 6.74 %
Total Units Sold: 20 36 - 44.44 %
Average Days on Market: 122 72 69.44 %
Average List Price for Solds: $ 297,268 $ 306,777 - 3.10 %
Avg Sale Price as a
percentage of Avg List Price: 94.20 % 96.09 %
Bel Air real estate agents in
Bel Air is located on U.S. 1, and several miles north of I-95. Route 1 has both a bypass around Bel Air and
The Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad ("Ma and Pa") ran through town in the early part of the 20th century, but the tracks have since been dismantled. The Ma and Pa Trail walking trail runs its course, creating shortcuts through wooded portions of town, around
A six-level parking garage is located on
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,080 people, 4,235 households, and 2,511 families residing in the town. The population density was 3,583.7 people per square mile (1,385.0/km²). There were 4,444 housing units at an average density of 1,580.0/sq mi (610.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.82% White, 4.38% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.
There were 4,235 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.2% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $44,135, and the median income for a family was $58,299. Males had a median income of $42,412 versus $29,207 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,737. 6.4% of the population and 4.0% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 7.6% are under the age of 18 and 6.5% are 65 or older.
Bel Air's identity has gone through several incarnations since 1780. Landowner Aquilla Scott planned the town on a portion of inherited land known as "Scott's Improvement Enlarged," which he called "Scott's Old Fields." Four years later, the town had expanded as local politicians, merchants and innkeepers purchased lots from Scott, and the county commissioners decided to change its name to the more appealing "Belle Aire." In his deeds, Scott dropped one letter, renaming the town, "Bell Aire." Around 1798, court records decided to drop two more letters and "Bel Air" was born.
During this period, Bel Air began to show strong communal legs. In 1782, just two years after its conception, it became Harford's county seat, and Daniel Scott (Aquilla's son) started building a courthouse on
Several fires swept through the downtown area in the early 20th century, notably in 1900 and 1942. In 1972, a fire decimated the street, causing $2 million worth of damage.
In 1970, notorious Black Panthers member H. Rap Brown was on a safety-relocation trial in the courthouse for instigating a riot after a rally in Cambridge. Radicals sent to eliminate Brown drove to Bel Air in a car laden with plastic explosives, intending to take down the courthouse, but the car exploded too early, leaving a crater in the road less than a mile away. The trial was eventually moved again.
The town once boasted a regionally featured horse track, which stood where the Harford Mall is today.
The Harford County Public Schools serve Bel Air, in addition to the rest of the county.
Bel Air Elementary School, Fountain Green Elementary School, Hickory Elementary School, Homestead/Wakefield Elementary School, John Archer School, Prospect Mill Elementary School, Ring Factory Elementary School, Forest Lakes Elementary School
Bel Air Middle School, Southampton Middle School, Patterson Mill Middle School, Fallston Middle School
Bel Air High School, C. Milton Wright High School, Harford Technical High School (by application only), Patterson Mill High School, Fallston High School
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