Greater Landover, Maryland (Kentland 33’s 1st due)

Sources: Wikipedia.com, Pgcrimeinfo.org, Citydata.com, realestate.com, infoplease.com
Landover is an unincorporated area, with no official status believed to be named for the town of Llandovery, Wales. The entire area was once known as Poplar Spring. On August 5, 1741 James Beale was granted 782 acres by Maryland’s Governor for his service in the British Navy. Today his plantation house still stands off of 75th Ave on Beale’s Ct. The Beale family farmed this land until the late 1870’s. Slowly the plantation was divided up and developed between James’s children. In the early 1900’s roads were cut through the farmland and houses started to be built.

After WWII a major suburban sprawl came through this part of the country and most of Landover was developed into the neighborhoods we see today. Towards the end of the 60’s apartment buildings were constructed all over Kentland to keep up with the growing population. The 80’s brought a major drug epidemic that killed hundreds a year, this would ultimately lead to the demise of the nice bedroom community of Kentland. The end of the 80’s brought war scenes on Kentland streets as gang violence became a familiar sight in the area.

The last large undeveloped area was the Wilson Farm which stood between Sheriff, Brightseat and Nalley roads.

In 1995 the 300 acre farm was sold to the county for $6.3 million. The county developed the eastern 88 acres into the PG Sports Complex. The rest was sold to Jack Kent Cooke for $4.1million. Cooke then built his $160 million stadium known as Fed-Ex Field today. The Wilson farmhouse can still be seen on Brightseat Rd.

Landover is home to FedEx Field, home of the Washington Redskins. Martin Lawrence grew up in the apartments at the 7400 block of Landover Rd and attended Kenmoor Middle School.  Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard grew up in Palmer Park. Today there are streets and a community center named in his honor. Charles Flowers, the famous Tuskegee Airmen and WWII fighter pilot ace lives in Glenarden. In 2000 the high school on Ardwick Ardmore Rd. was named in his honor.

Charles Herbert Flowers High School (CHFHS) Referred to as just “Flowers” the school has about 3000 students and assembles one of the best football teams in PG county.  Though small, Landover houses many neighborhoods which include: Brightseat, Palmer Park, Kentland, Dodge Park, Columbia Park, Washington Heights, Carsondale, Springdale, Belle Haven, Lansdowne, Village Green and Whitfield Chapel, East Cheverly, Capitol Hill East and the entire city of Glenarden . Metrorail's Orange line passes through the community. Landover is bordered by Cheverly and Landover Hills to the west, Lanham-Seabrook and Glenn Dale to the north, Largo to the east, Chapel Oaks and Seat Pleasant to the south

Although PG as a whole is known for having a relatively high crime rate, Kentland has become known as the most violent community in the county (16 homicides in 2007, see map). Kentland has a murder rate eight times higher than nearby Washington DC. The average household in Landover is 3 people. The average commute to work is 33 minutes, which is third in the nation to Atlanta and L.A. The area has some of the worst unemployment rates in the country, tripling the county average. 5/8 residents live in government assisted housing and 27% are living in poverty. Only 78 % of people aged 25+ attain a high school education. Students living south of Landover Rd and west of Martin Luther King highway attend Fairmont Heights High. Students living north of 91ST Place attend Parkdale High in Riverdale. All other students attend “Flowers”. 46% population male 54% Female in 2000, the average resident age is 29. In Landover 17% of the population is foreign born. The elevation in Landover is 45’ above sea level. 245 days a year it is sunny.