Upper Fairmount, MD

Upper Fairmount is a historic district in the northeast section of Baltimore, Maryland. The district is bounded by North Avenue on the south, York Road on the west, and Falls Road on the north. It includes most of the neighborhoods of Mount Vernon-Belvedere-Mount Royal and Highlandtown.

The area was first settled in 1729 by German farmers who named it "Faire Mount". In 1792, James Witherspoon purchased Faire Mount from its original owners and renamed it " Upper Fairmount". He built a mansion on what is now called Witherspoon Hill and began to develop the area as a fashionable suburb for Baltimore's elite. Upper Fairmount became known for its grand estates, including those of James McHenry (the father of James McHenry Jr.), Samuel Chase, John Eager Howard, and Charles Carroll of Carrollton.

Today, much of Upper Fairmount remains undeveloped land with large estates remaining as well as many restored homes from when the area was more populated. The neighborhood has seen an increase in population in recent years due to gentrification; however there are still many areas that remain largely untouched by development. There are several notable historical sites located within Upper Fairmount including Belvedere Mansion (now part of University College), Chase Mansion (now part of Johns Hopkins University), Howard House (now part of Morgan State University), and Carroll House (now home to Saint Paul's School).