Lakeland

The history of Lakeland is one of racial tension, struggle, and fish. Back in the 1890s, Prince George’s County was overwhelmingly white. Developer Edwin A. Newman had recently designed the neighborhood of “Lakeland,” a resort style suburban community. Its affordable housing and the concurrent Great Migration brought many black families to Lakeland, though they lived on the east side while the white families lived on the west, divided by the B&O railroad tracks. However, during the turn of the 20th century several black families decided to move to the west side. These families were not welcomed by their white neighbors, often receiving threats to their lives and property, and eventually the majority of the white families moved out. On a lighter note, Lakeland’s big claim to fame surrounds its relationship with the Baltimore Gold Fish Company. In 1905, the company built five artificial lakes in Lakeland to act as a massive breeding ground for goldfish.