Cockeysville, MD

Cockeysville received its name from the Cockey family, who established the town. In 1725, Thomas Cockey settled at Taylor's Hall, and Joshua Frederick Cockey built one of the first homes in 1798. During the early 1800s, Joshua Cockey built a hotel, which was the first commercial structure in the area. Judge Joshua F. Cockey was a lifelong resident of the area in the 1800s, and he built the train station and multiple commercial buildings. After the Civil War, Joshua F. Cockey III founded the National Bank of Cockeysville and developed buildings along the York Turnpike that appear in the modern day village of Cockeysville.

The closest museum, The Historical Society of Baltimore County, aims to gather, preserve and understand the rich history of Baltimore County for the pleasure and education of residents. Annual events include free, monthly genealogy instruction with genealogists Noreen Goodson and Angela Walton-Raji.

Restaurants in Cockeysville consist of a myriad of options that include fast food, authentic cuisine and popular delis. The various restaurants create different dining experiences that range from a quick lunch with friends to an upscale dinner with family or colleagues. The central location for restaurants and nightlife in this area borders State Highway 45.

Cafe Spice has become regarded by customers as one of the best Indian restaurants in Baltimore. Cafe Spice serves authentic Indian cuisine that customers find spicy and flavorful. This restaurant has a colorful decor, excellent customer service and a reasonably priced menu that helps create an enjoyable dining experience. Popular menu items include the tandoori chicken and goat vindaloo. Customers enjoy that main dishes are served with light and fluffy basmati rice, which has bits of vegetable and delicate spices.

Another popular authentic cuisine option, Yasou Greek Bistro has beautifully prepared Greek dishes. The gyro platter, moussaka, and chicken souvlaki come highly recommended by guests, and customers enjoy that all entrees come with a generous Greek-inspired side salad. Yasou Greek Bistro also has a Greek-inspired decor that resembles Mykanos. This restaurant has a menu that guests find inexpensive for the quality and generous portions of food.

Nightlife in Cockeysville can be considered quiet and laid-back. This area has a couple of bars and a pool hall. For other nightlife activities residents can visit nearby neighborhoods or downtown Baltimore. Popular spots include Pappas Restaurant & Sports Bar and Magic 8 Cue Club. Pappas provides a great location to watch sports and grab a beer with friends, while Magic 8 Cue Club allows guests to play some pool and socialize. Pappas has a good drink selection with different speciality drinks, numerous televisions and live music that helps guests unwind and enjoy good company.

Cockeysville has a low walk score and requires a vehicle to accomplish most errands. Although this area has beautiful bike trails, bike lanes and the bike infrastructure can use improvement. Biking can be used as an effective means of transportation, but only on specific streets. This area has good transit options and is served by the Maryland Transit Administration's Light Rail line and bus route 9 for public transportation.

Car-sharing services such as RelayRides and ride-share services like Uber give residents options for transportation without owning a vehicle. Local taxis also operate regularly in the Cockeysville neighborhood and surrounding areas. For access to nearby locations, I-83, State Highway 45 and State Highway 145 help residents travel effortlessly. Parking here consists of street parking and customer parking lots.

This neighborhood has several parks and recreational facilities. However, Oregon Ridge Park remains the largest and most widely used park, sitting on more than 1,000 acres of beautiful land. This stunning park has an assortment of activities, miles of hiking trails, an accessible playground and a fitness area. Dogs are welcome here, but they must remain on leashes.

The park provides an ideal location for exercise or experiencing the beauty of nature. Oregon Ridge Park even has a nature center that provides year-round, family-friendly activities. The nature center houses different environmental displays and live animals that include turtles, snakes and frogs. The park has a park rental option for special events that can accommodate indoor or outdoor events.

Annual events here include the Fourth of July celebration, with a fireworks display and a concert by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

The cost of living in Cockeysville sits about equal to the Maryland average. Maryland Transit Administration provides public transportation options for the area that cost $1.60 for light rail and local bus single-trip fares. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is approximately $950 per month.

Gas in this area sits around 10 percent higher than the national average, and residents can expect to pay $4 for a domestic beer at a local bar.

Shopping options in Cockeysville consist of large department stores, chain retailers and a large shopping center. Although most residents enjoy using well-known department stores, the Hunt Valley Towne Center contains numerous businesses and retailers that provide a diverse selection of items, in addition to entertainment options, restaurants and more. Alternate Worlds sells collectibles, toys, comic books and other gift options. Alternate Worlds has built a reputation as a store with a diverse selection, providing nostalgia for adults and cool items for children. This store even has comic books that may be difficult to locate anywhere else. Residents can use Target and Walmart for grocery needs; however, the popular Wegmans has a distinct selection of products and services that guests enjoy as well. Wegmans has competitive prices, excellent brand products and services such as floral and catering. Local residents also enjoy the convenience of having several farmers markets available throughout the Baltimore area, including the seasonal Pratt Street Farmers Market and the 32nd Street Farmers Market, which takes place each Saturday throughout the year.