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Ranked by Money Magazine as one of the top places to live in the D.C. area and conveniently located halfway between Baltimore, MD and the nation’s capital, Washington, DC. This classy suburban escape is just minutes from Route 29, 32, I-95, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Annapolis, Fort Meade, and Columbia.

Emerson offers residents a suburban feel with the ease of access to popular metropolitan areas. Family-friendly and business professionals alike live and work in the community. The public schools are highly rated in top-ranked Howard County. Our residents enjoy a friendly atmosphere, easy access to recreational amenities, employment and shopping.

Set in southeastern Howard County and running from Interstate 95, Route 216 north to Gorman Road, this beautiful, master-planned community is comprised of single-family homes, townhomes and luxury apartment dwellings. Amenities include a community clubhouse with private meeting room (set for major expansion to include a second level in 2020), an inviting solar-heated community pool with water park like-fountain features, infant & toddler pool, covered awnings with outdoor fans, outdoor tennis courts, children’s playgrounds, dog parks and paved walking trails (new outdoor gym walking path equipment coming in 2020).

Emerson is a big draw for several reasons, said Eric Pakulla, an agent with Re/Max Advantage in Columbia. “It has a very attractive location between Baltimore/Washington and caters to other major markets like Annapolis and Frederick. The schools are very strong! There’s a community pool, community center, walkways and playgrounds. Major employment centers within a short drive include the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Verizon Wireless and W.R. Grace, he added.” – Source: The Washington Post, May 29, 2015

Emerson broke ground in 2001 and is named after 19th-century poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. It includes a 570-acre development by General Growth Properties with over 1,000 homes. The company later merged with Rouse Co., developer of the nearby planned community of Columbia. Rouse purchased the land and set it aside for Emerson along with the adjoining Stone Lake community.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote eloquently and lavishly about the mysteries of the natural world. His motif is reflected in contemplative street names that crisscross the community: Skylark Boulevard, Winter Sun Road, Fragrant Lilies Way, Purple Cloud Row and Deep Skies Drive, to name a few.

I live in the Emerson Community in North Laurel. It is a beautiful community, which is very pet-friendly. There are doggy-bag stands throughout the community. There are many well-maintained parks and a community swimming pool. I would definitely say this is a great community to live in. I’m districted to a very good school and we are conveniently close to a lot of amenities. We are close enough to D.C. that is perfect for a day trip, the Annapolis mall is not too far away, and we are close to Columbia Mall and Ellicott City. – Anonymous Emerson Resident, 2017

Emerson West of I-95 Schools:

Gorman Crossing Elementary

Murray Hill Middle

Atholton High

 

Emerson East of I-95 Schools:

Forest Ridge Elementary

Patuxent Valley Middle

Hammond High.

Transit: Central Maryland Regional Transit (CMRT) bus service runs in nearby Savage and Laurel. MARC commuter rail stations in Savage and Laurel are short drives away, as is commuter bus service in the Maple Lawn section of Fulton.

 

Fun Facts

We have:

  • 1031 units in our Community ( 551 Single Family Homes and 480 Townhomes).
  • 2 Community Pools (1 large pool with lap swim area and beach entry and 1 toddler pool).
  • 2 Tennis Courts with backboard.
  • 27 Pet Stations Throughout the Community.
  • 5 Playground Areas.
  • 4 Pavilions Poolside.
  • Clubhouse (for rent).
  • 3 parks.
  • walking paths throughout community.

Awards and recognitions achieved by Howard County or locations within it include the following:

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