Towson Vs. New Brunswick: Similarities And Differences

Towson and New Brunswick are two very different places. Towson is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Baltimore County and is home to Towson University. On the other hand, New Brunswick is one of the thirteen provinces of Canada and is bordered by Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the US state of Maine to the west.

Towson, Maryland vs New Brunswick, Canada: Differences

Towson, Maryland, and New Brunswick, Canada, are two distinct places with unique features and histories. Here is a comparison of the two:

Location and Population:

Towson, Maryland, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Baltimore County, United States. It is located immediately north of Baltimore City and had a population of 59,533 as of the 2020 census.

On the other hand, New Brunswick is a province in Canada with a population of over 775,000 as of 2022. Within New Brunswick is a village called New Maryland, located in York County, with a population of approximately 4,500 as of 2024.

History:

The first inhabitants of Towson and central Baltimore County were the Susquehannock people. Towson was settled in 1752 by the Towson brothers, who began farming in the area. The village became known as "Towsontown."

New Maryland, within New Brunswick, likely got its name from members of the Maryland Loyalists Battalion who settled in the area. The name "New Maryland" has been used since 1825 and was officially incorporated as a village in 1991.

Landmarks and Attractions:

Towson is home to Towson University, the second-largest institution in the University System of Maryland. It also has several shopping centers, including Towson Town Center, Towson Square, and The Shops at Kenilworth.

New Maryland, New Brunswick, boasts beautiful walking trails and natural spaces. It is also home to several businesses, including a pub, pharmacy, post office, and elementary school.

Climate:

Towson has a humid subtropical climate, characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

New Brunswick, being further north, experiences a more varied climate with hot summers and cold winters.

Travel options from Towson to New Brunswick

There are several ways to travel from Towson to New Brunswick. Here are some options:

By Car

The distance between Towson and New Brunswick is approximately 137-156 miles, and the drive typically takes around 2 hours and 45 minutes, depending on traffic. This is generally the quickest and most direct way to get from Towson to New Brunswick.

By Train

There is no direct train from Towson to New Brunswick. However, you can take a train from Lutherville or Baltimore Penn Station, with a transfer in Trenton, to get to New Brunswick. The total journey time for this option is around 3 hours and 33 minutes to 3 hours and 44 minutes.

By Bus

There is a direct bus service between Towson and New York, which takes around 3 hours and 15 minutes. From New York, you can take a train to New Brunswick. The total travel time for this option will depend on the wait time for the train transfer.

By Plane

While there are no direct flights between Towson and New Brunswick, you can fly from Baltimore to New York and then take a train to New Brunswick. This option can take around 5 hours or more, depending on the airport and flight route.

History of Towson, Maryland

The history of Towson, Maryland, can be traced back to the Susquehannock people, the area's first inhabitants, who hunted in the region and had their primary settlement further northeast along the Susquehanna River. In 1752, Pennsylvania brothers William and Thomas Towson began farming an area of Sater's Hill, and William's son, Ezekiel, opened the Towson Hotel, after which the village became known as "Towsontown". The property in West Towson came from two land grants: the 400-acre Gott's Hope in 1719 and Gunner's Range in 1706.

In 1790, businessman Capt. Charles Ridgely completed the Hampton Mansion just north of Towsontown, which was the largest private house in America at the time. The Ridgelys lived there for six generations, until 1948, and it is now preserved as the Hampton National Historic Site.

During the War of 1812, surgeon Grafton Marsh and his brother Josiah Marsh, a physician, settled in Gott's Hope with their families. They consolidated four structures into a larger dwelling that they called "Marshmont". They were later joined in practice by their nephew, Dr. Grafton Marsh Bosley, who inherited the medical practice, the Marshmont compound, and a 140-acre farm. In 1869, Bosley and his wife, Margaret Nicholson, built a new home on their property, which they named "Uplands".

In 1854, Towson became the county seat of Baltimore County by popular vote. The Baltimore County Courthouse was constructed from limestone and marble donated by the Ridgely family and was completed within a year.

During the Civil War, Towson was the scene of two minor engagements. Many citizens were sympathetic to the Confederate cause, and the Union Army found it necessary to overtake the town by force on June 2, 1861. The second engagement took place around July 12, 1864, between Union and Confederate forces, after Confederate cavalry attacked the Northern Central Railway in nearby Cockeysville.

In the 1910s, the Maryland State Normal School (now Towson University) was relocated to Towson. The school was established in 1865 as Maryland's first teacher-training school and officially opened in 1866.

Towson remained largely a rural community at the beginning of the 20th century. However, after World War II, considerable office development took place in Towson's central core area, and many large Victorian and colonial-style residences were demolished to make way for offices and parking.

In terms of religious history, Epsom Chapel, constructed in 1839, was the first Christian house of worship in Towson and was used by various denominations. Due to population growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, several churches were built, including Calvary Baptist Church, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, and Trinity Episcopal Church.

Prior to the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, racially restrictive covenants were used in Towson to exclude African-Americans and other minorities.

History of New Brunswick, Canada

The history of New Brunswick, Canada, dates back to the arrival of the Paleo-Indians thousands of years ago. Before European colonisation, several First Nations groups inhabited the land, most notably the Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, and the Passamaquoddy.

French explorers first arrived in the 16th century and began to settle the region in the 17th century as part of the colony of Acadia. In 1604, a party led by Pierre Dugua and Samuel de Champlain sailed into Passamaquoddy Bay and set up camp on St. Croix Island. In the following years, other French settlements were established, and the whole region of New Brunswick was proclaimed part of the royal French colony of Acadia.

In the 18th century, the region experienced an influx of Acadian refugees after the French surrendered their claim to Nova Scotia in 1713. However, many of these Acadians were later forcibly expelled by the British during the Seven Years' War, and the French ceded their remaining claims to continental North America. During the British rule, the region was administered as part of the colony of Nova Scotia.

In 1784, the western portions were separated from Nova Scotia to form the new colony of New Brunswick, partly in response to the influx of Loyalists settling in British North America after the American Revolutionary War. The newly arrived Loyalists wanted to separate from Nova Scotia and its democratic and republican influences. Thus, the colony of New Brunswick was officially created, with Sir Thomas Carleton as the first governor. The province was named in honour of the British monarch, King George III, who was descended from the House of Brunswick.

During the 19th century, New Brunswick saw an influx of settlers, including formerly deported Acadians, Welsh migrants, and a large number of Irish migrants. The shipbuilding industry became dominant in the Bay of Fundy, and resource-based industries such as logging and farming were also important to the economy. However, the province experienced an economic downturn in the late 19th century.

In the 20th century, New Brunswick's economy began to expand again, with manufacturing gaining strength and the pulp and paper mills replacing sawmills. The province joined Canadian Confederation in 1867, becoming one of the four original provinces.

In the 1960s, the government embarked on an equal opportunity program to address the inequities faced by the province's French-speaking population. In 1969, the New Brunswick Official Languages Act was passed, making New Brunswick the only officially bilingual province in Canada, with English and French having equal status.

Universities in Towson and New Brunswick

Towson and New Brunswick are two distinct places with different universities. Towson is in Maryland, while New Brunswick is in New Jersey.

Universities in Towson, Maryland

Towson University is a public university in Towson, Maryland, and is Baltimore's largest university. It offers rigorous and real-world learning across 80+ graduate-level programs and 19 NCAA Division I teams. The university is committed to inclusive excellence and is a national leader in this area. It has been recognised for its value, diversity, and LGBTQ+ friendliness.

Other colleges and universities in Towson include Johns Hopkins University, Loyola University, Stevenson University, Morgan State University, and Notre Dame of Maryland University.

Universities in New Brunswick, New Jersey

Rutgers University-New Brunswick is a public research university and the flagship campus of New Jersey's state university. It was founded in 1766 and has a total undergraduate enrollment of 36,344 (as of fall 2022). The university is split into five mini campuses, each with its own unique setting, student centre, and dining options. Rutgers has a highly ranked Graduate School of Education and awards one of the highest numbers of doctorate degrees annually in the US.

Another educational institution in New Brunswick is the New Brunswick Community College (NBCC).

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