The neighborhood is still mostly populated by the descendants of Italian-American immigrants and remains a closely knit ethnic enclave.

Located just east of the Inner Harbor, Little Italy was given its name due to the large number of Italian immigrant families that moved into the area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

By the start of the 20th century, the neighborhood had become almost exclusively Italian-American, eventually earning it the name, Little Italy.

Little Italy is home to St. Leo the Great Roman Catholic Church, established in 1881 (cornerstone laid 1880), and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Little Italy is located three blocks south of the Shot Tower/Market Place Baltimore Metro Subway station.