Development began in September 1930 with themes such as half-timbering and stucco, irregular massing, and the New England house form with jetty.

Development began when The Roland Park Company purchased the estates of John W. Garrett, Enoch Pratt and Arunah Shepherdson Abell.

Today, Original Northwood comprises 369 homes and is one of the top 15 city neighborhoods in wealth.

Original Northwood was designated an Historic District in 1998 and represents the largest unified collection of the architect, John A. Ahlers.

[3] During the 1930s and 1940s, when the neighborhood was being built, racial covenants were used to exclude African-Americans from owning homes in the community.