Westport, a neighborhood that Baltimore annexed in 1918, is a self-contained industrial village that has survived far-reaching physical and cultural changes over its existence. From its beginning as a late 19th century agricultural area settled by the Maryland-born children of German immigrants, Westport developed to become a working class neighborhood in the 20th century. Well into the mid-20* century Westport was a stable settlement characterized by longtime residents. In addition to this German American core, Westport added new residents from other states and immigrants from other countries as the Carr-Lowrey Glass Works expanded and intensive residential development took place after the 1918 annexation. Westport can claim its share of famous sons, including Baseball Hall of Famer Al Kaline and noted movie theater historian Robert K. Headley.

In the mid-20th century, Route 295, now a six-lane limited access road with interchanges at either end of Westport, irrevocably split the neighborhood and compromised its historic pedestrian scale. Public housing immediately to the west changed the former demographic of homogeneous, long-term residents. By the early 1970s, Westport was a blighted neighborhood. Industries along the waterfront declined and ultimately abandoned their plants. Nevertheless, despite these changes, Westport retains a distinct physical identity.