Elkridge, Maryland facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Elkridge, Maryland
Census-designated place
Elkridge Furnace Inn, Furnace Avenue
Location of Elkridge, Maryland
Country	United States of America
State	Maryland
County	Howard
Jansen Town	1734
Elk Ridge Landing	1825
Elk Ridge	1884
Elkridge	1895
Government
• Type	County council
Area
• Total	8.37 sq mi (21.68 km²)
• Land	8.36 sq mi (21.65 km²)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km²)
Elevation	92 ft (28 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	25,171
• Density	3,010.89/sq mi (1,162.55/km²)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	21075
Area code(s)	410 and 443
FIPS code	24-25750
GNIS feature ID	0590149

Thomas Viaduct

Elkridge is a community in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It's called a "census-designated place" (CDP) because it's a recognized area for gathering population data. In 2020, about 25,171 people lived there.

Elkridge was founded in the early 1700s. It is located next to two other counties: Anne Arundel and Baltimore.

History of Elkridge

Elkridge is the oldest settlement in what is now Howard County. It was once part of Anne Arundel County. Its location on the Patapsco River was very important for its early growth.

Early Settlement and Trade

In 1733, the Maryland government wanted to create a town called "Jansen Town" at a place already known as Elkridge Landing. This area was a key spot where farmers could bring their tobacco crops. From here, the tobacco was loaded onto English trading ships.

In 1755, the Elkridge Furnace was built. This was a historic iron works that made iron products. It operated until the 1860s. The water channel that powered the furnace was later filled in to create "Race Road."

Fires and New Beginnings

In 1825, a fire destroyed many of the oldest buildings in Jansen Town. After the fire, the area became known as Elkridge Landing. A postal stop was also set up that same year.

Historic Churches in Elkridge

Elkridge has several old churches. Melville Church on Furnace Avenue was one of the first Methodist churches built in 1772. Saint Augustine Church, built in 1845, opened its school in 1870.

Industries and the Railroad

Elkridge had many industries, including iron making, basket weaving, and paper mills. The B&O Railroad also provided many jobs.

The Thomas Viaduct is a famous landmark in Elkridge. It's the oldest multi-arched curved stone railroad bridge in the world. It was built in 1833. The B&O Railroad used this bridge for its first horse-drawn trains. It also carried the first telegraph message from Washington, D.C..

Elkridge During the Civil War

"Maycroft", a Lawyers Hill Estate.

During the American Civil War, Union troops protected the Thomas Viaduct. They camped on Lawyers Hill, an area with large summer homes. These homes belonged to wealthy families from Baltimore.

The Elkridge Assembly Rooms was built in 1871 on Lawyers Hill. It was a community hall where people could meet for fun. Neighbors from both sides of the war (Union and Confederate supporters) used it. They protected each other's property during the war. The Lawyers Hill Historic District is now a protected historic area.

Roads and Modern Development

The Washington Turnpike Road, now U.S. Route 1, was built between 1796 and 1812. It became a main road connecting Baltimore and Washington. As cars became popular, Elkridge became an important stop along this route.

In 1939, the first mobile home park in Elkridge opened. Today, Elkridge continues to grow with new homes and businesses.

Geography of Elkridge

Elkridge is located in the eastern part of Howard County. It borders Ilchester to the north and Columbia to the northwest. To the southeast, it borders Anne Arundel County. The Patapsco River forms its northeastern border with Baltimore County.

The area of Elkridge is about 21.8 square kilometers (8.4 square miles). Only a very small part of this area is water.

Elkridge Neighborhoods

Elkridge has many different neighborhoods. They are grouped into northern, western, central, and southern areas.

Northern Elkridge

This area includes Historic Elkridge Landing.

Augustine: Near Saint Augustine's Church and School.
Elkridge Heights: A historic neighborhood near Main Street.
Lawyers Hill: A historic resort area from the 1800s.
Rockburn Hill: Located near the Patapsco River.

Western Elkridge

This area is west of I-95.

Elibank: Part of Lawyers Hill, but separated by I-95. It has old estates and homes from the 1940s.
Landing Road: Once a farming area, now mostly homes.
Lyndwood: A large planned community with a shopping center and golf course.
Norris Lane: Another community along the B&O Railroad.
West Elkridge: Has different types of homes, plus Rockburn Elementary School and Rockburn Park.
Timberview: A neighborhood with Ranch-style homes from the mid-1900s.

Central Elkridge

This area is east of I-95, between Bonnie View Lane and Howard Lane.

Elkridge Crossings: A new development where the old Elkridge Drive-In used to be.
Hunt Club: An older neighborhood where the Elkridge Hunt Club once kept their dogs.
Montgomery Woods: A community of townhouses near the historic Gaines African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Rowanberry: A large planned community that includes the Elkridge Library.

Southern Elkridge

This area is south of Maryland Route 100.

Anderson: Named after a Civil War colonel.
Ducketts Lane: A residential area with Ducketts Lane Elementary School.
Harwood Park: Howard County's first planned community, started in 1893.
Mayfield: A residential area connecting Elkridge to Columbia.
Troy Hill: A center for businesses and industries, also home to Troy Park.
Wesley Grove: An area with industrial parks and newer developments along Route 1.

Nearby Communities

Elkridge is close to several other communities:

Population and People

The Elkridge Assembly Rooms in Lawyers Hill was used as a "neighborhood parlor" since the 1870s.

In 2020, the population of Elkridge was 25,171 people. The community has grown quite a bit over the years.

Most people in Elkridge are White (80.58%). There are also significant populations of African American (9.59%) and Asian (6.47%) residents. About 2.22% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

The median age in Elkridge is 32 years old. This means half the people are younger than 32 and half are older. Many households have children under 18 living with them.

Education in Elkridge

Elkridge has several schools for students from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Elementary Schools

Hanover Hills Elementary School
Rockburn Elementary School
Elkridge Elementary School
Ducketts Lane Elementary School

Middle Schools

Thomas Viaduct Middle School
Elkridge Landing Middle School
Mayfield Woods Middle School

High Schools

Most high school students from Elkridge attend either Howard High School in Ellicott City or Long Reach High School in Columbia.

Colleges and Universities

There are also several colleges nearby, including the University of Maryland Baltimore County and Howard Community College.

Elkridge Library

The Howard County Public Library opened a small branch in Elkridge in 1984. A new, larger library building opened in 2018 on the same site.

Recreational Areas

A pathway in Rockburn Branch Park in West Elkridge.

Elkridge offers many places for fun and outdoor activities.

Patapsco Valley State Park runs along the Patapsco River. You can enter it from Landing Road, River Road, and South Street.
Rockburn Branch Park has sports fields, playgrounds, and nature trails.
Belmont Manor and Historic Park hosts events and nature programs.

Troy Park is also being built around Troy Hill Manor.

Waterways for Recreation

Elkridge has several small streams that flow into the Patapsco River. These are often used for outdoor fun.

Bascom Creek
Belmear Branch
Budds Run
Cascade Falls
Deep Run
Dorsey Run
Rockburn Branch

Historic Sites in Elkridge

Belmont Estate in West Elkridge

Elkridge is home to many important historical places:

Belmont Estate: A historic home once owned by Dr. Mordecai Moore and Caleb Dorsey.
Clover Hill: An old plantation.
Elkridge Furnace Complex: A historic iron works along the Patapsco River.
Lawyers Hill Historic District: One of Howard County's two historic districts.
Marshalee Plantation: An old home that was torn down to build a golf course and new homes.
Rosa Bonheur Memorial Park: One of the oldest pet cemeteries in the United States.
The Lawn: The home of Baltimore judge George Washington Dobbin.
Thomas Viaduct: The world's oldest multiple-arched stone railroad bridge.
Trinity Church: A historical Episcopal church built in 1856.
Troy: A historic farmhouse built in 1696.

Transportation in Elkridge

Engines on the Thomas Viaduct

Elkridge is a key transportation hub with several major roads and public transit options.

Roads

U.S. Route 1 (Washington Boulevard) runs north-south through Elkridge. It's a historic road that even George Washington traveled.
Interstate 95 forms the northwestern border of Elkridge. It connects Washington, D.C., to Baltimore.
Interstate 195 (Metropolitan Boulevard) passes east of Elkridge. It leads to BWI Airport.
Maryland Route 100 runs through the southern part of Elkridge. It connects to Ellicott City and Glen Burnie.
Maryland Route 103 (Meadowridge Road) travels east-west.

Public Transit

Dorsey Station provides Camden Line service to the Elkridge area.

The Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland has a bus line (Line 409) that travels through Elkridge.
The Maryland Transit Administration also has commuter bus service (Line 320) along Washington Boulevard.
The Dorsey Station in southern Elkridge offers MARC Camden Line train service.
The Baltimore Light Rail can be reached from the BWI Business District Station, which is about 6 miles away.

Notable People from Elkridge

Many interesting people have connections to Elkridge:

Florence Riefle Bahr (1909–1998): An artist and activist.
Leonard Bahr (1905–1990): A portrait painter.
Robyn Dixon: A star from the TV show The Real Housewives of Potomac.
George Washington Dobbin: A Supreme Bench Judge in the 1800s.
Caleb Dorsey: Owned furnaces along the Patapsco River and the Belmont Estate.
Chris Eatough (born 1974): A retired mountain bike racer. He is now Howard County's Bike and Pedestrian Manager.
Ryan Fogelsonger (born 1981): A professional jockey.
James Hall (1802–1889): Founder of Maryland-in-Africa.
Benjamin H. Latrobe II (1806–1878): A bridge engineer and railroad executive.
John H.B. Latrobe (1803–1891): A lawyer, inventor, painter, and writer.
Carter Manley (born 1996): A professional soccer player.
Jack Merson (1922–2000): A Major League baseball player.
Robert Murray (1822–1913): Surgeon General of the United States Army.
Saint John Neumann (1811–1860): Was a pastor at Saint Augustine Church from 1849 to 1851.
George Poe (1846–1914): A pioneer in helping people who couldn't breathe.
James N. Robey (born 1941): A former Maryland Senator and Howard County Executive.
Jonathan Ward (born 1970): An actor known for Charles in Charge.