Highland, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Highland, Maryland
Census-designated place
Highland, Maryland Location in Maryland
Country	United States of America
State	Maryland
County	Howard
Area
• Total	2.42 sq mi (6.27 km2)
• Land	2.41 sq mi (6.23 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation	520 ft (160 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,133
• Density	470.91/sq mi (181.80/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	20777
Area codes	301, 240
FIPS code	24-38475

Highland is a small community in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It's known as an unincorporated community and a census-designated place. This means it's not an officially organized town or city, but it's a place where people live and it has its own identity. In 2020, about 1,133 people called Highland home. The area uses the 20777 zip code.

Exploring Highland's Location

Highland is located in the southern part of Howard County. It sits where Highland Road, Maryland Route 216, and Maryland Route 108 all meet. Even today, you can see many farms and horse fields around, showing its long history with farming. The main crossroads area feels like a small, friendly town with different shops.

Nearby Towns and Cities

Highland is close to several other places:

• Clarksville is about 2 miles (3.2 km) north on MD 108.
• Laurel is about 9 miles (14.5 km) southeast on MD 216.
• Olney is about 7 miles (11.3 km) west on MD 108.
• The center of Columbia is about 8 miles (12.9 km) to the northeast.

Highland's Population Facts

"Demographics" is a fancy word for facts about the people who live in a place. Here's how Highland's population has changed:

In 2010, there were 1,034 people living in Highland. By 2020, the population grew to 1,133 people.

The Heart of Highland: The Crossroads

The crossroads area is very important to Highland's community. Because it's a rural area, many people wanted to protect its history. In 2002, they started the Greater Highland Crossroads Association (GHCA). This group works to keep the historical sites and the small-town feel of the area. In 2014, the Crossroads were even put on a list of the top ten most endangered places in Howard County. This was due to some plans from the DPZ. Four signs mark the crossroads area.

A Look Back: Highland's History

Most of downtown Highland is located on a large piece of land called "Hickory Ridge." This land was granted a long time ago. The Rouse Company even used this name for one of its nearby villages in Columbia, built in 1974.

Early Businesses and Names

The historic "White Hall" or "Hickory Ridge" estate was built in 1749. It was owned by the Ridgely, Hopkins, and Disney families. One of the first businesses at the crossroads was Well's Tavern, started by Richard Wells in 1759. Later, in 1842, Joshua B. Disney replaced it with a shop that made and repaired wheels. In the same year, William Wall opened a general store and post office. For a short time, the crossroads was called "Walls Crossroads." But on December 2, 1878, the post office changed its name to "Highland." This new name showed the town's higher elevation in Howard County. In 1877, the County Commissioners added Hall Shop Road to the southern side of the community. Highland did not have its own train service, but it was only about nine miles from the B&O railroad in Laurel, Maryland. People used the road now known as Route 216 to get there.

A Center for Learning

In the late 1800s, a literary club was formed in Highland. J. B. Warfield, writing in 1904, even called Highland the "literary center of the county." This shows that people in Highland enjoyed reading and discussing ideas. The Virginia Hardy Boarding School also provided classes for students around the turn of the century.

Highland's Role in U.S. History

Highland played a part in some important moments in U.S. history. People believe that anti-British groups met in the town. These meetings may have influenced the burning of the Peggy Stewart ship in Annapolis in 1774. This event happened the year after the famous Boston Tea Party protest. Well's Tavern, which is now the Kitty Bed and Breakfast, was a main meeting spot for people who supported the North during the Civil War.

Protecting Highland's Past

In 2015, a group called Preservation Howard County added the Highland crossroads to its list of the top 10 most endangered sites. This highlights the community's ongoing efforts to protect its unique history and character.

See also

In Spanish: Highland (Maryland) para niños