Joppa, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joppa, Maryland
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 Joppa, Maryland
Location in Maryland
Joppa, Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maryland |
| County | Harford |
| Elevation | 15 ft (5 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 12,304 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
21085
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| Area code(s) | 410 & 443 |
Joppa (pronounced JOP-uh) is a place in Harford County, Maryland, in the United States. It used to be an important colonial town.
Joppa was started by the British in 1707. It was built along the Gunpowder River. In 1712, Joppa became the third "county seat" for Baltimore County. A county seat is like the main town where the government offices are.
The original Baltimore County was very large. It included many areas that are now separate counties. Joppa got its name from an ancient town called Jaffa, which is in the Holy Land.
Over time, Joppa's harbor became shallow. This was because of farming and cutting down trees upriver. Also, diseases like smallpox and malaria spread. Because of these problems, the county seat moved. In 1768, it moved to Baltimore, which had a deeper harbor. After that, Joppa's population quickly got smaller. Businesses moved to the new, growing town of Baltimore.
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History of Joppa
Joppa as a Port Town
The town of Joppa was an important "Port of Entry." This means ships could come here from other countries. The colonial government, called the Maryland General Assembly, made it an official port.
Joppa traded goods with other countries. Its main product was tobacco. Tobacco was so important it was even used as money back then.
At its busiest time, Joppa was a lively place. It had about 50 homes or more. There was a courthouse and two prisons. The town also had a church, several inns, shops, and warehouses.
Moving the County Seat
In 1768, a big change happened for Joppa. The Maryland General Assembly decided to move the county seat. It moved from Joppa to Baltimore Town. Baltimore was growing fast and had a much better port.
A new courthouse was built in Baltimore that same year. Many people and businesses followed the court. They moved to Baltimore for better opportunities.
By 1815, Joppa was almost empty. Only the church and a few old ruins remained. The Rumsey Mansion is a special building. It was the home of Benjamin Rumsey. He was Maryland's first and longest-serving Chief Judge. This mansion is the only building left from Joppa's busy colonial days.
Historic Places and Filming
Some old buildings in the Joppa area are now protected.
- The McComas Institute was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
- Olney was added in 1987.
- Whitaker's Mill Historic District was added in 1990.
Joppa has also been a place for making movies! Large film studios were built here. They were used for indoor scenes of the TV show House of Cards. These studios even had full-size copies of parts of the White House.
Education in Joppa
Students in Joppa go to public schools. These schools are run by Harford County Public Schools. There is also a private school in Joppa. It is called Trinity Lutheran Christian School. This school teaches students from preschool through 12th grade.
Joppa Today
Today, Joppa is known as a "planning region." It's a specific area within Harford County. It also has its own ZIP code. The area includes a community called Joppatowne. Joppa still has its own unique identity. This identity comes from its long history as a colonial town.
