Owen Brown, Columbia, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Owen Brown
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Village
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maryland |
| City | Columbia |
| Established | 1975 |
| Named for | Postmaster Owen Brown |
Owen Brown is one of the ten villages in Columbia, Maryland, United States. It was created in 1972. This village is located south and east of the town center. Its neighborhoods include Dasher Green, Elkhorn, and Hopewell.
The village is home to Lake Elkhorn, which covers about 37 acres. You can walk around the lake on a two-mile path. There is also a picnic area in the 23-acre park next to the lake.
Contents
History of Owen Brown
How the Village Got its Name
Before Columbia was built, there was a road called Owen Brown Road. This road was named after Owen T. Brown. He was a local postmaster and owned a store. He used to live on that road.
When planners from the Rouse Company were designing Columbia, they used "Owen Brown" as a temporary name for this village. The name ended up sticking, and it became the official name when the village opened in 1972.
Naming the Neighborhoods
The names of the neighborhoods and streets in Owen Brown have interesting origins.
Lake Elkhorn and Elkhorn
Lake Elkhorn is named after the Elkhorn branch of the Little Patuxent River. There was also a farm called Elk Horn Farms, which belonged to the Dasher family. Street names in this area come from the writings of Paul Laurence Dunbar.
Dasher Green
Dasher Green is named after the Dasher family farm. This farm was very large, about 670 acres. The Rouse Company bought parts of this farm starting in 1963. The farm's size was gradually reduced as land was sold for development until 1996. The street names in Dasher Green are taken from the works of John Greenleaf Whittier.
Hopewell
Hopewell is named after an old land grant from 1728. This grant was called "Laswell's Hopewell" and was given to Thomas Davis Sr. The streets in Hopewell are named after the works of Vachel Lindsay.
Early Development
In 1976, a company called Ryland Homes started building houses in Owen Brown. These homes were priced between $50,000 and $70,000. The village was planned to have a variety of housing options, including homes for families with different income levels.
In 1977, Howard County temporarily stopped construction by another company, Washington Homes. This was because of several building code problems found in over 25 homes.
The Rouse Company, which developed Columbia, could not buy all the land around the Owen Brown Shopping Center. Because of this, the shopping center remained independent. Its main store was leased by Giant Food.
What You Can Find Here
Owen Brown has several useful services and fun places for residents.
The East Columbia branch of the Howard County Library is located in the village. It's a great place to find books, study, and use computers.
Both the Dasher Green and Hopewell neighborhoods have outdoor swimming pools. These pools are popular spots for residents to cool off and have fun during warmer months.
