Simpsonville, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Simpsonville, Maryland
Simpsonville, Maryland Location in Maryland
Country	United States of America
State	Maryland
County	Howard
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code	240 and 301

Simpsonville is a small, unincorporated community located in Howard County, Maryland, United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place with a shared identity but without its own local government like a city or town.

Exploring Simpsonville's Past

Simpsonville has a long and interesting history, stretching back thousands of years. It's a place where both people and nature have thrived, especially near the Middle Patuxent River.

Early Life and Native Americans

For over 12,000 years, people have lived near the Middle Patuxent River. Long ago, Native American groups hunted deer and gathered wild foods like acorns from the forests and waters. About 2,000 years ago, people from Woodland Indian cultures settled here. They left behind clues about their lives, such as pieces of pottery and stone tools.

How Simpsonville Got Its Name

The land around Simpsonville was first officially claimed in 1741 by John Hobbs. Over the years, it changed hands a few times. In the early 1800s, a water-powered grist mill (for grinding grain) and a saw mill were built here. There was also a factory for wool, a shop for making wheels, a blacksmith shop, and nine houses.

In 1850, this growing community got its name: Simpsonville. It was named after Charles Simpson, who became the first postmaster (the person in charge of the post office) for the area. Two years later, Charles Ridgley Simpson bought a large piece of land, including the mill and the center of the town.

Life in the Mill Town

Families like the Simpsons, Warfields, and Owingses lived in Simpsonville for many generations. In the 1920s and 1930s, the mill owner, John Iglehart, kept careful records of what people bought at his mill store. Even families who owned nearby properties, like the Saumenigs (who later owned the land for the Robinson Nature Center), shopped there.

Simpsonville was an important center for the local economy. However, as the milling industry declined and the Great Depression hit, the town's importance faded. The postal services from nearby Atholton were even combined with Simpsonville's.

Uncovering Hidden History

In 1984, students from Atholton High School, led by Lee Preston, started the first archaeological digs around Simpsonville. Archaeology is the study of human history and prehistory through digging up artifacts and sites.

Over many years, more than 42,000 artifacts have been found! These include old machine parts, pieces of clothing, glass bottles, window glass, and two large millstones used for grinding grain. Old documents like wills, property records, letters, and photos also help us understand what life was like in historic Simpsonville.

The Simpsonville Mill Archaeological and Historic District is a special place. It's one of the few mill sites in Maryland that has been professionally studied. Research there continues to teach us more about how small industrial and business communities played a role in Maryland's early economy.

Modern Development in Simpsonville

From 1963 to 1966, a company called The Rouse Company bought large areas of land in Simpsonville. Their goal was to build a new planned community called Columbia. This development meant that many farms and small scientific businesses, like one that bred research primates, had to move.