Sykesville, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sykesville, Maryland
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Location of Sykesville, Maryland
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Maryland | ||
| County | Carroll and Howard | ||
| Incorporated | August 1904 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 1.59 sq mi (4.11 km2) | ||
| • Land | 1.58 sq mi (4.10 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 545 ft (166 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,316 | ||
| • Density | 2,728.19/sq mi (1,053.03/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
21784
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| Area code(s) | 410, 443, and 667 | ||
| FIPS code | 24-76550 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0591389 | ||
Sykesville is a cool small town in Maryland, USA. It's located in both Howard and Carroll counties. The town is about 20 miles (32 km) west of Baltimore and 40 miles (64 km) north of Washington D.C.. In 2016, BudgetTravel.com even called Sykesville the 'Coolest Small Town in America'!
Contents
History of Sykesville
Before Europeans arrived, the area around Sykesville was a hunting ground. Native American groups like the Susquehannock and Lenape used to live here. Later, in the late 1800s, many people from Europe, especially from Germany and Scotland, settled in Sykesville. They came to farm and mine.
Early Land Ownership
The land where Sykesville now stands was once part of a huge 3,000-acre estate. This estate was called Springfield and was owned by William Patterson. He was a rich shipbuilder from Baltimore.
In 1803, Patterson's daughter, Elizabeth, married Napoléon Bonaparte's younger brother, Jérôme. But when Elizabeth arrived in Europe, Napoléon didn't approve of the marriage. He wouldn't let her enter France. He wanted Jérôme to marry someone from a royal family. So, Elizabeth had to return home and raise her son alone in the United States.
When William Patterson passed away in 1824, his son George inherited the Springfield Estate. In 1825, George sold 1,000 acres of the estate. He sold it to his friend and business partner, James Sykes.
Growth of the Town
James Sykes bought land on the Howard County side of the Patapsco River. There was an old saw and grist mill there. In 1830, Sykes built a new, bigger mill. He also built a five-story stone hotel. This hotel was for railroad workers and tourists.
In 1831, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) extended its main line to the area. They called the stop "Horse Train Stop" because the town didn't have a name yet. Soon, other businesses opened, like general stores, more mills, churches, and a post office. The town officially became Sykesville in 1904.
Challenges and Rebuilding
In 1868, a big flood destroyed much of the town. This flood also ended a disagreement about water rights between the Sykesville mill and another business called the Elba Furnace. Both were damaged by the flood. After the flood, the town was rebuilt. Most of the new buildings were on the Carroll County side of the river.
A local newspaper, the Sykesville Herald, started in 1913. It was published regularly for many years until the 1980s.
Sykesville Geography
Sykesville is located at coordinates 39°22′16″N 76°58′21″W. This helps us find it on a map!
The town covers a total area of about 1.58 square miles (4.1 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 565 | — | |
| 1920 | 610 | 8.0% | |
| 1930 | 661 | 8.4% | |
| 1940 | 806 | 21.9% | |
| 1950 | 941 | 16.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,196 | 27.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,399 | 17.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,712 | 22.4% | |
| 1990 | 2,303 | 34.5% | |
| 2000 | 4,197 | 82.2% | |
| 2010 | 4,436 | 5.7% | |
| 2020 | 4,316 | −2.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Sykesville Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 4,436 people living in Sykesville. There were 1,409 households and 995 families. The town had about 2,808 people per square mile (1,084 people per square kilometer).
Most people in Sykesville were White (83.3%). There were also African Americans (12.1%), Asians (2.5%), and Native Americans (0.2%). About 2.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Many households (45%) had children under 18 living with them. Most households (55.3%) were married couples. The average household had 2.72 people. The average family had 3.27 people.
The average age of people in Sykesville was 37.3 years old. About 26.1% of residents were under 18. And 7.1% were 65 years or older.
Places to Visit
Sykesville has several interesting historical sites.
Sykesville Train Station
The old Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) Sykesville station was built in 1883. It was designed in a special style called Queen Anne. This station was the second stop from Baltimore on the original B&O main line. The B&O stopped passenger train service to Sykesville in 1949. This station was so famous that it became a model for a popular model railroad kit.
Sykesville Schoolhouse Museum
The Sykesville Schoolhouse Museum is located at 518 Schoolhouse Road. This building was a one-room schoolhouse for African American children from 1904 to 1938. It is still being restored, but it is open for small events.
Gate House Museum of History
The Gate House Museum of History is at 7283 Cooper Drive. This building used to be a home for employees of Maryland's second hospital for people with mental health conditions. The hospital opened in 1896, and the gatehouse opened in 1904.
Other Interesting Spots
The Springfield Hospital Center, a mental health hospital, is located just east of the town.
Downtown Sykesville is part of the Sykesville Historic District. Both Union and Confederate armies marched through the town center during the American Civil War.
On the Howard County side, you can find the Howard Lodge. This building was built around 1750. It was the main building of a large 2,500-acre plantation. Francis Scott Key Jr., whose father wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner," once lived here.
Transportation in Sykesville
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Most people travel to and from Sykesville by car. The main road is Maryland Route 32. This road goes north to Westminster. If you go south, MD 32 eventually reaches Annapolis. Along the way, it connects with major highways like Interstate 70, Interstate 95, and Interstate 97. The current MD 32 route through Sykesville is a newer bypass. The old road is now called Maryland Route 851 and goes through the center of town.
The Carroll Transit System has a bus route called the South Carroll TrailBlazer (Red Route). This bus connects Sykesville to Eldersburg. If you want to go to downtown Baltimore, you can drive about 20 minutes to the Owings Mills station of the Baltimore Metro SubwayLink.
Famous People from Sykesville
Many interesting people have connections to Sykesville:
- Frank Brown was born in Sykesville on August 8, 1846. He later became the 42nd Governor of Maryland.
- Christopher Emery lived in the Howard Lodge as a child. He became a Chief Enterprise Architect for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and was a former White House Usher.
- Leo Kanner, a famous child psychiatrist and researcher of autism, passed away in Sykesville in 1981.
- Nan Agle, who wrote children's books, lived in Sykesville and passed away there at 100 years old.
- Doug Turnbull, a well-known lacrosse player, also passed away in Sykesville.
- Brandon Copeland, a defensive end, played seven seasons in the NFL.
- Kyle Snyder, who won a gold medal in wrestling at the 2016 Olympics, went to Sykesville Middle School.
- Barry Fitzgerald, a stock car racing driver, was born in Sykesville.
See also
In Spanish: Sykesville (Maryland) para niños
