Page Contents for Ellicott City, Maryland

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Government

Chamber of Commerce.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Libraries.

Schools.

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Statistics & Facts

The Maryland state capital is Annapolis.
The population of Ellicott City is approximately 41,396 (1990), 65834 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 15,914 (1990), 23734 (2010).
The amount of land area in Ellicott City is 83.1 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 0 sq kilometers.
The distance from Ellicott City to Washington DC is 27 miles.
The distance to the Maryland state capital is 28 miles. (as the crow flies)
Ellicott City is positioned 39.27 degrees north of the equator and 76.83 degrees west of the prime meridian.

Location

20 miles north of Washington D.C. and only 10 miles southwest of Baltimore.
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History & History Related Items

Ellicott City was first settled by three brothers, John, Andrew and Joseph Ellicott, who came here from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. They established a flour mill here in 1772. They were also responsible for encouraging the local farmers to plant wheat instead of tobacco and to use fertilizer to boost the depleted local soils. In 1830 Ellicott's Mills was the first end for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad outside of Baltimore. The station is still used today, but as a museum rather than a rail station. It is said that the race between the "Tom Thumb," an iron engine, and a horse drawn carriage took place as the engine was returning from Ellicott's Mills in August, 1830. Though the horse won that race, the steam engines only became better and more efficient and, at that time, became a very important link in the area economy. Benjamin Banneker, a free Black who was born in the local area, assisted the Ellicotts in the surveying of nearby Washington, D. C. and published several Almanacs.

By the mid 1800's, Ellicott's Mills was firmly established and was also the site of the county courthouse for Anne Arundel County when the Howard District was named. Howard County was officially created in 1851. In 1867, when the city charter was given, the name was changed to Ellicott City. The charter was surrendered in 1935 after considerable decline. In 1973, the boundaries were re-established and the area designated a "historic district" which will help to preserve the old buildings in the area.
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The settling of Ellicott City

1830

Attractions

See what there is to see and do in and around the area.

Visitor Information Center
Main Street Post Office in Historic Ellicott City.
Phone: 800-288-TRIP
or 410-313-1900

Howard County Tourism Council, Inc.
P.O. Box 9
8267 Main Street, Side Entrance
Ellicott City, MD 21041-0009
Phone: 800-288-8747

Bagpipe Music Museums
840 Oella Ave
Ellicott City, MD 21043-4730
Phone: 410-313-9311

B&O Railroad Station Museum
Phone: 410-461-1944
This station was built in 1831 and is the oldest railroad station in the country. The museum has many exhibits which change often. Much of the museum focuses on the Civil War and living history. There is a good HO-scale model of the early railroad in the area.

The Firehouse Museum
Phone: 410-465-0232
This museum is housed in a former firehouse which was built in 1889. It was a working station as late as 1923. Many displays are available including the fire bell which was used to announce fires from 1894 to 1896.
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Ellicott City City Government

Howard County website

County Public Information Office
3450 Courthouse Drive
Carroll Building, 1st Floor
Ellicott City, MD, 21045
OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Friday
8:00 am to 5:00 pm
PHONE (410) 313-2022
FAX (410) 313-3299

Ellicott City Chamber

Howard County Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 410-730-4111
FAX: 410-730-4584

Ellicott City Organizations

Howard County Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 410-730-4111
FAX: 410-730-4584

Ellicott City Libraries

Howard County Law Library
8360 Court Ave
Ellicott City, MD 21043-4550
Phone: 410-313-2135

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Howard County Library
9421 Frederick Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042-3801
Phone: 410-313-1950 Howard County Library
Central Library
10375 Little Patuxent Parkway
(Little Patuxent Parkway & South Entrance Road)
Columbia, MD 21044
Phone: 410-313-7800

Ellicott City Schools

Howard County Public Schools
10910 Route 108
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Phone: 410-313-6600

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HIGHER EDUCATION

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University Of Maryland
11975 Homewood Rd
Ellicott City, MD 21042-1545
Phone: 301-596-9413