History of Ellicott City
If you want to blend with the locals, you better learn to pronounce Ellicott City correctly, which is “Elle-eh-kit,” not “Ella-kot.” Ellicott City has many exciting places to visit. It has been a destination for Ghost Tour. Yes, you hear it right, Ghost Tour. There are famous tourist destinations in the city that are claimed to have paranormal activity. The city is also famous for its hiking trail. Other than that, Ellicott City has a strong history behind them, from the city’s beginning to how the community came together strong in the devastating flood in 2016 and 2018.
We give you a quick history lesson about Ellicott City that you might want to know.
Milling Industry
Three brothers from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, founded Ellicott’s Mills in 1772. These brothers were John, Andrew, and Joseph Ellicott, who purchased land west of Baltimore. They started to build Ellicott Mills, which became one of the most extensive milling and manufacturing cities then. They successfully revolutionized the agriculture industry by introducing fertilizers and swayed the farmers to plant wheat instead of tobacco.
On July 10, 1864
A historical event took place in 1864 called The Battle of Monocacy, also known as Monocacy Junction. Confederate army of Lt. Gen. Jubal A. Early was marching down to Washington D.C through the Potomac River into Maryland. Union force under Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace wanted to stop Early in the Monocacy River. The result was Wallace got defeated after putting up a tremendous resistance. Wallace retreated to Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Ellicott’s Mills Station. All the homes and churches were temporarily used as hospitals and shelters for the wounded shoulders. Then in 1876, the name of Ellicott Mills was changed to Ellicott City. In 1973, the city was named a designated historic district.
Mourn in 2016 and 2018
In the years 2016 and 2018, Ellicott City faced a horrible flood. In 2016, the rain poured into the city for two to three hours. The floods tear everything in the way. The city’s heart shattered with everything that swept the streets, causing two people to die. In 2018, it was worse than before. Major flooding occurs in every corner of the city. The rain poured for 6 hours. It destroyed restaurants, public places, sidewalks, and many more. Most of the buildings were destroyed or deemed structurally unsafe. Officials reported that 96 percent of the destroyed businesses in the 2016 flood chaos were rebuilt, and in two years, they faced the devastating flood again. With the local’s hearts and passion, through time, they finally got back more vital than ever. These tragedies surely bring the community closer.
The City Nowadays
CNN Money ranked Ellicott City as the second best place to live in 2010. It happened in 2005, when CNN Money ranked the city in fourth place in their “20 Best Places to Live in the United States” piece. The downtown area is called “Old Ellicott City” or “Historic Ellicott City,” which is very walkable. The commercial area covers the valleys of the Patapsco and Tiber rivers.
This article was written by AC Matthews, Roofing & Exteriors, your #1 local roofing company in Ellicott City, MD
View Roofing Contractor Ellicott City MD in a full screen map
View Roofing Contractor Near Ellicott City in a full screen map
AC Matthews, Roofing & Exteriors
9205 Spring Valley Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21043, USA
(410) 670-5146