Ellicott City

Ellicott City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland. The downtown core stretches through the valleys of the Tiber and Patapsco rivers, where stone structures from the early 1800s line steep slopes and narrow streets.

John Ellicott founded this settlement in 1772 and named it Ellicott's Mills because he planned to harness water power for his grain mills. The community grew into a major industrial site during the 1800s as the rising textile trade and the railroad brought new work to the area.

Many Korean restaurants and shops along the Route 40 corridor show how the Korean-American community shapes daily life here. Visitors can try authentic Korean dishes and buy specialty foods not found in ordinary supermarkets.

Multiple parking areas sit near Main Street and provide access to shops, eateries, and old buildings. Visitors exploring the valleys on foot should wear comfortable shoes because of the steep slopes and uneven cobblestones.

The site holds one of the oldest surviving railroad stations in America, built in 1830 for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The building now serves as a museum and recalls the early years of rail travel in the country.

Location: Howard County

Inception: 1772

Founders: John Ellicott

Elevation above the sea: 55 m

Shares border with: Randallstown, Columbia

GPS coordinates: 39.26806,-76.79889

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:05