Elkridge

Elkridge, located in the eastern most tip of Howard County, is probably the oldest settlement in the county. Elk Ridge Landing referred to the shipping docks and concentrations of population along the Patapsco River (navigable into the 1800's), while Elk Ridge referred to a ridge line stretching west to Doughoregan Manor and south to Oakland Mills.

Planters brought their tobacco "hogsheads" (large barrels weighing as much as 900 pounds when filled) to the landing to load them aboard large sea vessels bound for England. The farmer would pack his crop into the hogshead and roll them with the help of mules or oxen to the wharves at the landing.

Second in importance to tobacco at Elk Ridge was the iron industry. When Captain John Smith first ventured up the Chesapeake Bay and the Patapsco River in 1608, he noted the red clay in the hills along the river. The colonial province's assembly passed an act in 1719 to encourage iron manufacturing.

Caleb Dorsey began to mine ore along the Patapsco and was owner of Elk Ridge Furnace established in 1750. He helped establish the port of Elk Ridge to ship his products to England. With this, Elk Ridge Landing became second only to Annapolis among Anne Arundel County seaports in the mid-1700's.

The iron industry declined by the mid-1800's due to an inconsistency in U.S. tariffs and competition abroad. After the iron works closed, the land along Deep Run spawned a grove of willows, which later provided a resource for another industry. The willow canes were harvested and woven into baskets in the early 1900's.

Construction of the Thomas Viaduct began in Elk Ridge in 1883. When finished, the bridge stretched in a four degree arc from the Baltimore County side of the river 612 feet to the Howard County bank. Eight elliptical arches measuring approximately 58 ft. supported the 60 ft. high structure. The arches were high enough and wide enough for flood waters to rush through without destroying the bridge. The bridge was completed in two years and named for the first president of the B&O Railroad, Philip Thomas.

The great falls at the viaduct stopped passage of ships beyond this point. As the population grew along the river and its tributaries -distributing soil to farm and build homes and communities- the rivers began to silt. The river's silt combined with the decline of iron and tobacco shipping, finally closed the port. Elk Ridge Landing became simply -Elkridge.

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