The Ellicott brothers, John, Andrew, and Joseph, hailing from Bucks County Pennsylvania, purchased land adjacent to the Patapsco River with the intent to build and run grain mills. They convinced local farmers to switch their crops from tobacco to grain. Ellicott’s Mills would become one of the largest milling and manufacturing towns in the East and was considered by some as the home of the Industrial Revolution.
Nestled among seven hills along the Patapsco River, the town founded by the Ellicott brothers flourished. In the early 1800s, Main Street became part of the National Road, further solidifying its place in American history. By the mid-1900s, the bustling community boasted all the modern conveniences—grocery, hardware, and department stores, a pharmacy, a gas station, banks, restaurants, and even a funeral home.
Ellicott City has faced its share of challenges. Fires in the 1800s and as recently as 1998 destroyed mills and buildings, while floodwaters have tested the town’s resilience since the 19th century. The most infamous were two “1,000-year” floods in 2016 and 2018. Yet, time and again, the town has risen, adapting to the needs of each new era.
In 2021, the last of the many mills that once lined the Patapsco Valley closed its doors for good. Like much of Ellicott City, the old flour mill will be repurposed to meet the aspirations of the present day.
Two and a half centuries since the Ellicott brothers’ dream began, Ellicott City continues to evolve—from horse-drawn carriages to electric cars, from mills to modern small businesses. Today, Old Ellicott City is home to 80+ unique shops, restaurants, and businesses. Thanks to a diverse, determined, and creative community, this historic town remains a delight to visit and a treasure to be part of—a testament to its enduring spirit.
