Best known for its historic district founded in 1772, Ellicott City is a sprawling expanse of subdivisions and business clusters that extends from the banks of the Patapsco River to the Turf Valley Resort. It serves as the county seat for Howard County, boasting over 75,000 residents.
The historic district, most often called Old Ellicott City to distinguish it from the surrounding area, evolved from a small farming and milling town into a prosperous center for manufacturing by the mid-1800s, becoming the first terminus outside of Baltimore for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The Ellicott City Station survives to this day, housing a railroad museum at the bottom of the Main Street hill.
While this district made national news for devastating floods in 2016 and 2018, revitalization efforts have proved successful. More than 80 boutiques, galleries, restaurants and businesses currently call the colonial-era buildings home, and the district hosts festivals, live music and other events throughout the year. “When it comes to the old town, it really is the charm of the place,” says Derek Smith, owner of the Matcha Time Gift Shop in Old Ellicott City and an area resident for almost 20 years. “Ellicott City predates the founding of the country, so there’s tons of old history everywhere you go here.”
Outside of Main Street, the community is a haven for Korean-owned businesses and restaurants. It is also in one of the highest rated school districts in the state and encourages active lifestyles with plentiful green space throughout its subdivisions.
With easy access to four major highways and a favorable location between Baltimore and D.C., Ellicott City is truly Maryland’s jack-of-all-trades community.
Historic downtown Ellicott City is located just off the Patapsco River.
Visit the Ellicott City B&O Station Museum for local rail road history.
Koreatown on route 40 in Ellicott City, MD offers vibrant culture and authentic cuisine.
Highways I-70, I-40, and I-29 all cross through Ellicott City.
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Diverse cuisine and local shops from Route 40 to Old Ellicott City
The city’s shopping and dining options are plentiful, from its stretch of Route 40 to the boutiques and local eateries of old town. “Everything is here. Pick a store to go to, and it’s right close by,” says Smith. “We’ve got all the grocery options, big-box stores, national and local hardware shops and tons of choices in terms of dining.”
The 5-mile stretch of Route 40 cutting through Ellicott City was dedicated as Koreatown in 2021, honoring the 170 Korean-owned businesses and restaurants along the road. Honey Pig, a 24-hour Korean BBQ restaurant at the western end of this stretch, was the site of the dedication. Those looking for a more casual experience can head to Seoul Pub, a family-owned eatery just off the main thruway that serves locally famous fried chicken.
The Long Gate Shopping Center is home to a Target and a Safeway as well as chain restaurants like Outback Steakhouse. Neighbors stop into Duchess Variety Store on Old Columbia Pike for classic sandwich counter lunches, prepared for over 30 years by local legend Ms. Maggie.
In the historic district, residents grab coffee at Syriana, a Middle Eastern-style coffee house, before heading down the hill to Ellicott Distilling Co. to enjoy locally crafted liquors. Gamer-Corps is a veteran-run game store where people gather to play tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons.
Honey Pig is a popular Korean BBQ spot in Ellicott City, Maryland.
Enjoy some drinks or foods while singing your favorite songs at Honey Plus Karaoke.
Locals can gather at Gamer Corps to play table top games like Dungeons and Dragons.
Syrianna Cafe is a rustic eatery serving Syrian & Middle Eastern fare such as kebabs & falafels.
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Modern townhouses and Colonial Revivals surround the historic district
While Old Ellicott City features colonial-era restaurants, museums and historic sites, most residential housing is relatively new. Condos, mostly concentrated in the area’s 55-plus communities, tend to price between $270,000 and $470,000. Townhouses have been built throughout the community sporadically since the late-1980s. These can cost from around $500,000 to about $700,000 depending on the number of bedrooms and the status of renovations. Detached single-family styles include Colonial Revivals, ranch-style homes, and modern traditional, all built between the 1950s and 2024. Prices range from around $600,000 to $900,000, with some larger options rising over $1 million.
Ellicott City has a thriving downtown with many unique shops, eateries, and museums.
Newly built townhomes in Ellicott City are move in ready options for home buyers.
Historic homes in Ellicott City share downtowns old world charm.
Newer constructed homes in Ellicott City feature many with build in two car garages.
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Top-rated Howard County schools, healthcare jobs and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab
Ellicott City sits in the Howard County Public School system, which Niche ranks as No. 1 in Maryland. The area is divided into many school districts, with a total of 10 elementary schools, 6 middle schools and 5 high schools serving the city, all of which score an A-minus or higher. Standouts include Centennial High, which offers a Confucius Classroom program to educate students on Chinese language and culture.
The top employer in Howard County is the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, based 10 miles south in Laurel, Maryland. Some 5,000 county residents commute here via Route 29. Other major industries include Lorien Health Services, which maintains an office on North Ridge Road across from H-Mart.
Patapsco Valley is the second-largest state park in Maryland
Ellicott City’s northeastern section borders the Patapsco Valley State Park. There are over 200 miles of trails to explore, which cross swinging bridges or cut through tunnels beneath Route 40. Western Ellicott City is home to Centennial Park, which features a 54-acre man-made lake routinely stocked with fish. A 2.6-mile paved walking trail surrounds the lake, weaving beneath trees and around to an outdoor amphitheater where bands often perform.
The Hollofield area of Patapsco Park in Ellicott City offers a spot to cool down in the summer.
Centennial Park in Ellicott City stretches almost 350 acres and has many facilities to enjoy.
Daniels Dam is a hidden gem for locals to enjoy in Ellicott City, Maryland.
Patapsco Valley State Parks Avalon Area offers a variety of outdoor amenities and trails.
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A conflux of highways that make commuting simple
Residents enjoy access to four major state thoroughfares. Route 29 begins here and runs south 35 miles to Washington, D.C. Route 40 heads east 15 miles to Baltimore, or merges with Route 70 and runs west 35 miles to Frederick. Route 100 also begins at the Long Gate Shopping Center in the city, connecting to Baltimore Washington International Airport, 17 miles southeast.
Popular events and the oldest surviving railroad station in America
Despite enjoying proximity to Merriweather Post Pavilion, Ellicott City residents do not need to travel far to enjoy local events, which are held almost every week of the year. One of the most popular is Wizarding Weekend on Magical Main. Businesses hang wizard-themed decorations, and local children flock to Main Street in costume to participate in scavenger hunts and explore the secret passageways of the historic buildings. “That usually happens on the first weekend in October,” Smith adds. Ellicott City is also famed for being one of the most haunted towns on the eastern seaboard, so walking ghost tours attract throngs of amateur ghost hunters.
The Baltimore and Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum preserves the oldest railroad station in America. Runners will enjoy several races throughout the year, including the Centennial TurkeyTrot 5K.
See the process of how wool is made at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival in Ellicott City.
Enjoy a fantastic lineup of live music at The Ladybug Festival in Ellicott City.
Trick or Treat on Main St is an annual halloween event that takes place in Old Ellicott City.
Come check out cool cars at the Rally For The Wreaths Car Show & Concert at Turf Valley Resort.
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Low crime rates, but increased risk of flooding downtown
According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, Howard County’s violent crime rate is .75 per 1,000 residents, far below the national average. The rate of property crime is 1.39 per 1,000 residents, also below the national average. In an effort to increase transparency and public safety, the county launched an interactive online crime report dashboard at the tail end of 2023.
In August 2016, a flash flood from a rainstorm and the rising level of the Patapsco and Tiber Rivers caused extreme flooding and the loss of two lives in Old Ellicott City. In May 2018, a second devastating flood tore through the downtown area. While this pair of disasters was considered a 100-year event, they cost the city millions in damages.
The county has since increased investment in agencies that train first responders and help prevent loss of life, properties and vehicles, as well as in flood mitigation infrastructure. These floods had little impact on homes outside of the historic district.
Mary Vogelpohl was born and raised in the DC metropolitan area, she has lived in Catonsville, Maryland with her husband and three children for the past 27 years. She graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County with a double major in Health Science Policy and Sociology. Her passion is helping people and she is grateful that she has enjoyed a successful career supporting this passion. Her career first started with Blue Cross Blue Shield in Washington, DC, in the customer relations department, and then transitioned to an experienced healthcare consultant spending over 20 years helping corporations and individuals navigate the complex world of Healthcare Benefits. With a desire to expand her portfolio, she pursued a license in Property and Casualty Insurance. She worked at a Nationwide Agency in the Ellicott City/Catonsville area for several years. She enjoyed helping people secure the best insurance for their health, home, life, and auto needs. In 2018, she decided to make a change and transition to a different industry, while still pursuing her passion for helping others. Always interested in different architecture and home designs, she decided that becoming a real estate agent was a perfect blending of these interests. She loves living and working in the Catonsville area, and is very involved in the community, volunteering, and local organizations.
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