Written By Malcolm Lawson
The oldest settlement in Howard County, Elkridge is one of the most popular suburbs of Baltimore. As well as being an excellent location for families, young professionals are attracted to the community for its active nightlife.
About Elkridge, Maryland
Located on the Patapsco River, Elkridge was historically an ideal place for planters, who could easily bring their tobacco to the English trading ships. Today, residents can enjoy the river at Patapsco Valley State Park — the largest state park in Maryland, which offers hiking, fishing, and horseback riding and has two swinging bridges and a cascade falls. Near one of the entrances to the park is Thomas Viaduct: the oldest stone railroad bridge with multiple arches in the world. Tom Thumb passed over this viaduct and the first telegraph from Washington D.C. was wired across it.
Thomas Viaduct In Elkridge Maryland
Cost Of Living In Elkridge, Maryland
The cost of living in Elkridge is slightly higher than the average for all of Maryland. The median home value is $385,828, which is close to the median of Maryland as a whole of $332,500, the average rent in Elkridge is $1,790 and around two-thirds of residents in Elkridge own their homes.
Living in Elkridge, MD
The community is divided into Northern, Western, Central, and Southern Elkridge, each is made up of several neighborhoods. The main corridor for Elkridge is Washington Boulevard — part of U.S. Route 1. Interstate 895 borders the community to the north, Interstate 95 is to the northwest, and Maryland Route 100 is to the south. Just east of Elkridge are Interstate 195 and the Baltimore–Washington Parkway.
There is also plenty of public transit serving the community, including the Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (running from Laurel Town Center to Elkridge Corners Shopping Center), a commuter bus along Washington Boulevard, and a station on the Camden Line of the MARC commuter rail. It’s also easy to reach Baltimore Light Rail and several Amtrak stations, the closest being BWI Airport.
Map of Elkridge, Maryland
Schools in Elkridge
Elkridge has numerous highly-rated public schools. These include Bellows Spring Elementary School, Elkridge Elementary School, Rockburn Elementary School, Elkridge Landing Middle School, Howard High School, and Long Reach High School. See the complete list of Elkridge, Maryland schools along with parent reviews of the schools here.
There are also a large number of colleges and universities only a few miles from Elkridge. The closest are the University of Maryland in Baltimore County, Howard Community College, Coppin State University, and Baltimore Community College.
Parks in Elkridge
In addition to Patapsco Valley State Park, there are two smaller parks in Elkridge. One is Waterloo Park — 22 acres of land with picnic, sports, and kids’ play areas as well as a trail. The other is Harwood Park playground, which has slides, swings, and a large basketball court.
Patapsco State Park
Shopping in Elkridge
The main shopping center in the community is Elkridge Corners, where you’ll find a grocery store, several restaurants, and other useful shops. On weekends, the US-1 Flea Market is also open, which is great for unique finds. Throughout Elkridge, there are many coffee shops and local businesses.
Things to Do in Elkridge, MD
As a community with a long history, there are many sites to see in Elkridge that have historical value. For instance, you can visit:
- Several historical churches, including the first Methodist church (built in 1772) and Trinity Church, an Episcopal church.
- Former plantations like Belmont Manor and Historic Park, Clover Hill, and Marshalee Plantation.
- Elkridge Furnace Complex, a historic iron works.
- Rosa Bonheur Memorial Park, one of the first pet cemeteries in the country and the resting place of the first elephant at Baltimore Zoo.
The Elkridge Furnace Inn
Finding a Place to Live in Elkridge, Maryland
Despite being only a small community, Elkridge has a total of 20 different neighborhoods. To find the right home for you, it helps to have the support of someone who knows the area well. Contact us to receive guidance from a team of local real estate professionals.
Check Out These Latest Elkridge Homes For Sale
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