Sykesville

History

Prior to European colonization, the area that is now Sykesville was used as a hunting ground by Native Americans from the Susquehannock and Lenape nations. By the late 1800s, many Europeans (predominantly from Germany and Scotland) had settled in Sykesville in pursuit of farming and mining. The land on which Sykesville sits started out as part of the Springfield Estate, a slave plantation owned by wealthy Baltimore shipbuilder William Patterson. In 1803, Patterson's daughter Elizabeth, married Napoléon Bonaparte's younger brother Jérôme, but when she arrived in Europe as Jérôme's bride, Napoléon refused to let Betsy Patterson Bonaparte set foot on land. Napoléon refused the marriage of the two, and would not let Elizabeth set foot on France's soil. He was determined that Jerome marry into royalty, and sent Betsy back home. Denied by Napoléon, she was never able to see her husband again, leaving her to raise their son alone in the United States. Upon the death of William in 1824, his son George Patterson inherited the estate. In 1825, George Patterson sold of Springfield Estate to his friend and business associate, James Sykes. A tract of land on the Howard County side of the Patapsco River contained an old saw and grist mill. In 1830 Sykes replaced it with a newer mill and constructed a five-story stone hotel, to take care of railroad personnel and the tourist trade. In 1831 the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) extended its main line to "Horse Train Stop", since Sykesville had yet to be named. Other businesses moved into the area, including two general stores, new mills, churches and a post office. In 1832 the town managed to gain control of a barn across the Patapsco River, the dividing line between Carroll and Howard County, but the citizens were forced to…

Geography

Sykesville is located at (39.371020, -76.972630). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Century High
  High · Sykesville · 1,120 students · 17.5:1 ratio
• Liberty High
  High · Sykesville · 991 students · 16.8:1 ratio
• South Carroll High
  High · Sykesville · 921 students · 16.2:1 ratio
• Sykesville Middle
  Middle · Sykesville · 748 students · 15:1 ratio
• Linton Springs Elementary
  Elementary · Sykesville · 748 students · 17.4:1 ratio
• Oklahoma Road Middle
  Middle · Sykesville · 742 students · 16.9:1 ratio
• Mount Airy Middle
  Middle · Mount Airy · 721 students · 14.4:1 ratio
• Winfield Elementary
  Elementary · Westminster · 678 students · 13:1 ratio