Northern Howard County

Northern Howard County includes the areas of Marriottsville, Sykesville and Woodstock.

All three areas extend beyond the boarder of Howard County extending into Carroll County.  Be sure to very the location of each home by verifying the two letters in the MLS number beyond MD is HW.  While both counties are desired, some buyers perfer one over the other.

Below is a summery of each of the three areas.

Marriottsville is divided by the two counties by the South Branch of the Patapsco River and located about 10 miles north of Columbia, Maryland.  There are large areas of open acreage and most homes are single family homes with a community of villas and condos within a  active adult community.. Many homes in this section of the county are on private water and septic however in the past few years, several newer communities along Marriottsville Rd and Frederick Rd have connected to public water.

Schools in Marriottsville are some of the most desired in the County.  Mount View Middle School and Marriottsville High School are location just east of Rt. 32 on Old Frederick Road.

Recent development along Marriottsville Rd include shopping and eating establishment at and near Turf Valley.  Ellicott City and Woodstock adjoining Marriottsville to the east also includes recreation and shopping areas.

This link may provide you a bit more about Marriottsville and the area. Marriottsville

The bridge above is located at the Bon Secours Spiritual Retreat Center in Marriottsville.  It’s a great conference and meeting venues but it’s also the perfect spot to enjoy a personal or spiritual retreat.  For more information about the Spiritual Center can be seen at this link. Bon Secours

Woodstock is an unincorporated community within Howard County and located in the northern section of the county along the border of Baltimore and Carroll Counties.  At the south east corner of Marriostville Rd and Old Frederick, there exist a community center (Waverly Woods) that includes a shopping center, pool and golf course. Just nearby, there is a large community of Active Adult living (single homes, townhomes, condos and apartments) near the center and golf course. There are a variety of home types and the area is an area characterized by rolling hills, farm land, and historic homes, while also being in the center of conveniences with access to main thoroughfares.

Woodstock was founded as a mining town, surrounded by granite quarries toward its Baltimore County line.  The B&O railroad carried granite deliveries and ran through the area in the early 1800s.

Sykesville is a town located mostly in Carroll County, yet it continues south into Howard County.  You may notice Elderburg is just to the north of Sykesville and sometimes is considered one and the same area.

The Howard County of Sykesville contains large areas of open acreage with single family homes with private well and septic.  Having evolved and incorporated into a town in 1904, Sykesville offers a quaint main street along with historic buildings and sites. Check out historic Sykesville’s Main Street along with its happenings on the Sykesville Main Street Facebook page.

 History – and a link to France

The land on which Sykesville was developed began as part of the 3,000 acre Springfield Estate, owned by wealthy Baltimore shipbuilder William Patterson.  In 1803, Patterson’s daughter married Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother.  When Patterson’s daughter arrived in Europe, Napoleon refused to allow Patterson’s daughter to enter France and refused the marriage because Napoleon was determined that his brother would marry into royalty.  Napoleon sent Patterson’s daughter back home and she was never able to see her husband again.  In 1824, George Patterson, a descendant of William Patterson, sold 1,000 acres of the Springfield Estate to his friend and business associate, James Sykes.  The town was later named Sykesville.