Caton Communications Group, Inc.

History of Catonsville

CATONSVILLE grew up around the Frederick Turnpike, a toll road leading from Baltimore to Ellicott City. Frederick road still serves as the community's main thoroughfare. Catonsville derived its earliest name "Catonville" from Richard Caton, who in 1810 was commissioned by his father-in-law, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, to develop a large plot of land on the north and south sides of the recently re-chartered Frederick Turnpike somewhat to the east of the colonial-era Rolling Road. Situated seven miles west of Baltimore on the crest of a broad ridge, this was a natural location for the establishment of a village. Just beyond the settlement they faced a sharp descent into the Patapsco River Valley at Ellicott's Mills. Thus by the 1830's and 1840's Catonsville had become a popular stopping place for wagons and stagecoaches.

Interesting to note: The B&O Railroad Station located just minutes from the community of Paradise Hill, was the nation's first when built in 1830. This B&O Railroad Station was the finish line that fateful day in August 1830 when the Tom Thumb, America's first working steam engine, unsuccessfully challenged a gray horse to a race along the 13-mile stretch of track from Baltimore to Ellicott City. Another interesting note is the "s" in Catonsville was also added sometime in 1830.

By the Civil War era the village's airy location had begun to attract two types of people who formed the community. One group was composed of businessmen and artisans who developed a small commercial strip along Frederick Turnpike. The other group attracted to the area consisted of wealthy Baltimoreans who, from the 1850's onwards, surrounded the village with country estates. Most of these mansions were occupied only in the summer when the heat of the city drove its elite families out to a more salubrious atmosphere; but some families began to stay all year traveling into city by private carriage, or after 1862, by the Frederick Road horse car line.

In 1884, Catonsville saw the completion of the Catonsville Short Line Railroad. In 1895, the electrification of the Frederick Road horse car line (the No. 8), followed shortly in 1899 by the completion of electrified service along Edmondson Avenue on the line from Baltimore City to Ellicott City, (the No. 14 to Catonsville Junction; the No. 9 all the way to the Patapsco River community) resulted in shorter travel time, reduced fare charges, and more frequent service. These developments brought a swift end to passenger trains on the Short Line Railroad, which, however, continued to haul freight until 1972. This transportation convenience and economy made Catonsville much more accessible to settlers especially those in the town of Ellicott City.

Today, the village of Catonsville remains a distinct community within the sprawling suburban hinterland of Baltimore County. Still standing are many of the country estates built of brick, stone and slate on gorgeous tree lined streets, it's character rooted, at least in part, in its village past.

Unfortunately, the source of this passage is unknown. We'd love to give credit to the writer. Please call us if you can help!

This page created and maintained by Patuxent Pages