Town of Elkton

Town of Elkton Municipal Water Report Info

About Elkton is located on America's pioneer highway. Our ancestors navigated its waterways and traveled its roads when journeying north to Philadelphia, or south to Virginia. Originally known as Head of Elk, named by Captain John Smith, it sits at the northern headwaters of Chesapeake Bay.

Elkton played a crucial role in both the Revolutionary War and War of 1812. Today, many of the town's beautiful colonial buildings remain, surrounded by structures reflecting an active business community. Office buildings, courthouses, a hospital, and retail establishments share space with history in Elkton, which has been the County Seat since 1787.

Revolutionary War History

By 1776, Cecil recognized a need to arm local militia of the County. War with Britain was inevitable, and the Bohemia, Susquehanna, and Elk Battalions were formed. They didn't realize then how outnumbered they'd be when the King's troops arrived.

Due to Cecil County's location, it became an important place for the English Navy. On August 27, 1777, 300 ships carrying over 15,000 British soldiers commanded by General Howe landed on the Elk River shores. They marched to Elkton and made camp, with more soldiers than citizens in the entire district.

In anticipation of the enemy's arrival, residents hid their horses, cattle, and valuables in the woods to prevent seizure. On August 25, before the British arrived, General George Washington traveled through pouring rain to reach Delaware and Cecil County to assess the situation. Washington stayed at Head of Elk in a hotel owned by Jacob Hollingsworth. Interestingly, General Howe slept in the same room just two days later.

War of 1812

Less than a year after President James Madison persuaded Congress to declare War on Great Britain, British Admiral Sir George Cockburn blockaded the Chesapeake Bay and sailed up the Elk River with a large squadron in April 1813.

American militia met them at Welch Point on the Elk River with gunfire but had no cannon. The English sailed to Frenchtown, a traveler's port and important shipping point, and destroyed it. They continued to Elkton but encountered resistance from Fort Defiance and a barrier placed across the water by quick-thinking citizens. Unable to bypass this obstacle, they sailed back up the Elk River toward Havre de Grace.

Transportation Evolution

The first steamboat inventor was a resident of southern Cecil County. James Rumsey lived on the Bohemia River until his death in 1792 in London while lecturing about his steam vessel. Before his death, he demonstrated his model for George Washington.

One of the first steamboats in the Chesapeake Bay was The Eagle, built in Philadelphia in 1813 and serving Head of Elk by 1815. In 1831, the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad, linking Cecil County to Delaware, was among the first in the country. Initially pulled by horses, steam trains began operating by 1833.

The automobile arrived in Elkton in April 1900, initially frightening horses but ultimately bringing positive change. By 1901, the Rising Sun Post Office used the first car to deliver mail to rural areas. Motorized fire engines significantly reduced response times, and in 1929, Elkton acquired its first patrol vehicle, beginning a new era in county law enforcement.