Eldersburg versus Sykesville
July 2, 2009
Eric Villard

Despite what the locally famous Eldersburg post office sign and the shared area ZIP code may lead some to believe, Eldersburg and Sykesville are far from the same town. Even with only about two miles between the towns each has its own unique flare. So don't think of them as clones, but more of kindred spirits.

A look back

Eldersburg was founded in the mid 1700s by John Elder, while Sykesville had its roots set in the 1820s by James Sykes. While Eldersburg was founded before its neighbor, the location was less than ideal, according to Matthew Candland, town manager of Sykesville. What Eldersburg lacked is what Sykesville had, railroad access and a nearby waterway - two critical components in early development in the 1800s.

Candland explained that Sykesville's proximity to the Patapsco River allowed for the construction of water mills. This gave the town an edge in terms of growth around the time of the Industrial Revolution in the late 1800s and early 1900s. According to Candland, this growth made Sykesville a hub for the South Carroll area.

"If you lived in South Carroll, particularly eastern South Carroll. if you needed to do any shopping or you needed to buy any goods or services, you came to Sykesville," he said.

The dynamic changed after World War II, Candland explained. With automobiles gaining popularity and becoming the major method of travel, those towns that could easily accommodate roads saw more action that those that could not. According to Candland, Eldersburg had a greater potential for road development.

With the crossroads of MD 26 and MD 32 located within it, Eldersburg's potential for growth dramatically increased, Candland said. The typical development, especially in the post-WWII era, he explained, was strip centers. One need only look at either side of MD 26 through Eldersburg to see how this type of development dominated the town.

"Particulary in the past 25 to 30 years, Eldersburg has boomed, and the growth has really been quite significant," Candland said. "South Carroll has about 40,000 people in it, I think, and only about five or six thousand of that is in Sykesville. all of the rest is up in Eldersburg."

The town that's not a town?

Despite its size and economic footprint, Eldersburg is designated as census-designated place, an unincorporated area that lacks its own municipal government. Eldersburg lacks other amenities as well, such as its own police force, something that Sykesville has. Decisions pertaining to Eldersburg are made at Carroll County's seat of government in Westminster, and not within the town itself.

The closest thing Eldersburg has to a town council is the Freedom Area Citizens' Council (FACC), though they only have an advisory role in decisions that are made regarding the town. This is again in contrast to Sykesville.

As Ross Dangel, a member of FACC put it, "Unlike Eldersburg, Sykesville has control over it's own planning & zoning and also has a say in local governance issues by virtue of its elected mayor and town council."

Such a large area having no official council puts Eldersburg in a peculiar place. "Eldersburg is sometimes referred to as the county's town, because it relies on the county for everything," Dangel said. "That can present a problem when the elected officials (commissioners) in Westminster are not responsive to the needs of the Eldersburg community, as has happened for long stretches in the past."

Having little control over occurrences in Eldersburg has left some residents aggravated. "Main Street Sykesville still has the charm from years ago. The Eldersburg I remember is totally gone," said FACC President Ellen Dix. "There is not much left from when I first moved here and the change has not all been good."

According to Dangel Eldersburg lacks many of the infrastructure components that make a town what it is. He hopes that the county addresses these issues in the future. "Our county should be encouraged forcefully to act on the recommendations of our comprehensive plan [the Freedom Area Comprehensive Plan] document to invest in creating a gathering place for residents like a town square or perhaps a municipal park within Eldersburg that can host community wide events and serve as a catalyst in bringing the community together," he said.

The Freedom Area Comprehensive Plan was a document put out in 2001 that promised increased walkability and green space in Eldersburg, as well as road improvements to accommodate the increasing population. Not all of the objectives outlined were met.

Dangel's plan for improvement did not stop there. "We also need to force the county to address serious deficiencies in our park and recreation facilities that have allowed a community of 30,000 spread over many square miles to have zero community parks, while a small town of just 3,500 has three within its borders," he added.

Distinctly Sykesville

Even with its close vicinity, Sykesville stands distinctly separate from its neighbor. Its Main Street area lends itself to on-foot exploration, and its residential areas benefit from having abundant amounts of sidewalks and nearby recreational facilities such as baseball fields. Meanwhile, town council meetings allow for constant public input, while the town's Web site and possibility to be put on an email list let residents stay informed.

"I think Sykesville has much more of an identity - it has kind of its downtown core, it has a history, it has a fairly carefully planned community," Matthew Candland said. "Eldersburg, I think, doesn't really have much of an identity. It doesn't control its destiny - Westminster does."

Though this increased control comes at an increased cost. Sykesville residents must pay additional tax to the town for the services it provides. "Really what it comes down to is what is that worth to you? What is the benefit of being able to determine what happens in your community?" Candland said. "If it is worth something then you probably want to live is Sykesville, if it isn't then you live in Eldersburg."

Sykesville residents are also very involved in their community, Candland said. He added that this does not mean they have more interest than Eldersburg residents, but rather that they have more opportunities to get involved.

"Remember, in Eldersburg if you're not on the [Freedom Area Citizens' Council], that's it," he said. "Here you got. planning commissions, the Historic District Commission. and on and on and on."

Candland also stressed that while formal interaction between the two towns was minimal, aside from some Sykesville liaisons that have went to FACC meetings, informal interaction, such as shopping and dining out, was common. He explained that each town offered something unique. Eldersburg has its shops and very commercial atmosphere while Sykesville has a few restaurants, various festivals, and generally a more small-town feel.

Links:

Freedom Area Citizens' Council Web site: http://www.freedomareacitizens.org/

Town of Sykesville, Web site: http://www.sykesville.net/

The U.S. Census Bureau's American Fact Finder, for finding census data on various U.S. towns and cities, including Eldersburg and Sykesville: http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en

Sykesville and Eldersburg: A look at Representation: http://www.eldersburg.net/news/representation.asp

Eldersburg.Net E-Mail Newsletter  Register to receive weekly updates about Eldersburg, MD news, contests, giveways, events, coupons, and more. Email:

Eldersburg Area Sponsored Links Maryland Mortgage Services - Home Mortgages, Home Equity Loans, Refinancing, Reverse Mortgages, More from Gold Standard Financial Peke Construction - Maryland home improvements- home remodeling, decks, patios, handyman services SearchCarrollCounty.com - Carroll County, Maryland Business Directory Kent Systems - Carroll County, MD carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, ceramic tile cleaning, and emergency water extraction Advertise Here - Promote your business on Eldersburg's #1 Web Site!

Eldersburg Area Business Cards Display your business card here