1781, April 17-19. LaFayette's French troops encamped at Elkridge on route to Yorktown.
1791. Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806) published almanac.
1791-1792. Andrew Ellicott (1754-1820), aided by Benjamin Banneker and Joseph Ellicott, surveyed federal Territory of Columbia.
1822. Savage Mill began operation.
1831. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Station constructed at Ellicott's Mills, the nation's first railroad terminal.
1835. Baltimore & Ohio Railroad's Thomas Viaduct, first multispan masonry railroad bridge in country, crossed Patapsco River from Elkridge to Relay.
1837. Patapsco Female Institute opened at Ellicott's Mills.
1838. Howard District created from Anne Arundel County.
1843. Courthouse constructed at Ellicott's Mills
1848, May 7. Edwin Warfield (1848-1920), Governor of Maryland, born at “Oakdale”, near Elkridge.
1851, June 14. Constitution of 1851 (2nd State constitution) adopted; Howard District recognized as Howard County; named for John Eager Howard (1752-1827).
1854-1858. Thomas Watkins Ligon (1810-1881) of Howard County served as Governor of Maryland.
1861, May 5. Union Gen. Benjamin F. Butler stationed troops at Camp Essex in Elkridge to guard Thomas Viaduct only rail link from north to Washington DC.
1861, Sept. Union Patapsco Guards organized at Ellicott's Mills.
1863, June 29. Confederate cavalry under Gen. J.E.B. Stuart skirmished with Maryland militia near Cooksville.
1867. Ellicott's Mills renamed Ellicott City.
1869. Wendel A. Bollman built iron truss bridge for Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Savage.
1884, Dec. 12. Hesekiah Brown lynched in Ellicot City.
1885, Sept. 18. Nicholas Snowden lynched in Ellicot City.
1895, May 28. Jacob Henson lynched in Ellicot City.
1946, Aug. 21-22. First Howard County Fair began at Brendel's Manor Park, just west of Ellicott City.
1963, Oct. James W. Rouse announced plan to build Columbia in Howard County.
1967. Merriweather Post Pavilion opened, Columbia.
1967, June 21. Opening of Columbia, a planned community incorporating one-tenth of Howard County land area.
2004, March 2. Electronic voting system used during primary elections at polling places and for absentee ballots in all counties and Baltimore City.
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