Elkton blows a kiss to its past as it looks to the future
Some may know Elkton as the Elopement Capital of the East. The small Maryland town that kisses the Delaware border gained unusual fame in the early 20th century as a destination for a quick kissing of the bride. “Several famous people got married here,” says Alicia Calhoun, director of the Elkton Alliance and an Elkton local of 55 years. Celebrities who got hitched in Elkton include basketball star Charles Barkley and jazz legend Billie Holiday. "Even my parents were married on Main Street," Calhoun says. When the marriage stipulations changed in 1938, the same-day wedding rate dropped drastically, but Elkton still winks to its lovebird past through bed-and-breakfasts, small wedding chapels and historic homes.
Historically, this Cecil County town was once known as Head of Elk by Captain John Smith, and has been the county seat since 1787. Elkton fittingly sits at the head of the Elk River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, and a strong historic presence remains. In fact, the musical “Hamilton” specifically calls out the Head of Elk and a trek through what is known as Elkton today. In 1777, British soldiers sailed up the river and set up camp in Elkton, outnumbering the town’s citizens. During the War of 1812, British soldiers attempted to reach Elkton, but quick-thinking citizens made a barrier across the Elk River.
Elkton is sandwiched between Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 40, and it’s almost exactly halfway between Baltimore and Philadelphia, both about 55 miles in either direction. With around 16,000 residents, Elkton continues to grow. The Elkton Alliance keeps the energy alive through live music, a packed calendar of downtown events and collaborations with modern developments. “Our mission is to revitalize Elkton through entertainment and arts. We connect with other Main Street districts to oversee what we need to be doing as an organization,” Calhoun says of the Alliance.
Downtown Elkton provides locals with restaurants, events, and convenient walkability to recreational activities.
The Cecil County Courthouse is one of the most common place for people to retrieve their marriage licenses.
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Downtown comes alive as an Arts & Entertainment District
Elkton is an Arts & Entertainment District, and the city aims to maintain this distinction through art galleries, live music and restaurants. “I always ask, ‘How do we make Elkton a destination?’” says Calhoun. “Elkton is bigger than downtown, but we focus on making sure the community knows what’s here.” The Elkton Alliance draws in a crowd by hosting more than 25 downtown events. First Fridays showcases live music and local art each month, and Music on Main features musical performances from April through October. Seasonal events include the St. Patrick’s Day festival, Cinco de Mayo and the Holiday Parade. “Fall Fest is our signature event,” Calhoun says. “There’s a focus on food, two stages for entertainment, children’s activities, axe throwing and a climbing wall where our Boy Scouts volunteer to monitor.”
Elkton Music Hall is located downtown and hosts cover bands, touring artists and local musicians. Maryland’s National Guard is located within the Elkton Armory, which is more than a century old. The small Irish castle has the facade of a building from the Middle Ages, but it was built in 1915.
The morning pick-me-up in Elkton is found at Vintage Perk Cafe where locals can enjoy baked treats as well.
Local shoppers can easily access parking by walking downtown through alleyways in Elkton.
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Elkton’s Main Street offers dining and nightlife
Bridge Street runs north-to-south through Elkton, intersecting with Main Street in the heart of downtown. This pedestrian- and bike-friendly section features an abundance of local shops and eateries, so residents can walk from restaurant to bar. Mexican and pizza are common cuisines, while C3ntral Tavern and Elk River Brewing are well-known bars. A block from this downtown intersection, ChristianaCare, formerly known as Union Hospital, serves the community. A few shopping plazas are scattered throughout town, including retail areas with big-box stores like Walmart. Just 3 miles south of Downtown Elkton, Detwiler’s Farm Market is an indoor and outdoor market with locally sourced meats, produce and a garden center. Newark, Delaware is about 8 miles north, where there are more shopping and dining options.
Enjoy a local brew of beer with friends at the Elk River Brewing Company.
At Elk River Brewing Company, locals enjoy socializing various craft beers.
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Elkton has housing variety with competitive price tags
Thanks to Elkton's semi-rural, semi-urban areas, homebuyers can find a wide range of houses, with a corresponding wide range of price points. Common styles include manufactured homes on the west side, contemporary townhomes throughout the city, Colonial-inspired single-family properties with vintage charm downtown and new construction around the outskirts of town. The median price for a home in Elkton is around $355,000, compared to $420,000 in nearby Glasgow and $320,000 in Southern Newark. Houses typically stay on the market for an average of 25 days before they’re sold.
Beautiful Colonilas with sprawling yards and pristine landscaping encompasses the suburbs of Elkton.
Ranch homes and Cape Cods are affordable and comfrotable options for smaller families who prefer land in Elkton.
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Fair Hill brings tourism to northern Elkton despite frequent flooding in town
There are a few smaller city parks scattered throughout Elkton, with Meadow Park being the closest to downtown. This park, known to flood from time to time, features athletic fields, a dog park and a playground. About 8 miles north of downtown, Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area offers 5,656 acres of hiking and biking trails. This preserved park area hosts the Cecil County Fair and the Maryland 5 Star Equestrian Competition. “The 5 Star is a global event. The Queen of England’s granddaughter competed here,” Calhoun says. “It brings awareness and tourism to the Elkton area.”
While Elkton is near the water, it’s not a major water destination. People fish on Elk River, which has a boat launch, and the Chesapeake Bay is nearby. “When you talk about water in the Maryland area, folks tend to think of Chesapeake City,” Calhoun says, referring to the nearby town. “If I could have a crystal ball, I would say that one day Elkton could be known for water recreation.” Due to the town’s location at the head of Elk River and surrounding Big Elk Creek, Elkton faces flooding issues. The city is currently looking for and identifying ways to mitigate these challenges, including dredging and removing excess sediment. According to environmentalists, some streets and bridges in Elkton will need to be raised to avoid future flooding. Locals report that there has always been flooding in Elkton, but these issues have been happening more often in recent years. In 2020, Tropical Storm Isaias flooded homes and submerged vehicles, including a responding firetruck.
On the northeast side of town, Patriots Glen National Golf Club has a public course and a tavern, as well as a double-deck driving range that will soon be completed. Elkton experiences all four seasons, with temperature highs and humidity typically falling in July and temperature lows and snowfall most common in January and February.
Fair Hill equestiran training is located 15 minutes north of Elkton.
Tire out the tykes on the playground at East Meadow Park.
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Cecil County Public Schools serve Elkton
Students who live in Elkton are part of Cecil County Public Schools, which serves more than 15,000 students and receives a B-minus from Niche. The district consists of 17 elementary schools, six middle schools, five high schools, a vocational school and an alternative school. Most Elkton residents are likely to attend Elkton Middle and Elkton High, which earn a C-plus and B, respectively. A private school option located in Northeast Elkton, Tri-State Christian Academy serves kindergarten through twelfth-grade learners and holds an A-minus Niche rating. Located downtown near the hospital, Cecil College is a community college with about 5,000 students enrolled.
392 students in grades K-5 walk through the doors of Gilpin Manor Elementary School in Elkton.
1,059 students in grades 9-12 pass through the doors of Elkton High School.
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Elkton is connected to major cities via Interstate 95
Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 40 are the two major roadways that run east-to-west through this eastern edge of Maryland. The interstate makes commuting more manageable; Wilmington is a 20-mile drive northeast, Philadelphia is a 50-mile drive in the same direction and Baltimore is 60 miles southwest. The Cecil Transit bus system has a fixed route through the town. Wilmington Airport is 15 miles east, but only offers flights through American Airlines and Avelo Air. For further travel destinations, Philadelphia International Airport is about 40 miles northeast.
Crime rates do not deter the economic value of Southfield
According to crime data provided to the FBI for the town of Elkton, the violent crime rate is almost triple the national average and the property crime rate is more than double the national average.
Despite these higher-than-average crime rates, Elkton continues to plan for future investments in both the Downtown district and the Southside area. Southfields of Elkton, an $800 million mixed-use development project that broke ground in 2019, will eventually include a multi-acre sports complex, single-family homes, apartment complexes, a couple of hotels, restaurants and retail space. This project has a "live, work, play” concept that will cover more than 650 acres and include 280 acres of parks and open greenery. “I’ve heard rumors that they’re looking to create waterway features,” adds Calhoun. “One of the goals is to connect Southfields to Downtown with walking trails. It’ll put Elkton on the map for a more modern reason,” says Calhoun, who notes that modernizing the city is one of the Alliance’s long-term objectives.
Written By
Mary Beth Greene
Photography Contributed By
TJ Engler
Video By
Edward Pokoj
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On average, homes in Elkton, MD sell after 27 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Elkton, MD over the last 12 months is $370,000, up 14% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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