T • O • W • S • O • N M • A • R • Y • L • A • N • D

A Brief History of Towson

The communtity of Towson began about 1750 when two brothers, William and Thomas Towson, emigrated from Pennsylvania and started farming on Sater's Hill, to the northeast of York and Joppa Roads. In 1768 Thomas' son, Ezekiel built a large tavern at the crossroads, just north of where the Towson Theater is now. A small village called "Towsontown" began to grow around it, serving area farmers who traveled on York, Dulaney Valley, and Joppa Roads.

In 1790 the Ridgely family built the magnificent Hampton estate, while other buildings were erected by the Chews, Shealeys, Schmucks, Phipps, Paynes, Lees, Bowens, Wares, and Bosleys. In 1839 Epsom Chapel became the first house of worship for the community. (It was demolished in 1950, making way for what is Towsontown Centre.)

A new era began in 1854 when the Court House construction started and Towson officially became the Baltimore County Seat. Numerous buildings were built in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and styles, giving the community a distinctive 19th Century atmosphere that is still visible.

Towson retains its charm and sense of history, even though it has grown rapidly since World War II. Today it is more than a crossroads and courthouse town, having become a center for education, medicine, county government and law, and more recently a retail destination.