Ridgely's Run

The Ridgely's Run Community Center has been a wonderful addition and tremendous asset to the Guilford and Jessup communities since it opened in 2007. But where did the name “Ridgely Run” come from? As the Center's Website states, it was “based on the stream that bisects the area…named Ridgely's Run.” 1

Two nearby land patents, Ridgely’s Forrest and Warfield’s Contrivance influenced this area. Originally called “Ridgeley’s Forrest” its 268 acres was assigned to Henry Ridgely on June 3, 1686 by apportioning warrants granted to John Howard, Richard Beardsley, and Richard Snowden. 2 Henry Ridgely’s grandson, also named Henry Ridgely, secured a patent in 1734 for Harry’s Lott, adding to Ridgely’s Forrest surplus and vacant lands, and Ridgely’s Addition, to total 702 acres. 3 A creek, originally called Stony Run, divides Ridgely’s Forrest from Warfield’s Contrivance. (4)

Before it was called Ridgely's Run, it was called Ridgely's Great Branch in 1695 by the surveyor Richard Beard when establishing the bounds for Henry Ridgely Jr's land patent called Ridgelys Lott which is adjacent and north/northeast to Warfield's Contrivance. 5

It is really Warfield’s Contrivance that the Ridgely Run Community Center is on (see map below) but it is named appropriately being situated alongside a major tributary of Ridgely Run (also called Dorsey’s Branch and now Dorsey’s Run). Back when these lands were being surveyed it may not have been possible to know which the main part of Ridgelys Run was and which a large tributary was.  Today, Ridgelys Run Road is the name of the road that the new 13th high school is located on and connects US Route 1 and Mission Road. (6)

Sources

 1 Ridgely’s Run Community Center.  http://ridgelysrun.com/aboutus.html
2 Land Certificate for Ridgely’s Forrest to Col. Henry Ridgely. June 3, 1686. Liber C3 Folio 338. 264 acres.
3 Land Patent for Harry’s Lott to Henry Ridgely. June 13, 1734. Liber E.I. 1 Folio 439. 702 acres.
4  For more information on Ridgley’s Run, now called Dorsey’s Run, and to see maps of the area, please visit our Web page at https://sites.google.com/view/guilfordhistoryhoco/home/guilford-geography/dorseys-run
5 Land Patent for Ridgelys Lot to Henry Ridgely Jr. Nov. 10, 1695. Liber B23 Folio 312.  273 acres
6 See Howard County’s GIS Interactive Map - https://data.howardcountymd.gov/InteractiveMap.html