In the late 1600s this region began to be settled by Europeans when Lord Baltimore and William Penn made large grants of land to various individuals. They both claimed this area as part of their own original charters. It was not until 1767 when Mason and Dixon surveyed the line between the states that this dispute was finally settled.
These early settlers were mainly Scots-Irish. They cleared the virgin forest for farms and erected mills along the Big and Little Elk Creeks and their tributaries. Due to the sizable fall and steady flow of the creeks, the area developed into a major source of industry. At one time many mills—grist, saw, bar iron and nail, copper and iron rolling, woolen and paper—operated along their banks. Ardent patriots, these people fought for liberty in the War for Independence and supplied much of the grain for the Continental Army. Because of this, Cecil County was called the “Breadbasket of the Revolution”.
These early settlers were mainly Scots-Irish. They cleared the virgin forest for farms and erected mills along the Big and Little Elk Creeks and their tributaries. Due to the sizable fall and steady flow of the creeks, the area developed into a major source of industry. At one time many mills—grist, saw, bar iron and nail, copper and iron rolling, woolen and paper—operated along their banks. Ardent patriots, these people fought for liberty in the War for Independence and supplied much of the grain for the Continental Army. Because of this, Cecil County was called the “Breadbasket of the Revolution”.