Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Elkton Township

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
–Not graded
History · Elkton Township

Elkton Township dates to 1880, and 61% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1953 on and the census since 1890.

1880founded
0on the National Register
61%homes built before 1940
Add an old photoShare a memory
Quick answers

How Elkton Township began, and where its name came from

When was Elkton Township founded?

1880

Elkton Township dates its founding to 1880 (Wikipedia’s history). The census first counted it in 1890.

First census: 331 in 18902020 census: 102146 years

How did Elkton Township get its name?

Elkton Township was named after the city of Elkton, Maryland.

Founding year: Wikipedia. Name: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.The full story ↓

What stands out about Elkton Township’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Elkton Township are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of Elkton Township’s homes were built before 1938.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Elkton Township’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Elkton Township’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
The story

How Elkton Township came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Elkton Township.

Read it all →

Elkton was platted in the spring of 1880. It was named after the city of Elkton, Maryland. By 1881, around two hundred people lived in the settlement.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

By decade

Elkton Township, decade by decade

Today2 recent
StMarysSchoolElkton2011StMarysSchoolElktonSDMap-doton-Elkton2004SDMap-doton-Elkton
On the map

Elkton Township on the map, 1953 to 1985

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Elkton Township. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Elkton Township on the 1953 USGS mapElkton Township on the 1985 USGS map1953Watertown sheet · 1:250,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Elkton Township.

People over time

Elkton Township, census by census

02004006008001900192019401960198020002020Peak: 872

Between 331 and 872 people in every census since 1890.

14 censuses, 1890–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Elkton Township’s Wikipedia page.

Places that used to be

Old burying grounds

3cemeteries and burying grounds inside Elkton Township
Elkton CitySaint MarysTrinity Lutheran

Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Richland TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townParnell TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townWard TownshipIts storynot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town

Questions about Elkton Township’s history

What year was Elkton Township founded?

In 1880, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. the census of 1890 counted 331 people here.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
Start a conversation
Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (2), Wikidata (1), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia) and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.