Old Baltimore Pike
Encyclopedia
Old Baltimore Pike is an unsigned highway
in the U.S.
state of Delaware
. The road, known as New Castle County Road 26, runs from the Maryland
state line (continuing from Maryland Route 281
(MD 281)) near Newark, Delaware
east to Christiana
, ending near Delaware Route 1 (DE 1). The road is mainly paralleled by Interstate 95
(I-95, Delaware Turnpike
) to the north and U.S. Route 40
(US 40, Pulaski Highway) to the south. The road was first built by 1720 and connected Elkton, Maryland
to Christiana. It was a turnpike called the Elk and Christiana Turnpike between 1817 and 1838.
, continuing the eastward route of MD 281. The road heads northeast through wooded residential areas as a two-lane undivided road, intersects Otts Chapel Road. It continues through more residential areas, passing south of Iron Hill Park. Old Baltimore Pike crosses DE 896 and heads into rural areas. Here, the road passes Cooch's Bridge
, a historic battle site of the American Revolutionary War
. It then crosses a Norfolk Southern railroad line encounters DE 72
. Past this intersection, Old Baltimore Pike continues past more residential subdivisions, gaining a center left-turn lane. The road intersects Salem Church Road as it heads through more suburban areas. Old Baltimore Pike comes to a junction with DE 273 in a wooded area. Following this, the road narrows back to two lanes and heads into the community of Christiana
. Here, the road intersects DE 7, where it turns north and follows that route through more residential areas. The road comes to an interchange with DE 1 to the west of the Christiana Mall
, where DE 7 heads north along with DE 1 and Old Baltimore Pike comes to a dead end.
) and Christiana Bridge. It was later known as the Christiana-Elkton Turnpike before becoming Old Baltimore Pike. The road serves as a major connection between Philadelphia and Baltimore
in addition to providing access between the shipping area of Christiana Bridge and agricultural areas in northern Delaware, northern Maryland, and southeastern Pennsylvania. In 1723, Welsh Tract settlers pushed for the road to be improved. This road was used by the French army during their march from Newport, Rhode Island
to Yorktown
during the Revolutionary War
, passing through the area in September 1781. The road, also known as Old Post Road, would be incorporated in 1813 as the Elk and Christiana Turnpike in order to get more money for repairs. The turnpike was completed in April 1817. As a turnpike, tolls were collected to pay for the maintenance of the road. The construction of the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad lowered the revenues of the turnpike and it became a public road again in 1838. The road historically went through agricultural areas; however, over the years, the surroundings have become more developed. Much of the Old Baltimore Pike remains two lanes.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Location
!Mile
!Roads intersected
!Notes
|-
|Newark
|0.00
|
|Western terminus, Delaware/Maryland state line
|-
|rowspan=2|Glasgow
|2.49
|
|
|-
|3.32
|
|
|-
|rowspan=4|Christiana
|7.10
|
|
|-
|7.41
|
|West end of DE 7 overlap
|-
|8.07
|
|DE 1 exit 164, east end of DE 7 overlap
|-
|8.35
|Dead end
|Eastern terminus
Unsigned highway
An unsigned highway is a highway that has been assigned a route number, but does not bear conventional road markings that would normally be used to identify the route with that number...
in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. The road, known as New Castle County Road 26, runs from the Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
state line (continuing from Maryland Route 281
Maryland Route 281
Maryland Route 281 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Red Hill Road, the state highway runs from MD 7 east to the Delaware state line within Elkton. MD 281 and its continuation in Delaware were originally blazed in the 18th century as part of the...
(MD 281)) near Newark, Delaware
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
east to Christiana
Christiana, Delaware
Christiana is a community near Wilmington, Delaware, USA. It is an unincorperated community in New Castle County, Delaware. It is home to the Christiana Mall and is the northern terminus to Delaware Route 1.-History:...
, ending near Delaware Route 1 (DE 1). The road is mainly paralleled by Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Delaware
In Delaware, Interstate 95 runs diagonally from the border with Maryland northeast to the border with Pennsylvania. Between the Maryland state line and exit 5, I-95 is also designated as the Delaware Turnpike and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. Along with its auxiliaries, I-95 is the only...
(I-95, Delaware Turnpike
Delaware Turnpike
The Delaware Turnpike, also known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, is an tolled highway that lies entirely within the state of Delaware. Running in a general southwest to northeast direction, paralleling nearby U.S...
) to the north and U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40 in Delaware
U.S. Route 40 serves as a major east–west highway in northern New Castle County, Delaware, just south of Wilmington. It runs from the Maryland border east of Elkton, Maryland east through the rapidly growing towns of Glasgow and Bear before following U.S...
(US 40, Pulaski Highway) to the south. The road was first built by 1720 and connected Elkton, Maryland
Elkton, Maryland
The town of Elkton is the county seat of Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,893 as of the 2000 census and 14,842 according to current July 2008 census estimates. It is the county seat of Cecil County...
to Christiana. It was a turnpike called the Elk and Christiana Turnpike between 1817 and 1838.
Route description
Old Baltimore Pike begins at the Delaware/Maryland state line near NewarkNewark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
, continuing the eastward route of MD 281. The road heads northeast through wooded residential areas as a two-lane undivided road, intersects Otts Chapel Road. It continues through more residential areas, passing south of Iron Hill Park. Old Baltimore Pike crosses DE 896 and heads into rural areas. Here, the road passes Cooch's Bridge
Cooch's Bridge
Cooch’s Bridge, located at Old Baltimore Pike, Newark, Delaware, is the site of the historic Battle of Cooch’s Bridge.-Battle of Cooch's Bridge:Fought on September 3, 1777, the Battle of Cooch's Bridge has two principal distinctions...
, a historic battle site of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. It then crosses a Norfolk Southern railroad line encounters DE 72
Delaware Route 72
Delaware Route 72 is a state highway located in New Castle County, Delaware. The route runs from Delaware Route 9 near Delaware City to Delaware Route 7 in Pike Creek. Parts of DE 72 were built as a state highway during the 1940s. By the 1940s, the route was designated between DE 2 and DE 7 along...
. Past this intersection, Old Baltimore Pike continues past more residential subdivisions, gaining a center left-turn lane. The road intersects Salem Church Road as it heads through more suburban areas. Old Baltimore Pike comes to a junction with DE 273 in a wooded area. Following this, the road narrows back to two lanes and heads into the community of Christiana
Christiana, Delaware
Christiana is a community near Wilmington, Delaware, USA. It is an unincorperated community in New Castle County, Delaware. It is home to the Christiana Mall and is the northern terminus to Delaware Route 1.-History:...
. Here, the road intersects DE 7, where it turns north and follows that route through more residential areas. The road comes to an interchange with DE 1 to the west of the Christiana Mall
Christiana Mall
Christiana Mall is a super-regional mid-range/upscale shopping mall near Newark, Delaware, United States. The mall is near an exit off Interstate 95 close to the center of the BosWash megalopolis. The mall's anchor stores are Macy's, JCPenney, Target and Nordstrom. The mall contains more than 130...
, where DE 7 heads north along with DE 1 and Old Baltimore Pike comes to a dead end.
History
The Old Baltimore Pike was built before 1720. The road was known as the Great Road and ran between Head of Elk (now Elkton, MarylandElkton, Maryland
The town of Elkton is the county seat of Cecil County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,893 as of the 2000 census and 14,842 according to current July 2008 census estimates. It is the county seat of Cecil County...
) and Christiana Bridge. It was later known as the Christiana-Elkton Turnpike before becoming Old Baltimore Pike. The road serves as a major connection between Philadelphia and Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
in addition to providing access between the shipping area of Christiana Bridge and agricultural areas in northern Delaware, northern Maryland, and southeastern Pennsylvania. In 1723, Welsh Tract settlers pushed for the road to be improved. This road was used by the French army during their march from Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
to Yorktown
Yorktown, Virginia
Yorktown is a census-designated place in York County, Virginia, United States. The population was 220 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1634....
during the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, passing through the area in September 1781. The road, also known as Old Post Road, would be incorporated in 1813 as the Elk and Christiana Turnpike in order to get more money for repairs. The turnpike was completed in April 1817. As a turnpike, tolls were collected to pay for the maintenance of the road. The construction of the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad lowered the revenues of the turnpike and it became a public road again in 1838. The road historically went through agricultural areas; however, over the years, the surroundings have become more developed. Much of the Old Baltimore Pike remains two lanes.
Junction list
The entire route is in New Castle County.{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Location
!Mile
!Roads intersected
!Notes
|-
|Newark
Newark, Delaware
Newark is an American city in New Castle County, Delaware, west-southwest of Wilmington. According to the 2010 Census, the population of the city is 31,454. Newark is the home of the University of Delaware.- History :...
|0.00
|
|Western terminus, Delaware/Maryland state line
|-
|rowspan=2|Glasgow
Glasgow, Delaware
Glasgow is a census-designated place in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. The population was 12,840 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Glasgow is located at ....
|2.49
|
|
|-
|3.32
|
|
|-
|rowspan=4|Christiana
Christiana, Delaware
Christiana is a community near Wilmington, Delaware, USA. It is an unincorperated community in New Castle County, Delaware. It is home to the Christiana Mall and is the northern terminus to Delaware Route 1.-History:...
|7.10
|
|
|-
|7.41
|
|West end of DE 7 overlap
|-
|8.07
|
|DE 1 exit 164, east end of DE 7 overlap
|-
|8.35
|Dead end
|Eastern terminus