Ridgely Maryland Tourism

In 1867, the land around present day Ridgely was purchased by the Maryland and Baltimore Land Association from Thomas Bell and the Reverend Greenbury W. Ridgely. During this time period, a railroad boom on the Delmarva Peninsula was fueling land speculation.

Civil engineer J.J. Sickler from Philadelphia was commissioned to design the town’s layout. The Land Association began construction and built four buildings, including a railroad station, hotel, and two private residences during the first year. James K. Saulsbury constructed a combined store and residence, now known as the Ridgely House.

During the Land’s Association’s first year, it went bankrupt; Ridgely was left unfinished and sparsely populated. Most properties were sold at public auction, and Ridgely began to grow gradually as a result of its location on the Maryland and Delaware Railroad line.

Ridgely’s economy flourished as a result of its flourishing local crop production, including strawberries, huckleberries, vegetables, eggs, and poultry. Most crops were processed in Ridgely or sent to various locations on the railroad. As the nation began to rely on highways instead of railroads for transportation and industry began to concentrate in larger urban areas, Ridgely’s economy declined.

Ridgely became known as the “Strawberry Capital of the World” as a result of its prosperous agricultural business. Every May, Ridgely hosts the Strawberry Festival to celebrate its past.

strawberries