Glenwood, Howard County, Maryland


Glenwood is an unincorporated community in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It is located between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., therefore attracting commuters to those employment centers. The community features acres of open space and is districted to Bushy Park Elementary, Glenwood and Folly Quarter Middle, and Glenelg High schools. Union Chapel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and Round About Hills was added in 2008.
The area was settled in the early 18th century by the Ridgley and Warfield families forming large tobacco plantations: "Bushy Park", "Longwood", "Ellerslie" and others. In 1822, James B. Matthews purchased a 200-acre farm and stone home from Caleb Dorsey. He opened a post office on July 30, 1841, giving the area the name "Matthews Store" in the Howard District of Anne Arundel County, which operated until January 1874. The Union Chapel was built in 1833. The Anne Arundel community became part of the newly formed Howard County. Despite southern sympathies, the Civil War ended slave labor on the local farms. The Phrenakosmian Hall was opened, renamed to the Howard Institute serving 25 children. On January 13, 1874 the Glenwood postal stop opened. It was renamed to Glenwood by James Matthew's son, Professor Lycurgus Matthews.
In 1995, Glenwood land developer Randolph Ayersman made national news after police found that profits from drug sales were being used to buy and develop properties under A&A contracting in Glenwood.
Glenwood is home to Glenwood Middle School, the Gary J. Arthur community center, and the Glenwood branch of the Howard County library.