The charming and rustic Ellicott City, Maryland, made the news today for both positive
and calamitous reasons. The tragedy was the deadly derailment of a CSX freight train
in the heart of the historic area, where overturned cars spilled coal and crushed
automobiles in a public parking lot. The scene was described as “chaos.” Two individuals,
who police said were on the tracks when the derailment happened, were killed.
Maybe, then, this good news will comfort Ellicott City residents: Their town ranked
high on a list of the 100 best small cities in the US. Money magazine ranked
Ellicott City, and nearby Columbia, eighth. They are not alone among local towns that
got good marks. The others included Reston, Virginia (7); Centreville, Virginia (17);
Waldorf, Maryland (20), Gaithersburg, Maryland (23) Germantown, Maryland (24); and
Ashburn, Virginia (30). No area small cities made the second 50, though Arlington
and Dale City, Virginia, were numbers 45 and 46, respectively.
Ellicott City was founded in 1772. It makes a big deal out of its connection to the
railroad. One of its popular tourist attractions is the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Museum, described as the oldest passenger train station in the US.
According to Money, the towns on the list represent what “American families care about most,” including
good jobs, schools, and health care, and low crime rates. The small city that came
in first was Carmel, Indiana.
Ellicott City Makes Headlines for Both Good and Bad News
A train derailment, plus kudos for its quality of life, make contrasting news for the Maryland suburb.
The charming and rustic Ellicott City, Maryland, made the news today for both positive
and calamitous reasons. The tragedy was the deadly derailment of a CSX freight train
in the heart of the historic area, where overturned cars spilled coal and crushed
automobiles in a public parking lot. The scene was described as “chaos.” Two individuals,
who police said were on the tracks when the derailment happened, were killed.
Maybe, then, this good news will comfort Ellicott City residents: Their town ranked
high on a list of the 100 best small cities in the US.
Money magazine ranked
Ellicott City, and nearby Columbia, eighth. They are not alone among local towns that
got good marks. The others included Reston, Virginia (7); Centreville, Virginia (17);
Waldorf, Maryland (20), Gaithersburg, Maryland (23) Germantown, Maryland (24); and
Ashburn, Virginia (30). No area small cities made the second 50, though Arlington
and Dale City, Virginia, were numbers 45 and 46, respectively.
Ellicott City was founded in 1772. It makes a big deal out of its connection to the
railroad. One of its popular tourist attractions is the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Museum, described as the oldest passenger train station in the US.
According to
Money, the towns on the list represent what “American families care about most,” including
good jobs, schools, and health care, and low crime rates. The small city that came
in first was Carmel, Indiana.
Most Popular in News & Politics
What It Felt Like for a Virginia Marching Band to Win Metallica’s Contest
What’s IN and OUT in DC Restaurant Trends for 2024
Introducing 8 of DC’s Most Stylish
Best of Washington 2023: Things to Eat, Drink, Do, and Know Right Now
Washingtonian Magazine
May 2024: Great Getaways
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
13 Major Concerts and Music Festivals in the DC Area This Spring
Mary Timony on Her Emotional New Album, “Untame the Tiger”
The Beatles in DC: A New Exhibit in Maryland Looks Back on Early Beatlemania
Northern Virginia High School Wins Metallica’s Marching Band Competition
More from News & Politics
Rockville Police Are Searching for Culprits of a $4,500 Pickleball Paddle Heist
Dozens of Vintage Planes Will Fly Over the National Mall This Saturday
PHOTOS: “Rupaul’s Drag Race” Queens Work It at the National Mall
Meet the NIH Detectives Cracking Medicine’s Toughest Cases
5 of DC’s Most Interesting Ideas for Revitalizing Chinatown
A “Corpse Flower” Is Currently in Bloom at the Botanic Garden
How Emma’s Torch Is Changing the Lives of Its Refugee Workers
Former Fiola GM Convicted of Murder Is Now in a Netflix Docuseries