Editing Baltimore County, Maryland (section)

===18th century===
In 1700, builder Michael Judd sold it to the county justices. This change of location, away from the Bush River area, reflects the growing economic and political importance of the Gunpowder region. During the next decade, the county seat moved to [[Joppa, Maryland|Joppa]].

By 1724, the legislative assembly authorized Thomas Tolley, Capt. John Taylor, Daniel Scott, Lancelot Todd, and John Stokes purchased 20 acres from "Taylor's Choice," a tract named after John Taylor. The assembly's ordinance directed that the land be divided into 40 lots with streets and alleys to accompany the courthouse and jail erected previously. By 1750, about 50 houses (including a few large two-story brick structures), a church (St. John's Anglican Parish), a courthouse, three stone warehouses, inns, taverns, stores, a public wharf and a "gallows-tree" with an "Amen Corner" with pillories and whipping posts (now located northeast of the City of Baltimore near present-day suburban "Joppatowne" off [[Harford Road]]) existed.

A new port and wharfing site, [[Elkridge Landing]], on the upper [[Patapsco River]]'s Western Branch, became prosperous in the 18th century. It was established on the "falls" of the river, below the rapids and rocks, where the river was deep enough for loaded sailing merchantmen. The landing was a designated "port of entry" and was the terminus of several "rolling roads" on which horse or oxen-drawn [[hogshead]]s (huge barrels) packed with tobacco were wheeled down to the Landing/port to be loaded on ships sailing for London and Europe. Gradually the site silted-up from soil erosion and poor farming cultivation on the upper Patapsco, and the maritime economy of the Landing faded. In the 19th century, it became an important stop on the [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad]] and the main north-south East Coast highway for wagons and carriages. Still, later it was on Washington Boulevard (designated [[United States Route 1|U.S. Route 1]]) by 1926.

With a bit of financial pressure, and after paying for the cost of a new courthouse (300 pounds sterling), dominant business, commercial and political residents of the Town of Baltimore were able to have the Maryland General Assembly relocate the county seat to their growing port town. In 1768, following receipt of petitions for and against the relocation, the General Assembly passed an Act that moved the county seat from Joppa to Baltimore.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://aomol.msa.maryland.gov/000001/000061/html/am61p--86.html|title=Baltimore Town Made the County Seat|journal=Maryland State Archives (Archives of Maryland Online)|volume=61|pages=86–87|publisher=Maryland State Archives}}</ref> The first courthouse was constructed in 1768 at a new Courthouse Square at present-day [[St. Paul Street-Calvert Street|North Calvert Street]], between East Lexington and East Fayette Streets.