Old Harford Road follows a curving path along relatively high land bordering streams that feed the upper Chesapeake Bay, including Chinquapin Run.
Nineteenth century deeds to two notable properties in the area, obtained by the late Baltimore County historian John W. McGrain, substantiate Sidney's depiction of Old Harford Road.
[3] A complicating bit of information regarding the use of the moniker "Old", however, is provided by a genealogical reference[4] to a tavern that was said to have been located on Old Harford Road "near the Long Green Valley" around 1776.
These routes likely incorporated parts of today's Long Green Pike and Pleasantville Road in Baltimore and Harford Counties.
"Braided" roads were those whose names were conferred informally (i.e., by local usage) to separate but roughly parallel roadway segments that temporarily diverged but subsequently rejoined.
From the late 18th century through much of the following one, "development" consisted primarily of the well-appointed homes of merchants and other wealthy individuals who conducted business in Baltimore.
Interspersed between these and other, lesser estates were the truck farms that supplied fruit, vegetables, and dairy products to Baltimore City.
But in the 1920s, developers further subdivided the truck farms and other larger properties into smaller lots, onto which were built many "bungalow"-style homes that were within easy walking distance of the extended streetcar line (see first black-and-white image below).
During this period, much of the remainder of today's Old Harford Road experienced the post-war building boom in the form of moderately-priced ranch and two story homes (see images below).
A limited amount of modern "in-fill" construction continues today north of Joppa Road in Carney (e.g., the "Old Harford Ridge" subdivision near Proctor Lane).
The completion of Parkville High School in 1958 and the Perring Plaza Shopping Center in 1962, in particular, spurred commercial development along Old Harford near its intersection with today's Putty Hill Avenue.
Construction of an overpass at the Baltimore Beltway (Interstate 695) in 1961 resulted in relocation of the roadway about 300 feet (91 m) west of the original right-of-way.
The relationship of present-day Old Harford Road with neighboring streets and highways is depicted in the sectional SHA map shown below.
[10][11] On November 21, 2014, during the early stages of the construction project, the original Old Harford Road overpass was struck by a backhoe being carried by a westbound flatbed truck on the Beltway.
The incident caused no injuries but required temporary closing of both the Beltway and Old Harford Road so that damage to the bridge could be inspected.
However, for more than 30 years, two branches of the Maryland Transit Administration's Route 19 bus line operated along parts of Old Harford Road.
It was introduced in early 1976 and enjoyed moderate ridership in its earlier years, providing service between the Joppa Road/Perring Plaza shopping areas and downtown Baltimore several times a day.