[2] Like much of Maryland, slavery was present in the Ruxton and Riderwood communities during the 18th century, despite local Quaker and Methodist resistance.

Less than two years later, on April 21, 1865, Lincoln's funeral train also passed through Ruxton and Riderwood on its way from Washington, D.C., to his final resting place at Springfield, Illinois.

A small number of apartments and historic shopping districts can be found along Bellona Avenue, though the remainder of the road is mostly undeveloped.

West Joppa Road, a major cross-county artery, passes through Riderwood as it intersects with Bellona Avenue.

Maryland Route 25, better known as Falls Road, forms part of the western boundary of these communities, leading to the Brooklandville area.

Though the road has a mostly sparse appearance, a small number of landmarks are visible in this area, including The Cloisters and Brightwood Nursing Home.

It provides access to Riderwood Elementary School and Village Green, its surrounding development, as well as Valley Country Club.

Long-distance passenger train service ended in the late 1960s, although the Norfolk Southern Railway continued late-night freight operations until 2005, sharing the Light Rail Line as far as Cockeysville by agreement with the Maryland Transit Administration.

[6] In 1994, the movie Serial Mom was filmed in Ruxton at the Church of the Good Shepherd, on Boyce Avenue.

[7] In 2005, Australian actress Nicole Kidman moved into Ruxton, renting a house in the Four Winds neighborhood on Boyce Avenue, as she filmed her movie The Invasion in Downtown Baltimore, opposite Daniel Craig.

Scenes in Runaway Bride with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere were filmed at Gill's Garage on West Joppa Road.

Valley Country Club is located in Riderwood, featuring a pool, tennis and basketball courts, and a mansion, formerly owned by NFL Hall of Famer and Baltimore Colts defensive tackle Art Donovan.