[2] Prior to European colonization, the area that is now Sykesville was used as a hunting ground by Native Americans from the Susquehannock and Lenape nations.

By the late 1800s, many Europeans (predominantly from Germany and Scotland) had settled in Sykesville in pursuit of farming and mining.

[3] The land on which Sykesville sits started out as part of the 3,000-acre (12 km2) Springfield Estate, a slave plantation owned by wealthy Baltimore shipbuilder William Patterson.

In 1825, George Patterson sold 1,000 acres (4.0 km2; 1.6 sq mi) of Springfield Estate to his friend and business associate, James Sykes.

[5][6] A tract of land on the Howard County side of the Patapsco River contained an old saw and grist mill.

In 1830 Sykes replaced it with a newer mill and constructed a five-story stone hotel, to take care of railroad personnel and the tourist trade.

In 1831 the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) extended its main line to "Horse Train Stop", since Sykesville had yet to be named.

[7] Other businesses moved into the area, including two general stores, new mills, churches and a post office.

[citation needed] Much of the town was destroyed by a flood in 1868, ending a water rights dispute between the Sykesville mill and the Elba Furnace when both were damaged.

[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.58 square miles (4.09 km2), all land.

People of Dutch, Greek, Welsh, French, Scottish, Swiss, Lithuanian, Indian, Korean and Mexican descent each comprised 1% of the population.

The ex-Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's Sykesville station was designed by E. Francis Baldwin in the Queen Anne style and built in 1883.

[15] The Gate House Museum of History, at 7283 Cooper Drive, served as residence for many employees at Maryland's second hospital for the insane.

The building was once home to Francis Scott Key Jr.[18][19] The primary method of travel to and from Sykesville is by road, and the main highway serving the town is Maryland Route 32.

In the opposite direction, MD 32 heads south, then curves east, eventually approaching Annapolis.