Howard County is a county In the United States, a county is a local level of government below the state . Counties are used in 48 of the 50 states, while Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. These are considered "county-equivalents", as are some cities not designated as part of a county. The U.S. Census Bureau lists 3,140 counties or located in the central part of the U.S. state A U.S. state is any one of 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of commonwealth rather than state. State citizenship is of Maryland Maryland is a major center for life sciences research and development. With more than 350 biotechnology companies located there, Maryland is the third-largest nexus in this field in the United States, between Baltimore Baltimore , the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the U.S. state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore City in order to distinguish it from surrounding and Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790. The City of Washington was originally a separate municipality within the Territory of Columbia until an act of Congress in 1871 effectively merged the City and the It is considered part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area The Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area is a combined statistical area consisting of the overlapping labor market region of the cities of Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C.. The region includes Central Maryland, Northern Virginia, and two counties in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. It is the most educated, highest-income, and.

Howard County is frequently cited for its affluence, quality of life, and excellent schools. In 2010 it was ranked the third wealthiest county There are 3,141 counties in the United States. The source of the data is the U.S. Census Bureau and the data is current as of the indicated year by median household income in the United States by the U.S. Census Bureau. The main population center of Columbia Columbia is a planned community that consists of ten self-contained villages, located in Howard County, Maryland, United States. Columbia is a suburb of Baltimore and, to a lesser degree, Washington, D.C. It began with the idea that a city could enhance its residents' quality of life. Creator and developer James W. Rouse saw the new community in/Ellicott City Ellicott City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland, United States. The population was 56,397 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Howard County. Founded in 1772, the town features the B&O Railroad Museum Ellicott City Station, built in 1830, and a downtown historic district which is a was named 4th amongst Money magazine Money is a Time Inc. personal finance magazine. Its first issue was published in October 1972. Its articles cover the gamut of personal finance topics ranging from investing, saving, retirement and taxes to family finance issues like paying for college, credit, career and home improvement. It is well known for its annual list of "America's's "America's Best Places to Live." Howard County's schools frequently rank first in Maryland as measured by standardized test scores and graduation rates.[1]

In 2000, its population was 247,842. Its county seat A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there. Parts of the Canadian Maritimes also use the term shire town. In England, Wales and Ireland, the term is Ellicott City Ellicott City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland, United States. The population was 56,397 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Howard County. Founded in 1772, the town features the B&O Railroad Museum Ellicott City Station, built in 1830, and a downtown historic district which is a. The center of population In demographics, the center of population of a region is a geographical point that describes a centerpoint of the region's population. There are several different ways of defining such a "center point", leading to different geographical locations; these are often confused of Maryland is located on the county line between Howard County and Anne Arundel County Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell (1615–49), a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is Annapolis, which is also the capital of the state. In 2000, its population was 489,656, while, in the unincorporated In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality. To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city or town with its own government. Thus, an unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government. Such regions are generally administered town of Jessup Jessup is an unincorporated town and census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland and Anne Arundel County, Maryland. The population was 7,865 at the 2000 census. The center of population of Maryland is located in Jessup. It was the location of Maryland House of Correction, which was one of the Maryland Department of Corrections prison.[2]

Due to the proximity of Howard County's population centers to Baltimore, the county has traditionally been considered a part of the Baltimore Metropolitan Area The Baltimore-Towson Metropolitan Statistical Area is a Metropolitan Statistical Area in Maryland as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In 2007, its population was estimated at 2,668,056 by the Census Bureau, making it the 20th most populous MSA in the country. Recent development in the south of the county has led to some realignment towards the Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790. The City of Washington was originally a separate municipality within the Territory of Columbia until an act of Congress in 1871 effectively merged the City and the media and employment markets. The county is also home to Columbia Columbia is a planned community that consists of ten self-contained villages, located in Howard County, Maryland, United States. Columbia is a suburb of Baltimore and, to a lesser degree, Washington, D.C. It began with the idea that a city could enhance its residents' quality of life. Creator and developer James W. Rouse saw the new community in, a major planned community A new town, planned community or planned city is a city, town, or community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion of 100,000 first developed by James Rouse James Wilson Rouse , founder of The Rouse Company, was a pioneering American real estate developer, civic activist, and later, free enterprise-based philanthropist. He is the maternal grandfather of actor Edward Norton in 1967, which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary and is now considered to be the first and most successful community of its kind.

Contents

History and politics

Howard District was formed in 1838 by the splitting of Anne Arundel Anne Arundel County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is named for Anne Arundell (1615–49), a member of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England and the wife of Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Its county seat is Annapolis, which is also the capital of the state. In 2000, its population was 489,656, while. It had the same status as a county A county is a land area of local government within a country. A county may have cities and towns within its area. Originally, in continental Europe, a county was the land under the jurisdiction of a count (conte, comte, conde, Graf) except for not being represented in the Maryland General Assembly The Maryland General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is a bicameral body. The upper chamber, the Maryland State Senate, has 47 representatives and the lower chamber, the Maryland House of Delegates, has 141 representatives. The General Assembly meets each year for 90 days to act on more than 2300 bills including. In 1851, it became an official county.

The county was named for John Eager Howard, an officer in the American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War or American War of Independence began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen former British colonies in North America, and concluded in a global war between several European great powers and later the fifth Governor of Maryland The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments, as specified by the Maryland Constitution. Because.[3]

The county has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places.[4]

Current and past County Executives:

Name Affiliation Term
Omar J. Jones Democrat The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. It is one of the world's oldest political parties and boasts the lengthiest record of continuous operation in the United 1969–1973
Edward L. Cochran Democrat The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. It is one of the world's oldest political parties and boasts the lengthiest record of continuous operation in the United 1974–1978
J. Hugh Nichols Democrat The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. It is one of the world's oldest political parties and boasts the lengthiest record of continuous operation in the United 1978–1986
William E. Eakle Democrat The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. It is one of the world's oldest political parties and boasts the lengthiest record of continuous operation in the United 1986 - 1986
Elizabeth Bobo Democrat The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. It is one of the world's oldest political parties and boasts the lengthiest record of continuous operation in the United 1986–1990
Charles I. Ecker Republican The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the Grand Old Party or the GOP, despite being the younger of the two major parties. The party's platform is generally considered right of center 1990–1998
James N. Robey Democrat The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. It is one of the world's oldest political parties and boasts the lengthiest record of continuous operation in the United 1998–2006
Kenneth Ulman Democrat The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. It is one of the world's oldest political parties and boasts the lengthiest record of continuous operation in the United 2006 –

The current members of the County Council are:

Position Name Affiliation District
Member Courtney Watson Democrat The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. It is one of the world's oldest political parties and boasts the lengthiest record of continuous operation in the United 1
Member Calvin Ball Democrat The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. It is one of the world's oldest political parties and boasts the lengthiest record of continuous operation in the United 2
Vice-Chair Jen Terrasa Democrat The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. It is one of the world's oldest political parties and boasts the lengthiest record of continuous operation in the United 3
Chair Mary Kay Sigaty Democrat The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. It is one of the world's oldest political parties and boasts the lengthiest record of continuous operation in the United 4
Member Gregory Fox Republican The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the Grand Old Party or the GOP, despite being the younger of the two major parties. The party's platform is generally considered right of center 5

Law enforcement

The county is serviced by the Howard County Police Department, the Howard County Sheriff's Office, and the Maryland State Police.

Health care

Howard County General Hospital, located in Columbia, is the county's main hospital.

Howard County is the location of Healthy Howard, a program aimed at providing low-cost health care to some of its residents.

Geography

Howard County is located in the Maryland Piedmont Piedmont is a plateau region located in the eastern United States between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the main Appalachian Mountains, stretching from New Jersey in the north to central Alabama in the south. The Piedmont province is a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division. The province consists of the Piedmont Upland and region, with rolling hills making up most of the landscape. Its largest community is Columbia Columbia is a planned community that consists of ten self-contained villages, located in Howard County, Maryland, United States. Columbia is a suburb of Baltimore and, to a lesser degree, Washington, D.C. It began with the idea that a city could enhance its residents' quality of life. Creator and developer James W. Rouse saw the new community in, though it is not an incorporated city under Maryland law; in fact, Howard County has no incorporated municipalities. The northern portion of Howard County is part of the outskirts of Baltimore Baltimore , the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the U.S. state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore City in order to distinguish it from surrounding, while the southern is more oriented toward Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790. The City of Washington was originally a separate municipality within the Territory of Columbia until an act of Congress in 1871 effectively merged the City and the Howard County is the only "Maryland-locked" county in the state, being the only county entirely enclosed by land and river boundaries with other Maryland counties.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as a leading source of data about America's people and economy, the county has a total area of 254 square miles (660 km2), of which 252 square miles (650 km2) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km2), or 0.60%, is water.

Adjacent counties

Frederick County Carroll County Baltimore County
Montgomery County
Howard County, Maryland
Prince George's County Anne Arundel County

Climate

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be and removed. (April 2007)

Howard County lies in the transition between the Humid subtropical climate zone and the Humid continental climate zone. The easternmost tip of the county has a true subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and cool, rainy winters. As one travels west in the county away from the Baltimore area, the winter temperatures get lower and snow is more common. Annual rainfall is about 45 inches (1,100 mm) throughout the county.

Demographics

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 247,842 people, 90,043 households, and 65,821 families residing in the county. The population density was 983 people per square mile (380/km²). There were 92,818 housing units at an average density of 368 per square mile (142/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 74.33% White, 14.42% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 7.68% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.11% from other races, and 2.19% from two or more races. 3.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.1% were of German, 11.0% Irish, 9.3% English, 6.6% Italian and 5.7% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 90,043 households out of which 40.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 20.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.10% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 34.40% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 7.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $74,167, and the median income for a family was $85,422 (these figures had risen to $97,837 and $110,907 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[6]). Males had a median income of $57,959 versus $40,412 for females. The per capita income for the county was $32,402. About 2.50% of families and 3.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.80% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over.

Population history

The following is a population history for Howard County from the U.S. Census Bureau.[7] The ranking compares the population of Howard County to those of the other 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City.

Education

The Howard County Public School System manages 71 schools and serves approximately 49,000 students. The graduation rate from this school district is an above-average 92%, and the county's schools are ranked among the best in the state. Student test scores consistently top the list for all Maryland school districts. Public school construction has kept pace with the county’s growth in recent years to safeguard against crowded classrooms. Howard High School is currently the largest school in the county with over 1,600 students.

Culture and attractions

Unincorporated census-designated places

Howard County has no incorporated municipalities.

Unincorporated areas are considered as towns by many people and listed in many collections of towns, but they lack local government. Various organizations, such as the United States Census Bureau, the United States Postal Service, and local chambers of commerce, define the communities they wish to recognize differently, and since they are not incorporated, their boundaries have no official status outside the organizations in question. The Census Bureau recognizes the following census-designated places in the county:

  1. Columbia
  2. Elkridge
  3. Ellicott City
  4. Jessup (a portion is also in Anne Arundel County)
  5. North Laurel
  6. Savage-Guilford (a combination of the communities of Savage and Guilford recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)

Other entities, such as the United States Postal Service, use a different selection of local place names. In all these cases, since the places are unincorporated, the boundaries are determined by the classifying authority. Unincorporated places not listed as Census-Designated Places but known in the area include:

  1. Clarksville
  2. Cooksville
  3. Daniels
  4. Dayton
  5. Dorsey
  6. Fulton
  7. Glenelg
  8. Glenwood
  9. Granite
  10. Hanover (a portion is also in Anne Arundel County)
  11. Henryton (primarily in Carroll County)
  12. Highland
  13. Ilchester
  14. Lisbon
  15. Marriottsville
  16. Scaggsville
  17. Simpsonville
  18. Sykesville (primarily in Carroll County)
  19. West Friendship
  20. Woodbine
  21. Woodstock (a portion is also in Baltimore County)

Trivia

Lists of miscellaneous information should be avoided. Please relocate any relevant information into appropriate sections or articles. (March 2008)
This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be and removed. (March 2009)

References

  1. ^ "APL Environment". http://www.jhuapl.edu/employment/environment/howardcounty.asp. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  2. ^ "Population and Population Centers by State: 2000". http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/statecenters.txt. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  3. ^ "Howard County History". http://www.howardcountymd.gov/HCT/HCT_HCHistory.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  4. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15. http://www.nr.nps.gov/.
  5. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=05000US51107&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US51%7C05000US51107&_street=&_county=howard&_cityTown=howard&_state=04000US24&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=050&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/md190090.txt. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
  8. ^ "Howard County Library Annual Report". http://www.hclibrary.org/index.php?page=362. Retrieved 2009-09-04.

Marriottsville, Maryland is divided among two counties: Howard and Carroll.

External links

Coordinates: 39°15′N 76°56′W / 39.25°N 76.93°W

Municipalities and communities of Howard County, Maryland
County seat: Ellicott City
CDPs

Columbia | Elkridge | Ellicott City | Jessup‡ | North Laurel | Savage-Guilford
Other communities

Annapolis Junction | Clarksville | Cooksville | Daniels | Dayton | Dorsey | Fulton | Glenelg | Glenwood | Granite | Hanover | Henryton Heights | Highland | Hopewell | Ilchester | Linwood | Lisbon | Marriottsville | Scaggsville | Simpsonville | West Friendship | Woodbine | Woodstock
Footnotes

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
State of Maryland
Annapolis (capital)
Topics

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Regions

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Cities

Aberdeen | Annapolis | Baltimore | Brunswick | Bowie | Cambridge | College Park | Cumberland | Frederick | Gaithersburg | Greenbelt | Hagerstown | Laurel | Rockville | Salisbury | Takoma Park | Westminster
CDPs

Adelphi | Arbutus | Arnold | Aspen Hill | Ballenger Creek | Bel Air North | Bel Air South | Bethesda | Brooklyn Park | Calverton | Camp Springs | Carney | Catonsville | Chesapeake Ranch Estates-Drum Point | Chillum | Clinton | Cockeysville-Hunt Valley | Colesville | Columbia | Coral Hills | Crofton | Damascus | Dundalk | East Riverdale | Edgewood | Eldersburg | Elkridge | Ellicott City | Essex | Fairland | Ferndale | Forestville | Fort Washington | Friendly | Germantown | Glen Burnie | Glenn Dale | Greater Landover | Greater Upper Marlboro | Green Haven | Green Valley | Halfway | Hillcrest Heights | Joppatowne | Kettering | Lake Shore | Langley Park | Lanham-Seabrook | Lansdowne-Baltimore Highlands | Lexington Park | Linganore-Bartonsville | Lochearn | Lutherville-Timonium | Mays Chapel | Middle River | Milford Mill | Montgomery Village | North Bethesda | North Laurel | North Potomac | Ocean Pines | Odenton | Olney | Overlea | Owings Mills | Oxon Hill-Glassmanor | Parkville | Parole | Pasadena | Perry Hall | Pikesville | Potomac | Randallstown | Redland | Reisterstown | Riviera Beach | Rosaryville | Rosedale | Rossville | St. Charles | Savage-Guilford | Severn | Severna Park | Silver Spring | South Gate | South Laurel | Suitland-Silver Hill | Towson | Waldorf | Walker Mill | Wheaton-Glenmont | White Oak | Woodlawn
Counties

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Categories: Maryland counties | Howard County, Maryland | Baltimore–Washington metropolitan area

 

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