Howard County, Maryland

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Howard County, Maryland
Seal of Howard County, Maryland
Map
Map of Maryland highlighting Howard County
Location in the state of Maryland
Map of the USA highlighting Maryland
Maryland's location in the USA
Statistics
Founded 1838
Seat Ellicott City
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
657 km² (254 mi²)
653 km² (252 mi²)
4 km² (2 mi²), 0.60%
Population
 - (2005)
 - Density
269,457
380/km² 
Website: www.co.ho.md.us

Howard County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Maryland, between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

The county was named for John Eager Howard, an officer in the American Revolutionary War and Governor of Maryland. As of 2000, the population was 247,842. Its county seat is Ellicott City. The center of population of Maryland is located on the county line between Howard County and Anne Arundel County, in the unincorporated town of Jessup [1].

This county is a part of the Washington Metropolitan Area and the Baltimore Metropolitan Area, both of which comprise the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.

Contents

[edit] History

Howard District was formed in 1838 by the splitting of Anne Arundel County. It had the same status as a county except for not being represented in the Maryland General Assembly. In 1851, it became an official county.

[edit] Law and government

  • Howard County was granted a charter form of government in 1968.
  • County Executive: Ken Ulman (D) (2007-)
  • The County Council:
    • District One - Courtney Watson (D) (2007-)
    • District Two - Calvin Ball (D) (2006-)
    • District Three - Jen Terrasa (D) (2007-)
    • District Four - Mary Kay Sigaty (D) (2007-)
    • District Five - Gregory Fox (R) (2007-)

[edit] Geography

Howard County is located in the Maryland Piedmont region, with rolling hills making up most of the landscape. Its largest community is Columbia (though, in fact, this 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 suburban region around Baltimore; the southern is more oriented toward Washington, D.C. The county is approximately the area where the two cities' suburbs overlap. Howard County is also the only "Maryland-locked" county in the state -- it is the only county not bordering the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, another state, the Potomac River, or Washington, D.C.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 657 km² (254 mi²). 653 km² (252 mi²) of it is land and 4 km² (2 mi²) of it (0.60%) is water.

[edit] Adjacent Counties

[edit] Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 247,842 people, 90,043 households, and 65,821 families residing in the county. The population density was 380/km² (983/mi²). There were 92,818 housing units at an average density of 142/km² (368/mi²). 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.

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. 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.

[edit] Howard County's Population History from the U.S. Census Bureau

The following is a population history for Howard County[2]. The ranking compares the population of Howard County to those of the other 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City.

  • 1900.......16,715......22nd (Calvert and Caroline fewer)
  • 1910.......16,106......23rd (Calvert fewer)
  • 1920.......15,826......22nd (Calvert and Kent fewer)
  • 1930.......16,169......19th (Calvert, Charles, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's fewer)
  • 1940.......17,175......20th (Calvert, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's fewer)
  • 1950.......23,119......18th (Calvert, Caroline, Garrett, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot fewer)
  • 1960.......36,152......14th (Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Garrett, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Worcester fewer)
  • 1970.......61,911......11th (Howard passing Cecil, St. Mary's, Wicomico in population)
  • 1980......118,572......7th (after only Anne Arundel, Balt. Cty and City, Harford, Montgomery, Prince George's)
  • 1990......187,328......6th (passing Harford)
  • 2000......247,842......6th
  • 2004......266,738......6th

[edit] Education

Howard County Public Schools system manages 69 schools and serves approximately 47,000 students. The graduation rate from this school district is an above average 92%. Howard County also has the best school systems in the state of Maryland.

[edit] Culture & Attractions

[edit] Unincorporated Census Designated Places

Howard County has no incorporated municipalities.

Unincorporated areas are also 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 (This CDP is shared between Howard and Anne Arundel Counties.)
  5. North Laurel
  6. Savage-Guilford (a combination of the communities of Savage and Guilford recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)

Other unincorporated places not listed as Census-Designated Places but known in the area include:

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

Other neighborhoods and areas with no ZIP code include:

  1. Dorsey
  2. Lisbon

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.

[edit] Trivia

  • Several of the 9/11 terrorists stayed at a low-priced motel (North Laurel's Motel Valencia) in Howard County immediately before carrying out their attacks.
  • Howard County is the home of the largest ice cream plant in the United States, a 700,000-square-foot Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream facility, owned by Nestlé.
  • The name of Howard County is often abbreviated to "HoCo" by young people hailing from the county.
  • The Mount Hebron High School girls' lacrosse team in Howard County has been ranked #1 in the country for the last few years. They have a winning streak of 97 games.
  • 95 percent of Howard County residents hold library cards.

[edit] External links


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Howard County's slogan is: Think smart. Choose Smart. Win smart.

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