Howard County, Maryland
Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county
Howard County is located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population is 334,529. Since there are no incorporated municipalities, there is no incorporated county seat either. Therefore, its county seat is the unincorporated community of Ellicott City.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Howard County is part of the Baltimore metropolitan area.
The county is home to Columbia, a planned community between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. with a population of approximately 100,000, founded in 1967.
Howard County is frequently cited for its affluence, quality of life, and excellent schools. Its estimated 2020 median household income of $124,042 (~$Template:Format price in Template:Inflation/year) makes it one of the wealthiest counties in the US.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Many of the most affluent communities in the area, such as Clarksville, Dayton, Glenelg, Glenwood, and West Friendship, are located along the Route 32 corridor in Howard County. The main population center of Columbia/Ellicott City is regularly ranked in Money magazine's Top 10 "Best Places to Live".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Howard County ranks fourth in the nation for educational attainment, with an estimated 63.6% of residents 25 and over holding a bachelor's degree or higher.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2022, the Howard County Public School System was ranked the best school district in Maryland.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2010, the center of population of Maryland was located in the Howard County town of Jessup.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Etymology
The name of the county honors Colonel John Eager Howard,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> an officer in the "Maryland Line" of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War, commander notably at the Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina in 1781, among others. He was the fifth governor of Maryland, serving from 1788 to 1791.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
History
Prior to the European colonization of what is now Howard County in the 1600s, the area served as farming and hunting grounds for Indigenous peoples including the Piscataway and Susquehannock peoples.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Maryland Historical Trust has documented Indigenous sites along the Patapsco, Patuxent, Middle and Little Patuxent River valleys.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1652, the Susquehannock tribes signed a peace treaty with Maryland, giving up their provenance over the territory that is now Howard County.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1800, the mean center of U.S. population as calculated by the US Census Bureau was found in what is now Howard County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1838, Dr. William Watkins of Richland Manor proposed the "Howard District" of Anne Arundel County.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> After several adjournments, the area of western Anne Arundel County was designated the Howard District in 1839.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The district had the same status as a county except that it was not separately represented in the Maryland General Assembly. In 1841, the county built its first courthouse in Ellicott City.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At the January 1851 constitutional convention, Thomas Beale Dorsey submitted a petition led by James Sykes. A committee was formed with Dorsey, Bowie, Smith, Harbine and Ricaud. After several postponements, the district was erected officially as Howard County on July 4, 1851, after the approval of the new constitution at the election held June 4, 1851.
The plantations of modern Howard County used slave labor as early as 1690. At the time of the Underground Railroad, some Howard County residents assisted slaves who were escaping to freedom. This was particularly risky, as many prominent plantation families were Confederate sympathizers during the Civil War, contributing militiamen to the South to protect local interests.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Maryland was exempt from the Emancipation Proclamation, later abolishing slavery in the update of the Maryland Constitution in November 1864.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
On May 1, 1883, Howard County joined Anne Arundel County and Harford County in liquor prohibition.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
By 1899, Howard County contained Template:Convert of dirt and Template:Convert of stone roads, including three paid turnpikes maintained by 118 men. Most traffic consisted of loads delivered to rail crossings.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1909, County Commissioners Hess, Werner and O'Neil were charged with malfeasance regarding contract bids.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 1918, a deadly flu pandemic swept the county starting with an early outbreak in Camp Meade in adjacent Anne Arundel County.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The 1930s saw a shift from one-room schoolhouses to centralized schools with bus service. By 1939 wheat harvesting fell to just Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1940, local newspaper owner Paul Griffith Stromberg led a five-county commission to study a superhighway between Baltimore and Washington through Howard County.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 eventually led to the construction of Interstate 70 across northern Howard County and Interstate 95 across the eastern part of the county.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The sparsely populated county hosted population centers in Ellicott City, Elkridge, Savage, North Laurel and Lisbon with W.R. Grace and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab as the largest new employers. Residents elected officials that campaigned to keep the county rural while planners prepared public works to support a quarter million residents by the year 2000. Race relations and desegregation became major issues of the time.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
From 1963 to 1966 the Rouse Company bought Template:Convert of land and rezoned it for the Columbia Development. In 1972, the Marriott company proposed to build a regional theme park on Rouse-owned land but was denied zoning.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The county has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places.<ref>Template:NRISref</ref>
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (1.0%) is water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is the second-smallest county in Maryland by land area and smallest by total area.
Howard County is located in the Piedmont Plateau region of Maryland, with rolling hills making up most of the landscape. It is bounded on the north and northeast by the Patapsco River, on the southwest by the Patuxent River, and on the southeast by a land border with Anne Arundel County. Both the Patapsco and Patuxent run largely through publicly accessible parkland along the county borders. The Patuxent border includes the Triadelphia and Rocky Gorge reservoirs.
Adjacent counties
- Anne Arundel County (southeast)
- Baltimore County (northeast)
- Carroll County (north)
- Montgomery County (southwest)
- Prince George's County (south)
- Frederick County (west)
Climate
Howard County lies in the humid subtropical climate zone. As one travels west in the county away from the Baltimore area, the winter temperatures get lower and winter snow is more common. Annual rainfall is about Template:Convert throughout the county.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Over a 60-year period from 1950 to 2010, there were 394 National Climatic Data Center reportable events causing 617 injuries, and 99 fatalities. There were 9 reported tornadoes, reaching a maximum of F2, with no recorded fatalities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Demographics
For much of the 1800s and 1900s, Howard County was a predominantly white and mainly rural county with a small population. In 1950, the population was only 23,000. Since the 1950s, the county's population has increased tenfold and has diversified into a majority minority county. Almost half of Howard County's population identified as non-Hispanic and/or non-white by 2017. Much of the racial diversification of Howard County came after 1967, when The Rouse Company designed Columbia to be a planned community that included people from diverse socioeconomic and racial backgrounds. African-Americans have lived in Howard County for centuries, with the African-American population increasing greatly after the 1960s. Immigration from Asia, particularly Korea, India, and China, as well as Latin America, has also contributed to Howard County's diversity. While historically primarily Christian, Howard County now has sizable Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu populations.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As of 2019, 18,700 Jewish people lived in the county, making up 5.8% of the total population. More than 6,000 non-Jewish people in the county have Jewish people in their households.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of 2010, only 1% of Jews in the county were Orthodox, while one-third each were Conservative and Reform and one-quarter were secular or non-denominational. In the same year, one-quarter of the Jewish community were poor or financially insecure, 17% made less than $50,000 per year, and half made annual incomes of $100,000 or more.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref> | Pop 2010<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Partial<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | % 2000 | % 2010 | Template:Partial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 180,010 | 169,972 | 155,236 | 72.63% | 59.21% | 46.71% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 35,353 | 49,150 | 64,018 | 14.26% | 17.12% | 19.26% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 515 | 511 | 461 | 0.21% | 0.18% | 0.14% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 18,977 | 41,101 | 66,073 | 7.66% | 14.32% | 19.88% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 80 | 105 | 114 | 0.03% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Other Race alone (NH) | 656 | 746 | 2,213 | 0.26% | 0.26% | 0.67% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 4,761 | 8,771 | 16,840 | 1.92% | 3.06% | 5.07% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7,490 | 16,729 | 27,362 | 3.02% | 5.83% | 8.23% |
| Total | 247,842 | 287,085 | 332,317 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 328,200 people by June 1, 2020<ref name="2020 Census">Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 287,085 people, 104,749 households, and 76,333 families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 109,282 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name="census-density">Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 62.2% white, 17.5% Black or African American, 14.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 2.0% from other races, and 3.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.8% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 17.7% were German, 13.9% were Irish, 10.6% were English, 7.0% were Italian, and 4.6% were American.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Of the 104,749 households, 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.1% were non-families, and 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.72, and the average family size was 3.20. The median age was 38.4 years.<ref name="census-dp1" />
The median income for a household in the county was $103,273, and the median income for a family was $119,810. Males had a median income of $82,307 versus $59,128 for females. The per capita income for the county was $45,294. About 2.8% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2000 census
As of the census<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 247,842 people, 90,043 households, and 65,821 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 92,818 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 74.33% White, 14.42% Black, 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.
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 $101,003, and the median income for a family was $117,186 in 2009. The per capita income was $44,120. About 2.70% of families and 4.00% of the population were below the poverty line.
Education
The Howard County Public School System, the school district for the entire county,<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref> manages 71 schools and serves approximately 49,000 students. The graduation rate from this school district was 90.4% in 2009,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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. Reservoir High School is currently the largest school in the county with over 1,900 students.
Library
In 2013 Howard County Library System was selected as the Library of the Year by Library Journal<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> and cited by editor-at-large, John N. Berry, as "a 21st-century library model, with a position, doctrine, purpose, and curriculum worthy of study and consideration by every library in America, if not the world." In 2015 the Howard County Library System was designated the top Star Library in its class.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Politics and government
Howard County has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election from 1992 on. In the 2020 presidential election, Democratic Party candidate Joe Biden received the highest percentage of Howard County's votes of any presidential candidate in the history of the county.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The less populated western and northern parts of Howard County lean Republican. The more heavily populated southern and eastern parts are heavily Democratic.
Howard County has a record of acting as a bellwether in state-wide elections since the late 20th century: Since at least the 1950s, Howard County has voted for the successful senatorial candidate in both Maryland's Class I and Class III seats, and since 1998 the county has voted for the successful gubernatorial candidate, voting for Republican Bob Ehrlich in the 2002 gubernatorial election, Democrat Martin O'Malley in 2006 and 2010, Republican Larry Hogan in 2014 and 2018, and Democrat Wes Moore in 2022. Since 1984, the county has also voted for the state-wide presidential winner, a streak of 10 straight presidential elections.
At the state level of government, Howard County is represented by nine Democrats in the Maryland House of Delegates and three Democrats in the Maryland Senate. One Democratic state senator from the county represents a district that spills into Montgomery County to the west, as do two Democratic state delegates. Another Democratic state senator represents a district that splits into Anne Arundel County to the south-east, along with two Democratic state delegates.
From 1914 to 1968, Howard County was governed by a system of three elected commissioners with four-year terms.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Prior to 1962, the only polling location in the county was located in Ellicott City. In May 1962, voters were offered a second location to vote, also in Ellicott City at the National Armory on Montgomery Road.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Senator James Clark Jr. proposed a five-person County Council and a County Executive in 1965.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1968, the county implemented a charter form of government.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1984 a councilmanic referendum was approved, switching council from at-large representation to district representation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The County Council serves as the county's legislative branch; members also provide constituent service and sit as members of the Zoning Board and Liquor Board. The current Howard County Executive is Democrat Calvin Ball III, who was elected in November 2018 and took office on December 3, 2018.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The county is entirely within Maryland's 3rd congressional district, represented by Democrat Sarah Elfreth.
Voter registration
| Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024<ref name="MDBOE">Template:Cite web</ref> | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Party color cell | Democratic | 121,196 | Template:Percentage | ||
| Template:Party color cell | Unaffiliated | 61,771 | Template:Percentage | ||
| Template:Party color cell | Republican | 48,131 | Template:Percentage | ||
| Template:Party color cell | Libertarian | 965 | Template:Percentage | ||
| Template:Party color cell | Other parties | 2,522 | Template:Percentage | ||
| Total | 234,585 | Template:Percentage | |||
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County Council
The County Council adopts ordinances and resolutions, and has all of the county's legislative powers. There are five council districts throughout the county.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The current County Council as of December 2022 includes 4 Democrats and 1 Republican.
| District | Name | Party | Representing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District 1 | Elizabeth Walsh | Democratic | Ellicott City, Elkridge | |
| District 2 | Opel Jones | Democratic | East Columbia, Elkridge | |
| District 3 | Christiana Rigby | Democratic | North Laurel, Jessup | |
| District 4 | Deb Jung | Democratic | Columbia, Fulton | |
| District 5 | David Yungmann | Republican | Western Howard County | |
County commissioners
<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| Chairman | Affiliation | Term | Commissioner | Affiliation | Term | Commissioner | Affiliation | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Howard<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Anti-Jacksonian Party | 1840 | Zedekiah Moore | 1840 | Charles Worthington Dorsey | 1840 | |||
| William H. Worthington | 1841–1845 | Wesley Linthicum | 1841–1845 | Perry Gaither | 1841 | ||||
| William H. Worthington | 1841–1845 | Wesley Linthicum | 1841–1845 | George W. Hobbs | 1842–1845 | ||||
| William H. Worthington | 1841–1845 | Wesley Linthicum | 1841-1845 | George W. Hobbs, Perry Gaither, William Welling | 1845 | ||||
| Samuel Brown | 1846 | William Hughes | 1846 | Reuben P. Hammond | 1846 | ||||
| William H. Worthington | 1847 | William Hughes | 1847 | George W. Hobbs, Charles R. Simpson | 1847 | ||||
| William Hughes | 1848–1849 | George Howard | 1848 | Charles R. Simpson, John Hood, Theodore Tubman | 1848 | ||||
| William Hughes | 1848–1849 | Theodore Tubman | 1848–1853 | Littleton Maclin, Thomas Burgess | 1849 | ||||
| Littleton Maclin | 1850 | Theodore Tubman | 1848-1853 | David E. Hopkins, David Feelemyer, Samuel Brown | 1850 | ||||
| Thomas B. Hobbs<ref name="ReferenceA">Template:Cite book</ref> | 1851 | Theodore Tubman | 1848–1853 | Samuel Nichols, Samuel Brown, David Clark, David Feelemyer | 1851 | ||||
| Theodore Tubman | 1848–1853 | David Clark | 1853 | David Feelemyer, George Bond | 1853 | ||||
| Slingsby Linthicum | 1854 | George Bond | 1854 | Steven B. Dorsey | 1854 | ||||
| George Bond | 1855 | Slingsby Linthicum | 1855 | Steven B. Dorsey, Theodore Tubman | 1855 | ||||
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | Samuel Hopkins<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Republican | 1865 | ||||||
| John T. Ridgely<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | 1885–1888 | Ephraim Collins | 1885– | B. C. Sunderland | 1885– | ||||
| Benjamin C. Sunderland | 1889–1892 | Benjamin F. Hess | 1889–1892 | Edmund Dorsey<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Republican | 1889–1892 | |||
| Benjamin F. Hess<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | 1901–1904 | Thomas O' Neill | 1901–1904 | Jacob J. Werner | 1901–1904 | ||||
| Jacob J. Werner<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | 1905–1907 | Benjamin F. Hess | 1905–1907 | Henry A Penny<ref name="ReferenceA" /> | 1905–1911 | ||||
| Benjamin F. Hess<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | 1908–1909 | Amos Howard Earp | 1908–1911 | Jacob J. Werner | 1908–1913 | ||||
| Amos Howard Earp<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | 1911–1917 | Grosvenor Hanson | 1911–1915 | William H. Davis | 1911–1915 | ||||
| Amos Howard Earp<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | 1915–1917 | Grosvenor Hanson | 1915–1917 | De Wilton C. Partlett | 1915–1917 | ||||
| Amos Howard Earp<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | 1917–1919 | John H. Shaab | 1917–1919 | De Wilton C. Partlett | 1917–1919 | ||||
| Amos Howard Earp<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | 1920–1926 | Daniel H. Gaither | 1920–1926 | De Wilton C. Parlett | 1920–1926 | ||||
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | DeWilton C. Parlett<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | 1926–1930 | H. Thomas Glimes | 1926–1930 | Daniel H. Gaither | 1926–1930 | |||
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | H. Grafton Penny<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | Democrat | 1930–1934 | J. Frank Curtis | 1930–1934 | Daniel H. Gaither | 1930–1934 | ||
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | H. Grafton Penny<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | Democrat | 1935–1938 | Robert H. Mercer | Democrat | 1935–1938 | Hart B. Noll | Republican | 1935–1938 |
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | Charles E. Miller | Republican | 1938–1942 | ||||||
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | James Franklin Curtis | Republican | 1942–1949 | Charles E. Miller | Republican | 1942–1949 | |||
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | Norman E. Moxley | Democrat | 1949–1957 | Roby H. Mullinix | Democrat | 1949–1954 | E. Walter Scott | Democrat | 1949–1954 |
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | Norman E. Moxley<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | Democrat | 1958–1959 | Howard W. Clark | Democrat | 1957–1958 | Charles E. Harman | Democrat | 1957–1958 |
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | Charles M. Scott<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | Democrat | 1959–1962 | Norman E. Moxley | Democrat | 1959–1962 | Arthur K. Pickett | Democrat | 1959–1962 |
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | Charles E. Miller | Republican | 1962–1966 | J. Hubert Black | Republican | 1962–1966 | David W. Force | Republican | 1962–1966 |
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | Charles E. Miller | Republican | 1966–1970 | J. Hubert Black | Republican | 1966–1970 | Ridgley Jones | Democrat | 1968–1970 |
County executives and council members
| Name | Affiliation | Term | Council (districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omar J. Jones | Democrat | 1969–1973 | Alva S. Baker, Edward L. Cochran, J. Hugh Nichols, Charles E. Miller, William S. Hanna<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| Edward L. Cochran | Democrat | 1974–1978 | Richard Anderson (Elizabeth Bobo - appointed),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Ruth Keeton, Lloyd Kowles, Virginia Thomas, Thomas Yeager<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | |
| J. Hugh Nichols<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | Democrat | 1978–1982 | Ruth U. Keeton, Elizabeth Bobo, Lloyd G. Knowles, Virginia M. Thomas, Thomas M. Yeager | |
| J. Hugh Nichols | Democrat | 1982–1986 | Ruth U. Keeton, Elizabeth Bobo, James C. Clark, C. Vernon Gray, Lloyd G. Knowles | |
| William E. Eakle<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> | Democrat | 1986 | Ruth U. Keeton, Elizabeth Bobo, James C. Clark, C. Vernon Gray, Lloyd G. Knowles | |
| Elizabeth Bobo | Democrat | 1986–1990 | Angela Beltram, C. Vernon Gray, Shane Pendergrass, Ruth Keeton, Charles Feaga | |
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | Charles I. Ecker<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Republican | 1990–1994 | Darrel E. Drown, C. Vernon Gray, Shane Pendergrass, Paul R. Farragut, Charles Feaga |
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | Charles I. Ecker | Republican | 1994–1998 | Darrel E. Drown, C. Vernon Gray, Dennis R. Schrader, Mary C. Lorsung, Charles Feaga |
| James N. Robey<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | Democrat | 1998–2002 | Christopher J. Merdon, C. Vernon Gray, Guy Guzzone, Mary C. Lorsung, Allan H. Kittleman | |
| James N. Robey | Democrat | 2002–2006 | Christopher J. Merdon, David A. Rakes (Calvin Ball-appointed), Guy Guzzone, Ken Ulman, Allan H. Kittleman (Charles C. Feaga-appointed)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> | |
| Kenneth Ulman | Democrat | 2006–2010 | Courtney Watson, Calvin Ball, Jen Terrasa, Mary Kay Sigaty, Greg Fox | |
| Kenneth Ulman | Democrat | 2010–2014 | Courtney Watson, Calvin Ball, Jen Terrasa, Mary Kay Sigaty, Greg Fox | |
| style="background:Template:Party color"| | Allan H. Kittleman | Republican | 2014–2018 | Jon Weinstein, Calvin Ball, Jen Terrasa, Mary Kay Sigaty, Greg Fox |
| Calvin Ball III | Democrat | 2018–2022 | Elizabeth Walsh, Opel Jones, Christiana Rigby, Deb Jung, David Yungmann | |
| Calvin Ball III | Democrat | 2022–present | Elizabeth Walsh, Opel Jones, Christiana Rigby, Deb Jung, David Yungmann |
Departments
| Department |
|---|
| Howard County government |
| Howard County Public School System |
| Howard County Housing and Community Development |
| Howard County Board of Elections |
| Howard County Library |
| Howard County Fire and Rescue |
| Howard County Police |
| Howard County Sheriff's Office |
| Howard County Department of Corrections |
| Howard Community College |
| Howard County Animal Control |
| Howard County Office of Natural Resources |
| Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks |
| Howard County Department Recycling Division |
| Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning |
Economy
Statistics for July 2014 indicate that Howard County's unemployment rate is at 5.2 percent (7,527 persons).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Howard County Public School System employs 8,136 of which 4,670 are teachers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The County Government employs 3,323 outside of the school system with 672 police, 482 public works, and 472 fire and rescue employees.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The top ten private sector employers in Howard County are as follows:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory | 8,000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2 | Verizon Wireless | 2,028 |
| 3 | Lorien Health Systems | 2,000 |
| 4 | Howard County General Hospital | 1,777 |
| 5 | Howard Community College | 1,294 |
| 6 | Leidos | 1,195 |
| 7 | Giant Food | 1,050 |
| 8 | The Columbia Association | 900 |
| 9 | Wells Fargo | 842 |
| 10 | Oracle Corporation subsidiary MICROS Systems | 815 |
Awards
Awards and recognitions achieved by Howard County or locations within it include the following:
- "4th Richest County in America", Forbes Magazine, 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- "Best American Values", Newsmax Magazine: Ellicott City #17 (2009).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- "Best Place to Live", CNN/Money: Columbia (#1 in 2016); Ellicott City/Columbia (#6 in 2014;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> #8 in 2012;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> #2 in 2010;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> #8 in 2008;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> #4 in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>)
- "Best Places to Live for Pet Lovers", CNN/Money: Ellicott City, one of 10 (2009).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- "Best Place to Raise a Family", Forbes: #17 (2008).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- "Good Sports Community of the Year", Sports Illustrated (2005)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
- "Great Public Library System", Hennen's American Public Library Ratings: #4 in population category in 2010; 8 times appearing in top 10 in a 10-year range.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- "Healthiest Maryland County", University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. (2013, 2012, 2011, 2010)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- "Heart Safe Community of the Year", International Association of Fire Chiefs. (2012)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- "Library of the Year", Library Journal. (2013)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- "Preserve America Community", Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. (2013)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Top Outdoor Concert Venue for Merriweather Post Pavilion (a top five) by Pollstar (2012).<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
- "Tree City Community", Arbor Day Foundation. (23 years)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- "Venues that Rock", Rolling Stone: #4 outdoor venue, Merriweather Post Pavilion (2013).<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
- "Winning Community", National Civic League. (2001)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Notable people
- Edward Norton, actor.
- Taylor Cummings, lacrosse player.
- Toby Orenstein, theater director.
- Yumi Hogan, politician.
- Michael Campanaro, football wide receiver.
- Zach Brown, football linebacker.
- Kenneth Ulman, politician.
- Ernie Pickett, weightlifter.
- Charles Schnetzler, scientist.
- Laura Lippman, author.
- Lloyd Keaser, wrestler.
- Nina Basu, president of the Inner Arbor Trust.
- James B. Garvin, scientist.
- Brent Faiyaz, singer and record producer.
- K.A.A.N., rapper and songwriter.
Culture and attractions
- Blandair, an open space preserve
- Bollman Truss Railroad Bridge
- The Candlelight Concert Society
- The Chesapeake Shakespeare Company
- Clark's Elioak Farm
- Columbia Center for Theatrical Arts
- The Columbia Orchestra
- Ellicott City Historic Main Street
- Ellicott City Station
- The Enchanted Forest (closed – some features relocated to Clark's Elioak Farm)
- Howard County Center for the Arts
- Howard County Library
- Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center
- Maryland's Koreatown
- Merriweather Post Pavilion
- Rep Stage
- James and Anne Robinson Nature Center
- Savage Mill
- Shrine of St. Anthony
- Toby's Dinner Theatre
Transportation
Airports
Howard County does not have any commercial or public-use airport facilities. A 1967 Airport Study Commission recommended a facility for 150–250 aircraft to provide economic development, but was not initiated.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> With the closure of Haysfield Airport in 2012, there is one privately owned airstrip, Glenair Airport in Glenelg.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Commercial air service is provided by Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport.
Major highways
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Communities
Census-designated places
The Census Bureau recognizes the following Census-designated places in the county:
- Columbia
- Elkridge
- Ellicott City (county seat)
- Fulton
- Highland
- Ilchester
- Jessup (partly in Anne Arundel County)
- Lisbon
- North Laurel
- Savage
- Scaggsville
Unincorporated communities
Unincorporated places not listed as Census-designated places but known in the area include:
- Clarksville
- Cooksville
- Daniels
- Dayton
- Dorsey
- Glenelg
- Glenwood
- Granite
- Guilford
- Hanover (partly in Anne Arundel County)
- Isaacsville
- Marriottsville (partly in Carroll County and Baltimore County)
- Simpsonville
- West Friendship
- Woodbine
- Woodstock
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Howard County, Maryland
- Maryland Historical Trust Register of Historic Places in Howard County, Maryland
References
External links
- Template:Official website
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- Howard County historian Celia M. Holland papers at the University of Maryland Libraries
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