Editing Baltimore County, Maryland

{{short description|County in Maryland, United States}}
{{about|the county in Maryland|the independent city|Baltimore}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Baltimore County
 | state                = Maryland
 | type                 = [[County (United States)|County]]
 | official_name        = 
 | nickname             = "BalCo", "B-More County", "The County"
 | flag                 = Flag of Baltimore County, Maryland.svg
 | flag size            = 108px
 | seal                 = Seal of Baltimore County, Maryland.svg
 | seal size            = 92px
 | founded date         = June 30
 | founded year         = 1659
 | seat wl              = Towson
 | largest city wl      = Dundalk
 | city type            = community
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 682
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 598
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 83
 | area percentage      = 12
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 854535
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 852425 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | website              = {{URL|https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/|baltimorecountymd.gov}}
 | ex image             = Towson Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image size        = 255px
 | ex image cap         = The Baltimore County Courthouse
 | district             = 1st
 | district2            = 2nd
 | district3            = 7th
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | named for            = [[Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore]] 
 | leader_title         = [[Baltimore County Executive|Executive]]
 | leader_name          = [[Kathy Klausmeier]]
}}

'''Baltimore County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɔː|l|t|ᵻ|m|ɔːr}} {{respell|BAWL|tim|or}}, locally: {{IPAc-en|b|ɔ:|l|d|ə|'|m|ɔːr}} {{respell|bawl|da|MOR}} or {{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɔ:|l|m|əɹ}} {{respell|BAWL|mər}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Britto |first=Brittany |title=How Baltimore talks |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |url=http://data.baltimoresun.com/features/baltimore-dictionary/ |access-date=September 9, 2022 |archive-date=August 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807200217/http://data.baltimoresun.com/features/baltimore-dictionary/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>) is the third-most populous [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Maryland]]. The county is part of the [[Baltimore metropolitan area|Central Maryland]] region of the state. Baltimore County partly surrounds but does not include the independent city of [[Baltimore]]. It is part of the [[Northeast megalopolis]], which stretches from [[Northern Virginia]] in the south to [[Boston]] in the north and includes major American population centers, including [[New York City]] and [[Philadelphia]]. Major economic sectors in the county include education, government, and health care. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 854,535.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Baltimore County, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US24005|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref> The county is home to several universities, including [[Goucher College]], [[Stevenson University]], [[Towson University]], and [[University of Maryland, Baltimore County]].{{toclimit|3}}

==History==
===17th century===
The name "Baltimore" derives from [[Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore]] (1605–1675), proprietor of the colonial-era [[Province of Maryland]], and the town of Baltimore in [[County Cork]], [[Ireland]]. The earliest known documentary record of the county is dated January 12, 1659, when a [[writ]] was issued on behalf of the [[Maryland General Assembly|General Assembly of Maryland]] to its sheriff.<ref>Located in the [[Maryland State Archives]] in the Hall of Records of the state capital of [[Annapolis, Maryland|Annapolis]],&nbsp;</ref> 

The county was founded in 1659, and is now one of 23 counties in the state. The initial Baltimore County was larger geographically than it is currently, including most of northeastern Maryland, which was then the northwestern frontier of the [[Province of Maryland|Province]] and included the present-day jurisdictions of [[Baltimore|Baltimore City]], [[Cecil County, Maryland|Cecil]] and [[Harford County, Maryland|Harford Counties]], and parts of [[Carroll County, Maryland|Carroll]], [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel]], [[Frederick County, Maryland|Frederick]], [[Howard County, Maryland|Howard]], and [[Kent County, Maryland|Kent Counties]].

In 1674, a proclamation of the Proprietor established the then-extensive boundary lines for old Baltimore County. Over the next century, various segments of the old county were sliced off as population and settlements increased in fringe regions. A portion of northeastern Baltimore County, as well as a portion of northwestern Kent County, was split off to create Cecil County. In 1748, a portion of western Baltimore County, as well as a portion of [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's County]] to the south, were split off to create Frederick County. In 1773, Harford County to the east was split off, and in 1837 another part of western Baltimore County was combined with a part of eastern Frederick County to create Carroll County. After the adjustment of Baltimore County's southern boundary with Anne Arundel County, stated to be the upper Middle and Western Branches of the [[Patapsco River]] in 1727, a portion of the county's northwestern area was designated in 1838 as the "Western District" or "Howard District" of Arundel and in 1851 was officially separated to form Howard County.

Prior to 1674, Baltimore County court sessions were held in private residences, according to sketchy documentary evidence. In 1674, the General Assembly passed "An Act for erecting a Court-house and Prison in each County within this Province". The site of the courthouse, jail and county seat for Baltimore County was evidently "Old Baltimore" near the [[Bush River (Maryland)|Bush River]] on land that in 1773 became part of Harford County.

The exact location of Old Baltimore is Chilbury Point on the north side of the Bush River owned by the Garrison of the present-day [[Aberdeen Proving Ground]] (APG), a [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] weapons testing facility. It is a popular spot of local boaters. APG's Cultural Resource Management Program attempted to find Old Baltimore, contracting with R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates (Goodwin). Goodwin first performed historical and archival work and coordinated with existing landscape features to locate the site of Old Baltimore. APG's [[Bomb disposal|Explosive Ordnance Disposal]] of Army personnel defused any unexploded ordnance. In 1997–1998. Goodwin dug 420 test pits, uncovering artifacts including a [[Charles II of England|King Charles II]] farthing coin, and French and English gun flints. An unearthed brick foundation proved to be the remains of the tavern owned by colonist James Phillips. Another prominent landholder in Old Baltimore was William Osbourne, who operated the ferry across the Bush River.

In 1683, the Maryland General Assembly passed "An Act for Advancement of Trade" to "establish towns, ports, and places of trade, within the province." One of the towns established by the act was "on Bush River, on Town Land, near the Court-House". The courthouse on the Bush River referenced in the 1683 Act was in all likelihood the one created by the 1674 Act. "Old Baltimore" was in existence as early as 1674, but no documents describe what may have preceded it.

By 1695, the "Old Baltimore" courthouse had evidently been abandoned. County justices put the site up for sale. Apparently a new courthouse at "Simm's Choice" on the Baltimore County side of [[Gunpowder River|Little Gunpowder Falls]] had been under construction since 1692. 

===18th century===
In 1700, builder Michael Judd sold it to the county justices. This change of location, away from the Bush River area, reflects the growing economic and political importance of the Gunpowder region. During the next decade, the county seat moved to [[Joppa, Maryland|Joppa]].

By 1724, the legislative assembly authorized Thomas Tolley, Capt. John Taylor, Daniel Scott, Lancelot Todd, and John Stokes purchased 20 acres from "Taylor's Choice," a tract named after John Taylor. The assembly's ordinance directed that the land be divided into 40 lots with streets and alleys to accompany the courthouse and jail erected previously. By 1750, about 50 houses (including a few large two-story brick structures), a church (St. John's Anglican Parish), a courthouse, three stone warehouses, inns, taverns, stores, a public wharf and a "gallows-tree" with an "Amen Corner" with pillories and whipping posts (now located northeast of the City of Baltimore near present-day suburban "Joppatowne" off [[Harford Road]]) existed.

A new port and wharfing site, [[Elkridge Landing]], on the upper [[Patapsco River]]'s Western Branch, became prosperous in the 18th century. It was established on the "falls" of the river, below the rapids and rocks, where the river was deep enough for loaded sailing merchantmen. The landing was a designated "port of entry" and was the terminus of several "rolling roads" on which horse or oxen-drawn [[hogshead]]s (huge barrels) packed with tobacco were wheeled down to the Landing/port to be loaded on ships sailing for London and Europe. Gradually the site silted-up from soil erosion and poor farming cultivation on the upper Patapsco, and the maritime economy of the Landing faded. In the 19th century, it became an important stop on the [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad]] and the main north-south East Coast highway for wagons and carriages. Still, later it was on Washington Boulevard (designated [[United States Route 1|U.S. Route 1]]) by 1926.

With a bit of financial pressure, and after paying for the cost of a new courthouse (300 pounds sterling), dominant business, commercial and political residents of the Town of Baltimore were able to have the Maryland General Assembly relocate the county seat to their growing port town. In 1768, following receipt of petitions for and against the relocation, the General Assembly passed an Act that moved the county seat from Joppa to Baltimore.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://aomol.msa.maryland.gov/000001/000061/html/am61p--86.html|title=Baltimore Town Made the County Seat|journal=Maryland State Archives (Archives of Maryland Online)|volume=61|pages=86–87|publisher=Maryland State Archives}}</ref> The first courthouse was constructed in 1768 at a new Courthouse Square at present-day [[St. Paul Street-Calvert Street|North Calvert Street]], between East Lexington and East Fayette Streets.

===19th century===
The city of Baltimore, [[Jonestown, Baltimore|Jonestown]], and [[Fell's Point, Baltimore|Fells Point]] were [[municipal corporation|incorporated]] as the [[Baltimore|City of Baltimore]] in 1796–1797. The city remained a part of surrounding Baltimore County and continued to serve as its [[county seat]] from 1768 to 1851.<ref name="Maryland Manual">{{cite web| url=http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/bcity/html/bcity.html| title=Baltimore, Maryland—Government| work=Maryland Manual On-Line: A Guide to Maryland Government| publisher=Maryland State Archives| date=October 23, 2008| access-date=October 27, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919221820/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/bcity/html/bcity.html| archive-date=September 19, 2008| url-status=dead}}</ref>

The site of the courthouse is now "[[Battle Monument|Battle Monument Square]]", constructed 1815–1822 to commemorate the city and county defense in the [[War of 1812]], including the bombardment of [[Fort McHenry]] by the British [[Royal Navy]] fleet in the [[Patapsco River]], the two-day stand-off in fortifications dug east of the city on Loudenschlager's Hill (now "Hampstead Hill" in today's [[Patterson Park]]) and the earlier [[Battle of North Point]] in "Godly Woods" on the "Patapsco Neck" peninsula in the southeastern portion of the county, during September 12–14, 1814. These events have been commemorated ever since by [[Defenders Day (Maryland)|Defenders Day]], an annual city, county, and state official holiday on September 12.

A second city-county courthouse constructed in 1805–1809 was moved to the western side of the Square at North Calvert and East Lexington. A third courthouse including the lower magistrates, commissioners, [[Government of Maryland#District Court|district]] and [[Maryland Circuit Courts|circuit courts]], orphans (inheritances/wills) court, small claims court and the old [[Courts of Maryland|Supreme Bench of Baltimore City]] was constructed on the entire western block of [[St. Paul Street-Calvert Street|North Calvert]], East Lexington, East Fayette and [[St. Paul Street (Baltimore)|Saint Paul]] Streets from 1896 to 1900. 

In 1816, the City of Baltimore annexed from Baltimore County several parcels of land known as the "Precincts" on its west, north, east and southwest sides. The County separated from the city (which it surrounds on the east, north, and west) on July 4, 1851, as a result of the adoption of the 1851 second state constitution. Baltimore became one of the few "[[Independent city (United States)|independent cities]]" in the United States, putting it on the same level with the state's other 23 counties and granting limited "[[home rule]]" powers outside the authority of the Maryland General Assembly.

[[Towson, Maryland|Towsontown]] was voted in a referendum by the voting citizens as the new "county seat" on February 13, 1854.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|access-date=June 7, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> The City of Baltimore continued annexing land from the county, extending its western and northern boundaries in 1888. The factory and business owners in the eastern industrial communities of [[Canton, Baltimore|Canton]] and [[Highlandtown, Baltimore|Highlandtown]] resisted and opposed annexation, but were annexed 30 years later. The last major annexation took place in 1918–1919, which again took territory from the county on all three sides (west, north, and east) and to the south for the first time from Anne Arundel County, along the south shores of the [[Patapsco River]].

===20th century===
A new [[Baltimore County Courthouse]] was authorized to be built facing Washington Avenue, between Chesapeake and Pennsylvania Avenues to replace the previous courthouse and governmental offices then centered for near 85 years in the city, which had been the official "county seat" since just before the [[American Revolution]]. Later surrounded by manicured flower gardens, shrubs and curved walkways, the historical landmark is built of local [[limestone]] and [[marble]]. It was completed and dedicated in 1855. Wings and annexes were added in 1910, 1923 and 1958. By the 1970s, the county's legal system and governmental offices had grown so much that a separate modernistic "County Courts Building" was erected to the west behind the old Courthouse with its annexes, separated by a paved plaza which is used for employee/visitors relaxations and official ceremonies.

A constitutional amendment to the 1867 Maryland Constitution was approved by referendum in 1948, prohibiting any future annexations without approval from residents in affected territories.

Extensive city-county hostilities came during the Civil Rights Movement, and by the 1980s the county's older [[inner suburbs]] faced increasing urban social ills. An atmosphere of cooperation emerged with the drawing of cross-border state assembly districts, organizing of regional government agencies, and increasing state assumption of powers.

The county has a number of properties and sites of local, state and national historical interest on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Baltimore County, Maryland|National Register of Historic Places]] which is maintained by the [[National Park Service]] of the [[United States Department of the Interior|U.S. Department of the Interior]] by the "Historic Sites Act" of August 1935.

In 1985, the [[Baltimore City Circuit Courthouses|Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. City Circuit Courthouse]] was named in honor of Baltimorean and [[Civil Rights Movement]] leader [[Clarence M. Mitchell Jr.]].<ref name="BCHS">[[Historical marker]], Towson Courthouse, Baltimore County Historical Society.</ref>

==Politics and government==
Baltimore County has had a charter government since 1956. The government consists of a [[Baltimore County Executive|County Executive]] and a seven-member [[County council|County Council]]. The County Executive and Council members are elected in years of gubernatorial elections. The County Executive may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms.

Without incorporated cities or towns, the county government provides all local services to its residents, many of which are normally associated with city-type governmental agencies.

In 1956, the County adopted an "executive-council" system of government with "at large" representatives, replacing its traditional system of an elected Board of County Commissioners. Since then it has had eleven county executives and one "acting" executive, of which ten were [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]] and two were [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]]. The former [[Vice President of the United States]], [[Spiro T. Agnew]], served as the third executive from 1962 to 1966 and subsequently was elected [[Governor of Maryland]], serving from 1967 to 1969. He was later accused of corruption and bribery while serving as County executive and continuing to accept bribes as the state's governor and as U.S. vice president. He pleaded "no contest" to unprecedented Federal criminal charges. He was forced to resign the Vice Presidency in 1973.

Politically, Baltimore County leans Democratic, but not as overwhelmingly as Baltimore City. In general, the northern portions of the county lean Republican, while the southern portion is more Democratic.

===State's attorney===
The [[Baltimore County State's Attorney]] is responsible for prosecuting the [[felony]], misdemeanor, and juvenile cases that occur in the county. As of 2017, the State's Attorney was Scott Shellenberger (Democrat). He followed Sandra A. O'Connor, a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] who served eight terms before retiring in 2006.

===Law enforcement===
The [[Baltimore County Police Department]] is responsible for police services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/police/chiefsheridanbio.html|title = Police Chief Terrence B. Sheridan Biography - Baltimore County}}</ref>

Established in the mid-17th century, the Sheriff of Baltimore County was at first filled by county justices from 1662 to 1676. After 1676, the Court submitted three names from which the colonial governor chose a sheriff. Although terms of office initially varied, by 1692, a uniform two-year term was imposed. In 1699 a three-year term with separate commissions was adopted. The sheriff acted as the chief local representative of the proprietary government. His duties included the collection of all public taxes and after 1692, the collection of the yearly poll tax of forty pounds of tobacco for the support of the [[Anglican Communion|Anglican]] ([[Church of England]]) clergy and parishes. A sheriff received a percentage of collected monies, generally about five percent. He also received a yearly salary for duties such as reporting to the governor on affairs within the county, taking/estimating the census periodically, conveying official laws and proprietary requests to the county courts and selecting juries for court sessions. Along with enforcing all provincial laws, he posted new laws in public places. While his primary duty was to serve the Proprietor, the sheriff was aware of problems faced by poor planters and tradesmen. With taxes, yearly quit-rents and other costly expenditures, many of the poorer settlers were unable to pay their obligations when due. The sheriff often extended credit to these planters and paid their immediate obligations out of his own pocket. This lessened the impact of taxes for the poor, who repaid the sheriff after their harvests were brought in.

The modern [[Baltimore County Sheriff's Department]] is responsible for security of the two major [[Baltimore County Circuit Courthouse|County Circuit Courts]] buildings and various courtrooms elsewhere as well as process and warrant service. Sheriff's Deputies are sworn police officers and share the same powers of the more recently organized County Police Department. As of 2019, the Baltimore County Sheriff is a Democrat, R. J. Fisher.

The [[Maryland State Police]] is headquartered at 1201 Reisterstown Road in the [[Pikesville, Maryland|Pikesville CDP]].<ref name="Home page">[http://www.mdsp.org/ Home page]. ''[[Maryland State Police]]''. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.</ref><ref name="Pikesville CDP, Maryland">"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US2461400&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Pikesville CDP, Maryland]{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." ''[[U.S. Census Bureau]]''. Retrieved on March 23, 2009.</ref>

The [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) Baltimore [[FBI field office|field office]] is located in [[Milford Mill, Maryland|Milford Mill]].<ref>"[https://www.fbi.gov/baltimore Baltimore Division]." [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]. Retrieved on June 9, 2015. "2600 Lord Baltimore Drive Baltimore, MD 21244"</ref><ref>"[http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2452562_milford_mill/DC10BLK_P2452562_002.pdf 2010 CENSUS – CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Milford Mill CDP, MD]" ({{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608223018/http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st24_md/place/p2452562_milford_mill/DC10BLK_P2452562_002.pdf |date=June 8, 2015 }}) (Map 2). [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on June 9, 2015.</ref>

===Fire Department===
The Baltimore County Fire Department (B.Co.F.D.) provides fire protection, emergency medical services and emergency rescue services to the county and surrounding areas, including Baltimore City, through mutual-aid pacts with those jurisdictions. The department consists of both paid and volunteer companies that provide services to overlapping territories. Twenty-five career (paid) stations and 28 volunteer stations operate there. More than 1,000 paid personnel and more than 2,000 volunteers serve in the department. The department conducts annual fire inspections on commercial properties, fire investigation and fire prevention education activities as well as water and tactical rescue.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fire Protection, Emergency Medical Services and Rescue - Baltimore County |url=https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/fire/index.html |access-date=April 4, 2023 |website=www.baltimorecountymd.gov}}</ref>

Sworn in as fire chief on July 1, 2019, Joanne R. Rund is the first female chief to be permanently appointed to the position.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/fire/chiefbio.html|title=About Fire Chief Joanne R. Rund - Baltimore County|last=Government|first=Baltimore County|website=www.baltimorecountymd.gov|language=en|access-date=April 27, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-county/ph-tt-joanne-rund-fire-chief-20190701-story.html|title=Joanne Rund takes oath as Baltimore County's fire chief|last=Solomon|first=Libby|website=baltimoresun.com|date=July 5, 2019 |access-date=April 28, 2020}}</ref>

===County executives===
{{main|Baltimore County Executive}}
The [[Baltimore County Executive]] oversees the executive branch of the County government, which is charged with implementing County law and overseeing the government operations. 

List of County Executives<ref>{{cite web |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/sc2600/sc2685/county/html/baexec.html |title=Historical List of County Executives of Baltimore County, 1956–present |date=February 8, 2019 |website=MSA.Maryland.Gov |publisher=Maryland State Archives |location=Annapolis, MD |access-date=December 7, 2023}}</ref>

*1956–1958, [[Michael J. Birmingham]] (D)
*1958–1962, [[Christian H. Kahl]] (D)
*1962–1966, [[Spiro T. Agnew]] (R)
*1966–1974, [[Dale Anderson (politician)|Dale Anderson]] (D)
*1974–1974, [[Frederick L. Dewberry]] (D) (acting)
*1974–1978, [[Ted Venetoulis|Theodore G. Venetoulis]] (D)
*1978–1986, [[Donald P. Hutchinson]] (D)
*1986–1990, [[Dennis F. Rasmussen]] (D)
*1990–1994, [[Roger B. Hayden]] (R)
*1994–2002, [[Dutch Ruppersberger|C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger III]] (D)
*2002–2010, [[James T. Smith Jr.]] (D)
*2010–2018, [[Kevin Kamenetz|Kevin B. Kamenetz]] (D)
*2018–2018, [[Don Mohler|Donald I. Mohler III]] (D)
*2018–2025, [[John A. Olszewski Jr.]] (D)
*2025–2025, [[D'Andrea Walker]] (acting)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dieterle |first=Marcus |date=2025-01-03 |title=D’Andrea Walker becomes Acting Baltimore County Executive |url=https://baltimorefishbowl.com/stories/dandrea-walker-becomes-acting-baltimore-county-executive/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Baltimore Fishbowl |language=en-US}}</ref>
*2025–present, [[Katherine A. Klausmeier]] (D)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kobell |first1=Rona |title=State Sen. Kathy Klausmeier named Baltimore County Executive |url=https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-power/local-government/kathy-klausmeier-johnny-olszewski-jr-3HNVN5VI3JCPTLSZ7Z73VFXMOM/ |access-date=January 7, 2025 |work=The Baltimore Banner |date=January 7, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

Notes: Anderson resigned after being convicted of several crimes and sentenced to prison. Kamenetz died on May 10, 2018. County Administrative Officer Frederick J. Homan was acting county executive until the county council named Mohler to serve the remainder of Kamenetz's term.

===County council===
The County Council adopts ordinances and resolutions and holds the county's legislative powers.

[[File:Baltimore County Council, 2022-2026 (54256734231).jpg|thumb|alt=From left to right: Todd Crandell, David Marks, Mike Ertel, Izzy Patoka, Julian E. Jones Jr., Wade Kach, and Pat Young.|Members of the Baltimore County Council, 2022–2026]]
{{As of|April 2023}}, the council has 4 [[Democratic Party United States|Democrats]] and 3 [[Republican Party United States|Republicans]].
{| class=wikitable
|+Baltimore County Council Membership
|-
! colspan="2"  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| District
! align=center | Name
! valign=bottom | Party
|-
| style="background:#33c;"|&nbsp;
| District 1
| [[Pat Young]]
| align=center | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:#33c;"|&nbsp;
| District 2
| Izzy Patoka
| align=center | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| bgcolor=red|&nbsp;
| District 3
| [[Wade Kach]]
| align=center | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:#33c;"|&nbsp;
| District 4
| Julian E. Jones Jr.
| align=center | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| bgcolor=red|&nbsp;
| District 5
| David S. Marks
| align=center | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:#33c;"|&nbsp;
| District 6
| Mike Ertel
| align=center | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| bgcolor=red|&nbsp;
| District 7
| Todd K. Crandell
| align=center | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|}

====Baltimore County Council Historical Membership====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Years Served !! District !! Party !! Notes
|-
| Vicki Almond|| 2010–2018|| 2|| D || 
|-
| [[Joseph Bartenfelder]]|| 1994–2010|| 6|| D|| 
|-
| Cathy Bevins|| 2010–2022|| 6|| D|| 
|-
| Vincent Gardina|| 1990–2010|| 5|| D|| 
|-
| Todd Huff|| 2010–2014|| 2|| R|| 
|-
| [[Kevin Kamenetz|Kevin B. Kamenetz]]|| 1994–2010|| 2|| D|| 
|-
| S. G. Samuel Moxley|| 1994–2010|| 1|| D|| 
|-
| [[Kenneth Oliver]]|| 2002–2014|| 4|| D || 
|-
| John A. Olszewski Sr.|| 1998–2014|| 7|| D|| 
|-
| Thomas E. Quirk|| 2010–2022|| 1|| D|| 
|-
| T. Bryan McIntire|| 1994–2010|| 2|| R|| 
|-
| Louis L. DePazzo|| 1996–1998|| 7|| D|| 
|-
| Douglas B. Riley || || 4|| R|| 
|-
| Berchie Lee Manley|| || 1|| R|| 
|-
| Melvin G. Mintz|| || 2|| D|| 
|-
| [[Dutch Ruppersberger|C. A. (Dutch) Ruppersberger III]]|| || 3|| D|| 
|-
| William A. Howard IV|| || 6|| R|| 
|-
| Donald C. Mason || 1990–1994|| 7|| D|| 
|}

===Politics===
Baltimore County is somewhat of a bellwether for Maryland politics. While it leans slightly Republican compared to the state as a whole, Republicans running for statewide office must carry it solidly to win a statewide election.{{Update after|2020}}<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/arbutus-lansdowne/ph-ca-at-gubernatorial-election-1029-20141029-story.html | title=Baltimore County a battle ground in tightening gubernatorial race | work=The Baltimore Sun | date=October 29, 2014 | access-date=August 19, 2016 | author=Loricchio, Lauren}}</ref> 

After going Republican in all but one presidential election from 1944 to 1988, it has voted for the Democratic candidate for president in each election since 1992. Along with neighboring [[Howard County, Maryland|Howard County]], it has voted for the state-wide presidential winner in 10 straight elections, the longest such streak in the state. However, in [[List of governors of Maryland|gubernatorial elections]], it has often gone Republican (1994, 1998, 2006) even as a Democratic candidate was elected governor.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://elections.state.md.us/elections/2016/index.html | title=Maryland State Board of Elections | access-date=August 19, 2016}}</ref> In the [[2014 Maryland gubernatorial election|2014 gubernatorial election]] Republican [[Larry Hogan]] won Baltimore County by over 20 points (59.03% to 38.89%).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://resources.baltimorecountymd.gov/Documents/Elections/2014/officialelectionsummary.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122141443/http://resources.baltimorecountymd.gov/Documents/Elections/2014/officialelectionsummary.pdf |archive-date=January 22, 2015 |url-status=live|title=Election Summary Report Gubernatorial General Election Baltimore County, Maryland November 4, 2014 Summary For Jurisdiction Wide, All Counters, All Races OFFICIAL RESULTS}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of March 2024<ref name="MDBOE">{{cite web |title=Maryland Board of Elections Voter Registration Activity Report March 2024 |url=https://elections.maryland.gov/pdf/vrar/2024_03.pdf |website=Maryland Board of Elections |access-date=April 9, 2024}}</ref>
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 306276}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |306276 |571,472 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 137055}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |137055 |571,472 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Unaffiliated
| align = center | {{formatnum: 117601}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |117601 |571,472 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 2661}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |2661 |571,472 |2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|None}}
| [[Third party (U.S. politics)|Other parties]]
| align = center | {{formatnum: 7879}}
| align = center | {{Percentage |7879 |571,472 |2}}
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | {{formatnum: 571,472}}
! align = center | {{Percentage |100}}
|}


{{PresHead|place=Baltimore County, Maryland|whig=yes|source1=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig/Federalist vote #|Dem/Democratic-Republican  vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|149,560|249,958|13,397|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|146,202|258,409|10,321|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|149,477|218,412|22,793|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|154,908|220,322|9,552|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|158,714|214,151|8,073|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|166,051|182,474|4,954|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|133,033|160,635|10,416|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|114,449|132,599|22,920|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|126,728|143,498|52,994|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|163,881|121,570|1,844|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|171,929|106,908|1,591|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|132,490|121,280|26,147|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|143,293|118,505|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|175,897|70,309|4,018|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|108,930|80,798|29,283|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|77,870|117,153|50|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|96,027|94,396|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|104,021|48,270|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|81,898|48,476|484|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|41,846|31,883|761|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|34,047|26,275|0|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|26,652|30,360|186|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|18,893|28,367|316|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|13,938|24,626|930|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|23,889|15,632|180|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|9,383|9,424|2,854|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|12,432|9,365|386|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|12,633|15,226|547|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|4,247|11,524|6,541|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|10,197|10,297|488|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|7,570|9,394|282|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|9,348|9,147|492|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|9,211|7,110|867|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|5,165|7,225|490|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|5,224|6,464|443|Maryland}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|6,257|7,856|227|Maryland}}{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|5,351|7,321|21|Maryland}}{{PresRow|1876|Democratic|5,001|7,304|0|Maryland}}{{PresRow|1872|Democratic|3,774|4,173|0|Maryland}}{{PresRow|1868|Democratic|2,335|4,377|0|Maryland}}{{PresRow|1864|Republican|2,402|2,391|0|Maryland}}{{PresRow|1860|Constitutional Union|37|449|6,693 |Maryland}}{{PresRow|1856|Know Nothing|8|3,155|3,504|Maryland}}{{PresRow|1852|Democratic|2,527|2,669|7|Maryland}}{{PresRow|1848|Democratic|13,001|13,664|79|Maryland}}{{PresRow|1844|Democratic|10,714|11,602|0|Maryland}}{{PresRow|1840|Democratic|9,237|9,946|0|Maryland}}{{PresRow|1836|Democratic|6,699|8,222|0|Maryland}}{{PresRow|1832|Democratic|4,248|7,930|0|Maryland}}{{PresRow|1828|Democratic|5,917|7,725|0|Maryland}}{{PresRow|1824|Jacksonian|3,980|0|5,840|Maryland}}

|}

===Federal government===
Baltimore County is represented by Republican [[Andy Harris (politician)|Andy Harris]] of [[Maryland's 1st congressional district]], Democrat [[Johnny Olszewski]] of the [[Maryland's 2nd congressional district|2nd district]], and Democrat [[Kweisi Mfume]] of the [[Maryland's 7th congressional district|7th district]].

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. census bureau]], the county covers {{convert|682|sqmi}}, {{convert|598|sqmi}} of which is land and {{convert|83|sqmi}} (12%) of which is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_24.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 12, 2014 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913171515/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_24.txt |archive-date=September 13, 2014 }}</ref> It is the third-largest county in Maryland by land area. The larger portion of the terrain consists of hills often rising to a height of {{convert|800|ft}} above tide water.<ref>{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Baltimore (county)|display=Baltimore, a northern county of Maryland}}</ref> 

The highest elevation is approximately {{convert|960|ft}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]] at Maryland's state border with [[Pennsylvania]] near [[Steltz, Maryland|Steltz]]. The lowest elevation is [[sea level]] along the shoreline of [[Chesapeake Bay]].

Much of the county is suburban, straddling the border between the [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont plateau]] to the northwest and in the southern and southeastern regions of the county bordering the Patapsco River and the Chesapeake Bay, the [[Atlantic coastal plain]]. Northern Baltimore County is primarily rural, with a landscape of rolling hills and [[deciduous]] forests characteristic of the [[Southeastern mixed forests]] and shares the geography with its neighbors to the east and west, Carroll County and Harford County, and going north across the historic [[Mason–Dixon line]] into Adams County and [[York County, Pennsylvania|York County]] in south central [[Pennsylvania]].

===Climate===
The county has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa'') except in the northern tier where a hot-summer [[humid continental climate]] (''Dfa'') exists. Average monthly temperatures in Towson range from 33.3&nbsp;°F in January to 76.9&nbsp;°F in July.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ | title=PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University }}</ref> The county has three [[hardiness zone]]s: 6b in some higher northern areas, 7a in most of the county by area, and 7b in areas close enough to the Chesapeake Bay or the City of Baltimore.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-maryland-2012-usda-plant-zone-hardiness-map.php | title=Maryland Interactive 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map }}</ref>

===Adjacent counties and independent city===
* [[York County, Pennsylvania]] (north)
* [[Carroll County, Maryland|Carroll County]] (west)
* [[Harford County, Maryland|Harford County]] (east)
* [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel County]] (south)
* [[Kent County, Maryland|Kent County]] (Southeast)
* [[Howard County, Maryland|Howard County]] (southwest)
* [[Baltimore|Baltimore City]] (south)

===National protected area===
* [[Hampton National Historic Site]]

===State protected area===
* [[Soldiers Delight|Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area]]

==Transportation==
[[File:2019-07-15 14 46 26 View south along Interstate 95 (John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway) from the overpass for Hazelwood Avenue in Rosedale, Baltimore County, Maryland.jpg|thumb|right|I-95 in eastern Baltimore County]]

===Major roads and highways===
{{div col|colwidth=20vw}}
*{{jct|state=MD|I|70}}
*{{jct|state=MD|I|83}}
*{{jct|state=MD|I|95}}
*{{jct|state=MD|I|195}}
*{{jct|state=MD|I|695}}
*{{jct|state=MD|I|795}}
*{{jct|state=MD|I|895}}
*{{jct|state=MD|US|1}}
*{{jct|state=MD|US-Alt|1|dab1=Baltimore}}
*{{jct|state=MD|US|40}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|7}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|25}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|26}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|30}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|41}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|43}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|45}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|88}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|91}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|122}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|125}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|129}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|130}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|131}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|133}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|134}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|137}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|138}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|139}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|140}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|144}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|145}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|146}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|147}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|150}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|151}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|165}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|166}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|295}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|372}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|439}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|542}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|562}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|648}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|695}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|700}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|702}}
*{{jct|state=MD|MD|940}}
{{div col end}}

===Transit===
The [[Maryland Transit Administration]] (MTA) operates three rail systems—one light rail, one rapid transit, and one commuter rail—in the Baltimore area; all three systems have stations in Baltimore County. The heavy-rail [[Baltimore Metro SubwayLink|Metro SubwayLink]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/subway/ |title=Subway |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316085039/http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/subway/ |archive-date=March 16, 2009|date=March 16, 2009 }}</ref> runs northwest of the city to [[Owings Mills, Maryland|Owings Mills]]; the [[Baltimore Light RailLink|Light RailLink]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/lightrail/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519160056/http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/lightrail/ |archive-date=May 19, 2009|title=Light Rail|date=May 19, 2009 }}</ref> system runs north of Baltimore City to Hunt Valley and south of the city through [[Baltimore Highlands, Maryland|Baltimore Highlands]] with some routes terminating at [[Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport]], Maryland. Commuter [[MARC Train]] service is available in the county at [[Halethorpe (MARC station)|Halethorpe]], [[St Denis (MARC station)|St. Denis]], and [[Martin State Airport (MARC station)|Martin State Airport]] stations.

The MTA's local<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/bus/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519160210/http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/bus/ |archive-date=May 19, 2009|title=Bus|date=May 19, 2009 }}</ref> and regional<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/commuterbus/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119041522/http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/commuterbus/ |archive-date=January 19, 2010|title=Commuter Bus|date=January 19, 2010 }}</ref> bus services also serve Baltimore County.

===Rail===
Both [[CSX Transportation]] and [[Amtrak]] mainlines run through the county. Former rail lines running through the County beginning in the 19th Century were the [[Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad]] (MPR) and the [[Northern Central Railway]] (previously the [[Baltimore and Susquehanna Railroad]], later becoming part of the old [[Pennsylvania Railroad]]). MPR and parts of the Northern Central were abandoned. The present-day [[Baltimore Light Rail|streetcar/trolley line]] coming north from [[Anne Arundel County]] and the International Airport through Baltimore City uses the Northern Central right-of-way south of [[Cockeysville]] and [[Timonium, Maryland|Timonium]]; starting slightly north of that, the right-of-way was converted into the popular hiking, biking and jogging pathway from [[Loch Raven, Baltimore|Loch Raven]] to the Mason–Dixon line with [[Pennsylvania]] known now as the [[Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail]], named for a former state secretary of natural resources.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 38937
|1800= 59030
|1810= 75780
|1820= 96201
|1830= 120870
|1840= 134379
|1850= 210646
|1860= 54135
|1870= 63387
|1880= 83336
|1890= 72909
|1900= 90755
|1910= 122349
|1920= 74817
|1930= 124565
|1940= 155825
|1950= 270273
|1960= 492428
|1970= 621077
|1980= 655615
|1990= 692134
|2000= 754292
|2010= 805029
|2020= 854535
|estyear=2024
|estimate=852425
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 29, 2025}}</ref>
|footnote=Population before 1860 includes town<br />and (1797) city of Baltimore. Population<br />decline in 1890 and 1920 census figures<br />reflect annexations by the City of Baltimore.<br />
<div align="center"><ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 12, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/md190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 12, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 12, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/></div>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Baltimore County, Maryland – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Baltimore County, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US24005&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Baltimore County, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US24005&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|504,556
|443,263
|62.68%
|51.87%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|206,913
|252,724
|25.70%
|29.57%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|2,107
|1,942
|0.26%
|0.23%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|39,865
|54,701
|4.95%
|6.40%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|255
|252
|0.03%
|0.03%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|1,445
|4,461
|0.18%
|0.52%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|16,153
|35,700
|2.01%
|4.18%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|33,735
|61,492
|4.19%
|7.20%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''805,029'''
|'''854,535'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census]], 805,029&nbsp;people, 316,715&nbsp;households, and 205,113&nbsp;families resided there.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US24005
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=January 22, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020144/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US24005
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|1,345.5|PD/sqmi}}. The 335,622 housing units supported an average density of {{convert|561.0|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US24005
  |access-date=January 22, 2016
|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213190435/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US24005
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 64.6% white, 26.1% black or African American, 5.0% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 1.6% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.2% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 20.7% were German, 14.6% were Irish, 8.7% were English, 7.4% were Italian, 5.8% were Polish and 5.0% were American.<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US24005
  |title=DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 22, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213034556/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US24005
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 316,715&nbsp;households, 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.2% were non-families, and 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.04. The median age was 39.1 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The household median income was $63,959 and the median income for a family was $78,385. Males had a median income of $53,104 versus $43,316 for females. The per capita income for the county was $33,719. About 5.3% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.1% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US24005
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 22, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213023149/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US24005
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Economy==
Among the county's major employers are [[MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center]]<ref name="Post200MajorEmployers">{{cite news|url=https://apps.washingtonpost.com/local/top-dc-companies/2011/sector/major-employers/286/|title=Post 200 – Major Employers|year=2011|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=July 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802213259/http://apps.washingtonpost.com/local/top-dc-companies/2011/sector/major-employers/286/|archive-date=August 2, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> on the east side in [[Rossville, Maryland|Rossville]], the [[Social Security Administration]], the national headquarters of which are in [[Woodlawn, Baltimore County, Maryland|Woodlawn]], and [[The Black & Decker Corporation]], in [[Towson, Maryland|Towson]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Baltimore County: Celebrating a Legacy 1659–2009|last=Lanman|first=Barry A.|publisher=Baltimore County Historical Society|year=2009|isbn=978-1-60743-522-8|location=Cockeysville, Maryland|page=178}}</ref> As of 2009, the county's workforce totaled 410,100, with 25% employed in the fields of education, health and human services, 10% in retailing, and less than 1% in agriculture.<ref name="Lanman">Lanman, p. 115.</ref>

===Top employers===
According to the county's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref name="CAFR">{{cite web|url=http://resources.baltimorecountymd.gov/Documents/Budget/11cafr/fy11statistical.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309132358/http://resources.baltimorecountymd.gov/Documents/Budget/11cafr/fy11statistical.pdf |archive-date=March 9, 2012 |url-status=live|title=Baltimore County, Maryland Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, for the Year ended June 30, 2011}}</ref> the top employers in the county are concentrated in the government, medical and educational fields. The only commercial entity is Erickson Living:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|1
|[[Social Security Administration]]/[[Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services|CMS]]
|14,948
|-
|2
|[[Baltimore County Public Schools]]
|14,608
|-
|3
|Baltimore County
|8,429
|-
|4
|[[MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center]]
|3,500
|-
|5
|[[Towson University]]
|3,344
|-
|6
|[[Greater Baltimore Medical Center]]
|3,331
|-
|7
|[[St. Joseph Medical Center (Towson, Maryland)|St. Joseph Medical Center]]
|3,330
|-
|8
|[[University of Maryland, Baltimore County]]
|3,258
|-
|9
|[[Erickson Living]]
|3,070
|-
|10
|[[The Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital]]
|2,380
|}

===Agriculture===
The [[University of Maryland Extension]] system provides {{visible anchor|Extension|text=[[agricultural extension|Extension]]}} for the county.<ref name="Extension-UMD">{{cite web | title=Baltimore County | website=[[University of Maryland Extension]] | url=http://extension.umd.edu/locations/baltimore-county | access-date=June 30, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Extension-gov">{{cite web | url=http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/coopextension/ | title=University of Maryland Extension - Baltimore County | website=[[Baltimore County]]}}</ref> The [[Maryland Farm Bureau|state Farm Bureau]] oversees the {{visible anchor|Farm Bureau|text=County Farm Bureau}} here.<ref name="Farm-Bur">{{cite web | title=Baltimore County Farm Bureau | website=[[Maryland Farm Bureau]] | date=December 16, 2017 | url=http://www.mdfarmbureau.com/baltimore/ | access-date=June 30, 2022}}</ref>

{{visible anchor|Switchgrass}} (''[[Panicum virgatum]]'') is a potential [[energy crop]] and soil improver however it does not compete well with some warm-season annual [[grass weed]]s and [[broadleaf weed]]s here.<ref name="Sadeghpour-et-al-2014-bundle">
   {{Unbulleted list citebundle
      |{{cite journal | last1=Osipitan | first1=O. Adewale | last2=Dille | first2=J. Anita | last3=Assefa | first3=Yared | last4=Knezevic | first4=Stevan Z. | title=Cover Crop for Early Season Weed Suppression in Crops: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | journal=[[Agronomy Journal]] | publisher=[[American Society of Agronomy|ASA]] + [[Crop Science Society of America|CSSA]] + [[Soil Science Society of America|SSSA]] ([[Wiley publishing|Wiley]]) | volume=110 | issue=6 | year=2018 | issn=0002-1962 | doi=10.2134/agronj2017.12.0752 | pages=2211–2221 | s2cid=56275428| doi-access=free | bibcode=2018AgrJ..110.2211O }}
      |{{cite journal | last1=Sadeghpour | first1=Amir | last2=Hashemi | first2=Masoud | last3=DaCosta | first3=Michelle | last4=Gorlitsky | first4=Leryn E. | last5=Jahanzad | first5=Emad | last6=Herbert | first6=Stephen J. | title=Assessing winter cereals as cover crops for weed control in reduced-tillage switchgrass establishment | journal=[[Industrial Crops and Products]] | publisher=[[Elsevier]] | volume=62 | year=2014 | issn=0926-6690 | doi=10.1016/j.indcrop.2014.09.027 | pages=522–525 | s2cid=98400036}}
   }}
</ref> Sadeghpour ''et al.'', 2014 finds that various [[winter cereal]]s including [[oat]] and [[rye]] are helpful [[cover crop|covers]] for [[weed control]], rye moreso than oat.<ref name="Sadeghpour-et-al-2014-bundle" /> However they still found that herbicide (specifically [[atrazine]] or [[quinclorac]]) is needed as supplemental weed control.<ref name="Sadeghpour-et-al-2014-bundle" /> Osipitan ''et al.'', 2018<ref name="Sadeghpour-et-al-2014-bundle" /> believe this result generalizes to early season cover cropping for weed control in general.

==Education==
===Colleges and universities===
The [[University System of Maryland]] maintains two universities in Baltimore County:
*[[Towson University]] in [[Towson, Maryland|Towson]], (founded 1866 as Maryland State Normal School in Baltimore City; renamed Maryland State Teachers College at Towson, 1935; Towson State College, 1963; Towson State University, 1976, Towson University, 1997).
*[[University of Maryland, Baltimore County]] in [[Catonsville, Maryland|Catonsville]], founded 1966.

The two private colleges in Baltimore County are:
*[[Goucher College]] (in [[Towson, Maryland|Towson]]), founded as Women's College of Baltimore, 1885.
*[[Stevenson University]], formerly [[Villa Julie College]] (campuses in [[Stevenson, Maryland|Stevenson]] and [[Owings Mills, Maryland|Owings Mills]]).

Other schools with a campus in Baltimore County:
*[[Loyola College in Maryland]] (in [[Hunt Valley, Maryland|Hunt Valley]], main campus in Baltimore at North Charles Street and East Cold Spring Lane, [formerly Loyola College, founded 1852]).
* The [[Community College of Baltimore County]] (CCBC), with campuses in Catonsville, [[Essex, Maryland|Essex]], and [[Dundalk, Maryland|Dundalk]].

===Public schools===
{{Further|Baltimore County Public Schools}}
All [[Public school (government funded)|public school]]s in Baltimore County are operated by [[Baltimore County Public Schools]], the sole school district in the county,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st24_md/schooldistrict_maps/c24005_baltimore/DC20SD_C24005.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724011034/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st24_md/schooldistrict_maps/c24005_baltimore/DC20SD_C24005.pdf |archive-date=July 24, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Baltimore County, MD|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 23, 2022}}</ref> with the exception of the Imagine Me [[Charter school|Charter School]], which opened August 2008.

===Private schools===
Baltimore County has a number of [[private school]]s at the K-12 [[grade level]]s. Among them are:
{{div col}}
* [[Arlington Baptist High School]]
* Baltimore Actors Theatre Conservatory
* [[Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School]]
* The [[Boys' Latin School of Maryland]]
* [[Calvert Hall College High School]]
* Cambridge School of Baltimore
* [[Concordia Preparatory School (Maryland)|Concordia Preparatory School]]
* [[Garrison Forest School]]
* [[Immaculate Conception School (Towson, Maryland)|Immaculate Conception School]]
* [[Jemicy School]]
* [[Loyola Blakefield]]
* [[Maryvale Preparatory School]]
* [[McDonogh School]]
* [[Mount de Sales Academy (Catonsville, Maryland)|Mount de Sales Academy]]
* [[Notre Dame Preparatory School (Towson, Maryland)|Notre Dame Preparatory School]]
* [[Oldfields School]] (all-girls')
* Our Lady of Grace School
* [[Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School (Baltimore, Maryland)|Our Lady of Mt. Carmel]]
* The [[Park School of Baltimore|Park School]]
* St. James Academy in Monkton
* [[St. Paul's School (Brooklandville, Maryland)|St. Paul's School]] & [[St. Paul's School for Girls (Maryland)|St. Paul's School for Girls]]
* [[St. Timothy's School]] (all-girls')
{{div col end}}

==Communities==
===Census-designated places===
All areas in Baltimore County are unincorporated and have no legal jurisdiction over their area.

The following [[census-designated place]]s recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau:
{{Div col|colwidth=12em}}
*[[Arbutus, Maryland|Arbutus]]
*[[Baltimore Highlands, Maryland|Baltimore Highlands]]
*[[Bowleys Quarters, Maryland|Bowleys Quarters]]
*[[Carney, Maryland|Carney]]
*[[Catonsville, Maryland|Catonsville]]
*[[Cockeysville, Maryland|Cockeysville]]
*[[Dundalk, Maryland|Dundalk]]
*[[Edgemere, Maryland|Edgemere]]
*[[Essex, Maryland|Essex]]
*[[Garrison, Maryland|Garrison]]
*[[Hampton, Maryland|Hampton]]
*[[Kingsville, Maryland|Kingsville]]
*[[Lansdowne, Maryland|Lansdowne]]
*[[Lochearn, Maryland|Lochearn]]
*[[Lutherville, Maryland|Lutherville]]
*[[Mays Chapel, Maryland|Mays Chapel]]
*[[Middle River, Maryland|Middle River]]
*[[Milford Mill, Maryland|Milford Mill]]
*[[Overlea, Maryland|Overlea]]
*[[Owings Mills, Maryland|Owings Mills]]
*[[Parkville, Maryland|Parkville]]
*[[Perry Hall, Maryland|Perry Hall]]
*[[Pikesville, Maryland|Pikesville]]
*[[Randallstown, Maryland|Randallstown]]
*[[Reisterstown, Maryland|Reisterstown]]
*[[Rosedale, Maryland|Rosedale]]
*[[Rossville, Maryland|Rossville]]
*[[Timonium, Maryland|Timonium]]
*[[Towson, Maryland|Towson]] (county seat)
*[[White Marsh, Maryland|White Marsh]]
*[[Woodlawn, Baltimore County, Maryland|Woodlawn]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
Although not formally Census-Designated Places, these other communities are known locally and, in many cases, have their own [[post office]]s and are shown on roadmaps:
{{Div col|colwidth=12em}}
*[[Baldwin, Maryland|Baldwin]]
*[[Boring, Maryland|Boring]]
*[[Bradshaw, Maryland|Bradshaw]]
*[[Brooklandville, Maryland|Brooklandville]]
*[[Butler, Maryland|Butler]]
*[[Chase, Maryland|Chase]]
*[[Fork, Maryland|Fork]]
*[[Fort Howard, Maryland|Fort Howard]]
*[[Germantown, Baltimore County, Maryland|Germantown]]
*[[Glen Arm, Maryland|Glen Arm]]
*[[Glencoe, Maryland|Glencoe]]
*[[Glyndon, Maryland|Glyndon]]
*[[Halethorpe, Maryland|Halethorpe]]
*[[Hereford, Maryland|Hereford]]
*[[Hunt Valley, Maryland|Hunt Valley]]
*[[Hydes, Maryland|Hydes]]
*[[Jacksonville, Maryland|Jacksonville]]
*[[Long Green, Maryland|Long Green]]
*[[Maryland Line, Maryland|Maryland Line]]
*[[Monkton, Maryland|Monkton]]
*[[Nottingham, Maryland|Nottingham]]
*[[Oella, Maryland|Oella]]
*[[Parkton, Maryland|Parkton]]
*[[Phoenix, Maryland|Phoenix]]
*[[Ruxton, Baltimore County, Maryland|Ruxton]]
*[[Sparks, Maryland|Sparks]]
*[[Sparrows Point, Maryland|Sparrows Point]]
*[[Stevenson, Maryland|Stevenson]]
*[[Trump, Maryland|Trump]]
*[[Turners Station, Maryland|Turners Station]]
*[[Upper Falls, Baltimore County, Maryland|Upper Falls]]
*[[Upperco, Maryland|Upperco]]
*[[White Hall, Baltimore County, Maryland|White Hall]]
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==

*[[Spiro Agnew]], former [[Vice President of the United States]], Baltimore County Executive, and governor of Maryland<ref>{{cite web |title=Spiro Agnew |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Spiro-Agnew |website=Britannica |access-date=December 23, 2023}}</ref>
*Holmes Alexander (1906–1985), historian, journalist, columnist, and member of the [[Maryland House of Delegates]]
*[[All Time Low]], punk-rock band, formed in 2003
*[[Peter Angelos]], prominent attorney and owner, [[Baltimore Orioles]]
*[[Brian Balmages]], composer<ref>{{cite news |last1=McGee |first1=Courtney |title=Flute choir with strong Towson-area connection readies for Orlando, Fla., performance next month |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2018/07/18/flute-choir-with-strong-towson-area-connection-readies-for-orlando-fla-performance-next-month/ |access-date=December 23, 2023 |agency=The Baltimore Sun |date=July 18, 2018}}</ref>
*[[Mario Dewar Barrett]], famous R&B singer
*[[Mark Belanger]], former Oriole [[shortstop]]
*[[Ryan Boyle]], professional lacrosse player
*[[A. J. Burnett]], [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] pitcher
*[[David Byrne]], lead singer [[Talking Heads]]
*[[Tom Clancy]], well-known author of political thrillers<ref>{{cite web |title=Tom Clancy |url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3892.Tom_Clancy |website=goodreads |access-date=December 23, 2023}}</ref>
*[[Kevin Clash]], puppeteer most famous for Sesame Street's Elmo
*[[Louis S. Diggs]], Baltimore County historian
*[[Samuel Durrance]], astronaut/physicist
*[[Robert Ehrlich]], 60th Governor of Maryland
*[[Jane Frank]] (1918–1986) artist (born in Baltimore, lived in [[Owings Mills, Maryland|Owings Mills]] and [[Towson, Maryland|Towson]] most of her adult life)
*[[Cinder Road]]. Band named after a road in [[Lutherville, Maryland|Lutherville]]
*[[Lee Gatch]], artist (born in a small rural community near Baltimore)
*[[Jim Gentile]], former Oriole and [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Dodger]] first baseman
*[[Conor Gill]], professional lacrosse player
*[[Ira Glass]], host and producer of This American Life
*[[Elaine Hamilton-O'Neal]], [[Abstract expressionism|abstract expressionist]] artist and [[Fulbright scholar]]
*[[William H. Harrison (USMC)]], brigadier general in the [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] during [[World War II]]
*[[Emily Spencer Hayden]], photographer
*[[Billy Hunter (baseball)|Billy Hunter]], former major league baseball shortstop and manager 
*[[Foxhall P. Keene]], horse breeder and [[Olympic medal|Olympic gold]] medalist polo player
*[[Stacy Keibler]], actress and model
*[[Harvey Ladew]], designer of [[Ladew Topiary Gardens]]
*[[Bucky Lasek]], famous vert ramp skateboarder, from Dundalk
*[[Hae Min Lee]], Murder victim<ref>{{cite news |last1=Victor |first1=Daniel |title=Timeline: The Adnan Syed Case |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/article/adnan-syed-serial-timeline-serial.html |access-date=December 23, 2023 |agency=New York Times |date=October 5, 2023}}</ref>
*[[G. E. Lowman]], clergyman and early radio evangelist
*[[Carol Mann]], golfer
*[[Jamie Miller (drummer)|Jamie Miller]], drummer [[Bad Religion]]
*[[Jim McKay]], [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC-TV]] sportscaster
*[[Sid Meier]], businessman and computer programmer. 
*[[John Merryman]], Civil War militia officer, Maryland politician, and subject of the landmark [[habeas corpus]] case, ''[[Ex parte Merryman]]''
*Glenn Milstead, known as the actor [[Divine (actor)|"Divine"]]
*[[Mo'Nique]], American comedian and actress
*[[Jim Palmer]], former Baltimore Oriole and [[Hall of Fame]] pitcher
*[[Michael Phelps]], Olympic Gold-Medalist swimmer
*[[Rosa Ponselle]], opera singer
*[[Robin Quivers]], radio personality
*[[Ross Rawlings]], pianist, composer, conductor, and music director
*[[Angel Reese]], women's basketball player 
*[[Charles Carnan Ridgely]] (1760–1829), governor of Maryland and master of the [[Hampton National Historic Site|Hampton estate]]
*[[Eliza Ridgely]] (1803–1867), third mistress of the [[Hampton National Historic Site|Hampton estate]] and the subject of the well-known [[portrait painting]] ''Lady with a Harp''
*[[Brooks Robinson]], former Baltimore Oriole and Hall of Fame third baseman
*[[Mike Rowe]], TV show host for ''[[Dirty Jobs]]''
*[[Don Shula]], Former [[Baltimore Colts]] player and later coach of the [[Miami Dolphins]]
*[[Dick Szymanski]], former Colts player 
*[[Pam Shriver]], professional tennis player, Olympic [[Gold medal|Gold Medalist]] in tennis
*[[Kathleen Kennedy Townsend]], politician and member of the [[Kennedy family]]
*[[Gus Triandos]], former Baltimore Oriole
*[[Bob Turley]], former major league baseball pitcher 
*[[Johnny Unitas]], former Baltimore Colt and Hall of Fame quarterback
*[[Nikolai Volkoff]], former professional wrestler and member of the [[WWE]] Hall of Fame
*[[Daniel Bashiel Warner]], third [[President of Liberia]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Daniel B. Warner |url=https://liberiainfo.co/prd/daniel-b-warner/ |website=Liberiainfo |date=March 3, 2012 |access-date=December 23, 2023}}</ref>
*[[John Waters (filmmaker)|John Waters]], filmmaker
*[[Cheryl Wheeler]], singer-songwriter
*[[Ella B. Ensor Wilson]] (1838–1913), social reformer

==See also==
{{Portal|Baltimore}}
*[[Baltimore County District Courthouses]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Baltimore County, Maryland]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|url=https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/handle/1774.2/34349 |title=Baltimore County: Atlas of Baltimore County, 1898|year=1898 |last1=Bromley |first1=Walter S. |last2=Bromley |first2=George W. }}
*{{cite book|url=http://www.hsobc.org/Documents/BC%20Timeline.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726161654/http://www.hsobc.org/Documents/BC%20Timeline.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 26, 2011 |title=Baltimore County Timeline|publisher=hsobc.org}}
*{{cite book |url= https://catalyst.library.jhu.edu/catalog/bib_2176735 |title= The 1915 Bromley Atlas of Baltimore County, Maryland |year= 1999 |publisher= Whitney Collection |access-date= March 28, 2017 |archive-date= March 28, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170328195129/https://catalyst.library.jhu.edu/catalog/bib_2176735 |url-status= dead }}

==External links==
{{ccat}}
*[http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/ Baltimore County Government]
*[http://www.bcpl.info Baltimore County Public Library system]
*[http://www.bcps.org Baltimore County Public Schools]
*{{cite web|url=http://weather.umbc.edu/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324094845/http://weather.umbc.edu/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 24, 2010 |title=Baltimore Weather|website= [[UMBC]] weather station}}

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[[Category:Baltimore County, Maryland| ]]
[[Category:1659 establishments in Maryland]]
[[Category:Maryland counties]]
[[Category:Maryland counties on the Chesapeake Bay]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1659]]