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{{short description|County in Maryland, United States}} {{Redirect|HoCo||HOCO (disambiguation){{!}}HOCO}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Howard County | state = Maryland | type = [[County (United States)|County]] | official_name = | nickname = "HoCo" | flag = Flag of Howard County, Maryland.svg <!--new flag to be selected by early 2025 per http://www.howardcountymd.gov/flag--> | seal = Seal of Howard County, Maryland.png | founded date = May 13 | founded year = 1838 | seat wl = Ellicott City | largest city wl = Columbia | city type = community | area_total_sq_mi = 253 | area_land_sq_mi = 251 | area_water_sq_mi = 2.7 | area percentage = 1.0 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 328200 | pop_est_as_of = | population_est = | population_density_sq_mi = auto | district2 = 3rd | web = https://www.howardcountymd.gov/ | time zone = Eastern | named for = [[John Eager Howard]] | ex image = {{Photomontage | photo1a = Ellicott City MD1.jpg | photo2a = Columbia Town Center, landscape (21440077289).jpg | photo2b = Merriweather Post Pavilion in September 2022.jpg | photo3a = Savage Mill Rear Dec 08 cropped.JPG | photo3b = McKeldin Rapids - Patapsco Valley State Park (52450039317).jpg | photo4a = Earth Day Howard County - 51132245439.jpg | spacing = 2 | position = center | color_border = white | color = white | size = 270 | foot_montage = Clockwise: Main Street in [[Ellicott City, Maryland|Ellicott City]], downtown [[Columbia, Maryland|Columbia]], [[Merriweather Post Pavilion]] in Columbia, McKeldin Rapids in [[Patapsco Valley State Park]], Howard County Conservatory, [[Savage Mill]], [[Town Center, Columbia, Maryland|Town Center]] in Columbia. }} | ex image size = 270px | ex image cap = |logo=Logo of Howard County, Maryland.svg|logo size=200px}} '''Howard County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Maryland]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|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 area|unincorporated community]] of [[Ellicott City, Maryland|Ellicott City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |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> Howard County is part of the larger [[WashingtonβBaltimore combined statistical area]]. The county is part of the [[Baltimore metropolitan area|Central Maryland]] region of the state. Recent county development has led to some realignment towards the [[Washington, D.C.]] media and employment markets. The county is home to [[Columbia, Maryland|Columbia]], a [[planned community]] 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 $124,042 (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=124042|start_year=2020}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) makes it one of the [[List of highest-income counties in the United States|wealthiest counties in the US]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/DP03/0100000US.05000.003| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212082420/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/DP03/0100000US.05000.003| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Selected Economic Characteristics: 2012 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates (DP03): All Counties Within United States| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=August 11, 2014}}</ref> Many of the most affluent communities in the area, such as [[Clarksville, Maryland|Clarksville]], [[Dayton, Maryland|Dayton]], [[Glenelg, Maryland|Glenelg]], [[Glenwood, Howard County, Maryland|Glenwood]], and [[West Friendship, Maryland|West Friendship]], are located along the [[Maryland Route 32|Route 32]] corridor in Howard County. The main population center of Columbia/Ellicott City is regularly ranked in [[Money (magazine)|''Money'' magazine]]'s Top 10 "Best Places to Live".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2010/snapshots/PL2419125.html |title=CNN Money Magazine: 2010 Best Places To Live |access-date=August 4, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806134335/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2010/snapshots/PL2419125.html |archive-date=August 6, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=These Are the Best Places to Live in the U.S. Right Now |url=https://money.com/collection/best-places-to-live-2021/ |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=Money |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ellicott City Ranked Best Place to Live in Maryland {{!}} Howard County |url=https://www.howardcountymd.gov/News091521 |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=www.howardcountymd.gov |date=September 15, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> According to data from the [[United States Census Bureau|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>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Howard+County,+Maryland+Education&g=0100000US&tid=ACSST1Y2021.S1501 |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Demographic Statistical Atlas of the United States - Statistical Atlas |url=https://statisticalatlas.com/county/Maryland/Howard-County/Educational-Attainment |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=statisticalatlas.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Howard County, Maryland |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/howardcountymaryland |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}</ref> In 2022, the [[Howard County Public School System]] was ranked the best school district in Maryland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Howard County Public Schools Rankings |url=https://www.niche.com/k12/d/howard-county-public-schools-md/rankings/ |access-date=February 21, 2023 |website=Niche |language=en}}</ref> In 2010, the [[center of population]] of Maryland was located in the Howard County town of [[Jessup, Maryland|Jessup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/reference/docs/cenpop2010/CenPop2010_Mean_ST.txt |title=Centers of Population by State: 2010 |access-date=September 13, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103082820/http://www.census.gov/geo/reference/docs/cenpop2010/CenPop2010_Mean_ST.txt |archive-date=January 3, 2014 }}</ref> ==Etymology== [[File:Johneagerhoward.jpg|thumb|Howard County is named for [[John Eager Howard|Governor John Eager Howard]]]] The name of the county honors Colonel [[John Eager Howard]],<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n161 162]}}</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>{{cite web | url = http://www.howardcountymd.gov/HCT/HCT_HCHistory.htm | title = Howard County History | work = Howard Life | access-date = October 26, 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101210211448/http://www.howardcountymd.gov/HCT/HCT_HCHistory.htm | archive-date = December 10, 2010 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> ==History== [[File:Martenet's Map of Howard County, Maryland - drawn entirely from actual surveys LOC 2002624032.jpg|thumb|1860 Martenet's Map of Howard County, Maryland]] 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 people|Piscataway]] and [[Susquehannock]] peoples.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.howardcountymd.gov/history |title=Howard County's History |publisher=Howard County, Maryland |accessdate=August 22, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dnr.maryland.gov/land/Documents/Stewardship/Howard-2022-LPPRP-Draft.pdf |title=Howard County Land Preservation, Parks and Recreation Plan Update |publisher=[[Maryland Department of Natural Resources]] |accessdate=August 22, 2023}}</ref> The [[Maryland Historical Trust]] has documented Indigenous sites along the Patapsco, Patuxent, Middle and Little Patuxent River valleys.<ref>{{cite book|title=Archaeology In Howard County and Beyond| author=M. Lee Preston Jr. | date=April 2, 2014 |page=21| publisher=James & Anne Robinson Foundation |isbn=9780615971476}}</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>{{cite book|title=History of Maryland|author=Ethan Allen, [[Libertus Van Bokkelen]]|page=36}}</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>{{cite web|title=Mean Center of Population of the United States|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/files/popctr.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920063613/http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/files/popctr.pdf |archive-date=September 20, 2008 |url-status=live|access-date=October 6, 2010}}</ref> In 1838, Dr. William Watkins of [[Richland Farm (Clarksville, Maryland)|Richland Manor]] proposed the "Howard District" of [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel County]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Howard's Roads to the Past|page=2}}</ref> After several adjournments, the area of western Anne Arundel County was designated the Howard District in 1839.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Maryland Legislature|date=January 19, 1839}}</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>{{cite web| title=Howard County Buildings| url=http://archives.ubalt.edu/gbc/pdf/4-18.pdf| access-date=April 7, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203002427/http://archives.ubalt.edu/gbc/pdf/4-18.pdf| archive-date=December 3, 2013| url-status=dead}}</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 [[slavery in the United States|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 [[American Civil War|Civil War]], contributing militiamen to the South to protect local interests.<ref>{{cite book|title=Seeking Freedom The History of the Underground Railroad in Howard County|page=54}}</ref> Maryland was exempt from the [[Emancipation Proclamation]], later abolishing slavery in the update of the Maryland Constitution in November 1864.<ref>{{Cite book | publisher = Howard County Center of African American Culture | last = Moss | first = Paulina C | author2 = Levirn Hill|author3= Howard County Center of African American Culture | title = Seeking freedom : a history of the underground railroad in Howard County, Maryland | location = Columbia, MD | year = 2002 | oclc = 50728274 }}</ref> On May 1, 1883, Howard County joined Anne Arundel County and Harford County in liquor prohibition.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Christian Advocate|title=Prohibition in Maryland|date=May 17, 1883|page=312}}</ref> By 1899, Howard County contained {{convert|400|mi}} of dirt and {{convert|48|mi}} of stone roads, including three paid turnpikes maintained by 118 men. Most traffic consisted of loads delivered to rail crossings.<ref>{{cite book| title=Maryland Geological Survey Report on the Highways of Maryland| year=1899| page=239}}</ref> In 1909, County Commissioners Hess, Werner and O'Neil were charged with malfeasance regarding contract bids.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Times Dispatch|date=September 15, 1907|title=Commissioners are Indicted}}</ref> In 1918, a deadly [[1918 flu pandemic|flu pandemic]] swept the county starting with an early outbreak in [[Fort Meade, Maryland|Camp Meade]] in adjacent Anne Arundel County.<ref>{{cite book|title=Jim Clark Soldier Farmer Legislator|page=11|author=James A. Clark, Jr.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Baltimore MD and the 1918 Flu|url=http://www.influenzaarchive.org/cities/city-baltimore.html#|access-date=September 14, 2014}}</ref> The 1930s saw a shift from one-room schoolhouses to centralized schools with bus service. By 1939 wheat harvesting fell to just {{convert|18800|acre}}.<ref>{{cite news| title=From Greater Production to More Efficiency| date=March 31, 1965}}</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>{{cite news|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/clarksville/ph-ho-n-history-matters-0305-20150225-story.html|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Doctor receives distinct honor in 1970|first1=Louise|last1=Vest|date=March 3, 2015}}</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>{{cite web|last=Weingroff |first=Richard F. |title=Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, Creating the Interstate System |url=http://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/transportation/a_highway.html |access-date=November 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111232433/http://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/transportation/a_highway.html |archive-date=November 11, 2010 }}</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>{{cite book|title=New City Upon a Hill|author=Joseph Rocco Mitchell, David L Stebenne|page=55}}</ref> From 1963 to 1966 the [[Rouse Company]] bought {{convert|14000|acre}} 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>{{cite news| newspaper=The Washington Post| title=Recreation Park Planners Woo Howard County| date=June 14, 1972| author=Edward Walsh}}</ref> The county has a number of properties on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Howard County, Maryland|National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref> ==Geography== According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|253|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|251|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.7|sqmi}} (1.0%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_24.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913171515/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_24.txt |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 13, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 12, 2014 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files }}</ref> It is the second-smallest county in Maryland by land area and smallest by total area. [[File:Queen Anne's Lace in Pennsylvania..jpg|thumb|''[[Daucus carota]]'' (Queen Anne's Lace) was designated as the official flower of Howard County in 1984.<ref name="county-symbols" />]] Howard County is located in the [[Piedmont (United States)|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 Reservoir|Triadelphia]] and [[Rocky Gorge Reservoir|Rocky Gorge]] [[reservoir]]s. ===Adjacent counties=== * [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel County]] (southeast) * [[Baltimore County, Maryland|Baltimore County]] (northeast) * [[Carroll County, Maryland|Carroll County]] (north) * [[Montgomery County, Maryland|Montgomery County]] (southwest) * [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's County]] (south) * Frederick County (west) {{Geographic Location | Center = Howard County | North = [[Carroll County, Maryland|Carroll County]] | Northeast = [[Baltimore County, Maryland|Baltimore County]],<br />[[Baltimore]] | East = | Southeast = [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel County]] | Southwest = [[Montgomery County, Maryland|Montgomery County]],<br /> [[Washington, D.C.]] | South = [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's County]] | West = | Northwest = [[Frederick County, Maryland|Frederick County]] }} ===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 {{convert|45|in}} throughout the county.<ref>{{cite web| title=CLARKSVILLE 3 NNE, HOWARD COUNTY, MARYLAND USA| url=http://www.worldclimate.com/cgi-bin/data.pl?ref=N39W076+2200+181862C| access-date=March 14, 2011}}</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>{{cite web|title=NOAA National Climatic Weather Center Search |url=http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~storms |access-date=March 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801185632/http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~storms |archive-date=August 1, 2008 }}</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 in the United States|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 [[History of the Jews in Maryland|Jewish]], [[Islam in Maryland|Muslim]], and Hindu populations.<ref>{{cite news |first=Christine |last=Zhang |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/howard/howard-magazine/bs-mg-ho-diversity-data-20190109-story.html |title=Diversity by the numbers: As Howard County has grown, so has its racial and cultural mix |newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |access-date=November 4, 2021 |date=January 30, 2019}}</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>{{cite web|url=https://www.jewishdatabank.org/databank/search-results?city=Howard+County&state=Maryland&year=2019 |title=2019 Howard County (MD) Jewish Population Survey |publisher=[[Berman Jewish DataBank]] |accessdate=June 20, 2023}}</ref> As of 2010, only 1% of Jews in the county were [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]], while one-third each were [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]] and [[Reform Judaism|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>{{cite web|url=https://jewishquestions.bjpa.org/jsqb/search-results?category=Population+Studies&search=Howard |title=The 2010 Howard County (MD) Jewish Community Study |publisher=[[Berman Jewish DataBank]] |accessdate=June 20, 2023}}</ref> {{US Census population |1860= 13338 |1870= 14150 |1880= 16140 |1890= 16269 |1900= 16715 |1910= 16106 |1920= 15826 |1930= 16169 |1940= 17175 |1950= 23119 |1960= 36152 |1970= 61911 |1980= 118572 |1990= 187328 |2000= 247842 |2010= 287085 |2020= 328200 |estyear=2023 |estimate=336001 |estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{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, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 3, 2024}}</ref> |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{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}}</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> 2010β2018<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24/24001.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 12, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606163146/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24/24001.html |archive-date=June 6, 2011 }}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="2020 Census" /> }} ===2020 census=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+Howard County, Maryland β 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 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race β 2000: DEC Summary File 1 β Howard County, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=0500000US24027|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race β 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) β Howard County, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US24027&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> !{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race β 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) β Howard County, Maryland|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US24027&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> !% 2000 !% 2010 !{{partial|% 2020}} |- |[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH) |180,010 |169,972 |style='background: #ffffe6; |155,236 |72.63% |59.21% |style='background: #ffffe6; |46.71% |- |[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH) |35,353 |49,150 |style='background: #ffffe6; |64,018 |14.26% |17.12% |style='background: #ffffe6; |19.26% |- |[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH) |515 |511 |style='background: #ffffe6; |461 |0.21% |0.18% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.14% |- |[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH) |18,977 |41,101 |style='background: #ffffe6; |66,073 |7.66% |14.32% |style='background: #ffffe6; |19.88% |- |[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH) |80 |105 |style='background: #ffffe6; |114 |0.03% |0.04% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03% |- |[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other Race]] alone (NH) |656 |746 |style='background: #ffffe6; |2,213 |0.26% |0.26% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.67% |- |[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH) |4,761 |8,771 |style='background: #ffffe6; |16,840 |1.92% |3.06% |style='background: #ffffe6; |5.07% |- |[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race) |7,490 |16,729 |style='background: #ffffe6; |27,362 |3.02% |5.83% |style='background: #ffffe6; |8.23% |- |'''Total''' |'''247,842''' |'''287,085''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''332,317''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |} As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 328,200 people by June 1, 2020<ref name="2020 Census">{{cite web|title=County Population Totals: 2010-2020 |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates/2020-evaluation-estimates/2010s-counties-total.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=March 5, 2021}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|1300|PD/sqmi}} ===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">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US24027 |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/20200213010157/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US24027 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|1,144.9|PD/sqmi}}. There were 109,282 housing units at an average density of {{convert|435.8|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US24027 |access-date=January 22, 2016 |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213162355/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US24027 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</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 [[Germans|German]], 13.9% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 10.6% were [[English people|English]], 7.0% were [[Italians|Italian]], and 4.6% were [[Americans|American]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US24027 |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES β 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=January 22, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213030515/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US24027 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</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>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US24027 |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS β 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=January 22, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213033047/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US24027 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ===2000 census=== As of the [[census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 247,842 people, 90,043 households, and 65,821 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|983|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 92,818 housing units at an average density of {{convert|368|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. 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 [[Marriage|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>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st24_md/schooldistrict_maps/c24027_howard/DC20SD_C24027.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726033639/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st24_md/schooldistrict_maps/c24027_howard/DC20SD_C24027.pdf |archive-date=July 26, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Howard County, MD|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 25, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st24_md/schooldistrict_maps/c24027_howard/DC20SD_C24027_SD2MS.txt 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>{{Cite web|url=http://www.education.umd.edu/TLPL/centers/MEP/Research/College/MD%20Grad%20Rates_1.2014.pdf|title=High School Graduation Rates in Maryland|date=January 2014|website=University of Maryland|access-date=August 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202015121/http://www.education.umd.edu/TLPL/centers/MEP/Research/College/MD%20Grad%20Rates_1.2014.pdf|archive-date=February 2, 2017|url-status=dead}}</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>{{cite journal|last1=Berry III|first1=John N.|title=2013 Gale/LJ Library of the Year: Howard County Library System, MD|journal=[[Library Journal]]|date=June 5, 2013|url=http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/06/awards/2013-galelj-library-of-the-year-howard-county-library-system-md/|publisher=[[Media Source Inc.]]|location=New York, NY|access-date=November 1, 2013|archive-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002043702/http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/06/awards/2013-galelj-library-of-the-year-howard-county-library-system-md/|url-status=dead}}</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>{{cite journal|last1=Lance|first1=Keith Curry|last2=Lyons|first2=Ray|title=America's Star Libraries, 2015: Top-Rated Libraries|journal=Library Journal|date=November 2, 2015|url=http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/11/managing-libraries/lj-index/class-of-2015/americas-star-libraries-2015-top-rated-libraries/|publisher=Media Source Inc.|location=New York, NY}}</ref> ==Politics and government== Howard County has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election from 1992 on. In the [[2020 United States presidential election|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>{{Cite news |first=Jacob Calvin |last=Meyer |title=Biden earned greater backing in Howard County than any presidential candidate in recorded history |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/howard/cng-ho-joe-biden-hoco-vote-20201124-nyjl7j3ewffsbjvqpkqqyhri64-story.html |access-date=June 22, 2022 |date=November 24, 2020 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun}}</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 [[1958 United States Senate election in Maryland|Class I]] and [[1956 United States Senate election in Maryland|Class III]] seats, and since 1998 the county has voted for the successful gubernatorial candidate, voting for [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Bob Ehrlich]] in the [[2002 Maryland gubernatorial election|2002 gubernatorial election]], [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Martin O'Malley]] in [[2006 Maryland gubernatorial election|2006]] and [[2010 Maryland gubernatorial election|2010]], Republican [[Larry Hogan]] in [[2014 Maryland gubernatorial election|2014]] and [[2018 Maryland gubernatorial election|2018]], and Democrat [[Wes Moore]] in [[2022 Maryland gubernatorial election|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, Maryland|Montgomery County]] to the west, as do two Democratic state delegates. Another Democratic state senator represents a district that splits into [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|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>{{cite book| title=Old homes and families of Howard County, Maryland: with consideration of various additional points of interest| author=C. M. Holland| page=50}}</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, Maryland|Ellicott City]] at the National Armory on Montgomery Road.<ref>{{cite book|title=Jim Clark Soldier Farmer Legislator|page=108|author=James A Clark Jr.}}</ref> Senator [[James Clark Jr.]] proposed a five-person County Council and a County Executive in 1965.<ref>{{cite news| newspaper=Morning Sun| date=February 12, 1965| title=Clark Airs Howard Plan}}</ref> In 1968, the county implemented a [[Municipal charter|charter]] form of government.<ref>{{cite news| newspaper=The Baltimore Sun| date=November 3, 1968| title=5 counties to pick government form| author=Peter C Muncie}}</ref> In 1984 a councilmanic referendum was approved, switching council from at-large representation to district representation.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Columbia Council upholds $500 for anti-districting ad|date=October 31, 1984}}</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>{{cite news |last1=Logan |first1=Erin B. |title=Ball sworn in as Howard Executive, touts commitment to inclusion |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/howard/ph-ho-cf-swearing-in-1206-story.html |access-date=June 25, 2019 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |date=December 3, 2018 |quote=Swearing-in and inaugural address of the Howard County Council and Howard County Executive Calvin Ball at Howard High School on Monday, December 3, 2018.}}</ref> The county is entirely within [[Maryland's 3rd congressional district]], represented by Democrat [[Sarah Elfreth]]. ===Voter registration=== {| 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: 121196}} | align = center | {{Percentage |121196 |234,585 |2}} |- | {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}} | Unaffiliated | align = center | {{formatnum: 61771}} | align = center | {{Percentage |61771 |234,585 |2}} |- | {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | align = center | {{formatnum: 48131}} | align = center | {{Percentage |48131 |234,585 |2}} |- | {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}} | [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] | align = center | {{formatnum: 965}} | align = center | {{Percentage |965 |234,585 |2}} |- | {{party color cell|None}} | [[Third party (U.S. politics)|Other parties]] | align = center | {{formatnum: 2522}} | align = center | {{Percentage |2522 |234,585 |2}} |- ! colspan = 2 | Total ! align = center | {{formatnum: 234,585}} ! align = center | {{Percentage |100}} |} {{PresHead|place=Howard County, Maryland|whig=yes|source=<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 vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} --> {{PresRow|2024|Democratic|49,425|124,764|8,102|Maryland}} {{PresRow|2020|Democratic|48,390|129,433|5,239|Maryland}} {{PresRow|2016|Democratic|47,484|102,597|12,112|Maryland}} {{PresRow|2012|Democratic|57,758|91,393|3,957|Maryland}} {{PresRow|2008|Democratic|55,393|87,120|2,720|Maryland}} {{PresRow|2004|Democratic|59,724|72,257|1,829|Maryland}} {{PresRow|2000|Democratic|49,809|58,556|4,414|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1996|Democratic|40,849|47,569|7,090|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|38,594|44,763|16,441|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|44,153|34,007|370|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|35,641|25,713|334|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|24,272|20,702|6,625|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1976|Republican|21,200|20,533|0|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|19,265|10,668|383|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1968|Republican|9,957|5,752|2,796|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|6,833|8,185|0|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|7,051|5,412|2|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|6,534|3,599|0|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|5,497|3,693|112|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,113|2,725|190|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1944|Republican|3,344|3,140|0|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,082|3,957|30|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,638|4,138|49|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,970|4,161|59|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,296|3,088|33|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,989|2,786|394|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,608|2,397|63|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,346|1,913|64|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,004|1,523|433|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1908|Democratic|1,276|1,764|57|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1904|Democratic|1,258|1,914|54|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1900|Democratic|1,800|1,904|79|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1896|Republican|1,981|1,786|103|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,410|1,920|80|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1888|Democratic|1,521|1,774|65|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1884|Democratic|1,392|1,733|24|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1880|Democratic|1,365|1,787|0|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1876|Democratic|1,189|1,641|2|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1872|Republican|1,309|1,196|0|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1868|Democratic|490|1,012|0|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1864|Democratic|579|778|0|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1860|Constitutional Union|1|189|1,360|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1856|Know Nothing|0|633|899|Maryland}} {{PresRow|1852|Democratic|570|625|0|Maryland}} |} ===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>{{cite web |title=Howard County Council Districts 2014 |url=https://data.howardcountymd.gov/mapgallery/political/political-council/15_CouncilDistricts_8x11.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113144045/http://data.howardcountymd.gov/mapgallery/political/political-council/15_CouncilDistricts_8x11.pdf |archive-date=November 13, 2012 |url-status=live |website=Howard County |publisher=Howard County Government |access-date=April 12, 2022}}</ref> The current County Council as of December 2022 includes 4 Democrats and 1 Republican. {| class=wikitable |+Howard County Council |- ! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| District ! align=center | Name ! valign=bottom | Party ! valign=bottom | Representing |- | style="background:#33c;"| | District 1 | Elizabeth Walsh | align=center | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | [[Ellicott City, Maryland|Ellicott City]], [[Elkridge, Maryland|Elkridge]] |- | style="background:#33c;"| | District 2 | Opel Jones | align=center | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | [[Columbia, Maryland|East Columbia]], [[Elkridge, Maryland|Elkridge]] |- | style="background:#33c;"| | District 3 | Christiana Rigby | align=center | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | [[North Laurel, Maryland|North Laurel]], [[Jessup, Maryland|Jessup]] |- | style="background:#33c;"| | District 4 | Deb Jung | align=center | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | [[Columbia, Maryland|Columbia]], [[Fulton, Maryland|Fulton]] |- | bgcolor=red| | District 5 | David Yungmann | align=center | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | Western Howard County |} ===County commissioners=== <ref>{{cite web|url=http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/36loc/how/leg/former/commissioners/html/00list.html|access-date=March 13, 2015|title=BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS}}</ref> {| class=wikitable |- ! ! style="text-align:center;" | Chairman ! valign=bottom | Affiliation ! style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| Term ! style="text-align:center;" | Commissioner ! valign=bottom | Affiliation ! style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| Term ! style="text-align:center;" | Commissioner ! valign=bottom | Affiliation ! style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| Term |- | | [[George Howard (Governor of Maryland)|George Howard]]<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Election in Howard District|date=April 8, 1840}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | [[National Republican Party|Anti-Jacksonian Party]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1840 | Zedekiah Moore | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1840 | [[White Hall (Ellicott City, Maryland)|Charles Worthington Dorsey]] | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1840 |- | | [[Worthington's Quarters|William H. Worthington]] | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |1841β1845 | Wesley Linthicum | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |1841β1845 | Perry Gaither | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1841 |- | | William H. Worthington | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |1841β1845 | Wesley Linthicum | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |1841β1845 | George W. Hobbs | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1842β1845 |- | | William H. Worthington | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |1841β1845 | Wesley Linthicum | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |1841-1845 | George W. Hobbs, Perry Gaither, William Welling | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1845 |- | | [[Mt. Pleasant (Woodstock, Maryland)|Samuel Brown]] | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |1846 | William Hughes | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |1846 | Reuben P. Hammond | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1846 |- | | William H. Worthington | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |1847 | William Hughes | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |1847 | George W. Hobbs, Charles R. Simpson | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1847 |- | | William Hughes | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |1848β1849 | George Howard | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |1848 | Charles R. Simpson, John Hood, Theodore Tubman | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1848 |- | | William Hughes | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |1848β1849 | Theodore Tubman | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |1848β1853 | Littleton Maclin, Thomas Burgess | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1849 |- | | Littleton Maclin | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |1850 | Theodore Tubman | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" |1848-1853 | David E. Hopkins, David Feelemyer, Samuel Brown | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1850 |- | | Thomas B. Hobbs<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite book|title=The founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1851 | Theodore Tubman | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1848β1853 | Samuel Nichols, Samuel Brown, David Clark, David Feelemyer | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1851 |- | | Theodore Tubman | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1848β1853 | David Clark | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1853 | David Feelemyer, George Bond | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1853 |- | | Slingsby Linthicum | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1854 | George Bond | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1854 | Steven B. Dorsey | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1854 |- | | George Bond | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1855 | Slingsby Linthicum | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1855 | Steven B. Dorsey, Theodore Tubman | style="textgalign:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1855 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" | | Samuel Hopkins<ref>{{cite web |title=Samuel Hopkins, MSA SC 3520-14415 |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/014400/014415/html/14415bio.html |website=Archives of Maryland (Biographical Series) |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=April 12, 2022 |date=June 28, 2005}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1865 | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | | | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | |- | | John T. Ridgely<ref>{{cite book|title=Maryland State Manual Vol 154|page=56}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1885β1888 | Ephraim Collins | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1885β | B. C. Sunderland | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1885β |- | | Benjamin C. Sunderland | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1889β1892 | Benjamin F. Hess | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1889β1892 | Edmund Dorsey<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Rumors swirl around Unitas in 1970|author=Louise Vest|date=March 11, 2015}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1889β1892 |- | | Benjamin F. Hess<ref>{{cite book|title=Maryland State Manual Vol 113|page=199}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1901β1904 | Thomas O' Neill | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1901β1904 | Jacob J. Werner | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1901β1904 |- | | Jacob J. Werner<ref>{{cite book|title=Maryland Manual Vol 117|page=254}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1905β1907 | Benjamin F. Hess | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1905β1907 | Henry A Penny<ref name="ReferenceA" /> | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1905β1911 |- | | Benjamin F. Hess<ref>{{cite book|title=Maryland Manual Vol 120|page=163}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1908β1909 | [[Amos Howard Earp]] | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1908β1911 | Jacob J. Werner | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1908β1913 |- | | Amos Howard Earp<ref>{{cite book|title=Maryland Manual Vol 121|page=163}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Maryland Manual Vol 123|page=193}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1911β1917 | Grosvenor Hanson | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1911β1915 | William H. Davis | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1911β1915 |- | |Amos Howard Earp<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Times|date=June 21, 1919|title=Rockville News - Commissioners for Howard County Give Banquet at Ellicott City.|url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1919-06-21/ed-1/seq-6/ocr/|access-date=April 21, 2022}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1915β1917 | Grosvenor Hanson | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1915β1917 | De Wilton C. Partlett | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1915β1917 |- | | Amos Howard Earp<ref>{{cite book|title=Maryland Manual Vol 128|page=218}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1917β1919 | John H. Shaab | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1917β1919 | De Wilton C. Partlett | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1917β1919 |- | | Amos Howard Earp<ref>{{cite book|title=Maryland Manual Vol 130|page=238}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1920β1926 | Daniel H. Gaither | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1920β1926 | De Wilton C. Parlett | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1920β1926 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | | DeWilton C. Parlett<ref>{{cite book|title=Maryland Manual Vol 137|page=174}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1926β1930 | H. Thomas Glimes | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1926β1930 | Daniel H. Gaither | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1926β1930 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | | H. Grafton Penny<ref>{{cite book|title=Maryland Manual Vol 147|page=194}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1930β1934 | J. Frank Curtis | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1930β1934 | Daniel H. Gaither | style="text-align:center;" | | style="text-align:center;" | 1930β1934 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | | H. Grafton Penny<ref>{{cite book|title=Maryland Manual Vol 151|page=200}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1935β1938 | Robert H. Mercer | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1935β1938 | Hart B. Noll | style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1935β1938 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" | | [[Charles E. Miller]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1938β1942 | | | | | | |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" | | James Franklin Curtis | style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1942β1949 | Charles E. Miller | style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1942β1949 | | | |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | | [[Norman E. Moxley]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1949β1957 | Roby H. Mullinix | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1949β1954 | E. Walter Scott | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1949β1954 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | | [[Norman E. Moxley]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Maryland State Manual vol 167|page=294}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1958β1959 | Howard W. Clark | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1957β1958 | Charles E. Harman | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1957β1958 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" | | Charles M. Scott<ref>{{cite book|title=Maryland State Manual Vol 169|page=364}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1959β1962 | Norman E. Moxley | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1959β1962 | Arthur K. Pickett | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1959β1962 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" | | Charles E. Miller | style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1962β1966 | J. Hubert Black | style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1962β1966 | David W. Force | style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1962β1966 |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" | | Charles E. Miller | style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1966β1970 | J. Hubert Black | style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1966β1970 | Ridgley Jones | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1968β1970 |} ===County executives and council members=== {{see also|List of county executives of Maryland#Howard}} {| class=wikitable |- ! ! style="text-align:center;" | Name ! valign=bottom | Affiliation ! style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| Term ! style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| Council (districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) |- | style="background:#33c;"| | Omar J. Jones | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1969β1973 | style="text-align:center;" | Alva S. Baker, Edward L. Cochran, J. Hugh Nichols, [[Charles E. Miller]], [[William S. Hanna]]<ref>{{cite web |title=William S. Hanna, MSA SC 3520-13289 |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/013200/013289/html/13289bio.html |website=Archives of Maryland (Biographical Series) |publisher=Maryland State Archives |access-date=April 12, 2022 |date=December 3, 2014}}</ref> |- | style="background:#33c;"| | [[Edward L. Cochran]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1974β1978 | style="text-align:center;" | Richard Anderson (Elizabeth Bobo - appointed),<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=Howard council seat filled|date=October 4, 1977}}</ref> [[Ruth U. Keeton|Ruth Keeton]], Lloyd Kowles, Virginia Thomas, Thomas Yeager<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Ruth U. Keeton Dies at 78; Led Howard County Council|date=November 16, 1997|first1=Bart|last1=Barnes|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-760624.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329042737/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-760624.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015}}</ref> |- | style="background:#33c;"| | [[J. Hugh Nichols]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Maryland State Manual vol 180|page=497}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1978β1982 | style="text-align:center;" | Ruth U. Keeton, Elizabeth Bobo, Lloyd G. Knowles, Virginia M. Thomas, Thomas M. Yeager |- | style="background:#33c;"| | [[J. Hugh Nichols]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1982β1986 | style="text-align:center;" | Ruth U. Keeton, Elizabeth Bobo, James C. Clark, C. Vernon Gray, Lloyd G. Knowles |- | style="background:#33c;"| | William E. Eakle<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bs-md-ob-william-eakle-20121003-story.html |title=William E. 'Ned' Eakle, Howard County executive and administrator |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 3, 2012 |first=Frederick N. |last=Rasmussen |access-date=January 16, 2019 |quote=Nichols left office nine months early in 1986 ... the County Council chose Mr. Eakle to finish the former executive's term. |archive-date=April 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416133727/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bs-md-ob-william-eakle-20121003-story.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Maryland State Manual vol 181|page=553}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1986 | style="text-align:center;" | Ruth U. Keeton, Elizabeth Bobo, James C. Clark, C. Vernon Gray, Lloyd G. Knowles |- | style="background:#33c;"| | [[Elizabeth Bobo]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1986β1990 | style="text-align:center;" | Angela Beltram, C. Vernon Gray, [[Shane Pendergrass]], Ruth Keeton, Charles Feaga |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" | | [[Charles I. Ecker]]<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=HOWARD COUNTY; Ecker Reelected; Republicans to Control Council|date=November 9, 1994}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1990β1994 | style="text-align:center;" | Darrel E. Drown, C. Vernon Gray, Shane Pendergrass, Paul R. Farragut, Charles Feaga |- | style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" | | Charles I. Ecker | style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1994β1998 | style="text-align:center;" | Darrel E. Drown, C. Vernon Gray, Dennis R. Schrader, Mary C. Lorsung, Charles Feaga |- | style="background:#33c;"| | [[James N. Robey]]<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Howard County; Democrat Robey Wins Executive Contest|date=November 14, 1998}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 1998β2002 | style="text-align:center;" | Christopher J. Merdon, C. Vernon Gray, [[Guy Guzzone]], Mary C. Lorsung, [[Allan H. Kittleman]] |- | style="background:#33c;"| | James N. Robey | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 2002β2006 | style="text-align:center;" | Christopher J. Merdon, David A. Rakes ([[Calvin Ball, III|Calvin Ball]]-appointed), [[Guy Guzzone]], Ken Ulman, Allan H. Kittleman (Charles C. Feaga-appointed)<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Washington Post|title=Howard County Council|date=April 22, 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Washington Post|title=Howard County Council|date=April 27, 2006}}</ref> |- | style="background:#33c;"| | [[Kenneth Ulman]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 2006β2010 | style="text-align:center;" | [[Courtney Watson (politician)|Courtney Watson]], Calvin Ball, [[Jen Terrasa]], Mary Kay Sigaty, Greg Fox |- | style="background:#33c;"| | Kenneth Ulman | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 2010β2014 | style="text-align:center;" | Courtney Watson, Calvin Ball, Jen Terrasa, Mary Kay Sigaty, Greg Fox |- | style="background:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}"| | [[Allan H. Kittleman]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | style="text-align:center;" | 2014β2018 | style="text-align:center;" | Jon Weinstein, Calvin Ball, Jen Terrasa, Mary Kay Sigaty, Greg Fox |- | style="background:#33c;"| | [[Calvin Ball III]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 2018β2022 | style="text-align:center;" | Elizabeth Walsh, Opel Jones, Christiana Rigby, Deb Jung, David Yungmann |- | style="background:#33c;"| | [[Calvin Ball III]] | style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] | style="text-align:center;" | 2022βpresent | style="text-align:center;" | Elizabeth Walsh, Opel Jones, Christiana Rigby, Deb Jung, David Yungmann |} ===Departments=== [[File:George Howard Building.jpg|thumb|right|George Howard Building in 2014]] [[File:Ascend One.jpg|thumb|Howard County Health Department relocated to this office purchased from Ascend One in 2011]] {| class="wikitable" |- ! Department |- | Howard County government |- | [[Howard County Public School System]] |- | [[Howard County Housing and Community Development]] |- | Howard County Board of Elections |- | [[Howard County Public Library|Howard County Library]] |- | [[Howard County Fire and Rescue (Maryland)|Howard County Fire and Rescue]] |- | [[Howard County Police Department (Maryland)|Howard County Police]] |- | [[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>{{cite web|url=https://www.dllr.state.md.us/lmi/laus/howard.shtml|title=DLLR's Division of Workforce Development and Adult Learning Civilian Labor Force, Employment & Unemployment by Place of Residence (LAUS) - Howard County|access-date=September 21, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140901142346/http://www.dllr.state.md.us/lmi/laus/howard.shtml|archive-date=September 1, 2014}}</ref> [[Howard County Public School System]] employs 8,136 of which 4,670 are teachers.<ref>{{cite web|title=2015 HPSS approved operating budget|url=http://www.hcpss.org/f/aboutus/2015-approved-budget.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128123321/http://www.hcpss.org/f/aboutus/2015-approved-budget.pdf |archive-date=January 28, 2015 |url-status=live|access-date=September 21, 2014}}</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>{{cite web|title=2015 Howard County Operating Budget|url=http://www.howardcountymd.gov/departments.aspx?ID=499|access-date=September 21, 2014}}</ref> The top ten private sector employers in Howard County are as follows:<ref>{{cite web|title=Major Employers in Howard County, Maryland|url=http://business.maryland.gov/Documents/ResearchDocument/MajorEmployersInHowardCounty.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117225951/http://business.maryland.gov/Documents/ResearchDocument/MajorEmployersInHowardCounty.pdf |archive-date=November 17, 2014 |url-status=live|access-date=September 21, 2014}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! # ! Employer ! # of Employees |- | 1 | [[Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory]] | 8,000<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.jhuapl.edu/About |access-date=August 27, 2022 |website=www.jhuapl.edu}}</ref> |- |2 | [[Verizon (mobile network)|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-Landover|Giant Food]] | 1,050 |- |8 | [[The Columbia Association]] | 900 |- |9 | [[Wells Fargo]] | 842 |- |10 | [[Oracle Corporation]] subsidiary [[MICROS Systems]] | 815 |} ==Awards== [[File:Carduelis-tristis-001.jpg|thumb|The [[American goldfinch]] is the official county bird of Howard County.<ref name="county-symbols">{{cite web |url=https://www.howardcountymd.gov/county-symbols |title=County Symbols |website=Howard County}}</ref>]] Awards and recognitions achieved by Howard County or locations within it include the following: * "4th Richest County in America", Forbes Magazine, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title=4. Howard County, MD (Median household income: $110,224)|url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/5963ed594bbe6f269f7f2e9d/4-howard-county-md-median/|access-date=September 23, 2020|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref> * "Best American Values", ''[[Newsmax Media|Newsmax Magazine]]'': Ellicott City #17 (2009).<ref>{{cite news | title = News briefs | work = Daily Record | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NewsLibrary&p_multi=BDRB&d_place=BDRB&p_theme=newslibrary2&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=12838EC4D1BDA428&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | date = May 15, 2009 | access-date = November 1, 2011}}</ref> * "Best Place to Live", [[CNN]]/''[[Money (magazine)|Money]]'': Columbia (#1 in 2016); Ellicott City/Columbia (#6 in 2014;<ref>{{cite web | url = http://time.com/money/3312314/columbia-ellicott-city-maryland-best-places-to-live/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140923164744/https://time.com/money/3312314/columbia-ellicott-city-maryland-best-places-to-live/ | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 23, 2014 | title = Best Places to Live | year = 2014 | access-date = January 29, 2016 | publisher = CNN/Money Magazine}}</ref> #8 in 2012;<ref>{{cite web | url = https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/best-places/2012/snapshots/PL2419125.html | title = Best Places to Live | year = 2012 | access-date = November 1, 2013 | publisher = CNN/Money Magazine}}</ref> #2 in 2010;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2010/snapshots/PL2419125.html |title=Best Places to Live |year=2010 |access-date=November 1, 2013 |publisher=CNN/Money Magazine |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806134335/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2010/snapshots/PL2419125.html |archive-date=August 6, 2010 }}</ref> #8 in 2008;<ref>{{cite web | url = https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2008/snapshots/PL2419125.html | title = Best Places to Live | year = 2008 | access-date = November 1, 2013 | publisher = CNN/Money Magazine}}</ref> #4 in 2006.<ref>{{cite web |last=Turner |first=Cowles |date=September 19, 2014 |title=Best Places to Live |url=https://money.com/collection-post/columbia-ellicott-city-maryland-best-places-to-live/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506210108/https://money.com/collection-post/columbia-ellicott-city-maryland-best-places-to-live/ |archive-date=May 6, 2022 |access-date=November 1, 2013 |website=Money.com}}</ref>) *"Best Places to Live for Pet Lovers", [[CNN]]/''[[Money (magazine)|Money]]'': Ellicott City, one of 10 (2009).<ref>{{cite news | url = http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2009/08/17/10-best-places-to-live-for-pet-lovers | title = 10 Best Places to Live for Pet Lovers | first = Kimberly | last = Palmer | date = August 17, 2009 | work = Money Magazine | access-date = November 1, 2013}}</ref> *"Best Place to Raise a Family", [[Forbes]]: #17 (2008).<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.forbes.com/2008/06/27/schools-places-family-forbeslife-cx_zg_0630realestate_slide_5.html | title = In Depth: America's Best Places To Raise A Family | work = Forbes | first = Zack O'Malley | last = Greenberg | date = June 27, 2008 | access-date = November 1, 2013}}</ref> * "Good Sports Community of the Year", ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' (2005)<ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/goodsports/communities/howard.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060616041337/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/goodsports/communities/howard.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 16, 2006 |title = Howard County, Maryland: A GOOD SPORTS COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR | date = December 7, 2005 | access-date = November 1, 2013 | magazine = Sports Illustrated}}</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>{{cite web | url = http://www.haplr-index.com/HAPLR100.htm | publisher = Hennen's American Public Library Ratings | year = 2010 | access-date = November 1, 2013 | title = Top Ten Libraries in Population Category}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.haplr-index.com/libraries_by_frequency_in_top_te.htm | title = Libraries by Frequency in Top Ten | publisher = Hennen's American Public Library Ratings | access-date = November 1, 2013 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130911110347/http://www.haplr-index.com/libraries_by_frequency_in_top_te.htm | archive-date = September 11, 2013 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> * "Healthiest Maryland County", [[University of Wisconsin System|University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute]]. (2013, 2012, 2011, 2010)<ref>{{cite web|title=Robert Wood Johnson Foundation|url=http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/maryland/2013/howard/county/outcomes/overall/snapshot/by-rank|access-date=November 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/maryland/2012/howard/county/outcomes/overall/snapshot/by-rank |title = County Health Rankings & Roadmaps: Overall rank 2012 | publisher = countyhealthrankings.org | access-date = November 1, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/maryland/2011/howard/county/outcomes/overall/snapshot/by-rank | title = County Health Rankings & Roadmaps: Overall rank 2011 | publisher = countyhealthrankings.org | access-date = November 1, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url =http://www.countyhealthrankings.org/app/maryland/2010/howard/county/outcomes/overall/snapshot/by-rank | title = County Health Rankings & Roadmaps: Overall rank 2010 | publisher = countyhealthrankings.org | access-date = November 1, 2013}}</ref> * "Heart Safe Community of the Year", [[International Association of Fire Chiefs]]. (2012)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.hsi.com/Blog/bid/84963/Heart-Safe-Community-Awards | title = Heart Safe Community Awards | first = Kristine | last = Rice | date = June 1, 2012 | access-date = November 1, 2013 | publisher = American Safety & Health Institute}}</ref> * "Library of the Year", ''[[Library Journal]]''. (2013)<ref>{{cite web|title=Library Journal|url=http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/06/awards/2013-galelj-library-of-the-year-howard-county-library-system-md/#_|access-date=November 1, 2013|archive-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002043702/http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2013/06/awards/2013-galelj-library-of-the-year-howard-county-library-system-md/#_|url-status=dead}}</ref> * "Preserve America Community", [[Advisory Council on Historic Preservation]]. (2013)<ref>{{cite web|title=Advisory Council on Historic Preservation|url=http://www.preserveamerica.gov/PAcommunity-howardcountyMD.html|access-date=November 1, 2013}}</ref> * Top Outdoor Concert Venue for Merriweather Post Pavilion (a top five) by [[Pollstar]] (2012).<ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://www.pollstarpro.com/PCIA-Static/awards2012.htm | title = Pollstar Awards Archive | access-date = November 1, 2013 | magazine = Pollstar | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141216050627/http://www.pollstarpro.com/PCIA-Static/awards2012.htm | archive-date = December 16, 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref> *"Tree City Community", [[Arbor Day Foundation]]. (23 years)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.arborday.org/programs/treeCityUSA/map.cfm | title = 2012 Tree City USA Communities |date = April 2013 | access-date = November 1, 2013 | publisher = Arbor Day Foundation}}</ref> *"Venues that Rock", ''[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]'': #4 outdoor venue, [[Merriweather Post Pavilion]] (2013).<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Venues that Rock|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=June 20, 2013 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-best-amphitheaters-in-america-47179}}</ref> *"Winning Community", [[National Civic League]]. (2001)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allamericacityaward.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/1Winners-1949-2012.pdf |title=All-America Cities 1949β2012 |publisher=National Civic League |access-date=November 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104121143/http://www.allamericacityaward.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/1Winners-1949-2012.pdf |archive-date=November 4, 2013 }}</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== [[File:NewBridgePartialElevation.jpg|thumb|Bollman Truss Bridge in Savage]] [[File:GingerbreadHouse.jpg|thumb|The Enchanted Forest gingerbread house at Clark's Elioak Farm]] * [[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, Maryland|Ellicott City Historic Main Street]] * [[Ellicott City Station]] * [[Enchanted Forest (Maryland)|The Enchanted Forest]] (closed β 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 (Maryland)|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>{{cite news|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|title=50 Years Ago|author=Diane Mullaly|date=January 8, 1992}}</ref> With the closure of [[Haysfield Airport]] in 2012, there is one privately owned airstrip, [[Glenair Airport]] in [[Glenelg, Maryland|Glenelg]].<ref>{{cite web| title=NASR Airports| url=https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=111223186103531186653.00047f1e20be8b2d1d1aa&hl=en&gl=us&ved=0CHMQkAVIAA&sa=X&ei=uFWrTKafEpH8yAXs-KivCQ}}</ref> Commercial air service is provided by [[Baltimore/Washington International Airport]], [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]], and [[Dulles International Airport|Washington Dulles International Airport]]. ===Major highways=== [[File:2019-07-15 11 10 50 View south along Interstate 95 from the overpass for Maryland State Route 175 (Waterloo Road-Rouse Parkway) in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland.jpg|thumb|right|I-95 in Howard County]] {{div col|colwidth=30em}} *{{jct|state=MD|I|70}} *{{jct|state=MD|I|95}} *{{jct|state=MD|I|895}} *{{jct|state=MD|US|1}} *{{jct|state=MD|US|29}} *{{jct|state=MD|US|40}} *{{jct|state=MD|MD|27}} *{{jct|state=MD|MD|32}} *{{jct|state=MD|MD|94}} *{{jct|state=MD|MD|97}} *{{jct|state=MD|MD|99}} *{{jct|state=MD|MD|100}} *{{jct|state=MD|MD|103}} *{{jct|state=MD|MD|108}} *{{jct|state=MD|MD|125}} *{{jct|state=MD|MD|144}} *{{jct|state=MD|MD|175}} *{{jct|state=MD|MD|216}} {{div col end}} ==Communities== ===Census-designated places=== The Census Bureau recognizes the following [[Census-designated place]]s in the county: {{div col|colwidth=22em}} *[[Columbia, Maryland|Columbia]] *[[Elkridge, Maryland|Elkridge]] *[[Ellicott City, Maryland|Ellicott City]] (county seat) *[[Fulton, Maryland|Fulton]] *[[Highland, Maryland|Highland]] *[[Ilchester, Maryland|Ilchester]] *[[Jessup, Maryland|Jessup]] (partly in [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel County]]) *[[North Laurel, Maryland|North Laurel]] *[[Savage, Maryland|Savage]] *[[Scaggsville, Maryland|Scaggsville]] {{div col end}} ===Unincorporated communities=== Unincorporated places not listed as Census-designated places but known in the area include: {{div col|colwidth=22em}} *[[Clarksville, Maryland|Clarksville]] *[[Cooksville, Maryland|Cooksville]] *[[Daniels, Maryland|Daniels]] *[[Dayton, Maryland|Dayton]] *[[Dorsey, Maryland|Dorsey]] *[[Glenelg, Maryland|Glenelg]] *[[Glenwood, Howard County, Maryland|Glenwood]] *[[Granite, Maryland|Granite]] *[[Guilford, Maryland|Guilford]] *[[Hanover, Maryland|Hanover]] (partly in [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel County]]) *[[Isaacsville, Maryland|Isaacsville]] *[[Lisbon, Maryland|Lisbon]] *[[Marriottsville, Maryland|Marriottsville]] (partly in [[Carroll County, Maryland|Carroll County]] and [[Baltimore County, Maryland|Baltimore County]]) *[[Simpsonville, Maryland|Simpsonville]] *[[West Friendship, Maryland|West Friendship]] *[[Woodbine, Maryland|Woodbine]] *[[Woodstock, Maryland|Woodstock]] {{div col end}} ==See also== {{Portal|Maryland}} *[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Howard County, Maryland]] *[[List of Howard County properties in the Maryland Historical Trust|Maryland Historical Trust Register of Historic Places in Howard County, Maryland]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{commons category|Howard County, Maryland}} *{{Official website|http://www.howardcountymd.gov/}} *{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030926150322/http://www.howardcountymd.gov/ |date=September 26, 2003 |title=Howard County, Maryland }} *{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961101011942/http://www.co.ho.md.us/ |date=November 1, 1996 |title=Howard County, Maryland }} *{{osmrelation|936304}} *Howard County historian [https://archives.lib.umd.edu/repositories/2/resources/976 Celia M. Holland papers] at the [[University of Maryland Libraries]] {{coord|39|14|7|N|76|56|29|W|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-MD_source:UScensus1990}} {{Geographic Location |Centre = Howard County |North = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Carroll County, Maryland.png|size=23px}} [[Carroll County, Maryland|Carroll County]] |Northeast = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Baltimore County, Maryland.svg|size=23px}} [[Baltimore County, Maryland|Baltimore County]] |East = |Southeast = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Anne Arundel County, Maryland.png|size=23px}} [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel County]] |South = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Prince George's County, Maryland (1963βpresent).svg|size=23px}} [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's County]] |Southwest = |West = {{Flagicon image|Flag of Montgomery County, Maryland.svg|size=23px}} [[Montgomery County, Maryland|Montgomery County]] |Northwest = {{Flagicon image|2023 flag of Frederick County, Maryland.svg|size=23px}} [[Frederick County, Maryland|Frederick County]] }} {{Howard County, Maryland topics}} {{Howard County, Maryland}} {{BaltimoreMetroArea}} {{Maryland}} {{authority control}} [[Category:Howard County, Maryland| ]] [[Category:1838 establishments in Maryland]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1838]] [[Category:Baltimore metropolitan area]] [[Category:Maryland counties]] [[Category:Majority-minority counties and independent cities in Maryland]]
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