Howard County MD

Created from Anne Arundel County under the Chapter 22 Aces of 1838, Howard County enjoyed the status of a county. However, in 1851, it was officially formed. Named after John Eager Howard, a Revolutionary War officer, Maryland governor and statesman, as of 2010, it houses 247,842 residents, but rose to 328,200 in the 202 census.

The county seat is Ellicott City. Bounded by Baltimore and Carroll Counties to the north, Patapsco River and Anne Arundel county to the east, Prince George’s county to the South and Montgomery County to the west.

Howard County is often know for its affluence, quality of life and excellent schools. In 2016, the median household income was listed at $120,194, the 2nd highest median household income of any US county. Source

Many of these affluent communities are located along the Rte 32 Corridor.

Lands were inhabited by the Susquehannock tribes, and in 1652, they signed a peace treaty with Maryland,giving up their lands in Howard County.

Many plantations used slave labor as early as 1690. At the time of the Underground Railroad, some Howard County residents assisted slaves who were escaping to freedom. Maryland was exempt from the Emancipation Proclamation, but later abolished slavery in an update to the Maryland Constitution in November 1864,

A deadly flue pandemic, in 1918, started in Camp Meads in Anne Arundel county. In 1930 schools started to become centralized with bus service. In 1940, a five county commission started studying a super highway between Baltimore and Washington through Howard County. In 1956, the Federal Aid Highway Act led to the construction of interstate 70 and Interstate 95, allowing for expanding growth in the county. Read more on Howard county here.