Howard County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of Maryland, between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. It is considered part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.
In 2010, its population was 287,085. Its county seat is Ellicott City. The center of population of Maryland is located on the county line between Howard County and Anne Arundel County, in the unincorporated town of Jessup.[1]
Due to the proximity of Howard County’s population centers to Baltimore, the county has traditionally been considered a part of the Baltimore Metropolitan Area. Recent development in the south of the county has led to some realignment towards the Washington, D.C. media and employment markets. The county is also home to Columbia, a major planned community of 100,000 founded by developer James Rouse in 1967.
Howard County is frequently cited for its affluence, quality of life, and excellent schools. For 2011, it was ranked the fifth wealthiest county by median household income in the United States by the U.S. Census Bureau. Many of the most affluent communities in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area, such as Clarksville, Glenelg, Glenwood and West Friendship, are located along the Route 32 corridor in Howard County. The main population center of Columbia/Ellicott City was named 2nd among Money magazine‘s 2010 survey of “America’s Best Places to Live.”[2] Howard County’s schools frequently rank first in Maryland as measured by standardized test scores and graduation rates.[3]
History
In 1800, the mean center of U.S. population as calculated by the US Census Bureau was found in what is now Howard County.[4]
To honor John Eager Howard, an officer in the American Revolutionary War and later the fifth Governor of Maryland,[5], the area was designated the Howard District when Anne Arundel County was divided in 1839. The Howard District had the same status as a county except that it was not separately represented in the Maryland General Assembly. In 1851, the district became Howard County.
The county has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places.[6]
Geography
Howard County is located in the Maryland [[Piedmont (United States) region, with rolling hills making up most of the landscape.Its largest community is Columbia which is not an incorporated city under Maryland law; in fact, Howard County has no incorporated municipalities. The northern portion of Howard County is part of the outskirts of Baltimore, while the southern is more oriented toward Washington, D.C.
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 253.55 square miles (656.7 km2), the smallest county in Maryland, of which 252.04 square miles (652.8 km2) (or 99.40%) is land and 1.51 square miles (3.9 km2) (or 0.60%) is water.[7]
Climate
Most of Howard County lies in Humid subtropical climate zone, with the western edge of the county approaching the transition between the Humid subtropical climate zone and the Humid continental 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 45 inches (1,100 mm) throughout the county.[8] Over a 50 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.[9]
Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 13,338 | ||
| 1870 | 14,150 | 6.1% | |
| 1880 | 16,140 | 14.1% | |
| 1890 | 16,269 | 0.8% | |
| 1900 | 16,715 | 2.7% | |
| 1910 | 16,106 | −3.6% | |
| 1920 | 15,826 | −1.7% | |
| 1930 | 16,169 | 2.2% | |
| 1940 | 17,175 | 6.2% | |
| 1950 | 23,119 | 34.6% | |
| 1960 | 36,152 | 56.4% | |
| 1970 | 61,911 | 71.3% | |
| 1980 | 118,572 | 91.5% | |
| 1990 | 187,328 | 58.0% | |
| 2000 | 247,842 | 32.3% | |
| 2010 | 287,085 | 15.8% | |
2010
Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:
- 62.2% White
- 17.5% Black
- 0.3% Native American
- 14.4% Asian
- 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
- 3.6% Two or more races
- 2.0% Other races
- 5.8% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
2000
As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 247,842 people, 90,043 households, and 65,821 families residing in the county. The population density was 983 people per square mile (380/km²). There were 92,818 housing units at an average density of 368 per square mile (142/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 74.33% White, 14.42% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 7.68% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.11% from other races, and 2.19% from two or more races. 3.02% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.1% were of German, 11.0% Irish, 9.3% English, 6.6% Italian and 5.7% American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 90,043 households out of which 40.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 20.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the county the population was spread out with 28.10% under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 34.40% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 7.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $101,003, and the median income for a family was $117,186 in 2009[11]). The per capita income was $44,120. About 2.70% of families and 4.00% of the population were below the poverty line.
Population history
The following is a population history for Howard County from the U.S. Census Bureau.[12] The ranking compares the population of Howard County to those of the other 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City.[13][14]
- 1870…….14,150……19th
- 1900…….16,715……22nd (Calvert and Caroline fewer)
- 1910…….16,106……23rd (Calvert fewer)
- 1920…….15,826……22nd (Calvert and Kent fewer)
- 1930…….16,169……19th (Calvert, Charles, Kent, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s fewer)
- 1940…….17,175……20th (Calvert, Kent, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s fewer)
- 1950…….23,119……18th (Calvert, Caroline, Garrett, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot fewer)
- 1960…….36,152……14th (Calvert, Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Garrett, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Worcester fewer)
- 1970…….61,911……11th (Howard passing Cecil, St. Mary’s, Wicomico in population)
- 1980……118,572……7th (after only Anne Arundel, Baltimore County and City, Harford, Montgomery, Prince George’s)
- 1990……187,328……6th (passing Harford)
- 2000……247,842……6th
- 2004……266,738……6th
- 2008……274,995
Education and public library
The Howard County Public School System manages 71 schools and serves approximately 49,000 students. The graduation rate from this school district is an above-average 92%, 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. Public school construction has kept pace with the county’s growth in recent years in an effort to safeguard against crowded classrooms. Howard High School is currently the largest school in the county with over 1,600 students.
Since 2005, Howard County Library has consistently been ranked among the top 5 libraries in its size category by HAPLR (Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings). (Under the library’s sponsorship, a campaign called “Choose Civility” started in Howard County in 2006. According to its website, “Choose Civility is an ongoing community-wide initiative, led by Howard County Library, to position Howard County as a model of civility. The project intends to enhance respect, empathy, consideration and tolerance in Howard County.” The campaign’s distinctive green bumper stickers are often seen in Howard County and neighboring areas.)
