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 Are.
Howard County is frequently cited for its affluence, quality of life, and excellent schools. In 2006-2008 it was ranked the third wealthiest county by median household income in the United States by the U.S. Census Bureau. The main population center of Columbia / Ellicott City was named 2nd amongst Money magazine's 2010 survey of "America's Best Places to Live."[1] Howard County's schools frequently rank first in Maryland as measured by standardized test scores and graduation rates.[2]
In 2000, its population was 247,842. 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.[3]
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.
Education
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 94%, 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 to safeguard against crowded classrooms.
Howard County Library ranks first in the nation among great public libraries according to HAPLR (Hennen's American Public Library Ratings) (2005).
** Howard County Tourism, Attractions and Promotions
Fire and Rescue
The county is serviced by the Department of Howard County Fire and Rescue.
Law enforcement
The county is serviced by the Howard County Police Department, the Howard County Sheriff's Office, and the Maryland State Police.
Health Care
Howard County General Hospital, located in Columbia, is the county's main hospital.
Geography
Howard County is located in the Maryland Piedmont region, with rolling hills making up most of the landscape. Its largest community is Columbia, though it 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. Howard County is the only "Maryland-locked" county in the state, being the only county entirely enclosed by land and river boundaries with other Maryland counties.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 254 square miles (660 km2), of which 252 square miles (650 km2) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km2), or 0.60%, is water.
Adjacent counties
Unincorporated census-designated places
Howard County has no incorporated municipalities.
Unincorporated areas are considered as towns by many people and listed in many collections of towns, but they lack local government. Various organizations, such as the , the , and local chambers of commerce, define the communities they wish to recognize differently, and since they are not incorporated, their boundaries have no official status outside the organizations in question. The Census Bureau recognizes the following in the county:
- Columbia
- Elkridge
- Ellicott City
- Jessup (a portion is also in Anne Arundel County)
- North Laurel
- Savage-Guilford (a combination of the communities of Savage and Guilford recognized as a unit by the Census Bureau)
Other entities, such as the United States Postal Service, use a different selection of local place names. In all these cases, since the places are unincorporated, the boundaries are determined by the classifying authority. Unincorporated places not listed as Census-Designated Places but known in the area include:
- Clarksville
- Cooksville
- Daniels
- Dayton
- Dorsey
- Fulton
- Glenelg
- Glenwood
- Granite
- Hanover (a portion is also in Anne Arundel County)
- Henryton (primarily in Carroll County)
- Highland
- Ilchester
- Lisbon
- Marriottsville (a portion is also in Carroll County)
- Scaggsville
- Simpsonville
- Sykesville (primarily in Carroll County)
- West Friendship
- Woodbine
- Woodstock (a portion is also in Baltimore County)
Airports
Howard County does not have any public or commercial airport facilities. There are two privately owned airstrips, Glenair in Glenwood, and Haysfield Airport in Ellicott City.[13]
Public Transportation
Bus routes that operate in Howard County are managed by multiple services, including Howard Transit, Connect a Ride, The Maryland Transit Administration, Commuter Solutions of Howard County, and Neighbor Ride.[14]
Refferences
All references and cite note information [1,2,3,13,14] can be found by using the link below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_County,_Maryland#References
* This page was cited from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and retrieved on 11/10/2010.
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