HOWARD COUNTY, MARYLAND

[County Seal, Howard County, Maryland] Origin: Howard District was created from Anne Arundel County by Chapter 22, Acts of 1838 (confirmed by Chapter 49, Acts of 1839, & further authorized by Chapter 98, Acts of 1839). Although unrepresented in the General Assembly, the District enjoyed the status of a county. It officially was formed as a county in 1851 (Const. 1851, Art. VIII, sec. I). The County was named for John Eager Howard (1752-1827), Revolutionary War officer, Maryland governor, and statesman.

Boundaries: Bounded north by Baltimore & Carroll counties; east by Patapsco River & Anne Arundel County; south by Prince George's County; west by Montgomery County.

[photo, George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, Maryland] County Code & Charter
County Executives
County Flag
County Seal
County Seat: Ellicott City, MD 21043
Form of Government: Charter since 1968
Population: 1990 census: 187,328; 2000 census: 247,842; 2010 census: 287,085; 2020 census: 332,317

George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, Maryland, October 2014. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Budget

Election Returns

Executive Branch

Historical Chronology

Judicial Branch

Legislative Branch

Maps

Municipalities

Organizational Chart

Records

Reports

U.S. Government Agencies
websites:
Aging & Independence, Office on: www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments/Community-Resources-and-Services/Office-on-Aging-and-Independence
[photo, Patapsco River, Ellicott City, Maryland] Animal Control: www.howardcountymd.gov/police/animal-control
Budget Office: www.howardcountymd.gov/budget
Circuit Court: www.courts.state.md.us/clerks/howard/
Community College: www.howardcc.edu/
Community Resources & Services Dept.: www.howardcountymd.gov/community-resources-services
Corrections Dept.: www.howardcountymd.gov/corrections

Patapsco River, Ellicott City, Maryland, May 2018. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

[photo, George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, Maryland] County Administration Dept.: www.howardcountymd.gov/county-administration
County Council: http://cc.howardcountymd.gov/
County Executive: www.howardcountymd.gov/county-executive
County Government: www.howardcountymd.gov/
County Government Directory: www.howardcountymd.gov/sites/default/files/2023-02/atozrevised%202023.pdf

George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, Maryland, May 2018. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

District Court: https://mdcourts.gov/district/directories/howard
Economic Development Authority: https://howardcountyeda.org/
Elections Board: www.howardcountymd.gov/board-elections
Emergency Management Office: www.howardcountymd.gov/emergency-management
Finance Dept.: www.howardcountymd.gov/finance
Fire & Rescue: www.howardcountymd.gov/fire-and-rescue-services
Health Dept.: www.howardcountymd.gov/health
Historic Preservation Commission: www.howardcountymd.gov/planning-zoning/historic-planning
Housing & Community Development Dept.: www.howardcountymd.gov/housing
Human Resources Office: www.howardcountymd.gov/human-resources
Inspections, Licenses, & Permits Dept.: www.howardcountymd.gov/inspections-licenses-permits
Job Service: www.dllr.state.md.us/county/howard/
Law Office: www.howardcountymd.gov/office-law
Library: http://hclibrary.org/
Planning & Zoning Dept.: www.howardcountymd.gov/planning-zoning
Police Dept.: www.howardcountymd.gov/police
Public Defender: www.opd.state.md.us/howard
[photo, Howard County Flag at State Office Building, 301 West Preston St., Baltimore, Maryland] Public Information Office: www.howardcountymd.gov/public-information
Public Schools: www.hcpss.org/
Public Works: www.howardcountymd.gov/public-works
Recreation & Parks Dept.: www.howardcountymd.gov/rap
Register of Wills: http://registers.maryland.gov/main/howard.html
Sheriff's Office: www.howardcountymd.gov/Branches/Sheriffs-Office

Howard County Flag at State Office Building, 301 West Preston St., Baltimore, Maryland, October 2019. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Social Services Dept.: http://dhr.maryland.gov/local-offices/howard-county/
State's Attorney: https://howardcountysao.org/
Technology & Communication Services Dept.: www.howardcountymd.gov/technology-communication-services
Tourism Office: www.visithowardcounty.com/
Transportation Office: www.howardcountymd.gov/transportation

Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
Maryland Departments
Maryland Independent Agencies
Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, & Advisory Boards
Maryland Universities & Colleges
Maryland Counties
Maryland Municipalities
Maryland at a Glance

Maryland Manual On-Line

Search the Manual
e-mail: mdmanual@maryland.gov


This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user.

Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!

[ Archives' Home Page  ||  Maryland Manual On-Line  ||  Reference & Research
||  Search the Archives   ||  Education & Outreach  ||  Archives of Maryland Online ]

Governor     General Assembly    Judiciary     Maryland.Gov

© Copyright September 10, 2025 Maryland State Archives