Howard County is a county located in the central part of state of Maryland, between Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Created from Anne Arundel County in 1838, Howard County officially became a county in 1851. Named for John Eager Howard, a Revolutionary War officer and governor of Maryland. As of 2000, the population is 247,842.
Ellicott City, site of the county seat, is steeped in history, especially when contrasted with its modern neighbor Columbia. Named after the Ellicotts, who owned grist and flour mills in the area in the mid-1700s, Ellicott City is made more distinct by its hilly streets and historic look as it sits near the east bank of the Patapsco River.
Howard County is home to Columbia, developed by James Rouse and company more than 25 years ago, as the "planned city" of about 14,000 acres.
Comprising more than 160,000 acres, Howard County boasts an eclectic mix of quaint historic shops, high-tech research parks, and a lakefront city center. Merriweather Post Pavillion, an outdoor concert hall, is a popular site for musical entertainment of all preferences.
Howard County, being centrally located, offers outstanding market opportunities for many types of businesses. Whether it's a food product distributor serving he Mid-Atlantic market, an information systems company whose market is the Baltimore Metropolitan area, or an international firm exporting to Europe and the Far East, Howard County is an idea spot to locate.
Consumer industries, such as high-end retail and specialty stores, can tap a diverse, affluent, and educated market. Howard County is also a fertile market for real estate develoment, with roughly 61,000 acres available for residential and commercial development. Yet the county's renowned Agricultural Land Preservation Program has permanently protected over 16,00 acres of the 44,000 acres of productive farmland to ensure Howard County's future as an agrarian community.
This county is a part of the Greater Baltimore Metropolitan Area.
Useful Howard County Links:
