Harford County, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Harford County is a county in the U.S. state
of Maryland
. In 2010, its population
was 244,826. Its county seat
is Bel Air
. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area
.
. It contains Tudor Hall
, birthplace of Abraham Lincoln
's assassin, John Wilkes Booth
. Harford County also hosted the signers of the Bush Declaration
, a precursor document to the American Revolution
.
The county was named for Henry Harford
(ca. 1759-1834), the illegitimate son of Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore
. Henry Harford was born to Calvert's mistress, Hester Whelan, whose residence still stands as part of a private residence on Jarretsville Pike, in Phoenix, Maryland. Harford served as the last Proprietary Governor of Maryland
but, because of his illegitimacy, did not inherit his father's title.
Havre de Grace
, an incorporated city in Harford County, was once under consideration to be the capital of the United States
rather than Washington, D.C.
. It was favored for its strategic location at the top of the Chesapeake Bay
; this location would facilitate trade
while being secure in time of war. Today, the waterways around Havre de Grace have become adversely affected by silt runoff, which is one of the primary environmental issues of Harford County.
The county has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places
.
, water pollution
/urban runoff
, and soil contamination
/groundwater contamination.
The county's past, present, and future population booms and land development
activities have created conflicts between farmers and developers/homeowners wishing to create subdivisions
. The county was one of the first in the country to implement a development envelope plan, in which new development is channeled into specific areas of the county.
Because the county sits at the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay
along the Susquehanna River
, it plays a key role in controlling sediment
and fertilizer
runoff
into the bay as well as fostering submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) regrowth. The county has had to balance the needs of land owners to practice agriculture
and/or pave land (creating impervious surface
s) with effects of runoff into the bay.
Harford County has been burdened by soil contamination and groundwater contamination since the creation of the Aberdeen Proving Ground
. The military installation performs research for the U.S. Army and has released various chemical agents into soil and groundwater, including mustard gas and perchlorate
. The bordering towns of Aberdeen
, Edgewood
and Joppatowne
have been affected by this contamination. Aberdeen Proving Ground contains three superfund
priority sites as of 2006. Groundwater contamination by MTBE, a mandatory gasoline
additive, has also affected Fallston
.
Harford County also faces controversy from residents living near its only municipal landfill
in an area called Dublin. The landfill, approved to triple in size in 2007, is the subject of complaints by neighbors of operating violations, such as large areas of open trash and blown litter, leachate
breaks which contaminate area residential wells and flow into Deer Creek
, a tributary of the Susquehanna River, and increased health problems.
form of government
in 1972. The Harford County Government includes the Harford County Public Library service and the Harford County Sheriff's Office, which now has precincts in Bel Air, Edgewood and Jarrettsville.
The Harford County Executive is David R. Craig
(Republican). The County Council comprises a President (elected at-large) and 6 council members (elected from single-member districts). The current President is William "Billy" Boniface.
The terrain rises in elevation and relief from south to north, with flat areas south of U.S. Route 40.
The highest elevation, at 805 ft., is located near the Pennsylvania border in the county's northwestern corner. The lowest elevation is sea level along the Chesapeake Bay.
>
Year
Population
1900
28,269
1910
27,965
1920
29,291
1930
31,603
1940
35,060
1950
51,782
1960
76,722
1970
115,378
1980
145,930
1990
182,132
2000
218,590
2010
244,826
of 2000, there were 218,590 people, 79,667 households, and 60,387 families residing in the county. The population density
was 496 people per square mile (192/km²). There were 83,146 housing units at an average density of 189 per square mile (73/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.77% White
, 9.27% African-American
, 0.23% Native American
, 1.52% Asian
, 0.06% Pacific Islander
, 0.69% from other races
, and 1.47% from two or more races. 1.91% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 22.5% were of German, 13.1% Irish
, 9.8% Italian
, 9.2% English
, 8.1% "American
" and 6.0% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.
By 2006 the population of Harford County had risen 10.4% to 241,402.
The 2005 report on race and ethnicity indicated the county's population was 82.8% non-Hispanic whites. The proportion of African-Americans in the county had risen to 11.5%. Hispanics were now 2.4% of the total population.
In 2000 there were 79,667 households out of which 38.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.90% were married couples
living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.20% were non-families. 19.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.90% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 31.60% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $57,234, and the median income for a family was $63,868. Males had a median income of $43,612 versus $30,741 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $24,232. About 3.60% of families and 4.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.80% of those under age 18 and 6.70% of those age 65 or over.
Unincorporated areas are also considered as towns by many people and listed in many collections of towns, but they lack local government. Various organizations, such as the United States Census Bureau
, the United States Postal Service
, 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 census-designated place
s in the county:
Other unincorporated communities include:
. The team was founded by former Baltimore Orioles
player and hall of famer Cal Ripken, who was raised in Aberdeen
. Harford County is also home to Kimmie Meissner
, who lives in Bel Air. Meissner competed in figure skating
in the 2006 Winter Olympics and won a gold medal in the 2006 World Figure Skating Championships
in Calgary, Alberta
.
Major sports facilities include:
The Harford County Public Schools system is the public school system serving the residents of Harford County. It includes thirty-two elementary schools, eight middle schools, ten high schools, including one technical high school, a charter school, and an alternative education school.
Harford Christian School is a private Christian school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
, located in Churchville, offers 2-year Associates degrees and vocational programs.
, with over 11,000 civilian employees. Following the recommendations of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission of 2005, approximately 5,300 jobs will be moved to Aberdeen Proving Ground within the following decade.
The single largest private employer in the county is Klein's ShopRite of Maryland. ShopRite employs around 1,200 people in the county.
.
The Conowingo Dam
is on the eastern border of Harford County; the dam operations and offices are on the Harford County side of the river.
Many scenes from the films Tuck Everlasting
and From Within
were filmed in various places around Harford County.
Public transit is operated by county-owned Harford Transit
.
The Head of U.S. drug control policy recently deemed Harford County a designated High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. In 2010, its population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
was 244,826. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Bel Air
Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland
The town of Bel Air is the county seat of Harford County, Maryland, United States. According to the 2000 census the population of the town was 10,080. In 2009 the town's estimated population was 10,368...
. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area
Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area
The Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area is a combined statistical area consisting of the overlapping labor market region of the cities of Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C.. The region includes Central Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Jefferson County in the Eastern Panhandle of West...
.
History
Harford County was formed in 1773 from the eastern part of Baltimore CountyBaltimore County, Maryland
Baltimore County is a county located in the northern part of the US state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 805,029. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Towson. The name of the county was derived from the barony of the Proprietor of the Maryland...
. It contains Tudor Hall
Tudor Hall
Tudor Hall may refer to:Places* Tudor Hall , listed on the NRHP in Maryland* Tudor Hall , listed on the NRHP in Maryland* Tudor Hall , listed on the NRHP in MarylandOther...
, birthplace of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
's assassin, John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth was an American stage actor who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, in Washington, D.C., on April 14, 1865. Booth was a member of the prominent 19th century Booth theatrical family from Maryland and, by the 1860s, was a well-known actor...
. Harford County also hosted the signers of the Bush Declaration
Bush Declaration
The Bush Declaration, also known as the Bush River Declaration, the Bush River Resolution, and the Harford Declaration, was a resolution adopted on March 22, 1775, in Harford County, Maryland...
, a precursor document to the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
The county was named for Henry Harford
Henry Harford
Henry Harford, 5th Proprietor of Maryland was the last proprietary owner of the British colony of Maryland. He was born in 1758 the eldest but illegitimate son of Frederick Calvert 6th Baron Baltimore, and his mistress Hester Whelan...
(ca. 1759-1834), the illegitimate son of Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore
Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore
Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore, 4th Proprietor of Maryland was an English nobleman and last in the line of Barons Baltimore...
. Henry Harford was born to Calvert's mistress, Hester Whelan, whose residence still stands as part of a private residence on Jarretsville Pike, in Phoenix, Maryland. Harford served as the last Proprietary Governor of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
but, because of his illegitimacy, did not inherit his father's title.
Havre de Grace
Havre de Grace, Maryland
Havre de Grace is a city in Harford County, Maryland, United States. Located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River and the head of the Chesapeake Bay, Havre de Grace is named after the port city of Le Havre, France, which was first named Le Havre de Grâce, meaning in French "Harbor of Grace." As...
, an incorporated city in Harford County, was once under consideration to be the capital of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rather than Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. It was favored for its strategic location at the top of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
; this location would facilitate trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
while being secure in time of war. Today, the waterways around Havre de Grace have become adversely affected by silt runoff, which is one of the primary environmental issues of Harford County.
The county has a number of properties on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places listings in Harford County, Maryland
This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Harford County, Maryland.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Harford County, Maryland, United States...
.
Environmental history
Harford County has been a hotbed of environmental issues in three major areas: land useLand use
Land use is the human use of land. Land use involves the management and modification of natural environment or wilderness into built environment such as fields, pastures, and settlements. It has also been defined as "the arrangements, activities and inputs people undertake in a certain land cover...
, water pollution
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
/urban runoff
Urban runoff
Urban runoff is surface runoff of rainwater created by urbanization. This runoff is a major source of water pollution in many parts of the United States and other urban communities worldwide.-Overview:...
, and soil contamination
Soil contamination
Soil contamination or soil pollution is caused by the presence of xenobiotic chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment....
/groundwater contamination.
The county's past, present, and future population booms and land development
Land development
Land development refers to altering the landscape in any number of ways such as:* changing landforms from a natural or semi-natural state for a purpose such as agriculture or housing...
activities have created conflicts between farmers and developers/homeowners wishing to create subdivisions
Subdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
. The county was one of the first in the country to implement a development envelope plan, in which new development is channeled into specific areas of the county.
Because the county sits at the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
along the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
, it plays a key role in controlling sediment
Sediment
Sediment is naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of fluids such as wind, water, or ice, and/or by the force of gravity acting on the particle itself....
and fertilizer
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. A recent assessment found that about 40 to 60% of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizer use...
runoff
Surface runoff
Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
into the bay as well as fostering submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) regrowth. The county has had to balance the needs of land owners to practice agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and/or pave land (creating impervious surface
Impervious surface
Impervious surfaces are mainly artificial structures--such as pavements that are covered by impenetrable materials such as asphalt, concrete, brick, and stone--and rooftops...
s) with effects of runoff into the bay.
Harford County has been burdened by soil contamination and groundwater contamination since the creation of the Aberdeen Proving Ground
Aberdeen Proving Ground
Aberdeen Proving Ground is a United States Army facility located near Aberdeen, Maryland, . Part of the facility is a census-designated place , which had a population of 3,116 at the 2000 census.- History :...
. The military installation performs research for the U.S. Army and has released various chemical agents into soil and groundwater, including mustard gas and perchlorate
Perchlorate
Perchlorates are the salts derived from perchloric acid . They occur both naturally and through manufacturing. They have been used as a medicine for more than 50 years to treat thyroid gland disorders. They are used extensively within the pyrotechnics industry, and ammonium perchlorate is also a...
. The bordering towns of Aberdeen
Aberdeen, Maryland
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,842 people, 5,475 households, and 3,712 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,166.2 people per square mile . There were 5,894 housing units at an average density of 922.4 per square mile...
, Edgewood
Edgewood, Maryland
Edgewood is a census-designated place in Harford County, Maryland, United States. The population was 23,378 at the 2000 census.-History:Pooles Island Light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.-Geography:...
and Joppatowne
Joppatowne, Maryland
Joppatowne is an unincorporated "bedroom community" in southwestern Harford County, Maryland, United States. It was established in 1961 as a Planned Unit Development . Joppatowne is a census-designated place - the population was 11,391 at the 2000 census.Joppatowne is only a small part of what is...
have been affected by this contamination. Aberdeen Proving Ground contains three superfund
Superfund
Superfund is the common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 , a United States federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances...
priority sites as of 2006. Groundwater contamination by MTBE, a mandatory gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
additive, has also affected Fallston
Fallston, Maryland
Fallston is a census-designated place in Harford County, Maryland, United States. The population was 8,427 at the 2000 census. It is a semi-rural community consisting mostly of farms and suburban-like developments and is a good example of an "exurb"...
.
Harford County also faces controversy from residents living near its only municipal landfill
Landfill
A landfill site , is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment...
in an area called Dublin. The landfill, approved to triple in size in 2007, is the subject of complaints by neighbors of operating violations, such as large areas of open trash and blown litter, leachate
Leachate
Leachate is any liquid that, in passing through matter, extracts solutes, suspended solids or any other component of the material through which it has passed....
breaks which contaminate area residential wells and flow into Deer Creek
Deer Creek
- Populated places :* Deer Creek, Illinois* Deer Creek, Indiana* Deer Creek, Minnesota* Deer Creek, Oklahoma* Deer Creek, Taylor County, Wisconsin* Deer Creek, Outagamie County, Wisconsin- Schools :...
, a tributary of the Susquehanna River, and increased health problems.
Law and government
Harford County was granted a charterCharter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
form of government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
in 1972. The Harford County Government includes the Harford County Public Library service and the Harford County Sheriff's Office, which now has precincts in Bel Air, Edgewood and Jarrettsville.
The Harford County Executive is David R. Craig
David R. Craig
David R. Craig is the Harford County Executive and was sworn in on July 7, 2005. He was preceded by Jim Harkins who resigned to become director of Maryland Environmental Services.-Education:...
(Republican). The County Council comprises a President (elected at-large) and 6 council members (elected from single-member districts). The current President is William "Billy" Boniface.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 526.72 square miles (1,364.2 km²), of which 440.35 square miles (1,140.5 km²) (or 83.60%) is land and 86.37 square miles (223.7 km²) (or 16.40%) is water.The terrain rises in elevation and relief from south to north, with flat areas south of U.S. Route 40.
The highest elevation, at 805 ft., is located near the Pennsylvania border in the county's northwestern corner. The lowest elevation is sea level along the Chesapeake Bay.
Adjacent counties
- York CountyYork County, PennsylvaniaYork County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 434,972. It is in the Susquehanna Valley, a large fertile agricultural region in South Central Pennsylvania....
, PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
(north) - Lancaster CountyLancaster County, PennsylvaniaLancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
, PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
(northeast) - Baltimore CountyBaltimore County, MarylandBaltimore County is a county located in the northern part of the US state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 805,029. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Towson. The name of the county was derived from the barony of the Proprietor of the Maryland...
(west) - Cecil CountyCecil County, MarylandCecil County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is part of the Delaware Valley. It was named for Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore , who was the first Proprietary Governor of the colony of Maryland from 1632 until his death in 1675. The county seat is Elkton. The newspaper...
(east) - Kent CountyKent County, MarylandKent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, on its Eastern Shore. It was named for the county of Kent in England. Its county seat is Chestertown. In 2010, the county population was 20,197...
(south, over water only)
Demographics
| > | Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1790 | 14,976 |
| 1800 | 19,626 |
| 1810 | 21,258 |
| 1820 | 15,924 |
| 1830 | 16,319 |
| 1840 | 17,120 |
| 1850 | 19,356 |
| 1860 | 23,415 |
| 1870 | 22,605 |
| 1880 | 28,042 |
| 1890 | 28,993 |
2010
Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:- 81.2% WhiteWhite AmericanWhite Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
- 12.7% BlackAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
- 0.3% Native AmericanNative Americans in the United StatesNative Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
- 2.4% AsianAsian AmericanAsian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
- 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific IslanderPacific Islander AmericanPacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
- 2.5% Two or more racesMultiracial AmericanMultiracial Americans, US residents who identify themselves as of "two or more races", were numbered at around 9 million, or 2.9% of the population, in the census of 2010. However there is considerable evidence that the real number is far higher. Prior to the mid-20th century many people hid their...
- 0.8% Other racesRace (United States Census)Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
- 3.5% Hispanic or LatinoHispanic and Latino AmericansHispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
(of any race)
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 218,590 people, 79,667 households, and 60,387 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 496 people per square mile (192/km²). There were 83,146 housing units at an average density of 189 per square mile (73/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 86.77% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 9.27% African-American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.23% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.52% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.06% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.69% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.47% from two or more races. 1.91% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 22.5% were of German, 13.1% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 9.8% Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
, 9.2% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
, 8.1% "American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
" and 6.0% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.
By 2006 the population of Harford County had risen 10.4% to 241,402.
The 2005 report on race and ethnicity indicated the county's population was 82.8% non-Hispanic whites. The proportion of African-Americans in the county had risen to 11.5%. Hispanics were now 2.4% of the total population.
In 2000 there were 79,667 households out of which 38.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.90% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.20% were non-families. 19.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.90% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 31.60% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 96.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $57,234, and the median income for a family was $63,868. Males had a median income of $43,612 versus $30,741 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $24,232. About 3.60% of families and 4.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.80% of those under age 18 and 6.70% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
Harford County contains the following incorporated municipalities:- two citiesCityA city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
:- AberdeenAberdeen, MarylandAs of the census of 2000, there were 13,842 people, 5,475 households, and 3,712 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,166.2 people per square mile . There were 5,894 housing units at an average density of 922.4 per square mile...
(incorporated 1892) - Havre de GraceHavre de Grace, MarylandHavre de Grace is a city in Harford County, Maryland, United States. Located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River and the head of the Chesapeake Bay, Havre de Grace is named after the port city of Le Havre, France, which was first named Le Havre de Grâce, meaning in French "Harbor of Grace." As...
(incorporated 1785)
- Aberdeen
- one townTownA town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
:- Bel AirBel Air, Harford County, MarylandThe town of Bel Air is the county seat of Harford County, Maryland, United States. According to the 2000 census the population of the town was 10,080. In 2009 the town's estimated population was 10,368...
(incorporated 1872)
- Bel Air
Unincorporated areas are also considered as towns by many people and listed in many collections of towns, but they lack local government. Various organizations, such as the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
, 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 census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
s in the county:
- Aberdeen Proving GroundAberdeen Proving GroundAberdeen Proving Ground is a United States Army facility located near Aberdeen, Maryland, . Part of the facility is a census-designated place , which had a population of 3,116 at the 2000 census.- History :...
- Bel Air NorthBel Air North, MarylandBel Air North is a census-designated place in Harford County, Maryland, in the United States. It is immediately north of the incorporated town of Bel Air, Maryland...
- Bel Air SouthBel Air South, MarylandBel Air South is a census-designated place in Harford County, Maryland, United States. The population was 39,711 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bel Air South is located at ....
- EdgewoodEdgewood, MarylandEdgewood is a census-designated place in Harford County, Maryland, United States. The population was 23,378 at the 2000 census.-History:Pooles Island Light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.-Geography:...
- FallstonFallston, MarylandFallston is a census-designated place in Harford County, Maryland, United States. The population was 8,427 at the 2000 census. It is a semi-rural community consisting mostly of farms and suburban-like developments and is a good example of an "exurb"...
- JarrettsvilleJarrettsville, MarylandJarrettsville is a census-designated place in Harford County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,756 at the 2000 census.-History:...
- JoppatowneJoppatowne, MarylandJoppatowne is an unincorporated "bedroom community" in southwestern Harford County, Maryland, United States. It was established in 1961 as a Planned Unit Development . Joppatowne is a census-designated place - the population was 11,391 at the 2000 census.Joppatowne is only a small part of what is...
- PerrymanPerryman, MarylandPerryman is a census-designated place in Harford County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,461 at the 2000 census.-History:St...
- Pleasant HillsPleasant Hills, MarylandPleasant Hills is a census-designated place in Harford County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,851 at the 2000 census. There is no post office with the designation Pleasant Hills; most of the residents have either Fallston or Kingsville addresses and consider themselves as belonging...
- Riverside
Other unincorporated communities include:
- AbingdonAbingdon, MarylandAbingdon is an unincorporated community in Harford County, Maryland, United States. It lies 25 miles northeast of Baltimore, near the Bush River.- History :Abingdon was named after Abingdon, England....
- Belcamp
- CardiffCardiff, MarylandCardiff is an unincorporated community in Harford County, Maryland, United States. The population was 518 at the 2000 census. Zipcode for the area is 21160. It takes its name from the Capital city of Wales.-Geography:...
- ChurchvilleChurchville, MarylandChurchville is an unincorporated town in Harford County, Maryland, located between the county seat, Bel Air, and Aberdeen, where the Aberdeen Proving Ground is located.-History and Lower Cross Roads:...
- DarlingtonDarlington, MarylandDarlington is an unincorporated village in northeastern Harford County, Maryland, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district in 1987 with approximately 100 contributing properties .-Community:Local children attend the Darlington Elementary...
- Gunpowder
- CastletonCastleton, MarylandCastleton is an unincorporated community in Harford County, Maryland, United States.-References:...
- DublinDublin, MarylandDublin is an unincorporated community in Harford County, Maryland, United States. Dublin was founded in the early 19th century by George McCausland and a friend who migrated from Dublin, Ireland.- History :...
- Forest HillForest Hill, MarylandForest Hill is an unincorporated community in Harford County, Maryland, United States located north of the county seat of Bel Air. The main part of town is located at the intersection of Maryland Route 24 and Jarrettsville Road...
- Level
- NorrisvilleNorrisville, MarylandNorrisville is an unincorporated community in Harford County, Maryland, just south of the Pennsylvania state line in the extreme northwest section of the county. It is primarily a farming community full of rolling hills and small valleys, and is part of the Deer Creek watershed. The area is served...
- PylesvillePylesville, MarylandPylesville is an unincorporated community in Harford County, in the Baltimore metro area of the state of Maryland in the United States. Governed at the county level, the area has a population of around 2000. Until 1958, this community was served by the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad at milepost...
- StreetStreet, MarylandStreet, Maryland is a rural unincorporated area in Northern Harford County, Maryland. Street was first settled by Dutch immigrants in the early 18th century.One of the central villages in Street is Highland...
- WhitefordWhiteford, MarylandWhiteford is an unincorporated community in Harford County, Maryland, United States.The town, a part of the Whiteford-Cardiff Historic District, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Until 1978, this community was served by the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad at...
- White Hall
Sports
Though there are not any major league teams in the county, Harford County is home to a minor league baseball team, the Aberdeen IronBirdsAberdeen IronBirds
The Aberdeen IronBirds are a Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The IronBirds play in the New York - Penn League and are based in Aberdeen, Maryland, which is in Harford County....
. The team was founded by former Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
player and hall of famer Cal Ripken, who was raised in Aberdeen
Aberdeen, Maryland
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,842 people, 5,475 households, and 3,712 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,166.2 people per square mile . There were 5,894 housing units at an average density of 922.4 per square mile...
. Harford County is also home to Kimmie Meissner
Kimmie Meissner
Kimberly Claire "Kimmie" Meissner is an American figure skater. She is the 2006 World Champion, the 2007 U.S. National Champion, and the 2007 Four Continents Champion...
, who lives in Bel Air. Meissner competed in figure skating
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
in the 2006 Winter Olympics and won a gold medal in the 2006 World Figure Skating Championships
World Figure Skating Championships
The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion...
in Calgary, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.
Major sports facilities include:
- Ripken StadiumRipken StadiumRipken Stadium is the home of the Aberdeen IronBirds, Class A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles in the New York-Penn League. The stadium is located in Aberdeen, Maryland. The 6,000-seat Ripken Stadium held its first game on June 18, 2002. The team has sold out every home game at Ripken Stadium...
minor league baseball facility in Aberdeen, capacity of 6,200
- Athletic fields at Harford Community CollegeHarford Community CollegeHarford Community College is a community college in Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland. The college was founded in 1957. The campus occupies , and has 21 buildings totaling over .-Background:...
hosted the independent league Aberdeen Arsenal baseball team for one season
- Brand new Bobcat Stadium with astroturf at the newly built Bel Air High School was finished in 2010. It is the largest high school stadium in the county
- Harford Stadium at Harford Community CollegeHarford Community CollegeHarford Community College is a community college in Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland. The college was founded in 1957. The campus occupies , and has 21 buildings totaling over .-Background:...
, capacity of 1,000
- Gymnasium at Harford Technical High SchoolHarford Technical High SchoolHarford Technical High School is a four-year vocational/technical public high school in Bel Air in Harford County, Maryland, United States. The school is located near the center of the county across the street from Harford Community College and next to the John Archer School.The school was opened...
, capacity of 1,320
Harford County Public Schools
- For an entire list of schools, see Harford County Public SchoolsHarford County Public SchoolsHarford County Public Schools is an American public school system serving the residents of Harford County, Maryland.-Elementary schools:There are thirty-two elementary schools in Harford County...
.
The Harford County Public Schools system is the public school system serving the residents of Harford County. It includes thirty-two elementary schools, eight middle schools, ten high schools, including one technical high school, a charter school, and an alternative education school.
Private Schools
- Harford Friends SchoolHarford Friends SchoolHarford Friends School is a co-ed K–8 independent private school guided by Quaker values located in Harford County, Maryland under the direction of Head of School, Jonathan Huxtable....
, is a private Friends (Quaker) school for Kindergarten through 8th grades. - The John Carroll SchoolThe John Carroll SchoolThe John Carroll School, established in 1964, is a private, independent, college-preparatory, co-educational Catholic school for grades 9–12, located on in Bel Air, Maryland...
, is a private CatholicCatholicThe word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
school in the county.
Harford Christian School is a private Christian school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
Colleges
There are no 4-year universities in Harford County. Harford Community CollegeHarford Community College
Harford Community College is a community college in Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland. The college was founded in 1957. The campus occupies , and has 21 buildings totaling over .-Background:...
, located in Churchville, offers 2-year Associates degrees and vocational programs.
Employment
The single largest employer in Harford County is Aberdeen Proving GroundAberdeen Proving Ground
Aberdeen Proving Ground is a United States Army facility located near Aberdeen, Maryland, . Part of the facility is a census-designated place , which had a population of 3,116 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, with over 11,000 civilian employees. Following the recommendations of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission of 2005, approximately 5,300 jobs will be moved to Aberdeen Proving Ground within the following decade.
The single largest private employer in the county is Klein's ShopRite of Maryland. ShopRite employs around 1,200 people in the county.
Family Support Services
General counseling and trauma-based therapy, in-home assistance for the elderly and adult disabled, and other support programs for families and individuals are offered by Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland (FCS), a private nonprofit organization with offices in Bel Air, Maryland. FCS also operates an adult day care center on the grounds of Harford County Community College. Some services are offered without charge; others are offered on a sliding-fee scale based on income.Miscellaneous
The newspaper of record is The AegisThe Aegis (newspaper)
For the former magazine, see The Aegis The Aegis is a local newspaper in Harford County, Maryland, United States. The Aegis has been providing Harford County with local and national news since 1856. The Aegis Newspaper is also a student run newspaper at Bloomington High School in Bloomington,...
.
The Conowingo Dam
Conowingo Dam
The Conowingo Dam is a large hydroelectric dam in the Lower Susquehanna River. The dam, one of the largest non-federal hydroelectric dams in the US, is classified as a medium height, masonry gravity type dam...
is on the eastern border of Harford County; the dam operations and offices are on the Harford County side of the river.
Many scenes from the films Tuck Everlasting
Tuck Everlasting
Tuck Everlasting is a fantasy children's novel by Natalie Babbitt. It was published in 1975. The book explores the concept of immortality and the reasons why it might not be as desirable as it appears to be. It has sold over two million copies and has been called a classic of modern children's...
and From Within
From Within (film)
From Within is a horror film directed by Phedon Papamichael Jr. and written by Brad Keene. Filming took place in Maryland in fall 2007. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April-May 2008.-Premise:...
were filmed in various places around Harford County.
Public transit is operated by county-owned Harford Transit
Harford Transit
Harford Transit is a public transportation service of the Harford County, Maryland Department of Transportation. It provides six city fixed route services in this suburban Baltimore county...
.
The Head of U.S. drug control policy recently deemed Harford County a designated High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.