History

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. Howard County, Maryland is frequently cited for its affluence, quality of life, and excellent schools. In 2006 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 4th amongst Money Magazine's America's Best Places to Live. Also, Howard County schools frequently rank first in Maryland as measured by standardized test scores and graduation rates.

The county was named for John Eager Howard, an officer in the American Revolutionary War and later the fifth Governor of Maryland. 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. Courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_County,_Maryland