Harford County, Maryland

In 1608 the area was inhabited by Massawomecks and Susquehannocks.{{rp|16–17}} The first European to see the area was John Smith in 1608 when he traveled up the Chesapeake Bay from Jamestown.{{rp|14–15}} In 1652, the English and Susquehannocks signed a treaty at what is now Annapolis for the area now called Harford County.{{rp|24}}

Harford County was formed on March 22, 1774, from the eastern part of Baltimore County with a population of 13,000 people.{{cite book|last1=Preston|first1=Walter Wilkes |title=History of Harford County, Maryland: From 1608 (the Year of Smith's Expedition) to the Close of the War of 1812|url=https://archive.org/details/historyharfordc00changoog|date=1901|publisher=Sun|pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyharfordc00changoog/page/n386 360]}}{{rp|13,60}} On March 22, 1775, Harford County hosted the signers of the Bush Declaration, a precursor document to the American Revolution.{{rp|102}} On January 22, 1782, Bel Air became the county seat.{{rp|67}}

Havre de Grace, a city incorporated in 1785 within Harford County, was once under consideration to be the capital of the United States rather than Washington, D.C.{{rp|250}} 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.{{cite news|last1=Sturgill|first1=Erika Quesenbery|title=Havre de Grace came close to the capital 224 years ago|url=http://www.cecildaily.com/our_cecil/article_b615334b-bacc-5bd7-b3e1-2e834d486817.html|access-date=April 21, 2017|publisher=Cecil Daily|date=December 23, 2015}} 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.{{cite book|last1=Dougherty|first1=Wayne H.|title=Comprehensive Plan|date=March 2004|publisher=City of Havre De Grace, Maryland|url=https://planning.maryland.gov/PDF/OurWork/CompPlans/Harford/HavredeGrace/10_CMP_HavredeGrace.pdf|access-date=April 21, 2017}} While today the site is a Maryland National Guard military reservation, the land was used as the Havre de Grace Racetrack where racehorse Man o' War ran in 1919 and 1920.{{cite news|last1=Vought|first1=Allan|title=Super horse Man o' War had many ties to Harford County and to Maryland|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/harford/aegis/ph-ag-man-o-war-centennial-0331-20170330-story.html|access-date=April 25, 2017|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|date=March 31, 2017|archive-date=April 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425205158/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/harford/aegis/ph-ag-man-o-war-centennial-0331-20170330-story.html|url-status=dead}}

File:Sion Hill.jpg|alt=Sion Hill.jpg]]

During the 1900s the Bata Shoe Company employed numerous Eastern European refugees at the Belcamp factory.{{cite book|last1=Bates|first1=Bill|title=Harford County|date=2005|publisher=Arcadia|pages=96}}{{rp|4}} In the 1940s the Susquehanna River tributary Broad Creek was dammed to form the {{convert|55|acre|km2}} at what is now the Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation.Lake Straus: {{Hanging indent | {{cite news|title=Baltimore Speeds Scout Camp Work|newspaper=Washington Post|date=July 22, 1947}}{{rp|B1}}}} {{Hanging indent | {{cite book|last1=Healey|first1=David|title=Great Storms of the Chesapeake|date=September 18, 2012|publisher=Arcadia|pages=160}}}} In June 1972 Hurricane Agnes overflowed the dam and flooded areas in many states.Flooding:{{Hanging indent |{{cite news|newspaper=The Evening Capital|date=June 22, 1972|title=Flash floods kill 4 in Maryland; thousands stranded in Virginia|access-date=November 15, 2016|url= https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/43285737/|location=Annapolis, Maryland}}}} {{Hanging indent |{{cite book|last1=Healey|first1=David|title=Great Storms of the Chesapeake|date=September 18, 2012|publisher=Arcadia|pages=160}}}} On the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, "prior to the 2016 report ... Harford's yearly rankings{{refn|"among Maryland's 23 counties and Baltimore City"}} typically fell between ninth and 10th place, primarily because of the percentage of county residents who were obese or who smoked."{{cite news|first1=David|last1=Anderson|date=April 5, 2017|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/harford/aegis/ph-ag-health-report-0405-20170405-story.html|newspaper=Baltimore Sun|title=Not-so-healthy Harford slips in Maryland rankings|quote="Prior to the 2016 report ... Harford's yearly rankings typically fell between ninth and 10th place, primarily because of the percentage of county residents who were obese or who smoked."|access-date=December 11, 2018|archive-date=May 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519085646/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/harford/aegis/ph-ag-health-report-0405-20170405-story.html|url-status=dead}} Scenes from Tuck Everlasting, From Within, and House of Cards were all filmed in Harford County.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}

In 2011 the Office of National Drug Control Policy deemed Harford County a designated High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/06/20/8-counties-deemed-drug-trafficking-areas/UPI-42591308611325|title=8 counties deemed drug trafficking areas|publisher=UPI.com|date=June 20, 2011|access-date=January 27, 2013}}

The county was named for Henry Harford (c. 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.{{rp|53}} There are 79 properties and districts listed on the National Register in the county, including one National Historic Landmark called Sion Hill.{{NRISref|2010a}}

Harford County has environmental issues in three major areas: land use, water pollution/urban runoff, and soil contamination/groundwater contamination.

As 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 surfaces) 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 in 1917. The military installation performs research for the U.S. Army, including weapons testing, 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.U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Philadelphia. [http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/npl/MD2210020036.htm "Aberdeen Proving Ground (Edgewood Area Site) – Current Site Information."] EPA Superfund Site ID No. MD2210020036. May 2008.EPA. [http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/npl/MD3210021355.htm "Aberdeen Proving Ground (Michaelsville Landfill) – Current Site Information."] EPA Superfund Site ID No. MD3210021355. May 2008.

Aberdeen Proving Ground contains three Superfund priority sites {{As of|2006|lc=y}}. Groundwater contamination by MTBE, a mandatory gasoline additive, has also affected Fallston.Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). Baltimore. [http://www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/Fallston_Presbyterian_PreKfs.pdf "Fact Sheet – Drinking Water Well Impact: Fallston Presbyterian Church/Fallston Pre-Kindergarten, 600 Fallston Road, Fallston, Maryland."]{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} August 27, 2004.MDE.

[http://www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/oilcontrol/FallstonFactSheet12-01-04.pdf "Fact Sheet – Drinking Water Well Impact: Fallston Service Center, 602 Fallston Road, Fallston, Harford County, Maryland 21047."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051030014622/http://www.mde.state.md.us/assets/document/oilcontrol/FallstonFactSheet12-01-04.pdf |date=October 30, 2005 }} MDE Case No. 9-0816HA. December 1, 2004.

File:2016-06-12 12 35 54 View east along Maryland State Route 138 (Troyer Road) entering Harford County, Maryland from Baltimore County, Maryland.jpg

Harford County also faces controversy from residents living near Scarboro Landfill and Harford Waste Disposal Center, the only municipal landfill. 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.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}}

{{Location map+ | Harford

| caption = Adjacent counties and national protected area

| width=600

| places =

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Susquehanna River National Wildlife{{nbsp}}Refuge

| label_size=100

| marksize=5

| position =right

| lat_deg =39.49444

| lon_deg =-76.08333

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Kent

| label_size=100

| marksize=0

| position =right

| lat_deg =39.36

| lon_deg =-76.11

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Harford

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| marksize=0

| position =right

| lat_deg =39.54

| lon_deg =-76.3

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =York

| label_size=100

| marksize=0

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| lat_deg =39.778763

| lon_deg =-76.411503

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Lancaster

| label_size=100

| marksize=0

| position =bottom

| lat_deg =39.778763

| lon_deg =-76.172389

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Baltimore

| label_size=100

| marksize=0

| position =top

| lat_deg =39.4

| lon_deg =-76.6

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Cecil

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| marksize=0

| position =right

| lat_deg =39.57

| lon_deg =-75.95

}}

}}

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|527|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|437|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|90|sqmi}} (17%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_24.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 12, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913171515/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_24.txt|archive-date=September 13, 2014}}

Harford County straddles the border between the rolling hills of the Piedmont Plateau and the flatlands of the Atlantic Coastal Plain along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The county's development is a mix of rural and suburban, with denser development in the larger towns of Aberdeen and Bel Air and along Route 40 and other major arteries leading out of Baltimore. The highest elevations are in the north and northwest of the county, reaching 805 ft. near the Pennsylvania border in the county's northwestern corner. The lowest elevation is sea level along the Chesapeake Bay.

• York County, Pennsylvania (north)
• Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (northeast)
• Cecil County (east)
• Kent County (south)
• Baltimore County (west)

• Susquehanna River National Wildlife Refuge{{cite web

|title=Susquehanna River National Wildlife Refuge: Overview

|url=http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=51532

|publisher=U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

|location=Cambridge, Maryland

|access-date=December 11, 2018

|archive-date=January 11, 2019

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111133411/https://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=51532

|url-status=dead

}}

{{Location map+ | Harford

| caption = Cities and town

| width=600

| places =

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Aberdeen

| label_size=100

| marksize=5

| position =right

| lat_deg =39.510278

| lon_deg =-76.169167

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Havre{{nbsp}}de{{nbsp}}Grace

| label_size=100

| marksize=5

| position =right

| lat_deg =39.544560

| lon_deg =-76.141379

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Bel Air

| label_size=100

| marksize=5

| position =right

| lat_deg =39.536667

| lon_deg =-76.348333

}}

}}

• Aberdeen
• Havre de Grace

• Bel Air (county seat)

• Aldino
• Benson
• Berkley
• Cardiff
• Castleton
• Churchville
• Clayton
• Constant Friendship
• Creswell
• Dublin
• Darlington
• Emmorton
• Fairview
• Forest Hill
• Fountain Green
• Glenwood
• Hess
• Hickory
• Hopewell Village
• Joppa
• Kalmia
• Level
• Madonna
• Norrisville
• Shawsville
• Street
• Taylor
• Whiteford

{{Location map+ | Harford

| caption = Census-designated places

| width=600

| places =

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Aberdeen{{nbsp}}Proving{{nbsp}}Ground

| label_size=75

| marksize=5

| position =right

| lat_deg =39.473451

| lon_deg =-76.140837

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Bel{{nbsp}}Air{{nbsp}}North

| label_size=75

| marksize=5

| position =right

| lat_deg =39.550556

| lon_deg =-76.361667

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Bel{{nbsp}}Air{{nbsp}}South

| label_size=75

| marksize=5

| position =left

| lat_deg =39.502778

| lon_deg =-76.318889

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Darlington

| label_size=75

| marksize=5

| position =right

| lat_deg =39.640278

| lon_deg =-76.200833

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Edgewood

| label_size=75

| marksize=5

| position =left

| lat_deg =39.430278

| lon_deg =-76.305556

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Fallston

| label_size=75

| marksize=5

| position =left

| lat_deg =39.531944

| lon_deg =-76.438056

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Jarrettsville

| label_size=75

| marksize=5

| position =left

| lat_deg =39.601944

| lon_deg =-76.4725

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Joppatowne

| label_size=75

| marksize=5

| position =right

| lat_deg =39.415

| lon_deg =-76.356111

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Perryman

| label_size=75

| marksize=5

| position =bottom

| lat_deg =39.468611

| lon_deg =-76.213056

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Pleasant{{nbsp}}Hills

| label_size=75

| marksize=5

| position =left

| lat_deg =39.485556

| lon_deg =-76.394444

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Pylesville

| label_size=75

| marksize=5

| position =right

| lat_deg =39.689028

| lon_deg =-76.373417

}}

{{Location map~ | Harford

| label =Riverside

| label_size=75

| marksize=5

| position =top

| lat_deg =39.476389

| lon_deg =-76.245

}}

}}

• Aberdeen Proving Ground
• Abingdon
• Bel Air North
• Bel Air South
• Darlington
• Edgewood
• Fallston
• Jarrettsville
• Joppatowne
• Perryman
• Pleasant Hills
• Pylesville
• Riverside (Belcamp)

{{Clear}}

• Glenville

The January freezing isotherm runs across the northern part of the county and divides it into a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) and a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa.) Average monthly temperatures in Bel Air range from 32.6 °F in January to 76.6 °F in July, while in Aberdeen they range from 33.5 °F in January to 77.2 °F in July.{{cite web | url=https://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/ | title=PRISM Climate Group at Oregon State University }}

{{PresHead|place=Harford County, Maryland|whig=no|source1={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=June 11, 2018}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|83,050|62,453|4,587|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|80,930|63,095|4,161|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|77,860|47,077|8,735|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|72,911|49,729|3,314|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|71,751|48,552|2,992|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|71,565|39,685|1,478|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|52,862|35,665|2,897|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|39,686|29,779|8,726|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|36,350|27,164|17,173|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|38,493|19,803|270|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|37,382|17,133|127|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|26,713|20,042|4,186|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|24,309|19,890|0|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|25,141|8,737|488|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|15,799|9,914|4,978|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|9,968|13,550|0|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|12,090|9,293|0|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|12,657|6,588|0|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|10,770|6,809|80|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1948|Republican|6,168|5,494|88|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1944|Republican|6,751|4,839|0|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1940|Republican|6,501|5,500|59|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|5,327|6,165|39|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,954|6,073|107|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,479|3,506|55|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|3,545|3,841|372|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,175|4,134|65|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,302|3,345|85|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,737|3,064|912|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|2,742|3,148|82|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|2,561|3,151|121|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|3,145|3,509|271|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1896|Republican|3,374|3,360|371|Maryland}}

{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|2,449|3,309|264|Maryland}}

|}

Harford County is, like the Pennsylvania Dutch Country to its north, a strongly Republican region. No Democratic presidential candidate has carried Harford County since Lyndon Johnson’s landslide of 1964, although recent trends have shown the county voting less Republican over the past few elections. In the period before World War II Harford leaned strongly Democratic as it had sizeable Confederate sympathies,{{Cite journal |last=Levine |first=Mark V. |date=May 1976 |title=Standing Political Decisions and Critical Realignment: The Pattern of Maryland Politics, 1872-1948 |journal=The Journal of Politics |volume=38 |issue=2 |pages=292–325 |doi=10.2307/2129537 |jstor=2129537}} but during and since World War II the county has turned away from its traditional allegiances.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Harford County was granted a charter form of government in 1972. This means that the county is run by a County Executive and Council President, both elected at large, as well as Council Members, elected from districts. Currently, there are six districts in Harford County. Also elected at large is the Sheriff, who runs the Harford County Sheriff's Office, the State's Attorney, who prosecutes all crimes in the county, the Register of Wills, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

{{further|List of county executives of Maryland#Harford}}

The Harford County Executive is Robert Cassilly (Republican). Primary law enforcement in the county is handled by the Harford County Sheriff's Office, which has precincts in Jarrettsville, Edgewood and Bel Air. The current Sheriff is Jeffrey Gahler (R). The Maryland State Police also have a barrack located in Bel Air which serves the citizens of Harford County. Municipal police needs are provided by the Bel Air Police Department, the Aberdeen Police Department and the Havre De Grace Police Department. The current State's Attorney is Alison Healey, the first woman to hold the post. Directors are nominated by the Executive and approved by the council. The Volunteer Fire & EMS Association department{{refn|11 fire departments, one EMS department. All are volunteer companies.}} is led by Russell Eyre.{{Cite web | url=http://www.hcvfa.org/184/Association-Leadership | title=Association Leadership | Harford Co. Volunteer Fire & EMS, MD | access-date=December 11, 2018 | archive-date=August 17, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817045707/http://www.hcvfa.org/184/Association-Leadership | url-status=dead }}

File:Council Districts.gif

Patrick Vincenti is the council president. Dion F. Guthrie represents district A which includes Joppa and Edgewood. Aaron David Penman represents district B which includes Abingdon and Fallston. Tony "G" Giangiordano represents district C which includes Bel Air and Forest Hill. James Reilly represents district D which includes Jarrettsville, Street, and Darlington. Jessica Boyle-Tsottles represents district E which includes Churchville and Aberdeen. Jacob D. Bennett represents district F which includes Belcamp and Havre de Grace.

{{US Census population

|1790= 14976

|1800= 17626

|1810= 21258

|1820= 15924

|1830= 16319

|1840= 17120

|1850= 19356

|1860= 23415

|1870= 22605

|1880= 28042

|1890= 28993

|1900= 28269

|1910= 27965

|1920= 29291

|1930= 31603

|1940= 35060

|1950= 51782

|1960= 76722

|1970= 115378

|1980= 145930

|1990= 182132

|2000= 218590

|2010= 244826

|2020= 260924

|estyear=2023

|estimate=264644

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 3, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 12, 2014}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 12, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/md190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 12, 2014}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 12, 2014}} 2010–2020

}}

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 218,590 people, 79,667 households, and 60,387 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|496|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. There were 83,146 housing units at an average density of {{convert|189|/mi2|/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.

By 2006 the population of Harford County had risen 10.4% to 241,402.[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24/24025.html Harford County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606163834/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24/24025.html |date=June 6, 2011 }}

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 age distribution of the population shows 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.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 244,826 people, 90,218 households, and 66,335 families residing in the county.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US24025

|title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data

|access-date=January 22, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213030245/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US24025

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The population density was {{convert|560.1|PD/sqmi}}. There were 95,554 housing units at an average density of {{convert|218.6|/sqmi}}.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US24025

|access-date=January 22, 2016

|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213183930/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US24025

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The racial makeup of the county was 81.2% white, 12.7% black or African American, 2.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.9% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 28.1% were German, 19.8% were Irish, 12.2% were English, 9.9% were Italian, 6.8% were Polish, and 6.2% were American.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US24025

|title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=January 22, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213014139/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US24025

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Of the 90,218 households, 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.5% were non-families, and 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.13. The median age was 39.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $77,010 and the median income for a family was $88,370. Males had a median income of $59,734 versus $44,706 for females. The per capita income for the county was $33,559. About 4.0% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US24025

|title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=January 22, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213013007/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US24025

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

According to the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, the following were the top employers in Harford County:

The Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra, formerly the Harford Community Orchestra, is an orchestra that is based in Harford County. The group is made up of 70 musicians from many professions.{{cite web |last1=Klingman |first1=Mike |title=Conductor Sheldon Bair and his community ensemble keep the music playing in Harford |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2022/08/19/conductor-sheldon-bair-and-his-community-ensemble-keep-the-music-playing-in-harford/ |website=The Baltimore Sun |date=August 19, 2022 |access-date=January 4, 2024 |quote="For 46 years Bair has led the SSO, a Harford County ensemble composed of 70 accomplished musicians from 18 to 80, many of whom offset the stress of their regular jobs by tooting their own horns. Some attend evening rehearsals straight from work, like the police officer who arrived wearing her body armor. It’s an eclectic bunch including doctors, nurses, teachers and stay-at-home moms."}}

The [http://www.decoymuseum.com/ Havre De Grace Decoy Museum] is a museum dedicated to working and decorative decoys used on the Chesapeake Bay.{{cite web |title=Decoy Museum Havre de Grace |url=https://mainstreetmaryland.org/decoy-museum-hdg/ |website=Main Street Maryland |access-date=January 4, 2024 |quote="The Decoy Museum houses the most extensive collection of working and decorative Chesapeake Decoys."}}

Harford Community College hosts many cultural spots. The Student Center hosts the Chesapeake Gallery, a collection of artwork from established artists, as well as students and faculty, and the Chesapeake Theater, a theater venue used by the Phoenix Festival Theater Company, a student run theater group.{{Cite web |title=Arts & Culture |url=https://www.visitharford.com/things-to-do/arts-and-culture/ |access-date=June 6, 2023 |website=www.visitharford.com}}

Harford Community College also has the Joppa Hall, which houses the Blackbox Theatre, an additional theater venue used by the Harford Dance Theater Company and the HCC Actors Guild. The Joppa Hall also houses the Joppa Recital Halls, a venue for musical performances.{{Cite web |title=Musical Performances at Harford Community College |url=https://www.harford.edu/about/get-to-know-harford/news/2023/04-april/musical-performances.php |access-date=June 6, 2023 |website=www.harford.edu |language=en}}

Also at HCC is the Hays-Heighe House, a museum dedicated to the history of Harford County.{{Cite web |title=Hays-Heighe House |url=https://www.harford.edu/about/get-to-know-harford/hhh-history.php |access-date=June 6, 2023 |website=www.harford.edu |language=en}}

[http://www.harfordhistory.org The Historical Society of Harford County], one of the oldest county historical societies in Maryland, was established in 1885 to preserve, promote, and interpret the history of the county and its people. Today, it is headquartered on Main Street in downtown Bel Air in the historic 1936 Old Bel Air Post Office Building, where it maintains an archive, exhibit space, and research library.{{Cite web |date=June 13, 2023 |title=About Us |url=https://www.harfordhistory.org/about-us/ |access-date=June 6, 2023 |website=The Historical Society of Harford County |language=en-US}}

No major league sports teams are based in Harford County. The list of sports teams and organizations are shown below:

Harford County is the hometown of many sports icons, including Kimmie Meissner, a 2006 Olympic figure skating competitor, Cal Ripken, a former Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer and former Minnesota Vikings linebacker EJ Henderson.

The Conowingo Dam is on the eastern border of Harford County.

File:2019-07-16 10 13 45 View south along Interstate 95 (John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway) from the overpass for Maryland State Route 24 (Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway) on the edge of Edgewood and Bel Air South in Harford County, Maryland.jpg

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Buses are run by the county-owned Harford Transit. The state-operated MARC Penn Line serves Edgewood and Aberdeen.

The Harford County Airport is a small airport in Churchville. Its available for recreational pilots & flight training, as well as sight seeing, balloon rides, hang gliding and sky diving.

Health services are provided by Upper Chesapeake Health System. Harford Memorial Hospital located in Havre De Grace and Upper Chesapeake Medical Center located in Bel Air form the two hospital system. UCHS is a member of the University of Maryland Medical System.

{{see also|Family and Children's Services of Central Maryland}}

{{For|a complete list of public schools|Harford County Public Schools}}

The Harford County Public Schools system is the public school system serving the residents of Harford County. It includes thirty-two elementary schools, nine middle schools, ten high schools and one charter school.

• Harford Christian School, a Christian school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
• The John Carroll School, a Catholic school for 9th through 12th grade.
• Trinity Lutheran School, a Lutheran school for pre-kindergarten through 8th grade.
• Harford Day School, a private school for Kindergarten through 8th grades.
• Harford Friends School, a Quaker school for Kindergarten through 8th grades.
• Saint Margaret School, a Catholic school for pre-kindergarten through 8th grade.
• Grace Classical Academy, formerly Oak Grove Classical Christian School, is a Classical Christian school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.graceclassicalmd.org/|access-date=July 31, 2020|website=Grace Classical Academy|language=en-US}}
• The Highlands School is a private, independent, AIMS accredited, K-12 program designed for students with dyslexia, ADHD, and language-based learning differences.{{Cite web|title=ABOUT {{!}} The Highlands School {{!}} United States|url=https://www.highlandsschool.net/about|access-date=July 31, 2020|website=highlands-school|language=en|archive-date=August 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805050427/https://www.highlandsschool.net/about|url-status=dead}}

Harford Community College, located in Churchville, offers 2-year associate degrees and vocational programs. Recently, Harford County Community College has entered into several partnerships with local four-year colleges for enhanced offerings, for credit at those institutions, to be taught on campus and at the surrounding buildings. Towson University Harford Campus, located across from Harford Community College, offers a select amount of four-year degrees that students can obtain after completing the required credits at Harford Community College.

The newspaper of record is The Aegis. Several radio stations are located in Harford County. WAMD at 970 AM licensed to Aberdeen follows the format of Top40. WHFC at 91.1 FM licensed to Bel-Air follows the format of Variety. WHGM at 1330 AM/104.7 FM licensed toHavre De Grace follows the format of Adult hits. WXCY-FM at 103.7 FM licensed to Havre De Grace follows the format of Country. The Harford Cable Network, or HCN,[http://harfordcable.org/ Harford Cable Network] provides local TV. It shows local government events, high school and Fighting Owl sporting events and religious programming, among others.

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{Commons category inline|Harford County, Maryland}}

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Harford County, Maryland

|North = York County, Pennsylvania

|Northeast = Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

|East = Cecil County

|Southeast = Kent County

|South = Chesapeake Bay

|Southwest =

|West = Baltimore County

|Northwest =

}}

{{Harford County, Maryland}}

{{BaltimoreMetroArea}}

{{Maryland}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1773 establishments in Maryland

Category:Maryland counties

Category:Maryland counties on the Chesapeake Bay

Category:Populated places established in 1773