• Maryland State Facts
• Harford County Facts
• Geography
• History
• Recreation and Culture
• Agriculture
• Natural Resources
• Education
• Health and Public Safety
• Transportation
• Government
• Business
• Faith and Worship

Maryland State Facts

• 5th smallest state
• 19th in population
• Land Area: 10,460 sq. miles
• Population: 4,780,753
• Capital: Annapolis
• Largest City: Baltimore
• Highest Temperature: 109 F - July 1898
• Lowest Temperature: -40 F - January 1912
• Average Yearly Precipitation: 43 inches of rain & snow
• Average Snowfall: Appalachian Mts. 78", Atlantic Coast: 9"

From the waterfront promenade in historic Havre de Grace to the gracious Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, Harford County offers a wealth of opportunities for exploration and discovery. Whether you are a sports fan celebrating baseball at Ripken Stadium, home of the Aberdeen Ironbirds, or look to stroll the shops and restaurants of Bel Air and Havre de Grace, you'll find lots to see and experience.

Harford County Facts

• Population
  • 2000: 218,590
  • 2005: 238,750
  • 2010: 254,700 (projected)
  • 2015: 268,200 (projected)
  • 2020: 276,500 (projected)
• County Seat: Bel Air
• Elevation: Sea level to 803 feet
• Land Area: 448 square miles
• Water Area: 96.21 square miles
• Average Household Income: $73,380
• Average House Sales price: $197,669
• Number of Households (2003): 84,675
• % of Family Households: 75.02%
• Estimated Household size: 2.96
• Median Age: 39.6

The diverse landscape in Harford County offers residents and visitors a variety of activities to enjoy from boating on the Chesapeake Bay, hiking through Rocks State Park and biking the trails of Susquehanna State Park to riding thoroughbred horses through beautiful hunt country and golfing on pristine courses.

The southern half of Harford County is located in a region called the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The Atlantic Coastal Plain is a flat, low land area with a maximum elevation of 300 feet above sea level. It lies on a bed of crystalline rock, covered with layers of sand, clay and gravel. Water passing through this loose mixture dissolves many of the minerals-the most soluble elements are iron, calcium and magnesium.

The Atlantic Coastal Plain extends from the Atlantic Ocean, east to a line that runs from 15 to 90 miles west of the Bay to where the Piedmont Plateau begins. In Harford County, this runs across approximately the bottom third of the county - close to Interstate 95.

The northern part of Harford County lies in the Piedmont Plateau, which runs west to the Appalachian Mountains, and is characterized by gently rolling hills. Along the dividing line, cargo would be transferred to canals or shipped overland, thus the cities of Havre de Grace and Conowingo were important areas for this early commerce because of their location on the dividing line.

Harford County has three major streams - Deer Creek, named by the Susquehannock Indians, is the longest stream within the county, winding through the width of northern Harford County and named for the numerous deer in the nearby region. Bynum Run is named for James Bynam, an early settler, and Winters Run was a family name.

The first white man to visit the upper Chesapeake Bay and make maps of the area was Captain John Smith, who made two voyages from Jamestown in Virginia (yes, he is the same Captain John Smith whose life was saved by Pocahantas). On his second voyage, Smith along with twelve men, explored Harford County and made detailed maps of the land, its islands and shores. On this map, he designated places-many of the names are still used today-after the men in his crew.

Smith proceeded up the bay to the Gunpowder and Bush Rivers, continuing north to Havre de Grace and into the Susquehanna River. He was so impressed with area that he noted in his journal, "Heaven and earth seemed never to have agreed better to frame a place for a man's commodious and delightful habitation."

The expedition continued up the river for several miles to what is believed to be Deer Creek where stood the village of the Susquehannock Indians. These Indians occupied the northern section of Harford County, while the Massawomek Indians were found in the southern part around Bush and Gunpowder Rivers. The Massawomeks were in constant fear of the nearly seven-foot tall Susquehannocks and the two tribes were often in combat.

Harford County was formed in 1773, after a rapid population growth in neighboring Baltimore County. Since the act was passed by the General Assembly of Maryland to separate the counties, the boundaries have remained the same for over 200 years-with the exception of changes mad in 1917 when the United States Government took over the lands of Aberdeen Proving Ground and Edgewood Arsenal.

Notable People

William Paca was born in Harford County near Abingdon on October 31, 1740. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and was present at the First and Second Continental Congresses and elected to three terms as Governor of the state of Maryland. During his term, the Revolutionary War ended and he worked with the welfare of war veterans. His reputation as a political figure and statesman grew steadily to national prominence earning him an appointment to Judge of the U.S. District Court by President George Washington which he held until his death in 1799.

Marquis de Lafayette... Conflicting stories are told about how the city of Havre de Grace was named, but all credit the French Army Officer, Marquis de Lafayette. Seeing a resemblance of the small town located near the bay with that of Le Havre located in his native France, it is said that he exclaimed, "C'est le Havre!" The expression was immediately accepted as the town was formerly known as Susquehanna Lower Forty.

Henry Harford was born in London on April 5, 1758, Harford County was named in honor of him. He was the illegitimate son of the sixth and last Lord of Baltimore, Frederick Calvert. Although Henry inherited "vast lands" in Maryland, nearly a 250,000 acres, after his father's death, in 1780 the legislature of Maryland passed a law confiscating all property of British subjects. At the end of the Revolution, Harford came to Maryland for compensation of his lost property. Five years later, he was denied all rights to collect his inheritance except for a few debts owed to him prior to the Declaration of Independence.

Edwin Thomas and John Wilkes Booth were sons of the American actor Junius Brutus Booth. Edwin was nationally known for his Shakespearean theatrical performances, while John Wilkes will be forever tied to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln during a play at the Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C.

Susquehannock Indians... The Susqehannonock Indians were of the Iroquois nation and roamed over a wide area of Harford County. They were a unique tribe of fierce warriors and were often at battle with the Massawomeks who lived on the Bush River, Piscataways from the Western Shore. When at peace, they were most gracious in their friendship; but when at war, they became ruthless and killed their enemies without mercy. The Susquehannocks were finally eliminated by continued battles with other tribes, disease and finally in 1763 by the white settlers who were in fear of Indian attacks.

Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon and the Mason and Dixon Line... In 1763, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon were given the job of surveying the line separating Maryland from Pennsylvania. Every mile, through trees and brush, climbing hills and crossing meadows, Mason and Dixon placed a stone engraved with a "P" on the northern side and an "M" on the southern side. Each fifth mile was marked by a crownstone engraved with the coat of arms of the William Penn and Lord Baltimore families. This famous dividing line which determines the northern border of Harford and Cecil Counties with Pennsylvania, also served to separate the North from the South during the Civil War. Few of these markers remain as they have been destroyed or misplaced.

Signers of The Bush Declaration

• Charles Anderson
• John Archer
• William Bradford,Sr
• Thomas Brice
• Samuel Calwell
• Richard Dallam
• John Donahey
• Greenberry Dorsey
• John Durham
• William Fisher,Jr.
• Aquila Hall
• Aquila Hall,Jr.
• Josias Carvil Hall
• James Harris
• Francis Holland
• Thomas Johnson
• Robert Lemmon
• James Lytle
• James McComas
• Robert Morgan
• William Morgan
• Benjamin Bradford Norris
• Aquila Paca
• John Patrick
• George Patterson
• Edward Prall
• Alexander Rigdon
• Daniel Scott
• William Smith
• William Smithson
• Edward Ward
• William Webb
• Abraham Whitaker

Since his retirement from baseball, Cal has constructed a state-of-the-art baseball complex in his hometown of Aberdeen. Ripken Stadium is a 6,000 seat minor league ballpark which is home to the Aberdeen Ironbirds and Ripken Youth Baseball Academy where thousands of kids learn the love of baseball every year. The academy has several youth-sized fields, modeled after famous big league ballparks including Cal, Sr.'s Yard, modeled after Camden Yards. The academy also hosts the Cal Ripken World Series every August where one of fifteen teams of 11 and 12 year olds from all over the world is crowned the champion of the Cal Ripken Division of Babe Ruth League, Inc.

Cal Ripken's dedication to the game of baseball as well as his commitment to his community and the future of baseball make him Harford County's "Home Town Hero."

Our Historic Towns

Bush (Harford Town)
In 1773, when Harford County became a separate jurisdiction, a new county seat was created at Harford Town, also called Bushtown or Bush. Court was held in one of the inns until 1782 when the county seat was moved to Bel Air.

Bush was situated on the main thoroughfare between Annapolis and Philadelphia, now identified by the intersection of Routes 7 and 136. This was the first overnight stop for many travelers including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. A coach house built in the early 18th century, is the only remaining building from this era and is now a private residence.

On March 22, 1775, sixteen months before the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia, thirty four Harford County citizens gathered at Bush and signed a commitment to resist the British infringement on American rights. This document is believed to be the first resolution of this spirit adopted by duly elected representatives. Their closing words, "At the risque of our lives and fortunes" is now embellished on the official seal of Harford County. Local historians believe that Jefferson read the Bush Declaration since there is much similarity between it and the Declaration of Independence.

Bel Air
In 1782, Harford Countians voted to move the county seat from "Bush" to Scott's Old Fields (or Belle Aire), a plat of 42 lots along today's Main Street. One year later the name "Old Fields" was dropped and the tiny town became known as Bel Air, with a total of four houses. The Van Bibber House and Hays House are Bel Air's only remaining examples of 18th century homes.

Even though a courthouse and jail were to be built, there was controversy over their location, which was not settled until 1787. The actual construction did not start until 1788. The present-day courthouse on Main Street was constructed in 1858 on the size of the original courthouse which was destroyed by fire.

The original jail was constructed in 1791, portions of which are still standing. This jail consisted of three floors, each with six double bunked cells per floor, one cell for females, and one for juveniles. Meals were prepared on site by the Sheriff's wife and served on a small metal tray.

Havre de Grace
The county's oldest town is Havre de Grace, located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River. Most people believe the name of Havre de Grace came from Marquis de Lafayette's comparison of the area with the port of Le Havre in his native France.

Founded in 1658, Havre de Grace was seriously considered for the Capital of the United States in 1789. With an even vote by representatives, the Speaker, Elias Boudinot, casting the deciding vote against Havre de Grace in favor of Washington on the Potomac. This choice for the Capital was finalized on July 9, 1790.

Havre de Grace achieved prominence during the war when Lt. John O'Neill led the town militia against a British attack. In recognition for his bravery, the Concord Point Lighthouse was built on the spot where Lt. O'Neill made a valiant stand against an invading British Fleet under the command of Admiral Cocksburn.

Joppa (Gunpowder Town)
When Joppa was in its prime as a port in the early 1700's the city of Baltimore was running a poor second. That's hard to believe when you compare the two today-Baltimore is now Maryland's largest city and Joppa is a residential community.

In 1709 Colonel James Maxwell secured authorization to construct a courthouse in Joppa and in 1712 Joppa was officially declared the county seat of Baltimore County. It was known as a "booming seaport" and tall masted clipper ships could be seen in the harbor unloading cargo to be distributed throughout the Colonies.

Silt and smallpox soon destroyed the port. The only structure that remains intact from this historic town is the mansion of Benjamin Rumsey, a leader in the Revolution and first Justice of the Appellate Court of Maryland. Today it is a private residence.

Aberdeen
In 1835, the construction of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad began and the little town of Hall's Cross Roads was renamed Aberdeen after the first railroad station manager's home town in Aberdeen, Scotland. The town became a thriving shipping point for the milk and canning industries. In 1880, a second railroad, the Baltimore and Ohio, gave the town additional shipping facilities and another growth spurt.

In 1892, the Maryland General Assembly made Aberdeen an incorporated town with the right of self-government.

In 1997 Aberdeen was awarded the All-American City in recognition of the city's commitment to partnership and progress, creativity and collaboration, perseverance and pride.

Aberdeen is also host to many historic homes such as the Baker House. This 1896 carriage house was built for George Washington Baker, a local farmer who became wealthy by invented canning machinery. The Baker family lost everything in the stock market crash of 1929, but retained the house until 1979. This house has since been placed on the Maryland List of Historical sites in 1983 and was accepted by the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Because of Harford County's unique location at the top of the Chesapeake Bay and along the Susquehanna River, water activities top the list of recreational pleasures. Water lovers gain access to the river and bay from several private marinas or public launching pads. On any given day, you can spot sail boats, jet skis, power boats, fishing boats and water skiers enjoying the scenic waters. A promenade in Havre de Grace allows the walker or jogger a chance to observe a variety of water fowl feeding off the coast in their natural environment. Fishing below the Conowingo Dam is a popular spring event when the American Shad swims up the Susquehanna River to spawn.

Interested in nature trails? Harford County has plenty! Susquehanna State Park just outside Havre de Grace has an immense trail system that loops around the 2500 acre park for bird watching, horseback riding, nature hiking or mountain biking. The Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air offers a hike/bike trail that follows where the original train tracks of the Ma & Pa Railroad once laid. The high altitude at Rock State Park give visitors a view like no other. Hike to the King and Queen Seats (a throne-like formation where, according to local legend, Indian chieftains sat in tribal council) and overlook Harford County's beautiful countryside. More than 11,000 acres along the Gunpowder River make this area popular for not only hiking, but horseback riding as well.

Harford County is not short on other recreational activities. There are 53 playgrounds, 96 tennis courts, 144 baseball/softball diamonds, 16 fishing piers, 21 picnic areas, 8 locations for hiking trails and the Harford County Equestrian Center (home to the annual Harford County Farm Fair and equestrian events).

Farmers' Markets
Harford County is host to an abundance of farmers' markets located in Bel Air, Edgewood, and Havre de Grace. The Twilight market is also located in Bel Air and combines live entertainment and refreshments to create a unique experience. All markets sell only fresh, "local" produce in season, along with jellies, jams, baked goods, small shrubs and ornamental grasses.

Farm Visitation Day
Farm Visitation Day enables the community at large to experience different aspects of farm life. It is held at a various locations throughout the county each year.

Harford County Farm Fair
This summer event occurs the last weekend in July and features 4-H exhibits, tractor pulls, kid's entertainment, home arts and crafts and live bands

Darlington Apple Festival
This festival is held the first week in October and is an old-fashioned day in the country with all day entertainment, country markets, arts & crafts and of course, lots of Apples!

The Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest body of water in the state of Maryland. It is approximately 200 miles long (originating in upper New York state, running through Pennsylvania, and Maryland), contains more than 4,400 miles of shoreline and has surface area of more than 2,300 square miles. It ranges in width from about 4 miles near Annapolis to 30 miles at its widest point near the mouth of the Potomac River. On average, the Chesapeake holds about 18 trillion gallons of water with an average depth of only 27 feet. The bay is shaped like a shallow tray, except for a few deep troughs believed to be the remains of the ancient Susquehanna River. According to theory, ten thousand years ago, melting glacier ice caused the Atlantic to rise and push up into the Susquehanna River; overflowing its banks and creating the Chesapeake Bay. In other words, the Bay is a "drowned" river bed of the Susquehanna River. It is also an estuary, a place where fresh and salt water mingle. In 1608, Captain John Smith thought there was "no place more perfect for man's habitation" than the Chesapeake Bay. In the early days of our country, it transported people to colonize our area and provided resources for their basic needs. Today, it is one of the largest sources of seafood in America.

The Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River flows into the Chesapeake Bay at the town of Havre de Grace (Harford County) and Perryville (Cecil County). The Susquehanna is the major water source for the Bay, as well as providing millions of gallons of fresh water for areas of Cecil County, Baltimore City, Havre de Grace, Aberdeen and Edgewood. Because of the construction of the Conowingo Dam in 1928, it is now the largest non-navigable river in North America, but 20,000 years ago, the Susquehanna flowed all the way from upstate New York to the Atlantic Ocean. A great amount of silt and nutrients are carried by the Susquehanna from its origins in New York. It empties into the Bay at the Susquehanna Flats, which makes the flats very fertile for numerous aquatic plants such as wild celery, widgeon grass and eel grass, attracting canvasback and redhead ducks. Severe storms in 1950 destroyed the celery grass and since have had little or no re-growth in this area. Consequently, there are now fewer canvasback and redhead ducks in this area.

The Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway
The Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway is a corridor of protected open spaces along the Susquehanna River with a network of looping trails; a natural corridor connecting towns, public and private lands, historic sites and woodlands and open spaces, along one of the nation's most beautiful and abundant waterways - the Susquehanna River. The greenway provides recreation opportunities and contributes to the preservation of rare species while conserving land and water values. Each community within the corridor offers precious and unique amenities - scenic views, relaxation, recreation, and water access as well as a vast array of historic sites, museums and numerous local festivals and cultural events.

Did You Know?

• The Chesapeake Bay is fairly shallow. A person 6 feet tall could wade over 700,000 acres of the bay without becoming completely submerged!
• Each year, crabbers catch approximately 75% of the adult blue crab population in the Bay.
• Nearly half of the nation's catch of blue crabs comes from the Chesapeake Bay.
• At one point in the late 1800's, oysters were so plentiful that in some areas the boats could not go through.
• Decoys of wildfowl have been used since the Indian tribes inhabited the river's shores surrounding the Susquehanna Flats. Probably made from a mixture of grass and mud baked in the sun, the decoy was a way to lure a duck into the range of a bow and arrow. Hunters and sportsmen used white pine because of its availability, lightness, durability and ease of working with. Made by hand from 1800-1920, and machines until 1929, decoys were made fro one purpose only - to help hunters kill ducks. Now a respected art form, decoys are displayed at the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum.
• Nearly 27 million pounds of oyster meat was harvested from the Chesapeake Bay from 1920-1970. Since then, the oyster harvest has declined dramatically due to over harvesting, disease and loss of habitat.
• If you drop a line into our rivers or along the upper bay, you may catch perch, rockfish (striped bass), blue gill, catfish or bass.

Public Schools

The Harford County Public School System is one of the fastest growing in the state and one of the most successful. With the seventh largest school enrollment in Maryland, Harford County has seen its student population increase by more than 10,000 students in the past 15 years to a total of 40,313, a growth in excess of 33%.

There are currently 50 schools in the Harford County School System - 32 elementary, 8 middle, 9 high and 1 special school. The school system has built and opened 10 new schools and expanded 3 more in the past 15 years including the newly rebuilt Forest Hill Elementary School which opened in September 2000, and the state-of-the-art replacement building of Aberdeen High School which opened at the start of the 2004-2005 school year. As a part of the Aberdeen High School, a Science and Math Academy with an ultimate capacity of 200 students is included as a third of the new school. Students from all over the county are invited to apply for and attend the magnet program.

In addition, the school system has the 245-acre Harford Glen Outdoor Education Center which is known around the state as a model for environmental education. Recently, a group of educators from Brazil studied the Harford Glen operation with plans to replicate it in their country. Many fifth graders spend a week at the center while other students come for day trips to examine the marsh habitat with its thriving wildlife

There are more than 2,700 teachers in the Harford County Public School System and about 1,500 support personnel including an art teacher in every elementary school, a full-time assistant principal in most elementary buildings, all-day guidance services, and enrichment teachers providing services to every elementary school in the county. Harford County elementary schools have a network of at least 25 computers at each location and even more at the middle and high school level for use in the curriculum. Harford County Schools have made a commitment that every one of its graduates will be computer literate.

With the passage of the Federal 'No Child Left Behind' and State 'Bridge to Excellence' legislation, an all-day kindergarten program has been mandated at each of the public elementary schools in Harford County and will be completely in place by the 2006-07 school year.

There are now over 2,000 business, organizational, or individual partnerships with Harford County schools. One of the partnerships, between Harford Technical High School and the Combat Systems Test Activity at Aberdeen Proving Ground, has recently been recognized for a national award. Another at Edgewood Elementary with the Army Environmental Center is considered to be a model for partnerships.

Harford County Public School students and staff have consistently won state and national awards 7 times in the past 14 years. Harford Envirothon (high school environmental teams) have won state titles and have been in the top 5 internationally a total of 3 times. In 7 of the past 10 years, Harford Public School teachers have been finalists for the State Teacher of the Year title. Three Harford educators have won the prestigious Milken Award in the past decade, bringing with it a $25,000 prize.

Harford County students have consistently scored above state and national averages in all standardized tests. Most schools in the county have mentoring programs and student peer tutoring initiatives.

Harford County Public Schools
45 E. Gordon St.
Bel Air,, MD 21014

Higher Education

Harford Community College
Harford Community College provides high-quality, accessible and affordable educational opportunities and services--including University transfer, career, developmental and continuing education programs--that promote professional competence, economic development and improve the quality of life in a multicultural community. was founded in 1957 as a public, two-year co-educational community college. The college occupies a 211-acre site on Thomas Run Road, three miles out of Bel Air town limits. The college enrolls over 3,100 full time students each year and offers students a choice of Associate Degrees in Arts, Sciences or Applied Sciences. Harford Community College also offers Business and Industry Training Programs, Computer Certification Programs, Customized On-Site Training, Industrial & Technical Training, Employee Orientation Programs as well as cultural and recreational activities, programs and services for residents with an emphasis on adult instruction in classrooms, laboratories, clinics, and in the fine and performing arts.

401 Thomas Run Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
410-836-4408
www.harford.edu

Maryland Small Business Resource Center
Harford Community College
401 Thomas Run Rd. (2nd Floor)
Bel Air, MD 21015
410-836-4237

Higher Education & Applied Technology (HEAT) Center

The Higher Education and Conference Center located at the HEAT Center in Aberdeen is your one-stop technology facility in northeastern Maryland. The Center provides fully equipped meeting and training spaces, customized business training, incubator leased space, videoconference service and advanced degree programs offered by five university partners. It offers advanced degree programs and technology resources for Harford County's businesses and residents. It has a unique partnership with Harford Community College and six other major Maryland colleges and universities, including Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland, College Park, which offer undergraduate and graduate level courses.

HEAT Center (Harford Community College)
1201 Technology Drive
Aberdeen, MD 21001
410-638-2500
www.heatcentermaryland.com

Regional Colleges and Universities

• Bowie State University
• Coppin State University
• Frostburg State University
• Salisbury University
• Towson University
• University of Baltimore
• University of Maryland, Baltimore
• University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• University of Maryland, College Park
• University of Maryland, Eastern Shore
• University of Maryland, University College
• Morgan State University
• St. Mary's College of Maryland
• United States Naval Academy

Harford County Public Library - Bel Air
100 E. Pennsylvania Ave.
Bel Air, MD 21014
410-273-5600
www.hcplonline.info

Harford County has 11 volunteer Fire and Ambulance Companies that protect its citizens. These services are coordinated by the "911" system. In the early 1980's the Emergency Operations Center planned to expand and upgrade its low band radio equipment to a more modern UHF system. The new center was to be the 911 answering point for Harford County and additional personnel were hired to meet the growing demands 911 would create. During 1984, the new 911 system was activated and the changeover to the new operations center was completed in the Fall of that year. Under a new Chief of Emergency Operations the facility became the Harford County Emergency Communications Center, part of the Division of Emergency Operations.

Law enforcement responsibilities are shared by the Harford County Sheriff's Office Staff and the Maryland State Police Troopers serving the area. The incorporated municipalities of Aberdeen, Bel Air and Havre de Grace maintain their own police departments.

The Harford County Sheriff's Office initially began as a one-man operation. At that time a sheriff was the king's man within the shire, a small community of about one hundred families. His duty was to maintain order while enforcing the king's will along with that of the court. Thomas Miller was commissioned as the first sheriff by Henry Harford in 1774. In 1777 John Taylor was the first elected sheriff. Originally, the sheriff served a two-year term until 1914 when they began serving four-year terms. Today, the Harford County Sheriff's Office is a progressive Maryland law enforcement agency which provides professional police, courts and correctional services to the citizens of Harford County and responds to over 115,000 calls per year. Although duties have varied through the years, the Sheriff's Office's primary responsibilities have become maintaining law and order, investigating crime, apprehending criminals, custody of prisoners, serving the courts and posting notices of elections.

The increasing complexities of modern law enforcement have created a need for specialized training and competence in narrowly defined areas of enforcement. Some of those areas include: K-9, SCUBA, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), RADAR, Advanced Accident Investigation, Child Advocacy and Victim Services, Drug Interdiction, Domestic Violence and Community Policing.

Hospitals

Two hospitals currently serve Harford County. The first, Harford Memorial Hospital, is located in Havre de Grace. When it opened in 1912, Harford Memorial Hospital's first home was a 21-room remodeled frame mansion. Throughout the years it has expanded and now cares for over 35,000 patients each year and offers very specialized, one of a kind, hospital based services including a 17 bed Transitional Care Unit, Joint Center, a Sleep Disorder Center and outpatient Behavioral Health Services.

The newly constructed Upper Chesapeake Medical Center is located in Bel Air. This medical facility's "campus" is host to a 143 acute care bed hospital, an Ambulatory Care Center for outpatient services, and a Professional/Medical office building. The hospital features all private rooms and state-of-the-art emergency department with pediatric capabilities. Both are operated by the Upper Chesapeake Health System.

Harford Memorial Hospital
501 South Union Avenue
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
443-843-5000

Upper Chesapeake Health Systems
520 Upper Chesapeake Dr.
Bel Air, MD 21014
443-643-4200

Medical/Health Services:

Aberdeen Family Chiropractic Center
37 North Philadelphia Rd.
Aberdeen, MD 21001
410-273-5900

AMC Harford County Chapter
PO 933
Bel Air, MD 21014
410-561-1066
www.amc.org

American Red Cross
122 S. Main Street
Bel Air, MD 21014
410-838-4568

Family Implant & Reconstructive. Surgery
203 South Washington Street
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-5800

Hospice of Baltimore Harford County
4C North Avenue, Suite 422
Bel Air, MD 21014

Lorien - Bel Air
1909 Emmorton Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
410-803-1400

Susquehanna AIDS Fund for Emergencies
P.O. Box 575
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-7440

Harford County Family YMCA
309 Thomas Run Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
410-836-5075

Local Airports
Harford County has access to four local airports that are used for charter and corporate flights; The Harford County Airport in Aldino, Fallston Airport in Fallston, Forest Hill Business Airpark in Forest Hill and the Glen L. Martin State Airport in Middle River (Baltimore County).

Highways
Harford County major highways are Interstate 95, U.S. Route 40, U.S. Route 1 and MD Route 24, which connect it to metropolitan areas to the north and south, keeping Washington D.C., Philadelphia and New York City within driving distance.

Harford County Transportation Service
Harford County Transportation Service (HCTS) employs a bus service that is available from Edgewood via Belcamp and Aberdeen to Perryman on the U.S. Route 40 corridor. County public transportation connects Bel Air, Aberdeen, Havre de Grace, Edgewood and Joppa. Public transportation is also available within the municipalities of Bel Air and Aberdeen. A door-to-door service for senior citizens and disabled persons is also provided.

Harford County Commuter Services
The Harford County Commuter Services offers a Ridesharing program which is a customized commuter assistance program for business and residents that assists in finding carpool options. For traveling convenience, the county has over a dozen Park & Ride lots where commuters can meet.

Mass Transit
Inter County commuters also have a choice of alternative transportation which includes the MARC (Maryland Rail Commuter) Train Service. Stations for the MARC train are located in Aberdeen and Edgewood, linking the county to Baltimore and Washington D.C. Additionally this depot is used by Amtrak for further destinations. The Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) operates a bus service to Baltimore from Bel Air and Havre de Grace. Commuters can utilize both the MARC train and the MTA services for transportation to Orioles and Ravens ball games, the Maryland State Fair and other favorite events. The Harford County business community is serviced by two freight providers, CSX and Conrail.

Regional Airports
BWI Thurgood Marshall International Airport is now the second fastest growing airport in the nation with over 700 daily flights to destinations across America and around the world. according to Airport Council International. It is 31 miles from Bel Air and has 250 domestic and international destinations and provides charter, commercial and cargo flights.

Philadelphia International Airport
is located 78 miles from Bel Air, Maryland in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has 100 domestic and international destinations as well as charter, commercial and cargo flights.

Major Regional Seaports
The Port of Baltimore is celebrating its 300th anniversary in 2006. It is the third largest port on the East Coast and features a state of the art Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF) and a $250 million Seagirt Marine Terminal, one of the most efficient and productive container handling terminals in the country. In Spring 2006, a newly dedicated passenger cruise terminal located at South Locust Point opened to welcome cruise ship passengers. The new terminal is located right off Interstate 95, just a ten minute ride from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and only five minutes from Baltimore's world-renowned Inner Harbor.

The Port of Philadelphia and its international seaport maintains a preeminent position in several areas of trade, such as the importing of perishable cargoes from South America and high-quality paper products from Scandinavia. In 2002, PRPA (Philadelphia Regional Port Authority) was named the nation's 14th Strategic Military Port by the U.S. Defense Department.

Port of Wilmington, Delaware is a full-service deepwater port and marine terminal handling over 400 vessels per year with an annual import/export cargo tonnage of 5 million tons. Today, Delaware's port is the busiest on the Delaware River.

Harford County was governed by a county commissioner from the time it was created by the state legislature in 1773 until 1972. In December 1972, enactment of the Harford County Charter gave the county a system of home rule. The charter provided for legislative and executive branches of government. The county executive is the chief executive officer of Harford County and heads the executive branch of the county's government. Elected every four years, the county executive is aided by a cabinet composed of directors from 23 departments and agencies including Public Works, Treasury, Planning and Zoning, Community Services, Economic Development and Parks and Recreation.

The seven-member Harford County Council operates as the legislative branch. Six council members are elected every four years, one from each of the county's six voting districts. The remaining council member is elected at large to serve as council president. The panel meets in legislative session on the first three Tuesdays of each month.

The county seat in Harford County is located in downtown Bel Air. The present courthouse on Main Steet was constructed in 1859 on the site of the original Courthouse which was destroyed by fire in the same year. Little has changed to alter the appearance of the courtroom and a valuable collection of portraits of Harford Countians are on display there. The rostrum, lawyer's table and benches, restored in 1933, are made of black walnut. The Mary Risteau Building, named after Mary Risteau (1890-1978), a leader of legislative, educational and civic affairs, has been built on Bond Street directly behind the Courthouse to accommodate the lower courts and government offices. The original courthouse is used for ceremonial proceedings and juried trials. The State Attorney's office is also located there.

The County Seal uses gold to symbolize the wealth of the county and the richness of its fields. Across the shield are waving bands of blue signifying three major county streams - Deer Creek, Bynum Run and Winters Run. The crest is a two-handed forearm with the hand on the left holding a white quill symbolizing the pen used by those who wrote and signed the Bush Resolution. The hand on the right holds a sword as if presenting into the right hand of the nation, the skills of reproducing defense materials at Aberdeen Proving Ground. The motto "At the Risque of Our Lives and Fortunes" comprises the last eight words of the Bush Resolution and preserves the same spelling for "risk" as used in that document.

The first official flag, bearing the county seal on a field of blue, was unveiled by the County Executive in 1974.

Harford County Executive Office
220 South Main St.
Bel Air, MD 21014
410-638-3354

County Executive
David R. Craig
220 South Main Street
Bel Air, MD 21014
410-638-3350

County Council

• Council President - William Boniface
• District A - Dion Guthrie
• District B - Veronica "Roni" Chenowith
• District C - James "Captain Jim" McMahan
• District D - Chad Shrodes
• District E - Richard "Dick" Slutzky
• District F - Mary Ann Lisanti

Other Government Resources:

Aberdeen Proving Ground
3330 Raritan Ave.
APG, MD 21005
410-278-4497

City of Aberdeen
PO Box 70
Aberdeen, MD 21001
410-272-1600
www.aberdeen-md.org

City of Havre de Grace
711 Pennington Avenue
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-1800
www.havredegracemd.com

Town of Bel Air
39 Hickory Avenue
Town Hall
Bel Air, MD 21014
410-638-4550

State Representatives

House of Delegates District 34
9 West Courtland St.
Bel Air, MD 21014
410-420-1073

House of Delegates District 35A
1594 Nobles Mill Court
Darlington, MD 21034
410-836-2400

Economic Development

Harford County Office of Economic Development
220 South Main St.
Bel Air, MD 21014
410-638-3059
www.harfordcountymd.gov/economic_development

Harford County, Maryland is part of the Greater Baltimore Region, strategically located on I-95 in the heart of the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic United States markets. Harford County's location, highly skilled workforce and progressive, business-friendly environment offers the ultimate setting to a vast array of companies and industry sectors.

Planning & Zoning

Harford County Office of Planning & Zoning
220 South Main Street
Bel Air, MD 21014
410-638-3228

Parks & Recreation

Harford County Parks & Recreation
702 North Tollgate Rd.
Bel Air, MD 21014
410-638-3572
www.harfordcountymd.gov/parks_rec

Harford County's 5,130 businesses employ 61,300 workers. An estimated 92 of these businesses have 100 or more workers. The U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) is the major county employer and a technology resource for the region. As a result of the recent military Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, APG is projected to have a net gain of 6,200 positions, both military and civilian, to its workforce.

Major Employers

• Aberdeen Proving Ground, 12,486
• Harford County Public Schools, 4,573
• Upper Chesapeake, 2,200
• Harford County Government, 1,572
• Rite Aid Mid Atlantic Dist. Center, 969
• SAIC, 743
• Sverdrup Technology, 500
• Saks Fifth Avenue, 472
• Battelle (BEST) Center, 400
• Frito-Lay, Inc., 380
• Collins&Aikman, 338
• Custom Direct, LLC, 329
• EAI Corporation, 328
• Log.Sec Corporation, 310
• C&S Wholesale Grocers, 300
• Bechtel National, 300
• Blue Dot of Maryland, 300
• Harford Community College, 280
• Constar, 250
• WAVE (Worthington Armstrong Venture), 236

• Civilian Labor Force, 130,149
• Employment, 126,030
• Unemployment, 4,119
• Unemployment Rate, 3.2%

Calvary United Methodist Church
1321 Calvary Rd.
Churchville, MD 21028
410-569-6109

Christ the King Church
410 Webb Lane
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-4980

Christian M.E. Church
1414 Bay View Drive
Havre de Grace, MD 21078

Evangelical Church of Deliverence
325 Saint John Street
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-3353

First Baptist Church of Havre de Grace
120 South Stokes Street
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-5233

First Christian Church
800 Giles Street
PO Box 127
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-1646

Gospel Tabernacle
875 N. Ohio Street
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-0037

Grace Reformed Episcopal Church
560 Fountain Street
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-2866

Harbor of Grace Assembly of God
616 Ontario Street
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-7410

Hopewell Chapel
3600 Level Village Rd.
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-734-6462

Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church
717 Wheeler School Road
Whiteford, MD 21160
410-452-8774

Lutheran Mission Society
531 Legion Drive
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-0879

Mt. Zion Baptist Church
520 Lewis Street
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-3208

Perryville United Methodist Church
PO Box 312
Perryville, MD 21903
410-642-3411

Port Deposit Christian Fellowship
42 Granite Avenue
Port Deposit, MD 21904
410-378-4924

Presbyterian Church
551 Franklin Street
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-3611

Room at The Cross Mission
PO Box 903
729 N. Stokes Street
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-569-8033

Saint George's Parish
PO Box 22
Perryman, MD 21130
410-661-7200

St. James AME Church
4139 Gravel Hill Rd.
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-393-4329

St. James AME Church
617 Green St.
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-2267

St. John's Baptist Church
914 Carsins Run Rd.
Aberdeen, MD 21001
410-939-5525

St. John's Baptist Church
105 Wilson St.
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-5525

St. John's Episcopal Church
114 North Union Ave.
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-2107

St. Mathew's AUMP Church
563 Revolution St.
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-9845

St. Patrick's R. C. Church
615 Congress Ave.
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-2525

V.A. Chaplin
Bldg # 361, VA Health Care Center
Perry Point, MD 21902
410-642-2411

Webster Congregational Christian Church
United Church of Christ
4100 Webster Rd.
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
410-939-1884

Alex Penduck
2303 Churchville Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
pastoralex@graceofbelair.com
410 879 5340

• Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce
• Havre de Grace Chamber of Commerce
• Harford County Chamber of Commerce
• Harford County Library
• Harford County Public Schools
• Route 40 Business Association
• APG Maryland At The Ready