Harford County, Maryland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Harford County
County
Harford County Courthouse
Flag Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Maryland
Maryland's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Maryland
Founded	December 17, 1773
Named for	Henry Harford
Seat	Bel Air
Largest city	Aberdeen
Area
• Total	527 sq mi (1,360 km2)
• Land	437 sq mi (1,130 km2)
• Water	90 sq mi (200 km2)  17%
Population  (2020)
• Total	260,924
• Estimate  (2023)	264,644
• Density	495.1/sq mi (191.16/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st

Harford County is a county in the state of Maryland, USA. In 2020, about 260,924 people lived here. Its main town, or county seat, is Bel Air. Harford County is part of the larger Washington-Baltimore-Arlington region. It is also part of the Central Maryland area.

History of Harford County

In 1608, the area that is now Harford County was home to Native American tribes like the Massawomecks and Susquehannocks. The first European to explore this area was John Smith in 1608. He sailed up the Chesapeake Bay from Jamestown. In 1652, the English and the Susquehannocks signed a treaty (an official agreement) in what is now Annapolis. This treaty covered the land that became Harford County.

Harford County was officially created on March 22, 1774. It was formed from the eastern part of Baltimore County. At that time, about 13,000 people lived there. On March 22, 1775, Harford County was important for the Bush Declaration. This document was an early step towards the American Revolution. On January 22, 1782, Bel Air became the county seat.

Havre de Grace, a city in Harford County, was once thought of as a possible capital for the United States. This was before Washington, D.C. was chosen. Havre de Grace was a good choice because it was located at the top of the Chesapeake Bay. This spot was great for trade and safe during wars. Today, the waterways around Havre de Grace have a problem with silt runoff. This is a major environmental issue for Harford County. The land where the Havre de Grace Racetrack once stood is now a military area. Famous racehorse Man o' War ran there in 1919 and 1920.

Sion Hill is a historic landmark in Harford County.

During the 1900s, the Bata Shoe Company hired many people who were refugees from Eastern Europe. They worked at the factory in Belcamp. In the 1940s, a dam was built on Broad Creek, a stream that flows into the Susquehanna River. This created a 55-acre lake for the Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation. In June 1972, Hurricane Agnes caused the dam to overflow and flooded many areas.

Some movies and TV shows have filmed scenes in Harford County. These include Tuck Everlasting, From Within, and House of Cards.

The county was named after Henry Harford (born around 1759). He was the son of Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore. Henry Harford was the last governor of Maryland before the American Revolution. There are 79 historic places in the county listed on the National Register. One of these is a National Historic Landmark called Sion Hill.

Environmental Issues

Harford County faces environmental challenges in three main areas. These are land use, water pollution (especially from urban runoff), and soil contamination or groundwater contamination.

Since the county is at the start of the Chesapeake Bay and along the Susquehanna River, it's important for controlling sediment and fertilizer runoff into the bay. It also helps with the regrowth of underwater plants called submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). The county tries to find a balance between allowing farming and building (which creates impervious surfaces) and stopping pollution from flowing into the bay.

Harford County has had problems with soil and groundwater pollution since the Aberdeen Proving Ground was created in 1917. This military base does research for the U.S. Army, including testing weapons. It has released different chemicals into the soil and groundwater. Nearby towns like Aberdeen, Edgewood, and Joppatowne have been affected by this pollution.

The Scarboro Landfill and Harford Waste Disposal Center is the county's only public landfill. Neighbors have complained about problems like open trash and litter. They also worry about polluted liquid called leachate that can get into local wells and Deer Creek.

Geography of Harford County

The U.S. Census Bureau says the county covers 527 square miles. About 437 square miles are land, and 90 square miles (17%) are water.

Harford County is located where two different land types meet. These are the rolling hills of the Piedmont Plateau and the flat lands of the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The county has a mix of rural areas and suburban towns. The larger towns like Aberdeen and Bel Air are more developed. The highest points are in the north and northwest, reaching 805 feet near the Pennsylvania border. The lowest point is sea level along the Chesapeake Bay.

Neighboring Counties

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

Protected Natural Areas

• Susquehanna River National Wildlife Refuge

Communities in Harford County

Cities

• Aberdeen
• Havre de Grace

Town

• Bel Air (county seat)

Unincorporated Communities

• 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

Census-Designated Places

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

Populated Places

• Glenville

Climate

Harford County has a climate that changes from a humid subtropical climate in the south to a hot-summer humid continental climate in the north. This means it has warm, humid summers and cool to cold winters. For example, in Bel Air, the average temperature in January is about 32.6°F. In July, it's about 76.6°F.

Population of Harford County

2010 Census Information

In 2010, Harford County had 244,826 people living in 90,218 households. Most people (81.2%) were white. About 12.7% were Black or African American, and 2.4% were Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 3.5% of the population.

The average age of people in the county was 39.4 years old. The average income for a household was about $77,010 per year. For families, it was about $88,370.

Economy of Harford County

Many people in Harford County work for different companies and organizations. Here are some of the largest employers:

Culture and Arts

The Susquehanna Symphony Orchestra is a group of 70 musicians based in Harford County. They perform many concerts.

The Havre De Grace Decoy Museum shows off working and decorative decoys. These were used for hunting on the Chesapeake Bay.

Harford Community College has several places for arts and culture:

• The Chesapeake Gallery displays art from both famous artists and students.
• The Chesapeake Theater is used by the Phoenix Festival Theater Company, a student theater group.
• The Joppa Hall has the Blackbox Theatre, used by the Harford Dance Theater Company and the HCC Actors Guild.
• The Joppa Recital Halls are used for musical performances.
• The Hays-Heighe House is a museum about the history of Harford County.

The Historical Society of Harford County was started in 1885. It works to save and share the history of the county. It has an archive, exhibit space, and a research library in Bel Air.

Sports in Harford County

Harford County does not have any major league sports teams. However, it is home to several local teams and sports organizations:

Harford County is also the home of famous athletes. These include Kimmie Meissner, an Olympic figure skater, and Cal Ripken, a Hall of Famer from the Baltimore Orioles baseball team. EJ Henderson, a former football player for the Minnesota Vikings, also grew up here.

Infrastructure and Transportation

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

Major Roads

Interstate 95 at Maryland Route 24 in Harford County.

Many important roads run through Harford County. These include:

Public Transportation

Buses in the county are run by Harford Transit. The state also has a train service called MARC Penn Line that stops in Edgewood and Aberdeen.

Airport

The Harford County Airport is a small airport in Churchville. It is used by pilots for fun and for flight training. You can also take sightseeing tours, hot air balloon rides, or go skydiving there.

Education in Harford County

Public and Private Schools

Harford County Public Schools

The Harford County Public Schools system serves students in the county. It includes 32 elementary schools, 9 middle schools, 10 high schools, and one charter school.

Private Schools

• Harford Christian School: A Christian school for students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.
• The John Carroll School: A Catholic school for grades 9 through 12.
• Trinity Lutheran School: A Lutheran school for students from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade.
• Harford Day School: A private school for students from Kindergarten to 8th grade.
• Harford Friends School: A Quaker school for students from Kindergarten to 8th grade.
• Saint Margaret School: A Catholic school for students from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade.
• Grace Classical Academy: A Classical Christian school for students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.
• The Highlands School: A private school for K-12 students with learning differences like dyslexia and ADHD.

Colleges

Harford Community College, located in Churchville, offers 2-year associate degrees and job training programs. It also works with other colleges. This allows students to take classes there and get credit for a four-year degree from another university. Towson University Harford Campus is nearby and offers some four-year degrees.

Media in Harford County

The main newspaper in Harford County is The Aegis. There are also several radio stations:

• WAMD (970 AM) in Aberdeen plays Top 40 music.
• WHFC (91.1 FM) in Bel Air plays a variety of music.
• WHGM (1330 AM/104.7 FM) in Havre De Grace plays adult hits.
• WXCY-FM (103.7 FM) in Havre De Grace plays Country music.

The Harford Cable Network (HCN) provides local TV. It shows local government meetings, high school sports, and religious programs.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Harford para niños