List of counties in Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Independent city and counties of Maryland |
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| Location | State of Maryland |
| Number | 23 counties and 1 Independent city |
| Populations | (Counties only): 19,303 (Kent) – 1,058,474 (Montgomery) |
| Areas | (Counties only): 254 square miles (660 km2) (Howard) – 983 square miles (2,550 km2) (Dorchester) |
| Government | County government |
| Subdivisions | (Counties): cities, towns, unincorporated communities, census designated place (Independent city): Neighborhoods |
Maryland has 23 counties and one special independent city. This independent city is Baltimore City. Even though Baltimore is not called a county, it acts like one for most things. It has similar powers and responsibilities to the counties.
Many of Maryland's counties got their names from the family members of the Barons Baltimore. These Barons were the original owners of the Maryland colony. They started the colony in 1634. The Barons Baltimore were Catholic. George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, wanted Maryland to be a safe place for English Catholics. However, for most of its history, Maryland has had more Protestants.
Contents
Maryland's County History
The newest county in Maryland is Garrett County. It was created in 1872 from parts of Allegany County. Since then, county borders have changed a few times. For example, in 1997, parts of Takoma Park moved from Prince George's County to Montgomery County.
How Counties Govern in Maryland
Outside of Baltimore City, the county is the main local government. In Maryland, counties have many powers that cities or the state government might have in other places. This means there is not much reason for communities to become official cities.
Many large and important communities in Maryland are not officially cities. Places like Bethesda, Silver Spring, Columbia, and Towson are unincorporated. This means the county government provides their services. For example, Baltimore County and Howard County do not have any incorporated cities at all. Also, counties are in charge of public schools. There are no separate school districts in Maryland.
Baltimore City is unique. It is almost completely surrounded by Baltimore County. But it is a separate government unit. It has the same powers and duties as the counties.
List of Maryland Counties
| County |
FIPS code | County seat | Est. | Origin | Etymology | Flag |
Seal |
Population | Area | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allegany County | 001 | Cumberland | 1789 | Formed from part of Washington County | From Lenape oolikhanna, meaning "beautiful stream" |  |
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67,273 | 430 sq mi (1,114 km2) |
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| Anne Arundel County | 003 | Annapolis | 1650 | Formed from part of St. Mary's County | Anne Arundell was the maiden name of the wife of Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. It was called Providence County by Puritan settlers from 1654 to 1658. |  |
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594,582 | 588 sq mi (1,523 km2) |
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| Baltimore County | 005 | Towson | 1659 | Formed from unorganized territory | Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, the first owner of the Maryland colony |  |
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844,703 | 682 sq mi (1,766 km2) |
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| Baltimore City | 510 | Baltimore City | 1851 | Founded in 1729. Became separate from Baltimore County in 1851. | Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, the first owner of the Maryland colony |  |
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565,239 | 92 sq mi (238 km2) |
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| Calvert County | 009 | Prince Frederick | 1654 | Formed as Patuxent County from unorganized territory. Renamed Calvert County in 1658. | The Calvert family; before 1658, it was called Patuxent County, after the Patuxent Indians. |  |
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94,728 | 345 sq mi (894 km2) |
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| Caroline County | 011 | Denton | 1773 | From parts of Dorchester County and Queen Anne's County | Lady Caroline Eden, daughter of Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore |  |
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33,593 | 326 sq mi (844 km2) |
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| Carroll County | 013 | Westminster | 1837 | From parts of Baltimore County and Frederick County | Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who signed the Declaration of Independence |  |
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176,639 | 452 sq mi (1,171 km2) |
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| Cecil County | 015 | Elkton | 1674 | From parts of Baltimore County and Kent County | Cecil is an English version of the first name of Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore |  |
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105,672 | 418 sq mi (1,083 km2) |
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| Charles County | 017 | La Plata | 1658 | From unorganized territory | Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore, the second owner of the Maryland colony |  |
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171,973 | 643 sq mi (1,665 km2) |
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| Dorchester County | 019 | Cambridge | 1668 | From unorganized territory | Dorchester in Dorset, England; the Earl of Dorset was a friend of the Calvert family. |  |
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32,879 | 983 sq mi (2,546 km2) |
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| Frederick County | 021 | Frederick | 1748 | From part of Prince George's County | Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore, the last owner of the Maryland colony |  |
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293,391 | 667 sq mi (1,728 km2) |
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| Garrett County | 023 | Oakland | 1872 | From part of Allegany County | John Work Garrett, president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad |  |
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28,423 | 656 sq mi (1,699 km2) |
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| Harford County | 025 | Bel Air | 1773 | From part of Baltimore County | Henry Harford, the son of Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore |  |
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264,644 | 527 sq mi (1,365 km2) |
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| Howard County | 027 | Ellicott City | 1851 | From parts of Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County | John Eager Howard, an officer in the American Revolutionary War and a governor of Maryland |  |
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336,001 | 254 sq mi (658 km2) |
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| Kent County | 029 | Chestertown | 1642 | From unorganized territory | The English county of Kent |  |
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19,303 | 414 sq mi (1,072 km2) |
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| Montgomery County | 031 | Rockville | 1776 | From part of Frederick County | Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general |  |
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1,058,474 | 507 sq mi (1,313 km2) |
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| Prince George's County | 033 | Upper Marlboro | 1696 | From parts of Calvert County and Charles County | Prince George of Denmark, the husband of Queen Anne of Great Britain | .svg) |
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947,430 | 498 sq mi (1,290 km2) |
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| Queen Anne's County | 035 | Centreville | 1706 | From parts of Talbot County | Anne, Queen of Great Britain |  |
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52,508 | 510 sq mi (1,321 km2) |
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| Somerset County | 039 | Princess Anne | 1666 | From unorganized territory. | Mary, Lady Somerset, sister-in-law of Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore |  |
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24,910 | 611 sq mi (1,582 km2) |
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| St. Mary's County | 037 | Leonardtown | 1637 | From unorganized territory. It was called Potomac County from 1654 to 1658. | The Virgin Mary, the first county named in a colony meant for Catholics |  |
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115,281 | 611 sq mi (1,582 km2) |
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| Talbot County | 041 | Easton | 1662 | From part of Kent County | Grace, Lady Talbot, sister of Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore |  |
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37,823 | 477 sq mi (1,235 km2) |
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| Washington County | 043 | Hagerstown | 1776 | From part of Frederick County | George Washington, the first President of the United States | None | .png) |
155,813 | 468 sq mi (1,212 km2) |
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| Wicomico County | 045 | Salisbury | 1867 | From parts of Somerset County and Worcester County | The Wicomico River; in Lenape, wicko mekee means "a place where houses are built" |  |
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104,800 | 400 sq mi (1,036 km2) |
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| Worcester County | 047 | Snow Hill | 1742 | From part of Somerset County | Mary Arundell, the wife of Sir John Somerset, and sister of Anne Arundell, the wife of Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore |  |
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54,171 | 695 sq mi (1,800 km2) |
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Counties That No Longer Exist
Some counties in Maryland existed for a while but were later changed or removed. Here are a few examples:
| County | Years of existence | Meaning of Name |
|---|---|---|
| Old Charles County | 1650–1654 | Named after King Charles I of England. |
| Durham County | 1669–1672 | Named after the English County Durham. |
| Old Worcester County | 1672–1685 | Named after Mary Arundell, who was related to the Calvert family. |
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Condados de Maryland para niños
- Maryland statistical areas
- List of ghost towns in Maryland
