Learn more about Howard County

APL: A Key Howard County Business
(aerial view of APL, looking north toward Columbia)

Howard County’s location and quality of life have attracted 128,000 jobs and a 150,000-person labor force. Twenty percent of employees in the county work in technical fields. APL is the largest private-sector employer in Howard County. The growth of sponsor commitments in the past several years required the Laboratory to expand its available office space. Construction is ongoing.

Neighborhoods & Housing Choices

Centered along the Baltimore-Washington corridor and stretching to the west, the communities of Howard County are home to 261,000 Marylanders. Howard is one of the state’s fastest growing counties, and it is ranked as the nation’s second wealthiest county. Approximately 96,000 people live in the county's population center - the planned community of Columbia - conceived and designed by James Rouse with a commitment to preserve open space and promote racial diversity. Residents can choose from a wide variety of housing options, from efficiency apartments to luxury homes on large lots. Housing styles range from traditional to transitional to contemporary.

Fitness and Fun: Recreation Choice
(Centennial Park in autumn)

Recreational choices abound in Howard County. Parks such as Centennial offer a range of outdoor activities for families and sports enthusiasts. The 2.5-mile path around the lake at Centennial Park (one of three such lake parks in Columbia) attracts cyclers, roller bladers, fitness walkers, and children in buggies. The Department of Recreation and Parks sponsors sports leagues and outdoor festivals in the parks. The county also has two state parks (Patapsco Valley and Patuxent River), seven golf courses, both private riding stables plus the Columbia Horse Center, and five tennis clubs. The Columbia Association maintains numerous activities including swimming in neighborhood pools. Columbia has 77 miles of bike paths, and seven gyms and fitness centers.

Excellence in Education
(3-school complex in Fulton, a mile from APL)

One of the primary measures of excellence in Howard County living is the quality of its public school system. Howard County's schools, which serve nearly 50,000 students, are ranked among the best in the state. Student test scores consistently top the list for all Maryland school districts. Public school construction has kept pace with the county’s growth in recent years to safeguard against crowded classrooms. Many students attend local schools that are within walking distance of their homes, especially in Columbia. This newly built complex of schools includes Reservoir High, Lime Kiln Middle, and Fulton Elementary schools.

Columbia: The Planned City
(the downtown lakefront across from the Mall in Columbia)

Located just 2 miles from APL, Columbia is home to almost 100,000 people, including many APL staff. Urban developer James Rouse began construction of this planned community on 21 square miles of farmland in 1967. Part of his vision for the new town included

a unique sharing of religious facilities in Interfaith Centers and preservation of 1/3 of the land for parks and open space. Each of Columbia’s ten villages has its own village center with grocery stores, other shopping, and services. The 10-acre Lake Kittamaqundi in downtown Columbia is surrounded by restaurants, offices, and a plaza.

Linking Past and Present

Howard County’s rich historical legacy is embodied in Main Street, Ellicott City. This historic Quaker community was founded in 1772 around a grist mill on the Patapsco River. Many of the town’s structures, built directly into rock ledges along the river, retain their original char-

acter. In 1830 the B & O Railroad linked the town with Baltimore, 12 miles away via steam engine. The Courthouse, built in 1840, represents the continuity of Ellicott City’s role as the seat of Howard County

government. Main St. today is a thriving commercial center for residents and tourists alike, featuring specialty shops, pubs, fine dining, and antiquing.

Destination: Baltimore

The most-photographed area of Baltimore, the Inner Harbor is a model of successful urban renewal and redevelopment. Formerly a working port and industrial center, Harbor Place is a popular festival marketplace development similar to Fanueil Hall in Boston, that rejuvenated downtown Baltimore. The Baltimore Convention Center is within blocks. Across from the pavilions is a multi-story shopping mall. The waterfront area also features the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, an open-air concert pavilion, and the landmark Power Plant containing restaurants and a bookstore. Baltimore cultural attractions include the Meyerhoff Music Hall, the Lyric Opera, and the Morris Mechanic Theater.

Major League Sports

These major league sports facilities symbolize the wide range of recreational activities available just up Interstate 95 from Howard County. Oriole Park at Camden Yards (foreground) was built on the remains of a railroad center, two blocks from the birthplace of Babe Ruth. The stadium, opened in 1992, captures the style of big league ballparks built in the early 1900s. Six years later, Ravens Stadium opened to National Football League fans. The sports complex is a short walk from the city's Inner Harbor attractions.

Homewood: The Center of JHU
(JHU main campus at Homewood, a section of Baltimore several miles north of downtown)

Established in 1876, The Johns Hopkins University was the first research university in the United States. The university's emphasis on integrating both learning and research revolutionized U.S. higher education. Today, Johns Hopkins has sites throughout the world—centers in China, Italy and Singapore, among others. Johns Hopkins University continues to set the pace for U.S. higher education. It remains a world leader in its mission to simultaneously develop individual talent and advance knowledge for the world. The University comprises nine academic divisions and the Applied Physics Laboratory

A World-Renowned Medical Institution

For more than a century, Johns Hopkins Medicine has been a recognized leader in patient care, medical research, and teaching. The 22-acre Johns Hopkins Medicine complex in East Baltimore includes the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System and the School of Medicine. Hopkins scientists and researchers are awarded more federal research funding than faculty at any other medical school. The building in the center of the photo is one of three late 19th century structures still in use. World-renowned specialty centers include the Wilmer Eye Institute, the Brady Urological Institute, and the Children's Center. The Centers serve research and education missions, in addition to diagnosis, treatment, and patient care.