Type of County: Established in 1659, Baltimore County calls itself a "610 sq. mile community which sounds Baltimore City on three sides." It is in the heart of Maryland, bordering Anne Arundel, Howard, Carroll, and Harford counties as well as York County, Pa., and boasts rolling farmland dotted with horse farms, 173 of Chesapeake Bay shoreline, historic villages and sophisticated commercial centers.

All public services are performed by the County for 31 metropolitan communities ranging in population from 2,500 to 75,000. Moi17,000 firms engage in diversified business, trade, and manufacturing. The State Fair is at Timonium; the national headquarters of the Social Security Administration (235 acres, 9,800 employees) is at Woodlawn.

Tax Situation: The County has a property tax rate of $2.855/$100 of assessed value. Real property is assessed at 40% of market value.The state rate is $.21.

Housing Price Ranges: Home sale prices range from $75,000 to over $800,000. Townhouses are available from $70,000 to over $400,000. Average price for a condominium was about $70,000-$450,000. Apartments rent from $850 (plus utilities) to $1,250 a month.

Form of Government: The County operates under a 1956 charter with an elected County Executive and 7 elected County Council members. The Executive and appointed Administrative Officer appoint department heads for a maximum of two 4-year terms. Judges are appointed by the State Governor and must then run for 15-year terms at the next State election. Sheriffs and the State Attorney are elected. The County school board appoints its superintendent. There are no municipalities in the County.

Towns are governed by the Executive and County Council, which, as the County's legislative body, represents approximately 100,000 people in each of 7 districts.Public Transportation: Numerous bus lines. MTA (300 W. Lexington St., Baltimore, Md. 21201) will supply a Ride-Guide map. Links to Baltimore bus, rapid transit, and light rail services, intercity services: MARC train, AMTRAK, BWI Airport, Greyhound, and Eyre bus lines. Information: (410) 539-5000.

Public Facilities and Services: The County has 10 police precincts, Headquarters, Marine Unit, Cadet Force, Youth Services, and Firearms Training Center. There are 1,458 personnel and an auxiliary of approximately 120. There are 1,000 career and 3,000 volunteer sworn firefighters in 42 fire stations; and 40 ambulance companies; (1994-95). The county library system has 15 public libraries, plus 2 bookmobiles, and a library on wheels that visits institutions. The per capita book circulation (more than 12.3 million books) is 3rd in the nation. Films, videocassettes, audiocas- settes, and CDs; also computers available for information.

Public Schools: 102,000 students enrolled in 144 schools; 98 elementary, 5 special, 26 middle, 24 senior high, I vocational 5 alternate. The per-pupil expenditure is $6,191, total budget 586 million. Pupil teacher ratio: I to 25. Teacher's salaries range from $30,184-$48,129. 80.6% ofhigh school graduates go to college. Over 27,000 students are enrolled in Essex, Dundalk, and CatonsviUe Community Colleges.

Parochial and Private Schools: Students attend Archbishop Curley, Calvert Hall, The Jemicy School, Loyola High School, Maryvale Preparatory School, McDonough School, Mercy High School, Montessori, Mount St. Joseph, Notre Dame Preparatory School, Oldsfields School, The Park School, Ruxton Country School, St. James Academy, St. Paul's School, St. Timothy's School, Seton Hall, the Waldorf School of Baltimore. There are a total of 165 nonpublic schools in the County, with an enrollment of over 29,570 students (1993-94).

Colleges: CatonsviUe Community College, Goucher College (Towson), Towson State University, University of Maryland (Baltimore Co.), Villa Julie College (Stevenson), Essex Community College (Dundalk.)

Places of Worship: There are numerous places of worship in the County.

Organizations: Numerous community associations and social clubs, business and profe«ional associations, improvement associations, preservation societies, senior citizen organizations, civic leagues recreation councils- AARP, AAUW, American Business Women's Association, American Legion and Auxiliary, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, B'nai B'rith, Boys' Brigade and Girls' of America, ChesapeakeAudubon Society, Chesapeake Cat Club, Common Cause, DAR, DAV, Elks, Exchange Club, Garden Club, Jaycees, La Leche League, League of Women Voters, Lions, Moose, Optimist Club, Rotary, Scouts, Soroptimist Club, Toastmasters, Volunteer Firefighters and Auxiliary, among others.

Recreational Facilities: The County operates 607 recreation sites on a total of 14,422 acres, ranging from .01 acre lots to the 1,036-acre Oregon Ridge Park. Schools also serve as school recreation centers (172 in all), with after- hours recreation and educational activities. The Department of Recreation and Parks also maintains golf courses, beaches, a fishing center, Ballestone Mansion and surrounding parkland.

The cornerstone of its offerings are the 43 volunteer Community Recreation and Parks Councils and I volunteer Nature Center Council, composed of citizens with varied backgrounds and skills and noteworthy dedication. They lead approximately 8,000 programs with attendance of nearly 13 million people.The County features the Hunt Cup Races, Grand National Steeplechase, My Lady's Manor Point to Point,Governor's Cup Powerboat Races, and Preakness Celebration Balloon Glow.

Medical Facilities: Northwest Hospital Center, Randallstown (240 beds); Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Health System, Towson (322 beds); Spring Grove Hospital Center, CatonsviUe (303 beds); VA Medical Center, Fort Howard (259 beds). Emergency: 911. The County Dental Association (410-887-2780) will provide 3 referrals.

Shopping: 11 enclosed shopping malls; all served by public transportation.