Type of County and Homes Available: North of Washington and south-west of Baltimore, Howard County a land of gentle rolling hills and quiet countryside, rich in scenic beauty. The first settlers came here about 1700, and a grist mill established in 1772 helped to encourage agriculture.

In 1857 Howard County became the 21st county in Maryland, with Ellicott City named as county seat. By 1861 the county was a prosperous farming area. Agriculture, once a mainstay of the economy, is of decreasing importance. With a population increase of 90% between 1970 and 1980, and the resulting increase in home construction, the change toward urbanization is strong.

More than 1/3 ofthe labor force-works in Howard County, with the rest oftheworking population equally divided between commuting to Washington and Baltimore. Recently, efforts to control and slow the advance of development have met with much support and transportation issues include the encouragement of van pooling, flex-time, and the extension of MARC Rail service to Columbia.

The housing market is substantial and has in recent years accommodated from 4,000 to 6,000 new dwelling units annually, mostly in Columbia, but also in the eastern county section around Savage, Elkridge, North Laurel, and Ellicott City. The western county growth is mostly in large lot estates, many with 3 acres of land and costing around $300,000. Single family subdivisions in Ellicott City range from $140,000 to $500,000 and up.

Columbia, a planned community covering 15,000 acres, was established in 1967, and with 75,000 residents is the largest community in the county and still growing. Single- family houses range from $155,000 to $800,000, townhouses from $110,000 to $300,000, condos from $57,900 to $300,000, and rentals are from $800 to $1,350 (townhouse) and $550 to $1,100 (apartments). The county is served by excellent highways: U.S. 1-70/40W, 1-95 and Md, Rtes, I and 29. Baltimore-Washington International Airport is nearby. The county has ranked second in the state since 1979 in per capita personal income.

Tax Situation: Real property is now assessed on a triennial basis. All property is assessed at .40% of fair market value. Property owners within metropolitan districts in the county (Columbia, Laurel, Ellicott City, Savage, etc.) pay $,20/$ 100 ad valorem tax to finance special services including water and sewer. Columbia residents pay an additional $.73 tax to finance commonly owned lands and recreation facilities.

Other taxes include 7.5% levy on amusements and admissions throughout the county; 50% surcharge on the state personal income tax Ilability of res- idents; and 1% county property transfer tax, and 1/2% state. State tax is $.21/$100. Fire tax is $.24/$100 in the metropolitan area and $.19/$100 in rural areas.

Form of Government: An urban/suburban county faced with sudden demands for new services, Howard County is administered by an elected county executive through 9 departments which provide services and support government operations. An elected 5-member County Council is the legislative and budget-setting arm ofthe gov- ernment. The Council and the Executive are elected to 4-year terms, with the council elected within districts.

The Executive sets policy and the Council passes laws and approves the budget and executive appointments. The county's public school system is run by a 5-member School Board, elected to staggered 6-year terms. The board appoints a school superintendent and operates the school system with annual Council-adopted budgets. The 5-member citizen Planning Board, appointed by the Executive, recommends Council or Board of Appeals action on long-range plans developed for county grovyth and on applications for rezoning land.

The long-range plan, while without the force of law, is often used as a guideline for zoning decisions handed down by the Council. As a charter county, Howard exercises powers and operates departments which are not traditional functions of sparsely populated rural Maryland counties. The Council has authority to legislate for the welfare and protection of the citizens, although the State legis- lature still has a large hand in deciding the laws which apply locally, even for charter "home rule" counties such as Howard.

County services include education, health, parks and recreation, planning, highways, water and sewerage systems, police and fire protection, libraries, housing inspection, an office on aging, and human service agencies with programs for youth, child care, consumer protection, manpower and community development, housing, and human rights. The County is the first jurisdiction in the region to include plastics in its recycling program.

Driving Time to Washington: Times shown in community profiles are generally for light to moderate traffic and are from the center of starting communities to downtown Washington. They can vary upwards to as much as 60 minutes during peak traffic periods.

Public Transportation: The Mass Transit administration contracts with Eyres Bus Service from Howard County to Silver Spring. Express bus from Columbia to Baltimore (Mass Transit Administration Flyer Service). Ride-sharing coordinated by the County (410-313-3130). Specialized service for the handicapped, elderly, and low income. Intratown bus system in Columbia. Jessup/Columbia Commuter Rail Station and Elkridge Commuter Rail Station service to D.C. and Baltimore (MARC). There is an additional train at Laurel race track.

Public School System: 32 elementaly (K-5), 14 middle (6-8), 8 high schools (9-12), I vocational school, I alternative learning center, I special education school. Total enrollment: 32,845. Per-pupil expenditure of $5,917. Pupil-teacher ratios: K, 22:1 25:1 in elementary schools, 20,5:1 in middle schools, 25:1 in high schools. Teacher salaries: $26,648 to $55,952. More than 81% of high school graduates go on to college.

Special education is an integral part of the total school system, and a variety of programs includes appropriate least restrictive place ment of students who are handicapped, intellectually limited, or who need supplementary services in speech and language. There is a work-study program, and a vocational and technical center provides training in 23 trades, including air conditioning, refrigeration, automotive mechanics, carpently, cosmetology, horticulture, data process- ing, drafting, electricity, electronics. The athletic program includes competitive baseball, football, soccer, track, ten- nis, giris softball and voUeyball, basketball, hockey, and lacrosse.

Private and Parochial Schools: 25 nursery-kindergarten, 6 Montessori, 2 elementary-secondary, many day care centers, school for the deaf. Total private school enrollment: 6,983 (1994) .

Public Facilities and Services: Electricity to entire county. Gas, water and sewer are provided in most eastern communities. Trash collected once a week under contract between the county and private firms paid for by taxes. Curbside recycling is provided once a week for homeowners; recycling is provided for some apartment complexes. 325-officer county police force operates from headquarters at Ellicott City (Emergency: 911; information 410-313- 3200). State police, with 37 officers, are stationedat Waterloo (410) 799-2101. I I fire stations with 166 career and 577 active volunteer firefighters (Fire/Rescue emergencies; 911, non-emergency: 410-313-231 1). 3 station and 3 chase car medic units, all of which are equipped with an ambulance, 7 basic life support and 3 advanced life sup- port: are available.

The Howard County Library is composed of a Central Library in Columbia, Miller Branch Library at Ellicott City, Savage (not open on Sunday), Lisbon (a community library), and an East-Colombia Branch is opened on Sunday, Elkridge Branch Library in Elkridge not opened on Sunday. Central and Miller libraries are open 7 days a week, Sundays 1-5 p.m. between September and May.

The present collection consists of more than 550,000 volumes, and items including books, cassettes, microfilm, videocassettes, periodicals, pam- phlets, compact discs, etc. The library has an online public catalog with remote access; INFO-LAN, a CD-ROM local area network with 16 information databases available at the central library and after hours remotely; and LOGIN available.

The library has an extensive literacy program, with van, that provides one-on-one tutoring; on- line searching (DIALOG); circulating toys; children's story hours and adult programs; as well as deliveries to home- bound and handicapped. Library information: (410)313-7800. The Newcomers Guide to Columbia and Howard County may be obtained by calling (410) 730-3620.

Colleges: Howard Community College. Several other schools have classes in Columbia: Loyola College (graduate courses), Johns Hopkins, and University of Maryland.

Places ofWorship: 4 African Methodist Episcopal (AME), I Assembly of God, I Baha'i, 20 Baptist, 2 Charismatic, 2 Christian Science, 2 Church of the Brethren, 3 Church of God, I Disciples of Christ, 9 Episcopal, I Islam, I Jehovah's Witnesses, 5 Jewish, 10 Lutheran, 2 Mennonite, 32 Methodist, I Mormon, 5 Presbyterian, 7 Roman Catholic, 2 Seventh DayAdventist, I Unitarian, I Uniting (United Church of Christ and Church of the Brethren).

Recreational Facilities: The program has 4,800 acres ofparkland, with 18 neighborhood, 4 community, and 5 county parks with baseball, football, and soccer fields, tennis, racquetball, and basketball courts. A 1700-acre environmental study area is being developed as part of a comprehensive stream valley protection program.

The Roger Carter Neighborhood Center includes a swimming pool, basketball courts, and rooms for arts, crafts, movies, weight training, music, and games. Information: (410) 313-2763. 57 baseball/softball fields; 19 soccer/football fields; 22 basketball courts; 21 playgrounds; 38 public tennis courts; instruction in tennis, swimming, sports and gymnastics; arts and crafts programs.

Public swimming pools. Boys and girls clubs provide a variety of organized sports and other outdoor activities. Summer playgrounds at schools. Many athletic leagues including baseball, soft- ball, soccer, basketball and swimming. Washington Suburban Sanitaiy Commission offers boat launches, picnic areas, etc. Patapsco Valley State Park has camping, hiking, bridle trails, and picnic sites; Patuxent River State Park is a natural area. Centennial Park and Cedar Lane Park have baseball, soccer fields, lighted play fields and paddle boats.

Information: (410) 313-2761, The Columbia Association, aprivate non-profit organization, owns 2 athletic clubs, a golf course, 3 tennis clubs, indoor swim center with 3 pools and 2 water slides, indoor Olympic swimming pool, indoor ice rink, 21 outdoor neighborhood pools. Programs for all ages. Information: (410) 715-3000.

Medical Facilities: Approximately 210 physicians are members of Howard County Medical Society, nearly 500 physicians practice in the county. Numerous dentists. Howard County General Hospital (243 beds) in Columbia is only hospital in county. Other hospitals at Oiney, Baltimore and Frederick. Taylor Manor Psychiatric Hospital (private) in Ellicott City. Perkins State Hospital for mentally ill in Jessup.

Lorien Nursing Home in Columbia (148 beds) and Bon Securs Extended Care (192 beds) in Ellicott City. Prepaid group health plan in Columbia, County health department, offers clinics for family planning, tuberculosis, STD, prenatal, infant and toddlers, and teens. Services include supplemental food program, health education, mental health, environmental health, addictions, and geriatric evaluation. The county offers confidential HIV testing by Health Department. Private visiting nurse services. Grassroots operates a hotline (410-531-6006), a drop in center, support groups, and youth crisis call in service.

Shopping: Columbia Mall, Dobbin Center, Columbia Eastgate Mall, downtown Ellicott City, downtown Baltimore, and many others.