Bush River is a tidal estuary in Harford County , Maryland , located about 15 mi (24 km) northeast of Baltimore . The estuary extends from the community of Riverside , south for about 9 mi (14 km), to the Chesapeake Bay . The watershed area of tidal Bush River is 125 mi (320 km ), and includes Aberdeen Proving Ground , a military facility.
47-486: The following are major and notable roads in Baltimore County, Maryland . [REDACTED] Maryland portal Baltimore County, Maryland Baltimore County ( / ˈ b ɔː l t ɪ m ɔːr / BAWL -tim-or , locally: / b ɔː l d ə ˈ m ɔːr / bawl-da- MOR or / ˈ b ɔː l m ər / BAWL -mər ) is the third-most populous county in the U.S. state of Maryland . The county
94-798: A humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) except in the northern tier where a hot-summer humid continental climate ( Dfa ) exists. Average monthly temperatures in Towson range from 33.3 °F in January to 76.9 °F in July. The county has three hardiness zones : 6b in some higher northern areas, 7a in most of the county by area, and 7b in areas close enough to the Chesapeake Bay or the City of Baltimore. The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) operates three rail systems—one light rail, one rapid transit, and one commuter rail—in
141-469: A charter government since 1956. The government consists of a County Executive and a seven-member County Council . The County Executive and Council members are elected in years of gubernatorial elections. The County Executive may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. Without incorporated cities or towns, the county government provides all local services to its residents, many of which are normally associated with city-type governmental agencies. In 1956,
188-475: A height of 800 feet (240 m) above tide water. The highest elevation is approximately 960 feet (290 m) above sea level at Maryland's state border with Pennsylvania near Steltz . The lowest elevation is sea level along the shoreline of Chesapeake Bay . Much of the county is suburban, straddling the border between the Piedmont plateau to the northwest and in the southern and southeastern regions of
235-677: A number of properties and sites of local, state and national historical interest on the National Register of Historic Places which is maintained by the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior by the "Historic Sites Act" of August 1935. In 1985, the Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. City Circuit Courthouse was named in honor of Baltimorean and Civil Rights Movement leader Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. . Baltimore County has had
282-418: A portion of Prince George's County to the south, were split off to create Frederick County. In 1773, Harford County to the east was split off, and in 1837 another part of western Baltimore County was combined with a part of eastern Frederick County to create Carroll County. After the adjustment of Baltimore County's southern boundary with Anne Arundel County, stated to be the upper Middle and Western Branches of
329-481: A proclamation of the Proprietor established the then-extensive boundary lines for old Baltimore County. Over the next century, various segments of the old county were sliced off as population and settlements increased in fringe regions. A portion of northeastern Baltimore County, as well as a portion of northwestern Kent County, was split off to create Cecil County. In 1748, a portion of western Baltimore County, as well as
376-467: A whole, Republicans running for statewide office must carry it solidly to win a statewide election. After going Republican in all but one presidential election from 1944 to 1988, it has voted for the Democratic candidate for president in each election since 1992. Along with neighboring Howard County , it has voted for the state-wide presidential winner in 10 straight elections, the longest such streak in
423-516: A yearly salary for duties such as reporting to the governor on affairs within the county, taking/estimating the census periodically, conveying official laws and proprietary requests to the county courts and selecting juries for court sessions. Along with enforcing all provincial laws, he posted new laws in public places. While his primary duty was to serve the Proprietor, the sheriff was aware of problems faced by poor planters and tradesmen. With taxes, yearly quit-rents and other costly expenditures, many of
470-528: Is available in the county at Halethorpe , St. Denis , and Martin State Airport stations. The MTA's local and regional bus services also serve Baltimore County. Bush River (Maryland) Bush River has three principal tributaries: Bush Creek, Church Creek and Otter Point Creek. The smaller tributaries are: 39°22′30″N 76°15′56″W / 39.37500°N 76.26556°W / 39.37500; -76.26556 This article about
517-562: Is part of the Central Maryland region of the state. Baltimore County partly surrounds but does not include the independent city of Baltimore . It is part of the Northeast megalopolis , which stretches from Northern Virginia in the south to Boston in the north and includes major American population centers, including New York City and Philadelphia . Major economic sectors in the county include education, government, and health care. As of
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#1733086345850564-498: Is responsible for police services. Established in the mid-17th century, the Sheriff of Baltimore County was at first filled by county justices from 1662 to 1676. After 1676, the Court submitted three names from which the colonial governor chose a sheriff. Although terms of office initially varied, by 1692, a uniform two-year term was imposed. In 1699 a three-year term with separate commissions
611-500: Is the first female chief to be permanently appointed to the position. The Baltimore County Executive oversees the executive branch of the County government, which is charged with implementing County law and overseeing the government operations. List of County Executives Notes: Anderson resigned after being convicted of several crimes and sentenced to prison. Kamenetz died on May 10, 2018. County Administrative Officer Frederick J. Homan
658-503: The 2020 census , the population was 854,535. The county is home to several universities, including Goucher College , Stevenson University , Towson University , and University of Maryland, Baltimore County . The name "Baltimore" derives from Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore (1605–1675), proprietor of the colonial-era Province of Maryland , and the town of Baltimore in County Cork , Ireland . The earliest known documentary record of
705-452: The 2nd district , and Democrat Kweisi Mfume of the 7th district . According to the U.S. census bureau , the county covers 682 square miles (1,770 km ), 598 square miles (1,550 km ) of which is land and 83 square miles (210 km ) (12%) of which is water. It is the third-largest county in Maryland by land area. The larger portion of the terrain consists of hills often rising to
752-595: The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the main north-south East Coast highway for wagons and carriages. Still, later it was on Washington Boulevard (designated U.S. Route 1 ) by 1926. With a bit of financial pressure, and after paying for the cost of a new courthouse (300 pounds sterling), dominant business, commercial and political residents of the Town of Baltimore were able to have the Maryland General Assembly relocate
799-620: The City of Baltimore in 1796–1797. The city remained a part of surrounding Baltimore County and continued to serve as its county seat from 1768 to 1851. The site of the courthouse is now " Battle Monument Square ", constructed 1815–1822 to commemorate the city and county defense in the War of 1812 , including the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy fleet in the Patapsco River ,
846-531: The Patapsco River in 1727, a portion of the county's northwestern area was designated in 1838 as the "Western District" or "Howard District" of Arundel and in 1851 was officially separated to form Howard County. Prior to 1674, Baltimore County court sessions were held in private residences, according to sketchy documentary evidence. In 1674, the General Assembly passed "An Act for erecting a Court-house and Prison in each County within this Province". The site of
893-585: The 1867 Maryland Constitution was approved by referendum in 1948, prohibiting any future annexations without approval from residents in affected territories. Extensive city-county hostilities came during the Civil Rights Movement, and by the 1980s the county's older inner suburbs faced increasing urban social ills. An atmosphere of cooperation emerged with the drawing of cross-border state assembly districts, organizing of regional government agencies, and increasing state assumption of powers. The county has
940-581: The Baltimore area; all three systems have stations in Baltimore County. The heavy-rail Metro SubwayLink runs northwest of the city to Owings Mills ; the Light RailLink system runs north of Baltimore City to Hunt Valley and south of the city through Baltimore Highlands with some routes terminating at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport , Maryland. Commuter MARC Train service
987-462: The City of Baltimore annexed from Baltimore County several parcels of land known as the "Precincts" on its west, north, east and southwest sides. The County separated from the city (which it surrounds on the east, north, and west) on July 4, 1851, as a result of the adoption of the 1851 second state constitution. Baltimore became one of the few " independent cities " in the United States, putting it on
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#17330863458501034-417: The City of Baltimore near present-day suburban "Joppatowne" off Harford Road ) existed. A new port and wharfing site, Elkridge Landing , on the upper Patapsco River 's Western Branch, became prosperous in the 18th century. It was established on the "falls" of the river, below the rapids and rocks, where the river was deep enough for loaded sailing merchantmen. The landing was a designated "port of entry" and
1081-439: The County adopted an "executive-council" system of government with "at large" representatives, replacing its traditional system of an elected Board of County Commissioners. Since then it has had eleven county executives and one "acting" executive, of which ten were Democrats and two were Republicans . The former Vice President of the United States , Spiro T. Agnew , served as the third executive from 1962 to 1966 and subsequently
1128-614: The county and surrounding areas, including Baltimore City, through mutual-aid pacts with those jurisdictions. The department consists of both paid and volunteer companies that provide services to overlapping territories. Twenty-five career (paid) stations and 28 volunteer stations operate there. More than 1,000 paid personnel and more than 2,000 volunteers serve in the department. The department conducts annual fire inspections on commercial properties, fire investigation and fire prevention education activities as well as water and tactical rescue. Sworn in as fire chief on July 1, 2019, Joanne R. Rund
1175-651: The county bordering the Patapsco River and the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic coastal plain . Northern Baltimore County is primarily rural, with a landscape of rolling hills and deciduous forests characteristic of the Southeastern mixed forests and shares the geography with its neighbors to the east and west, Carroll County and Harford County, and going north across the historic Mason–Dixon line into Adams County and York County in south central Pennsylvania . The county has
1222-682: The county is dated January 12, 1659, when a writ was issued on behalf of the General Assembly of Maryland to its sheriff. The county was founded in 1659, and is now one of 23 counties in the state. The initial Baltimore County was larger geographically than it is currently, including most of northeastern Maryland, which was then the northwestern frontier of the Province and included the present-day jurisdictions of Baltimore City , Cecil and Harford Counties , and parts of Carroll , Anne Arundel , Frederick , Howard , and Kent Counties . In 1674,
1269-562: The county justices. This change of location, away from the Bush River area, reflects the growing economic and political importance of the Gunpowder region. During the next decade, the county seat moved to Joppa . By 1724, the legislative assembly authorized Thomas Tolley, Capt. John Taylor, Daniel Scott, Lancelot Todd, and John Stokes to purchase 20 acres from "Taylor's Choice," a tract named after John Taylor. The assembly's ordinance directed that
1316-442: The county seat to their growing port town. In 1768, following receipt of petitions for and against the relocation, the General Assembly passed an Act that moved the county seat from Joppa to Baltimore. The first courthouse was constructed in 1768 at a new Courthouse Square at present-day North Calvert Street , between East Lexington and East Fayette Streets. The city of Baltimore, Jonestown , and Fells Point were incorporated as
1363-765: The courthouse, jail and county seat for Baltimore County was evidently "Old Baltimore" near the Bush River on land that in 1773 became part of Harford County. The exact location of Old Baltimore is Chilbury Point on the north side of the Bush River owned by the Garrison of the present-day Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), a U.S. Army weapons testing facility. It is a popular spot of local boaters. APG's Cultural Resource Management Program attempted to find Old Baltimore, contracting with R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates (Goodwin). Goodwin first performed historical and archival work and coordinated with existing landscape features to locate
1410-415: The eastern industrial communities of Canton and Highlandtown resisted and opposed annexation, but were annexed 30 years later. The last major annexation took place in 1918–1919, which again took territory from the county on all three sides (west, north, and east) and to the south for the first time from Anne Arundel County, along the south shores of the Patapsco River . A new Baltimore County Courthouse
1457-408: The land be divided into 40 lots with streets and alleys to accompany the courthouse and jail erected previously. By 1750, about 50 houses (including a few large two-story brick structures), a church (St. John's Anglican Parish), a courthouse, three stone warehouses, inns, taverns, stores, a public wharf and a "gallows-tree" with an "Amen Corner" with pillories and whipping posts (now located northeast of
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1504-498: The northern portions of the county lean Republican, while the southern portion is more Democratic. The Baltimore County State's Attorney is responsible for prosecuting the felony , misdemeanor, and juvenile cases that occur in the county. As of 2017, the State's Attorney was Scott Shellenberger (Democrat). He followed Sandra A. O'Connor, a Republican who served eight terms before retiring in 2006. The Baltimore County Police Department
1551-438: The one created by the 1674 Act. "Old Baltimore" was in existence as early as 1674, but no documents describe what may have preceded it. By 1695, the "Old Baltimore" courthouse had evidently been abandoned. County justices put the site up for sale. Apparently a new courthouse at "Simm's Choice" on the Baltimore County side of Little Gunpowder Falls had been under construction since 1692. In 1700, builder Michael Judd sold it to
1598-547: The poorer settlers were unable to pay their obligations when due. The sheriff often extended credit to these planters and paid their immediate obligations out of his own pocket. This lessened the impact of taxes for the poor, who repaid the sheriff after their harvests were brought in. The modern Baltimore County Sheriff's Department is responsible for security of the two major County Circuit Courts buildings and various courtrooms elsewhere as well as process and warrant service. Sheriff's Deputies are sworn police officers and share
1645-412: The same level with the state's other 23 counties and granting limited " home rule " powers outside the authority of the Maryland General Assembly. Towsontown was voted in a referendum by the voting citizens as the new "county seat" on February 13, 1854. The City of Baltimore continued annexing land from the county, extending its western and northern boundaries in 1888. The factory and business owners in
1692-659: The same powers of the more recently organized County Police Department. As of 2019, the Baltimore County Sheriff is a Democrat, R. J. Fisher. The Maryland State Police is headquartered at 1201 Reisterstown Road in the Pikesville CDP . The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Baltimore field office is located in Milford Mill . The Baltimore County Fire Department (B.Co.F.D.) provides fire protection, emergency medical services and emergency rescue services to
1739-460: The site of Old Baltimore. APG's Explosive Ordnance Disposal of Army personnel defused any unexploded ordnance. In 1997–1998. Goodwin dug 420 test pits, uncovering artifacts including a King Charles II farthing coin, and French and English gun flints. An unearthed brick foundation proved to be the remains of the tavern owned by colonist James Phillips. Another prominent landholder in Old Baltimore
1786-418: The state. However, in gubernatorial elections , it has often gone Republican (1994, 1998, 2006) even as a Democratic candidate was elected governor. In the 2014 gubernatorial election Republican Larry Hogan won Baltimore County by over 20 points (59.03% to 38.89%). Baltimore County is represented by Republican Andy Harris of Maryland's 1st congressional district , Democrat Dutch Ruppersberger of
1833-493: The two-day stand-off in fortifications dug east of the city on Loudenschlager's Hill (now "Hampstead Hill" in today's Patterson Park ) and the earlier Battle of North Point in "Godly Woods" on the "Patapsco Neck" peninsula in the southeastern portion of the county, during September 12–14, 1814. These events have been commemorated ever since by Defenders Day , an annual city, county, and state official holiday on September 12. A second city-county courthouse constructed in 1805–1809
1880-453: Was William Osbourne, who operated the ferry across the Bush River. In 1683, the Maryland General Assembly passed "An Act for Advancement of Trade" to "establish towns, ports, and places of trade, within the province." One of the towns established by the act was "on Bush River, on Town Land, near the Court-House". The courthouse on the Bush River referenced in the 1683 Act was in all likelihood
1927-408: Was acting county executive until the county council named Mohler to serve the remainder of Kamenetz's term. The County Council adopts ordinances and resolutions and holds the county's legislative powers. As of April 2023 , the council has 4 Democrats and 3 Republicans . Baltimore County is somewhat of a bellwether for Maryland politics. While it leans slightly Republican compared to the state as
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1974-458: Was adopted. The sheriff acted as the chief local representative of the proprietary government. His duties included the collection of all public taxes and after 1692, the collection of the yearly poll tax of forty pounds of tobacco for the support of the Anglican ( Church of England ) clergy and parishes. A sheriff received a percentage of collected monies, generally about five percent. He also received
2021-494: Was authorized to be built facing Washington Avenue, between Chesapeake and Pennsylvania Avenues to replace the previous courthouse and governmental offices then centered for near 85 years in the city, which had been the official "county seat" since just before the American Revolution . Later surrounded by manicured flower gardens, shrubs and curved walkways, the historical landmark is built of local limestone and marble . It
2068-425: Was completed and dedicated in 1855. Wings and annexes were added in 1910, 1923 and 1958. By the 1970s, the county's legal system and governmental offices had grown so much that a separate modernistic "County Courts Building" was erected to the west behind the old Courthouse with its annexes, separated by a paved plaza which is used for employee/visitors relaxations and official ceremonies. A constitutional amendment to
2115-512: Was elected Governor of Maryland , serving from 1967 to 1969. He was later accused of corruption and bribery while serving as County executive and continuing to accept bribes as the state's governor and as U.S. vice president. He pleaded "no contest" to unprecedented Federal criminal charges. He was forced to resign the Vice Presidency in 1973. Politically, Baltimore County leans Democratic, but not as overwhelmingly as Baltimore City. In general,
2162-479: Was moved to the western side of the Square at North Calvert and East Lexington. A third courthouse including the lower magistrates, commissioners, district and circuit courts , orphans (inheritances/wills) court, small claims court and the old Supreme Bench of Baltimore City was constructed on the entire western block of North Calvert , East Lexington, East Fayette and Saint Paul Streets from 1896 to 1900. In 1816,
2209-513: Was the terminus of several "rolling roads" on which horse or oxen-drawn hogsheads (huge barrels) packed with tobacco were wheeled down to the Landing/port to be loaded on ships sailing for London and Europe. Gradually the site silted-up from soil erosion and poor farming cultivation on the upper Patapsco, and the maritime economy of the Landing faded. In the 19th century, it became an important stop on
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