Baltimore County

Baltimore County is an administrative unit in the state of Maryland that wraps around the city of Baltimore on three sides while functioning as a separate governmental entity. The county runs from the Patapsco River in the south to the Pennsylvania border in the north, taking in both densely populated suburbs and rural areas with forests and farmland.

The county was established in 1659 and became one of the first six administrative divisions of the Maryland colony. In 1851, the city of Baltimore separated and became an independent jurisdiction outside the county.

The county government actively supports community engagement through boards and commissions, enabling residents to participate in local decision-making processes and policy development.

Towson serves as the administrative center and houses the main government offices for residents who need to apply for documents or resolve administrative matters. The county is divided into 7 council districts, each representing different communities.

The county contains several unincorporated communities like Dundalk and Pikesville that lack their own city governments but maintain their own post offices and identities. Water covers roughly one eighth of the total area, including portions of the Chesapeake Bay and several rivers.

Location: Maryland

Inception: 1659

Capital city: Towson

Part of: Baltimore metropolitan area

Shares border with: York County, Carroll County, Harford County, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Baltimore, Kent County

Website: https://baltimorecountymd.gov

GPS coordinates: 39.40000,-76.60000

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:02