LOCAL GOVERNMENT

COUNTIES

[photo, Arundel Center, 44 Calvert St. (from Northwest St.), Annapolis, Maryland]

Counties

Counties (by date of formation)

Map of Counties & County Seats (color & black & white)

Arundel Center, 44 Calvert St. (from Northwest St.), Annapolis, Maryland, July 2014. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.


Allegany County	Carroll County	Harford County	St. Mary's County
Anne Arundel County	Cecil County	Howard County	Somerset County
Baltimore City	Charles County	Kent County	Talbot County
Baltimore County	Dorchester County	Montgomery County	Washington County
Calvert County	Frederick County	Prince George's County	Wicomico County
Caroline County	Garrett County	Queen Anne's County	Worcester County

[photo, Howard County Council Meeting Room, George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, Maryland]

For much of Maryland, local government typically is county government. Twenty-three counties and Baltimore City make up the twenty-four main local jurisdictions found in Maryland. Baltimore City, although a municipality, has been considered on a par with county jurisdictions since the adoption of the Maryland Constitution of 1851.

Howard County Council Meeting Room, George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, Maryland, May 2018. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

[photo, Wicomico County Government Office Building, 125 North Division St., Salisbury, Maryland]

Twelve of Maryland's counties are governed by boards of county commissioners. These include Allegany, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Charles, Garrett, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Washington and Worcester counties. Among these, six have adopted a code "home rule" form of government: Allegany, Caroline, Charles, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Worcester. "Home rule" empowers the county with broad legislative authority, and limits the General Assembly's local legislative powers.

Wicomico County Government Office Building, 125 North Division St., Salisbury, Maryland, August 2012. Photo by David R. Herron.

[photo, Prince George's County Courthouse, Duvall Wing, Upper Marlboro, Maryland]

Eleven Maryland counties have ratified charter forms of government: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's, Talbot, and Wicomico. All of these are governed by county councils; and all (except Dorchester & Talbot) are led by county executives.

Prince George's County Courthouse, Duvall Wing, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, October 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Also see: Maryland Association of Counties

Maryland Municipalities (by county)
Maryland Municipalities (by name)
Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
Maryland Departments
Maryland Independent Agencies
Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, & Advisory Boards
Interstate Agencies (Maryland memberships)
Maryland Universities & Colleges
Maryland at a Glance