Welcome

WELCOME
Named in honor of Henry Harford, the sixth and last British governor and illegitimate son of Frederick Calvert, Harford is the eighth most populated county in Maryland with more than 242,500 residents in 2009 and a median household income of $76,620.

Of the county's 527 square miles, 440 are land and 86 water, bordered to the north by the Mason-Dixon Line and Pennsylvania, the east by the Susquehanna River, the south by the scenic Chesapeake Bay and the west by Baltimore County.

Aberdeen is the most populous city—14,000 as of July 2009. And Bel Air—population 9,840—is the county seat. The U.S. Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground is the largest employer. As the county slowly succumbed to the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, land development activities and environmental issues have created conflicts between farmers and developers/homeowners. As a result, county officials implemented a plan to channel development into specific areas of the county.

Controlling sediment and fertilizer runoff into the bay as well as soil and groundwater contamination from the Proving Ground have ignited environmental concerns. The military installation, for example, contains three superfund priority sites and has released various chemical agents into soil and groundwater, including mustard gas and perchlorate.

But that same area atop Chesapeake Bay along the Susquehanna River also affords countless recreational water activities, marinas and launching pads.

All in all, recreational activities abound throughout the county—53 playgrounds, 96 tennis courts, 144 baseball/softball diamonds, 16 fishing piers, 21 picnic areas, eight hiking trails and the Harford County Equestrian Center (home to the annual Harford County Farm Fair and equestrian events). And baseball fans can enjoy a minor league team, the Aberdeen IronBirds, founded by former Baltimore Orioles player and hall of famer Cal Ripken, who was raised in Aberdeen.

HISTORY
Captain John Smith—of Pocahontas and Jamestown fame—discovered what would become Harford County in 1608 during his second map-making trip up and down Chesapeake Bay and its many tributaries. In fact, his forays up the Gunpowder and Bush rivers, north to Havre de Grace and the Susquehanna River prompted this entry in his journal: "Heaven and earth seemed never to have agreed better to frame a place for a man's commodious and delightful habitation."

Near Deer Creek, Smith and his dozen companions encountered a village of seven-foot-tall Susquehannock Indians. Fourteen years later, a young Englishman, Edward Palmer, established a fur trading post near this spot so he could trade with the Indian trappers to the north and other trading posts on the Bay and rivers to the south.

The idea of Harford County began in 1659 as a part of Baltimore County, which included the territory of Baltimore, Harford and Cecil counties. Five years later British officials authorized the first county seat—Old Baltimore on the east bank of Bush River in what is now Aberdeen Proving Ground. After a rapid population growth in the area, an Act of the General Assembly of 1773 created Harford County. At that time the area was fairly well settled—about 13,000 people lived in a peaceful and well-governed territory with roads, bridges and churches. In 1775, the citizens of Harford county passed "The Bush Declaration," and became the first organized group in the colonies to proclaim independence from Britain. After the Revolution, in 1782, the county elected to move the county seat to Bel Air, where it remains to this day.

GOVERNMENT LINKS
 Harford County
http://www.harfordcountymd.gov

Harford County Chamber of Commerce
108 S. Bond St.
Bel Air, MD 21014 (410) 838-2020/ (800) 682-8536
http://www.harfordchamber.org

Harford County Sheriff's Office
45 S. Main St.
Bel Air, MD 21014 (410) 838-6600
http://harfordsheriff.orgMaryland
http://www.maryland.govMaryland

Department of Veterans Affairs
16 Francis St., Fourth Floor
Annapolis, MD 21401 (410) 260-3838
http://www.mdva.state.md.us

U.S. Post Office (800) 275-8777
http://www.usps.com

CLIMATE
The sun usually shines on Harford County for 211 days a year. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 87 degrees. The coldest month is January, with an average minimum temperature of 23 degrees. Precipitation hovers near 48 inches a year, with rainfall evenly distributed through all 12 months. July is the wettest, with 5 inches.

Thunderstorms
Higher temperatures, increased humidity, slow-moving thunderstorms, lightning, sudden fierce downpours and flash flood warnings - welcome to a typical summer in Harford County. Dangerous storms with extreme winds occur over large areas, especially "microbursts"—punches of wind up to 120 mph during the most intense part of the storm. Some of them roil into sudden tornadoes.

As a matter of fact, more than 90 twisters have ripped through the state in the last 10 years, up-rooting trees, stripping shingles from rooftops and sometimes causing widespread devastation. And don't forget the hail, sometimes big as softballs.

Most of all, remember the adage: "When the thunder roars, head indoors." Once inside avoid electrical appliances, plumbing fixtures and only use a corded telephone in an emergency. The National Weather Service recommends following the 30/30 Rule which states that people should seek shelter if the "Flash-To-Bang" delay—length of time in seconds from the sight of the lightning flash to the arrival of its subsequent thunder—is 30 seconds or less, and remain under cover for 30 minutes after the final thunder clap. For more safety information visit the National Weather Service at www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov 

Hurricane Season
As if lightning and tornadoes weren't enough to worry about, a fair share of hurricanes has thundered through the area. A typical season lasts from June 1 to Nov. 30. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the storm surge has the greatest potential for loss of life during a hurricane. Basically, tremendous winds push water which, when coupled with the normal tide, causes a dangerous swell in water height - up to 13 to 17 feet above the ground in a major hurricane

. Hurricane Isabel in 2003 whipped up the most recent storm surge, which downed trees, closed 80 to 90 roads and left hundreds of homes without power for a week. Damage throughout the state totaled about $945 million, with only one fatality due to flooding. The president eventually declared a state of disaster.

The Harford County Emergency Fire and Rescue Department suggests that you prepare a survival kit for your family, including pets, and secure important documents in waterproof containers. It is important to know your evacuation zone and where to go in case an evacuation is ordered. Visit www.co.ho.md.us/far/far_homepage.htm for the most recent shelter and evacuation zone map.

Sun Exposure
Some exposure to sunlight is good, even healthy, but too much can be dangerous. Broad-spectrum ultraviolet (UV) radiation, listed as a known carcinogen by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, can cause blistering sunburns and such long-term problems as skin cancer, cataracts and immune suppression. Overexposure also causes wrinkling and aging of the skin.

Cloud cover reduces UV levels, but not completely. Depending on the thickness of the cloud cover, you can still burn on a cold and dim day. So be prepared with sunglasses, sunscreens, long-sleeved garments, wide-brimmed hats and an umbrella.

PREPARING FOR AN APPROACHING STORM
Listen to weather forecasts and plan ahead.

If you lose power, use flashlights. Do not use candles or kerosene lamps—they can create a fatal safety hazard.

Develop a family emergency plan that includes alternative arrangements should the need arise to vacate your premises. Make provisions for special needs of any family member such as the elderly, handicapped, medically affected, or infants. If you are dependent on electric-powered medical equipment, you are encouraged to seek alternate arrangements in the event that your electric service is interrupted.

Keep the Following Items on Hand
Fresh Batteries
A Portable Radio
Flashlights
A Manual Can Opener
Matches
A Battery-Operated or Wind-Up Clock
Non-Perishable Food (canned and dried food)
Fuses
Sterno
Make a list of emergency phone numbers and keep a personal telephone book and one corded phone or cell phone on hand.
Keep a first-aid kit in your home and one in your car.

Don't Forget to Include
Scissors
Safety Pins
Aspirin
Eyewash
Rubbing Alcohol or Hydrogen Peroxide
Keep one gallon of bottled water available for each person in the household for each anticipated day without electric service.
If your home is served by well water, fill a bathtub with water for sanitation use.
Keep cash on hand.

Protect Your Food
To protect your food, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Food will stay frozen for 36 hours or more in a fully-loaded freezer if you keep the door closed. A half-full freezer will generally keep food frozen for 24 hours. Consider freezing containers of water ahead of time. The blocks of ice will help keep your food frozen longer.

During a Summer Power Outage
Close all drapes and blinds on the sunny side of your home.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Take your family and pets to a cool basement location. Or consider going to an air-conditioned public place during warmer daytime hours.

During a Winter Power Outage
Gather in a central room with an alternate heat source like a fireplace, but be sure to keep a screen around an open flame. And don't close the fireplace damper while the ashes are still hot.
During the day, open drapes and blinds to let the sun warm the space. Close them at night to minimize heat loss.
If the indoor temperature drops below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, open faucets slightly so they constantly drip, thereby preventing pipes from freezing.

Always Remember These Important Heating Safety Tips
A fuel-burning heater, such as kerosene, requires proper ventilation to prevent buildup of harmful fumes. Place these heaters on a hard, non-combustible surface.
Never leave children or pets alone with a portable heater when it's in use.
Never use a gas range for room heating.
Never use charcoal as an indoor heating or cooking source.

Generators
Follow these simple guidelines for safe use of your home generator:
Turn off the main circuit breaker to avoid injuring repair crews as they attempt to restore power.
If you use a generator during an outage, carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions.
If your generator is to be hooked directly into your home's electrical system, be sure to use a licensed electrician to do the work.

VISITOR INFORMATION CENTERS
City of Aberdeen
60 N. Park St.
Aberdeen, MD 21001 (410) 272-1600
http://www.aberdeen-md.org

City of Havre de Grace Office of Tourism
450 Pennington Ave.
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
(410) 939-2100/(800) 851-7756
http://www.hdgtourism.com
 
Harford County Office of Tourism
220 S. Main St.
Bel Air, MD 21014 (410) 638-3327
http://www.harfordmd.com

Havre de Grace Historic
Preservation Commission
City Hall, Pennington Ave.
Havre de Grace, MD 21078 (410) 939-6318
http://www.havredegracemd.com

Havre de Grace Office of
Tourism & Visitor Center
450 Pennington Ave.
Havre de Grace, MD 21078 (410) 939-2100
http://www.hdgtourism.com

Town of Bel Air
705 E. Churchville Road
Bel Air, MD 21014 (410) 879-2012
http://www.belairmd.org

Visitor Center at
Bel Air Armory
37 N. Main St.
Bel Air, MD 21014 (410) 638-9136

WST Sports
359 Hall Road
Crownsville, MD 21032 (410) 923-2070
http://www.wstsports.com