Howard District was created from Anne Arundel County in 1838. Although unrepresented in the General Assembly, the District enjoyed the status of a county. It officially became Maryland's 21st county on July 4, 1851. It is the smallest county in the state. Approximately 25% of the land is farmland.
Important farm products are dairy and livestock, corn and small grains, pasture and hay. Located in Central Maryland, about 90% of Howard County is in the Piedmont Plateau and 10% is in the Atlantic coastal Plain.
Howard County was named for John Eager Howard (1752-1827), Revolutionary War officer, Maryland governor, and statesman. The county seat is Ellicott City.
