Neighborhood Showcase
Columbia
Howard County, Maryland
Quick Facts:
- Zip Code: 21044, 21045, 21046
- Population: 88254
- Avg. Household Income: 71524
- Avg. Commute Time: 30.2 min
- Sales Taxes: 5%
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Howard County Information:
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Description
Named for Columbia Pike, Columbia was a planned community developed by James Rouse of Rouse Company. The area's 14,000 acres was divided into nine villages and had sprawled out of farmland in the 1960s.
Like most planned communities, much of the area is parkland, open space and recreational. The area also has numerous schools, churches, malls and cultural facilities. Shopping can be done at the Columbia Mall and entertainment can be found at the Merriweather Post Pavilion, which hosts concerts and other events. The two major schools in this area are the Howard Community College and the Lincoln Technical Institute.
County Description
Located between Baltimore and the District, Howard County spans 251 square miles of land. In 1838, the Howard district was formed by the splitting of Anne Arundel County. The area was named for John E. Howard, who was an officer in the American Revolutionary War and a Governor of Maryland.
The Howard District had the status of a county but was not represented in the Maryland General Assembly until 1851, when it became an official county. Although Howard County has no incorporated municipalities by Maryland law, the area has a number of unincorporated areas -- with Columbia being the largest and Ellicott City being the county seat.
A number of corporations specializing in biotechnology, telecommunications and international business are growing in the area.
Nearby colleges include Howard Community College, John Hopkins and UMD. A major point of interest here is the Merriweather Post Pavilion, which hosts concerts and other events.