Neighborhood Showcase
Laurel (Howard)
Howard County, Maryland
Quick Facts:
- Zip Code: 20707, 20723, 20724
- Population: 19960
- Avg. Household Income: 49415
- Avg. Commute Time: 33.0 min
- Sales Taxes: 5%
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Howard County Information:
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Description
The city of Laurel, named after the Laurel tree, was developed in the 19th century as a milling and factory town. It's one of the oldest industrial areas in the Washington DC area. The Quakers started coming to Laurel in the 1600s. The Patuxent River was a major resource to the city. The Savage area originates from Savage Mill, which produced canvas materials in the 1800s.
Since the city lies right between three counties: Howard, Prince George's and Anne Arundel, parts of the city are situated in different counties.
Laurel is most known for being the home of the Laurel Park & Pimlico Race Track, which hosts horse track racing events and competitions. The famed Preakness Stakes has occurred here at this race track since 1873. The National Wildlife Research Center of Patuxent Research Refuge also offers tours, education programs and information. Festivities include Main Street Festival, Montpelier Spring Festival, and Riverfest.
Spotlights
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.