Maryland

Howard

332,317

2020 population

1860

first census record

census records

About Howard

Howard, Maryland, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 13,338. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 332,317.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Relay House MD (B&O Railroad Defense 1861), Ellicott City MD Bridge Defense (1861), and 41 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	332,317
2010	287,085
2000	247,842
1990	187,328
1980	118,572
1970	61,911
1960	36,152
1950	23,119
1940	17,175
1930	16,169
1920	15,826
1910	16,106
1900	16,715
1890	16,269
1880	16,140
1870	14,150
1860	13,338

Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Howard

Military engagements that took place in Howard, Maryland.

Relay House MD (B&O Railroad Defense 1861)

1861

Ellicott City MD Bridge Defense (1861)

1861

Historic places in Howard

National Register of Historic Places listings in Howard, Maryland.

Barney, Commodore Joshua, House

Savage

Brick House on the Pike

Ellicott City Station

Savage Mill Historic District

Bollman Suspension and Trussed Bridge

Savage

Christ Church Guilford

Guilford

Browse all Marylandhistoric sites ›

Other counties in Maryland

Explore census history and historic records for more Maryland counties.

Worcester Allegany Anne Arundel Baltimore Baltimore city Calvert Caroline Carroll Cecil Charles Dorchester Frederick Garrett Harford Kent Montgomery Prince George's Queen Anne's Somerset St. Mary's

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Everything a full report reveals about Howard County, Maryland

This page charts the census history of Howard County, Maryland. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Frequently asked about Howard

When does Howard first appear in the US census?

Howard, Maryland first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 13,338.

What is the population of Howard?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Howard had a recorded population of 332,317.

Were any battles fought in Howard?

2 documented military engagements took place in Howard, including Relay House MD (B&O Railroad Defense 1861), Ellicott City MD Bridge Defense (1861).

How many historic places are in Howard?

41 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Howard, Maryland.

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