Harford County History

Harford County is a community that celebrates small town living, yet has all the conveniences of an urban setting.  The community here encourages cherished traditions and warm relationships with neighbors.  In our county, one can enjoy the relaxing setting of rolling hills, forests, and parks. The community is situated about 20 minutes from Baltimore City, about an hour from Washington DC, and about an hour and a half from Philadelphia PA.  The rural and urban mix in Harford County offers a unique contrast between wide-open farm fields, beautiful rivers, state parks, and forests and the conveniences of a modern thriving city—all set in an area rich in history and tradition.

Harford County is located in northeastern Maryland where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay. With approximately 520 square miles of land and water and 5,000 years of history, Harford County’s first inhabitants were the Susquehannock and Massawomek tribes.

Harford County, Maryland, was discovered in 1608 by famed Captain John Smith (of the Pocahontas legend). The area was mapped out and was included as part of Baltimore County. The first settlement was believed to have been established in 1622. In 1744, the area was divided and Harford County was named for Henry Harford, the son of the last Lord of Baltimore, Frederick Calvert.

In 1782, the citizens of Harford County voted to move the center of the government to the newly formed town of Bel Air, due to its convenient location. Bel Air was a plot of land laid out by the Scott family in 1780 on their farm Scott’s Old Fields

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