Web Resources> History and Genealogy
> Baltimore County History
Baltimore County History
|
The 350th Anniversary of Baltimore County
Celebrating a Legacy, 1659-2009
The Historical
Society of Baltimore County, in partnership with Baltimore County
government and author Dr. Barry Lanman of UMBC, produced this
commemorative book. Hundreds of the most historically significant
Legacy Web images appear in the book.
Softback copies are
on sale in
all BCPL libraries and bookmobiles. Hardback and softback editions
and related maps are available from the
Historical Society. |
 |
|
| A special web site has been created for Baltimore
County's 350th anniversary celebration at
http://www.bc350.org/ The site includes information on upcoming events
associated with the commemoration of this milestone in Baltimore County's
history. |
Baltimore County Executives
| Service Years |
Executive |
Party |
| 1956-1958 |
Michael J. Birmingham |
D |
| 1958-1962 |
Christian H. Kahl |
D |
| 1962-1966 |
Spiro T. Agnew |
R |
| 1966-1974 |
Dale Anderson |
D |
| 1974 |
Frederick L. Dewberry
(Acting County Executive) |
D |
| 1974-1978 |
Theodore G. Venetoulis |
D |
| 1978-1986 |
Donald P. Hutchinson |
D |
| 1986-1990 |
Dennis F. Rasmussen |
D |
| 1990-1994 |
Roger B. Hayden |
R |
| 1994-2002 |
C. A. (Dutch) Ruppersberger III |
D |
| 2002- |
James
T. Smith |
D |
D=Democrat R=Republican.
Baltimore County was governed by County Commissioners before 1956.
Sources for County Executive information:
-
Brooks, Neal A. A History of Baltimore County
-
Maryland Manuals
-
Baltimore Sun
Back to top
Baltimore County Symbols
Baltimore County
Flag Picture and history. County Council site
Baltimore County
Seal Picture and History. County Council site.
Baltimore
County Seal Newsletter of the Maryland State Archives provides seal history
Large
color picture of the Baltimore County Seal Also includes government information
Back to top
Community History
BCPL is pleased to provide these area histories by
local contributors. However, the information has not been verified by BCPL for accuracy or
omissions.
Eastern Region
Battle of North Point in the War of 1812
Dundalk...Did You Know? Facts about Dundalk's History
History of Essex and Middle River
History of Loch Raven
Village
History of Rosedale
History of White Marsh One of the newer of Baltimore
County communities
Central Region
Carney History
including 'Hamburger Junction'
Glen Ellen A historian's essay on the
ruined local mansion
History of Anneslie [PDF] - Early planned community near Towson
History Time Line of Towson created
by the staff of the Towson Library
Lutherville, Maryland Begun in 1852 on land
originally part of the Ridgely Estate
Parkville Area History First surveyed in 1735
Perry Hall About the community, from the Perry Hall
Improvement Association
Perry Hall Area History From early settlement to
contemporary times
Perry Hall Brief History
From the Perry Hall
Improvement Association
Perry Hall Mansion From the Greater Perry Hall Community
Alliance
History of the Ruxton-Riderwood-Lake Roland
Area
Sanders' Corner
began as a blacksmith shop in 1880's, it also housed the Loch Raven post
office
West Towson
David A. Loizeaux's A Brief History of West Towson
Western Region
Arbutus Area
Lansdowne, Relay, Farm School, Arbutus Oak
Brief History of Randallstown
Castle Thunder
Catonsville
Catonsville History
provided by CatonsvilleWeb
Fire and Faith: The Catonsville Nine File
from the Maryland Digital Cultural Heritage project
Granite Area History from Granite Historical Society
Granite National Historic
District
Quarrying community; from Granite Historical Society
Lansdowne - A railroad
town
Relay The Thomas Viaduct, Why the name Relay?
Relay and Vicinity
- Personal recollections of a local resident in 1911
Reister's Town Reister family, founding of
Reisterstown, 1st church and school
Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area history, by Claudia J. Floyd
General History
Baltimore County
This
short history includes a color picture of the Baltimore County Seal
Baltimore County History Brief (1650-1854)
Bibliography of Baltimore County History [PDF] Extensive listing
of historic publications available regionally Compiled by the Baltimore
County Department of Planning.
Back to top
Historical Associations in Baltimore County
Historical Society of Baltimore
County
Baltimore County Historical Trust, Inc.
Baltimore County Landmarks Preservation Commission
Catonsville Historical Society
Dundalk-Patapsco Neck Historical Society, Inc.
Granite Historical Society
Heritage Association of Greater Dundalk, Inc.
Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River, Inc.
Historic Glyndon, Inc.
Back to top
Home Rule Charter for Baltimore
County Established
"In November, 1954, the voters elected a Charter Board
to draw up a proposed Home Rule Charter for Baltimore County. The Charter recommended by
that body was approved by the electorate on Nov. 6, 1956.
In a technical sense, the new Charter became effective on
December 6, 1956, the thirtieth day following its adoption. The special election for the
first County Councilmen was not held until Jan. 23, 1957, and their terms of office did
not commence until Jan.28 of that same year. During the interim period the incumbent Board
of County Commissioners constituted the County Council, and when the newly-elected members
of the Council took office, the Board of County Commissioners in Baltimore County ceased
to exist."
excerpted from "Baltimore County and its Suburban
Communities", compiled by W. S. Hamill, Director, Maryland Development Bureau,
Baltimore Association of Commerce, in the Introduction, p. XXII of Polk's Baltimore
Suburban (Maryland) Directory 1957.
Back to top
Local History Materials at the Baltimore County
Public Library
Special Collections
Legacy Web
Search or browse a growing archive of
annotated, digitized photographs of Baltimore County as well as Baltimore Magazine
from the early years. All aspects of Baltimore County life
for the last 130 years are contained in BCPL's photo archives, estimated to hold at least
15,500 images. Included are most aspects of rural living including photographs of people,
building sites and events in the Baltimore County area. These photographs can be used for
presentations, displays and publications and also make fine additions to personal
collections. Prints are available for sale.
Local History and Maryland Collection
Whether delving into history, locating government
information, answering school assignment questions, or just browsing for photographic
albums, and more, this collection includes a broad spectrum of material. All libraries
maintain collections.
The Arbutus Library, the Catonsville Library,
the Reisterstown Library and the
Towson Library maintain
historical archives on the local communities they serve. The historical information
consists of rare and out-of-print books, newspaper clippings, and historical prints of
local sites. These materials are non-circulating and may be accessible by appointment
only; please call the branch to determine whether you need an appointment to use the
historical collection.
Microfilm
Collections at BCPL
A few branches maintain historical collections of
newspapers and other archival material pertaining to Baltimore County and Maryland.
Back to top
Museums and Historic
Sites
(More complete information may be found on
some of the organizations by
searching our
Arts and Entertainment InfoCenter).
Ballestone Manor Museum of 1780-1880 period. Located at Rocky Point Golf Course,
1935 Back River Neck Rd, Baltimore MD 21221.
Benjamin
Banneker Historical Park and Museum
Fire Museum of Maryland
Hand-pulled,
horse-drawn and motorized fire equipment dating from 1822
Hampton National Historic Site
Georgian
mansion with original furnishings.
Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River Museum Situated in a 1920 fire house,
museum features general store, candle shop, music shop, toy shop, schoolroom, and drug
store
516 Eastern Blvd., Essex, MD 21221
Glenn L. Martin Aviation
Museum Aviation history in Maryland
Museum of the Historical
Society of Baltimore County
1659 to present. Six museum rooms in former Almshouse include country kitchen, bedroom,
children's room, country store, schoolroom, as well as agricultural related materials in
the Farm Museum.
Townsend
House and Pullen Museum Townsend House has an eighteenth century
floor plan and includes a variety of antiques from the eighteenth and
nineteenth centuries, historic Homewood replica model dollhouse, Knot
Garden. The Pullen Museum is currently the
headquarters of the Catonsville Historical Society.
Back to top
Registered
Historic Places in Baltimore County
National
Register of Historic Places Baltimore County
property placed on the National Register; compiled by the Baltimore County
Historical Trust
Back to top
Selected Bibliography For Baltimore County History
An extensive bibliography of
Baltimore County history is available on the
Baltimore County Planning Department's [PDF] website
Anson, Melanie D.
Olmsted's Sudbrook: the Making of a Community.
Baltimore, MD: Sudbrook Park, Inc., 1997 Md 975.271A
Arbutus, a Historical Scrapbook. Baltimore, MD: Greater Arbutus
Community Alliance., 2001. Md(Ref) 975.271A
Baird, Hulett C.
Edgemere.
1988. Md(Ref) 975.271B
Bartels, Fran.
Violetville, the History of a Neighborhood. Baltimore, MD: Fran
Bartels., 2002. Md(Ref) 975.26.B.
Blum, Gayle Neville.
Baltimore County. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Press, 2009. Md 975.271B
Board of Education of Baltimore County.
Baltimore County in the State and Nation Towson, MD: Board of Education of Baltimore County, 1957 and 1962 Md
975.271 B
Bonnett, Logie.
Baltimore County, its history, progress and opportunities.
1916 Md Ref 975.271B
Bready, Mary H.
Through all our days: a history of St. Paul's School
for Girls. Baltimore, MD: Braun-Brumfield, 1999. Md(Ref) 371.822B
Brinkmann, Walter S.
Never-to-be-forgotten tales of Catonsville. 1942
Md (Ref) 975.271B
Brooks, Neal A. and Richard Parsons.
Baltimore County Panorama.
Towson, MD: Baltimore County Public Library, 1988 Md (Ref) 975.271 B
Brooks, Neal A.
History of Baltimore County.
Towson, MD: Friends of the Towson Library Inc., 1979. Md (Ref) 975.271
B
Brooks, E. Nelson.
It couldn't have been better than this: memories of the childhood, family,
and background of a fortunate boy MD: E. Nelson Brooks, 1995. Ref B Brooks
Bunting, Elaine.
Counties of Northern Maryland. Centerville, MD:
Tidewater Publishers., 2000. JMd 975.27B
Clemens, Shirley B.
From Marble Hill to Maryland Line: an Informal History of Northern Baltimore
County. Baltimore, MD: Professional Printing Services., 1976, 1983,
1999.. Md(Ref) 975.271C
Coale, Joseph M.
Middling Planters of Ruxton.
Baltimore, MD: Maryland Historical Society., 1996. Md(Ref) 975.271C
County Directories of Maryland, Inc. 300th anniversary book of Baltimore
County. 1959. Md (Ref)975.271C
Crewe, Amy Copper.
No backward step was taken: highlights in the history of
the public elementary schools of Baltimore County. 1949. Md
379.75271C
Davidson, Isobel.
Real Stories From Baltimore County History.
Hatboro, PA: Tradition Press, 1917 and 1967 Md 975.271 D 1967
Diggs, Louis S.
From the Meadows to the Point: the Histories of the African American
Community of Turner Station and what was the African American Community in
Sparrows Point. Baltimore, MD: Louis Diggs., 2003. Md(Ref) 975.271D
Diggs, Louis S.
Holding On to Their Heritage. 1996 Md 975.0049 D
Diggs, Louis S.
It All Started on Winters Lane: a History of the Black Community in
Catonsville, Maryland. 1995 Md 975.271 D
Diggs, Louis S.
In Our Voices: a Folk History in Legacy.
1998 Md (Ref) 975.271D
Diggs, Louis S.
North County: the History of African American Settlements in Northern
Baltimore County's Scenic Horse Country. Baltimore, MD: Louis S.
Diggs., 2005. Md 975.271D
Diggs, Louis S.
Our Struggles: Historic African American Communities in Southeast Baltimore
County. Owings Mills, MD: Uptown Press., 2007. Md 975.271D
Diggs, Louis S.
Since the Beginning: African American Communities in Towson
. Owings Mills, MD: Uptown Press., 2000. Md(Ref) 975.271D
Diggs, Louis S.
Surviving in America: Histories of 7 Black Communities in Baltimore County.
Owings Mills, MD: Uptown Press., 2002. Md(Ref) 975.271D
Dundalk,
the First Hundred Years 1895-1995. Baltimore: Patapsco Neck
Historical Society., 1997.Md (Ref) 975271D
Essex 1909-1999: 90 Years of Yesterdays. Essex, MD; Essex Revitalization
and Community Corporation,Inc. 1999. Md (Ref)
975.271E
Esslinger, Dean.
Towson University. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Press, 2005. Md 975.2E
Forbes, Marie. Speaking of Our Past (Owings Mills).
Baltimore, MD; 1988. Md(Ref) 975.271F
Fox, Jimmy. Legacy of a Country Boy: Life on the Farm.
Falcon, CO: Fox Meadow Pub., 2007 BFox
Frank, Beryl.
A Pictorial History of Pikesville,
Maryland. Towson, MD: Baltimore County Public Library, 1982 Md 975.271 F
Frank, Beryl.
Way Back When in Sudbrook Park. Baltimore, MD: Sudbrook
Park, Inc., 1997. Md 975.271F
Gontrum, Edwin K.
Sidelights on the History of Baltimore
County. Towson, MD:
Edwin K. Gontrum 1966 Md (Ref) 975.271 G
Green Spring Valley, its History and Heritage, vol.1: a History; Historic
Homes. Baltimore, MD: Maryland Historical Society 1978 Md (Ref) 975.271
G
Green Spring Valley, its History and Heritage, vol. 2:
Genealogies. Baltimore, MD: Maryland Historical Society 1978 Md (Ref)
975.271.G
Hahn, Henry George.
Towson, a pictorial history of a Maryland town. Norfolk, VA: The Donning
Company, 1977. Md (Ref) 975.271H
Hastings, Lynne Dakin.
Hampton National Historic Site.
Baltimore, MD : 1986. Md( Ref) 975.271 H
Helton, Gary.
Dundalk.
Charleston, SC: Arcadia Press, 2005. Md 975.271H
Historic Long Green Valley, Baltimore County, Maryland:
architecture, history. Cockeysville, MD:
Baltimore County Historical Society, 1981. Md(Ref) 975.271H
Hollifield, William.
Difficulties made easy: history of the turnpikes
of Baltimore City & County. 1978.
Md (Ref) 388.1H
Horine, Paige.
Maryland State Fair: Celebrating 125 Years. Charleston, SC: Arcadia
Press., 2006. Md 975.2H
Huttenhauer, Helen G.
Historical Resume: Baltimore County, Md 1659 Towson, MD: Office of
Research and Public Affairs. 1977 Md 975.271 H
Jessop, Jennie E.
Origin names in Baltimore County. 1968
Md (Ref) 975.271J
Kaufman, J.G.
Growing Up In Catonsville in the 1940's: a Home in
Eden Terrace. 2001. Md(Ref)975.271K
Keidel, George C. Early Catonsville and the Caton
Family. Baltimore, MD: 1944. Md(Ref) 975.271K
Keidel, George C.
Colonial History of
Catonsville. Catonsville, MD: American Bicentennial Committee of
Catonsville, Bicentennial Edition 1976 and 1983. Md(Ref) 975.271 K 1983
Lanman, Barry Allen.
Baltimore County: Celebrating a Legacy 1659-2009. Cockeysville. MD:
Historical Society of Baltimore County, 2009. Md 975.21 L
Lanman, Barry Allen.
Halethorpe Heritage: Story of a Maryland Community. Halethorpe, MD; Halethorpe
Improvement Association., 2006. Md(Ref) 975.271L
Leifert, Donald L.
Riggie: Journey from 5th Street. Parkville, MD:
Donald L.Leifert.,2004. Md(Ref)BM
Marks, David.
Crossroads: History of Perry Hall.
Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press, Inc., 1999. Md(Ref) 975.271M
Marks, Lillian Bayly.
Reister's Desire. Baltimore, MD: Garamond/Pridemark
Press, Inc., 1975 Md (Ref) 975.271 M
Martinak, M. Linda and Angela Martinak Sutherland.
Essex and Middle River. Charleston, SC:
Arcadia Press, 2007. Md (Ref) 975.271M
McGrain, John W.
A Glossary of Place Names in Baltimore
County. Towson, MD: Baltimore County Office of Planning, 1999 Md (Ref)
917.5271 M 1999
McGrain, John W.
Grist Mills in Baltimore County,
Maryland. Towson, MD:
Baltimore County Public Library, 1980 (Md 664.72 M)
McKee, Ann Milkovich. Hampton National Historic Site.
Charleston, SC: Arcadia Press, 2007. Md 975.271M
Mueller, Kevin A. Bay Shore Park: Fun on the Chesapeake. Kevin
Mueller., 2001. Md(Ref)791.068M
Nickel, Jackie.
Essex.
San Francisco, CA: Arcadia Press., 2007. Md 975.217N
Nickel, Jackie. "Old" Middle
River: a Loving Look Back. Easton, MD: Chesapeake Publishing Company,
2002 Md (Ref) 975.271 N
O'Donovan, Molly.
Towson and the Villages of Ruxton and Lutherville.
Charleston, SC: Arcadia Press, 1999. Md(Ref) 975.2O
Orser, Edward and Joseph Arnold.
Catonsville 1880 to 1940 From Village to
Suburb.
Norfolk, VA: Donning Co., 1989 Md (Ref) 975.271 O
Perkins, I.B.
Picturesque Catonsville. Baltimore, MD: I.B.Perkins,
1895. Md Ref 975.271P
Perry Hall, reflections from the past. Perry Hall, MD: Mercantile Bank
& Trust, 1979. Md(Ref) 975.271P
Pollack, Carol.
Reisterstown.
1976 and 1986. Md(Ref) 975.271P
Reflections, Sparrows Point, Md.
1887-1975. Dundalk, MD: Dundalk-Patapsco Neck Historical Society, 1976 Md
(Ref) 975.271 R
Roberts, L. Keith.
History of the Back River Neck Peninsula.
Baltimore, MD: Best Press, 1993. Md (Ref) 975.271 R.
Scharf, John Thomas.
History of Baltimore City and
County, 2 vols. 1881. Md(Ref) 975.2S.
Seitz, M. Patricia C.
Tanyard, Windsor and beyond, 1702-1989.
MD: M.P.C.Seitz., 1996.
Md(Ref) 975.271S
Staab, Bob.
Growing Up in Dundalk: Precious Memories.
Baltimore, MD: Bob Staab., 2007. BStaab
Steffen, Charles G.
From Gentlemen to Townsmen: the Gentry of Baltimore County,
Maryland, 1660-1776. University Press of Kentucky, 1993. Md 975.271 S
Toomey, Daniel Carro. History of Relay, Md and the Thomas Viaduct.
1975,1984 and 1995. Md(Ref) 975.271T
Villages of Northeast Baltimore County, Origins to c. 1940.
Greater Northeast Baltimore County Historical District Committee Md (Ref)
975.271 V
Watson, Jerome.
Turner Station. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Press, 2008. Md(Ref)975.271W
Wise, Marsha Wight.
Catonsville.
Charleston, SC: Arcadia Press, 2005. Md 975.271W
Back to top
Baltimore County Public Library, Towson Maryland USA
Last Revised: 13 January 2010
Feedback
|