LOCAL GOVERNMENT

COUNTIES

[photo, Prince George's County Courthouse, Duvall Wing, Upper Marlboro, Maryland]
  • Map of Counties & County Seats

    For much of Maryland, local government typically is county government. Twenty-three counties and Baltimore City make up the twenty-four main local jurisdictions found in Maryland. Baltimore City, although a municipality, has been considered on a par with county jurisdictions since the adoption of the Maryland Constitution of 1851.

    Prince George's County Courthouse, Duvall Wing, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, October 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt. The Duvall Wing reopened May 14, 2007.

    Allegany County

    Carroll County

    Harford County

    St. Mary's County

    Anne Arundel County

    Cecil County

    Howard County

    Somerset County

    Baltimore City

    Charles County

    Kent County

    Talbot County

    Baltimore County

    Dorchester County

    Montgomery County

    Washington County

    Calvert County

    Frederick County

    Prince George's County

    Wicomico County

    Caroline County

    Garrett County

    Queen Anne's County

    Worcester County

    [photo, Public entrance, Frederick A. Thayer III Courthouse, 203 South 4th St., Oakland, Maryland] Twelve of Maryland's counties are governed by boards of county commissioners. These include Allegany, Calvert, Caroline, Carroll, Charles, Garrett, Kent, Queen Anne's, St. Mary's, Somerset, Washington and Worcester counties. Among these, six have adopted a code "home rule" form of government: Allegany, Caroline, Charles, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Worcester. "Home rule" empowers the county with broad legislative authority, and limits the General Assembly's local legislative powers.

    Public entrance, Frederick A. Thayer III Courthouse, 203 South 4th St., Oakland, Maryland, October 2014. Photo by Diane F. Evartt. Garrett County administrative offices are in Thayer Courthouse.

    [photo, Wicomico County Government Office Building, 125 North Division St., Salisbury, Maryland] Eleven Maryland counties have ratified charter forms of government: Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Cecil, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's, Talbot, and Wicomico. All of these are governed by county councils; and all (except Dorchester & Talbot) are led by county executives.

    Wicomico County Government Office Building, 125 North Division St., Salisbury, Maryland, August 2012. Photo by David R. Herron.

    Also see: Maryland Association of Counties

    Maryland Municipalities (by county)
    Maryland Municipalities (by name)
    Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
    Maryland Departments
    Maryland Independent Agencies
    Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, & Advisory Boards
    Interstate Agencies (Maryland memberships)
    Maryland Universities & Colleges
    Maryland at a Glance

    Maryland Manual On-Line

    Search the Manual
    e-mail: mdmanual@mdarchives.state.md.us

    © Copyright Maryland State Archives