Baltimore County
The first historical record of an entity called “Baltimore County” dates to 1859. With a population of 754,292 in 2000, and a projected growth of 826,200 by 2015, Baltimore County is the third most populous county in the state. In 1967 the county established an Urban-Rural Demarcation Line (URDL) to distinguish developing areas from rural areas where intensive development could be discouraged.
As of 2000, 90% of the county’s population resided within the URDL, which constitutes 30% of the land area. The largest growth has occurred within the county’s two designated growth areas, Owings Mills and White Marsh. The vast majority of the county’s 132,500 acres of forest and 100,000 acres of agricultural land are located outside of these growth areas where regulations are in place to limit development and protect resources.
In 2009-10 the county will be updating its 10-year comprehensive plan, offering an opportunity to provide a more sustainable model of land use.
Reports
07/27/2009
Yellow School Bus Blues documents one hidden cost of Maryland’s recent development patterns. The report examines the rapidly increasing school bus budget. Since 1992 statewide expenditures for school bus transportation have more than doubled, to $438 million.
02/27/2009
Learn how to stop bad development. Created and published by 1000 Friends of Maryland in 2003.
