List of Maryland counties - Definition and Overview

List of Maryland counties and independent city*

1. Allegany County: formed in 1789 from part of Washington County. County seat: Cumberland.
2. Anne Arundel County: formed in 1650 from unorganized territory. County seat: Annapolis. Was named Providence County between 1654 and 1658.
3. Baltimore City: founded in 1729. Detached* in 1851 from Baltimore County.
4. Baltimore County: formed in 1659 from unorganized territory. County seat: Towson.
5. Calvert County: formed in 1654 as Patuxent County from unorganized territory. Renamed Calvert County in 1658. County seat: Prince Frederick.
6. Caroline County: formed in 1789 from parts of Dorchester County and Queen Anne's County. County seat: Denton.
7. Carroll County: formed in 1837 from parts of Baltimore County and Frederick County. County seat: Westminster.
8. Cecil County: formed in 1672 from parts of Baltimore County and Kent County. County seat: Elkton.
9. Charles County: formed in 1658 from unorganized territory. County seat: La Plata.
10. Dorchester County: formed in 1668 from unorganized territory. County seat: Cambridge.
11. Frederick County: formed in 1748 from part of Prince George's County. County seat: Frederick.
12. Garrett County: formed in 1872 from part of Allegany County. County seat: Oakland.
13. Harford County: formed in 1773 from part of Baltimore County. County seat: Bel Air.
14. Howard County: formed in 1851 from parts of Anne Arundel County and Baltimore County. County seat: Ellicott City.
15. Kent County: formed in 1642 from unorganized territory. County seat: Chestertown.
16. Montgomery County: formed in 1776 from part of Frederick County. County seat: Rockville.
17. Prince George's County: formed in 1695 from parts of Calvert County and Charles County. County seat: Upper Marlboro.
18. Queen Anne's County: formed in 1706 from part of Talbot County. County seat: Centerville.
19. St. Mary's County: formed in 1637 from unorganized territory. County seat: Leonardtown. Was named Potomac County between 1654 aqnd 1658.
20. Somerset County: formed in 1666 from unorganized territory. County seat: Princess Anne.
21. Talbot County: formed in 1662 from part of Kent County. County seat: Easton.
22. Washington County: formed in 1776 from part of Frederick County. County seat: Hagerstown.
23. Wicomico County: formed in 1867 from parts of Somerset County and Worcester County. County seat: Salisbury.
24. Worcester County: formed in 1742 from part of Somerset County. County seat: Snow Hill.

*Though an independent city rather than a county, the City of Baltimore is considered the equal of a county for most purposes.

Defunct counties:

1. Charles County: formed in 1650 from part of Saint Mary's County. Abolished in 1654.
2. Durham County: formed in 1669 from part of Somerset County and nonorganized territory. Abolished in 1672 and incorporated in Worcester County.
3. Worcester County: formed in 1672 from part of Durham County and nonorganized territory. Lost in 1685 when Delaware Colony was established.

See also

• List of Maryland county name etymologies

Sources

• Maryland Formation Maps (http://www.negenealogy.com/md/md_maps/md_cf.htm)
• map Maryland QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/maps/maryland_map.html)

Regions of Maryland
Western | Southern | Eastern Shore | Baltimore-Washington Metro Area | Chesapeake | Delaware Valley
Largest Cities
Annapolis | Baltimore | Bowie | College Park | Cumberland | Frederick | Gaithersburg | Greenbelt | Hagerstown | Laurel | Rockville | Salisbury | Takoma Park | Westminster
Counties
Allegany | Anne Arundel | Baltimore City | Baltimore County | Calvert | Caroline | Carroll | Cecil | Charles | Dorchester | Frederick | Garrett | Harford | Howard | Kent | Montgomery | Prince George's | Queen Anne's | St. Mary's | Somerset | Talbot | Washington | Wicomico | Worcester