page_title: Howard County, Maryland
section_title: Awards
hierarchical_section_title: Howard County, Maryland / Awards
caption_attribution_description: American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis, Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada, 2005; de: Goldzeisig
context_page_description: Howard County is located in the central part of the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2010 census, the population was 287,085. Its county seat is Ellicott City.
  Howard County is included in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA Combined Statistical Area. However, recent development in the south of the county has led to some realignment towards the Washington, D.C. media and employment markets. The county is home to Columbia, a major planned community of approximately 100,000 founded by developer James Rouse in 1967.
  Howard County is frequently cited for its affluence, quality of life, and excellent schools. With an estimated median household income of $120,194 in 2016, Howard County had the second-highest median household income of any U.S. county in 2016. Many of the most affluent communities in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area, such as Clarksville, Dayton, Glenelg, Glenwood, and West Friendship, are located along the Route 32 corridor in Howard County.
context_section_description: Awards and recognitions achieved by Howard County or locations within it include the following:
  "Best American Values", Newsmax Magazine: Ellicott City #17 (2009).
  "Best Place to Live", CNN/Money: Columbia (#1 in 2016); Ellicott City/Columbia (#6 in 2014; #8 in 2012; #2 in 2010; #8 in 2008; #4 in 2006.)
  "Best Places to Live for Pet Lovers", CNN/Money: Ellicott City, one of 10 (2009).
  "Best Place to Raise a Family", Forbes: #17 (2008).
  "Good Sports Community of the Year", Sports Illustrated (2005)
  "Great Public Library System", Hennen's American Public Library Ratings: #4 in population category in 2010; 8 times appearing in top 10 in a 10-year range.
  "Healthiest Maryland County", University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. (2013, 2012, 2011, 2010)
  "Heart Safe Community of the Year", International Association of Fire Chiefs. (2012)
  "Library of the Year", Library Journal. (2013)
  "Preserve America Community", Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. (2013)
  Top Outdoor Concert Venue for Merriweather Post Pavilion (a top five) by Pollstar (2012).
  "Tree City Community", Arbor Day Foundation. (23 years)
  "Venues that Rock", Rolling Stone: #4 outdoor venue, Merriweather Post Pavilion (2013).
  "Winning Community", National Civic League. (2001)
caption: The American goldfinch is the official county bird of Howard County.[29]
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