Home to an internationally renowned research facility as well as miles of scenic waterfront, vast stretches of preserved green space, and a historic maritime village, Harford County, Maryland is a destination for both technology and recreation.
The county enjoys a strategic location along the east coast’s I-95 corridor, which cuts directly through the community. “We’re nestled right between New York and Washington, DC,” says County Executive Robert Cassilly. “We’re an hour and a half from DC and another hour and a half from Philadelphia, a little bit more to New York. We’re just about 30 minutes from the port of Baltimore and the BWI Airport.”
Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) is the county’s number one employer. Spread over 72,000 acres, the remarkably diverse megabase is a center for research, development, and testing for the U.S. Army. “We were a farming community up until about 1911, when the Defense Department chose us for Aberdeen Proving Ground and Edgewood Arsenal,” Cassilly says. “So, we’ve had 100-plus years of mixing the local farming community with a really international community.”
As a leading center for science and technology, the base draws industry experts from all over the world. “That has enriched our community in so many ways,” says Cassilly.
And these scientists and engineers are primarily civilians. “They’re only about five percent active military,” says Economic Development Director Karen Holt.
Many of these industry experts choose to remain in the area, contributing to the local economy. “They like it here, so they’re going to stick around,” Cassilly says. “We’ve got a lot of great high-tech engineering; it’s not all necessarily defense.” Indeed, local workers are developing everything from airport security scanners to a better blood transfusion system. “You name it, there are just so many areas that these engineers are involved in,” he says. “And of course, each one of them spawns more jobs because they all have people working with them. So APG has benefited us tremendously and it’s made us a unique community with the capabilities that we have to support employers. I think a lot of employers appreciate that you’re getting a really good workforce when you come to Harford County.”
This tech-focused community supports a strong education sector. “We have a wonderful public school system throughout the entire county,” Cassilly says, “and we have a wonderful community college that is focused on workforce development but also supporting our businesses and their educational needs.”
In addition, Towson University, part of the University System of Maryland, has a campus in Harford County. “Our school system produces a great workforce,” Cassilly summarizes. “Families turn out kids who are responsible, hard workers, well-disciplined, and then our schools match that up with a strong education in the STEM areas. We’re gifted on the economic development front just walking in the door.”
Residents also enjoy a high quality of life in Harford County, where recreational opportunities abound. “We’ve got a number of great state parks and large preserves,” Cassilly tells us, and the community has made a concerted effort to keep land undeveloped for public use. “We preserved 65,000 acres of farmland, so we’ve got some beautiful open spaces out there for people to enjoy.”
Trails run throughout the community—some converted from old railroad tracks and others that follow the county’s scenic waterfront. Designated a National Historic Trail, the Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route runs through the county, marking where George Washington and Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau marched their armies.
The Chesapeake Bay borders Harford County, so residents have ample opportunity to fish, boat, crab, and enjoy gorgeous views. The Susquehanna River, Gunpowder River, and Bush River all flow through the county and into the Chesapeake, providing even more options for water recreation. Deer Creek, a smaller body of water that runs through the center of the county, is ideal for kayaking, canoeing, tubing, fishing, and swimming.
Havre de Grace is arguably the county’s best-known waterfront attraction. Set where the Susquehanna River runs into the Chesapeake Bay, this quaint, historic town is a tourist’s delight, offering everything from locally owned shopping and dining to bird watching, fishing, boating, watersports, and quaint strolls down the scenic boardwalk. Popular sites to visit include the Concord Point Lighthouse, the Decoy Museum, and a number of historical sites showcasing the town’s role in the War of 1812, local African American culture, and the community’s maritime history.
The county is also known for its sports history, which has led to a substantial amount of sports tourism. “We have a strong foundation in athletics,” Cassilly says. Baseball legend Cal Ripken Jr. is from the city of Aberdeen and World Champion figure skater Kimmie Meissner started skating in Bel Air, another municipality in Harford County. And the county’s park system includes fields utilized for soccer and lacrosse tournaments, drawing a large number of visitors each year.
Agricultural tourism is also booming in Harford County. “We’ve really blossomed in our agricultural tourism, where a number of our farms serve as breweries or wineries, wedding venues, and the like,” Cassilly says. Performing arts enthusiasts will also find a wealth of entertainment, including a local symphony orchestra and live theater.
Perhaps most importantly, Harford County residents are eager to welcome newcomers. “[We have] a very friendly population,” says Cassilly. And this population is eager to get involved at the local level. “Our volunteer base is just second to none—from volunteer firefighters to church volunteers, parks and rec volunteers, PTA volunteers. I think that’s probably our biggest selling point.”
Looking ahead, County leaders are eager to continue to support the local tech industry. The Harford County-owned CONVERGE Innovation Center has recently received funding for upgrades including a biomanufacturing incubator. “We are part of a regional designation as a tech hub in the Greater Baltimore region,” says Holt. “We see real opportunity to leverage these assets in our backyard and make the CONVERGE center an area where we can commercialize and look at tech transfer for these technologies.”
Located near Aberdeen Proving Ground, the center connects the government and private sector. “CONVERGE is where they converge—the high-tech government and those private sectors,” Cassilly explains. “They can come together and work together… We can bring speakers in, we can have classes, folks on post can come off post to either teach or attend a course or a lecture, and the folks off post can do the same thing. So, it’s a great location for all these people to work toward success, and it’s right off I-95. You’re probably 30 seconds away; once you pull off the interstate, you’re in the parking lot.”
Bringing industry together certainly makes sense for a community committed to supporting local businesses and workers. “We’re really focused on trying to provide support to the employers who want to be here and also the employees who want to remain here, so that they can align the skills that the employer needs with the folks in the job market,” Cassilly says. “We are working very hard on that.”
This mission will include an effort to spread the word about all that Harford County has to offer, so that it keeps attracting the best and brightest. “We really need to continue to get our story out,” Cassilly says. “Because it’s a great story.”
