Annotations / Notes: A history of Baltimore County inspired by the United States bicentennial, this comprehensive volume traces the evolution of the county which once represented the sole political jurisdiction in the region. Early settlement led to subdivision to establish other counties, and the growth of Baltimore City produced eventual separation of legal and governmental functions between county and city in the 1850s. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries growth and expansion of the city further eroded the county's space in the annexations of 1888 and 1918. The book concludes with consideration of the suburban boom of the post-World War II period and its impact on the county's politics. Extensive source notes make this a valuable resource for students of Baltimore County social history.

