HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND

HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY

1661, May 16. At Spesutia Island, peace treaty with Susquehannocks signed by Gov. Philip Calvert.

1740, Oct. 31. William Paca (1740-1779), signer of Declaration of Independence, born in Abingdon.

1773. Harford County formed from Baltimore County; named for Henry Harford (c.1759-1834), last Proprietary of Maryland.

1775, March 22. "Bush Declaration" signed, Bush River, Harford County, patriots called for independence.

1781, Sept. 9. Count de Rochambeau's French troops camped at Havre de Grace on route to Yorktown.

1782, Aug. Count de Rochambeau's French troops camped near Abingdon on return march north from Yorktown.

1785. Havre de Grace incorporated.

1787, Dec. Cokesbury College, first Methodist college in world established at Abingdon.

1791. Courthouse erected at Bel Air.

1806, Jan. 9. Augustus W. Bradford (1806-1881), Governor of Maryland, born in Bel Air.

1813, May 3. British forces under Admiral George Cockburn sacked and burned Havre de Grace.

1827. Concord Point Lighthouse erected at mouth of Susquehanna River; oldest lighthouse in continuous operation in the nation.

1840-1894. Susquehanna & Tidewater Canal linked Havre de Grace to Pennsylvania Canal at Wrightsville, Pennsylvania.

1859. Second Courthouse constructed at Bel Air.

1864, July 10. Maj. Harry Gilmore's Confederate cavalry encamped near Joppatowne.

1872. Bel Air incorporated.

1892. Aberdeen incorporated.

1899, March 26. Lewis Harris lynched in Bel Air.

1917. Aberdeen Proving Ground, first testing center of U.S. Army, established.

1918. Edgewood Arsenal formed.

1921, Nov. 8. Mary E. W. Risteau became first woman elected to House of Delegates.

1947. The first large-scale, general-purpose electronic digital computer, ENIAC (electronic numerical integrator & computer) was delivered to U.S. Army's Ballistic Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground.

1967. Maryland joined Susquehanna River Basin Commission.

1971. Ladew Topiary Gardens, Monkton, opened to public.

1980, Oct. 21. Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority created.

1986. Havre de Grace Decoy Museum opened.

2004, March 2. Electronic voting system used during primary elections at polling places and for absentee ballots in all counties and Baltimore City.

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