Ann Arundel County
Maryland

Named after Lady Anne Arundell, daughter of Thomas Arundell, 1st Baron Arundell of Wardour, whom are members of the ancient family of Arundells in Cornwall, England. Married to Cecillus Calvert, 2nd Lord Baltimore and the first Lord Prioprietor of the Colong, Province of Maryland in an arranged marriage contract in 1627 or 1628.

On March 25, 1655, during the English Civil War, (1642-1651), in Europe, the Battle of the Severn, the first naval colonial battle ever fought in America, was fought in Anne Arundel County on the Severn River between Puritan forces supporting the Commonwealth of England and forces loyal to the Lord Proprietor, Cecilius Calvert. The Commonwealth forces under William Fuller were victorious.

Between 1694 and 1695, the provincial capital of Maryland was moved from St. Mary’s City along the northern shore of the Potomac River across from the southern colonial border with the Province of Virginia in St. Mary’s County farther north along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, midway in the colony to Annapolis in Anne Arundel County. Prior to the move, Annapolis was known as “Providence”

During the American Revolutionary War, citizens of Anne Arundel County supported the Continental Army by providing troops for three regiments. The 3rd Maryland Regiment, the 4th Maryland Regiment, and the 6th Maryland Regiment were recruited in the county.

On May 22, 1830, the inaugural horse-drawn train of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad traveled the 13 miles (21 km) of the newly completed track from Mount Clare Station in southwestern Baltimore City to Ellicott Mills, (now Ellicott City), then in the Western or Howard District (now Howard County) of Anne Arundel County. This was the first regular railroad passenger service in the United States. In 1831, land west of the railroad was considered the Howard District of Anne Arundel County. In 1851, The Howard District was broken off to form Howard County, now the 21st county in Maryland (of 23).