Anne Arundel County

County in central Maryland, USA; 1,083 sq km/418 sq mi; population (1990) 427,200. It is bounded to the west by the Deep River, to the east by Chesapeake Bay, and to the north and northeast by the Patapsco River. Its administrative headquarters is Annapolis, the state capital. The county lies primarily in the coastal plain. It is more densely populated in the north where it borders on Baltimore; the shore remains relatively rural. Regional farms produce tobacco, corn, grain, and soybeans. Tourism is also important to the local economy. Fort Meade and Baltimore-Washington International Airport are located in the county.