HISTORY OF THE
HARFORD COUNTY SEAL

The Harford County Coat of Arms was designed by Mr. George Van Bibber and adopted by the County Commissioners on September 28, 1964.

In the accepted design the shield is gold to symbolize the wealth of the county and the richness of its fields. Across the shield are waving bands of blue signifying three major county streams - Deer Creek, Bynum Run, and Winters Run.

The crest is a two-handed forearm with the right hand holding escrivant, ( heraldic for "writing" ) a white quill symbolizing the pen used by those who wrote and signed the Bush Declaration. The left hand holds a sword as if presenting into the right hand of the nation the skills of reproducing defense materials, emanating from Edgewood Arsenal and Aberdeen Proving Ground.

The motto "At the Risque of Our Lives and Fortunes" comprises the last eight words of the Bush Declaration and preserves the same spelling for "risk" that is used in that document. 

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