Howard, Frederick, and Montgomery Counties Top the 2024 County Health Rankings: The Importance of Civic Health and Infrastructure

The 2024 County Health Rankings (CHR) report has identified Howard, Frederick, and Montgomery Counties as some of the healthiest counties in the United States. This report focuses on the concept of civic health and how civic participation can impact overall well-being. It emphasizes the importance of civic infrastructure and spaces that allow for connection and information sharing, such as access to local news, broadband internet, and public libraries.

The CHR is a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Each year, the CHR compares counties within each state across more than 30 factors that influence health outcomes. These factors include social determinants like education, employment, housing, physical activity, and daily commute times. Based on these criteria, Howard, Frederick