The Maryland Heritage Areas Program is a state program that is housed administratively within the Maryland Historical Trust. The governing body of the Program is the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA) which is an independent unit of government in the Executive Branch of government that operates in the Maryland Department of Planning. Since the Maryland Heritage Areas Program began in 1997, 13 certified heritage areas have been designated throughout the state, each distinguished by unique physical and cultural characteristics. Their boundaries include acreage in all 23 counties and the city of Baltimore, and a diverse array of historic, cultural, and natural assets. Maryland’s heritage areas support the economic well-being of our state’s communities by preserving and celebrating the state’s history, cultural traditions, and natural resources.