West Friendship is a semi-rural unincorporated community in western Howard County, Maryland, United States.

Stein's history (1972) lists land grants given to families whose descendants live in the area today.

The families of Warfield, Ridgely, Selby, Hobbs, Cross, and Cissel helped create what is now West Friendship.

[3] In the 19th century, the main road through West Friendship was filled with travelers who could find comfort at mile houses along the route.

Empty land soon gave way to Thomas S. Cross' general store and post office in West Friendship.

Before then, the Howard County Grange Competitions were held at Brendel Manor Park and in one resident's front yard.

After moving to Freestate Raceway and Ellicott City High, residents set up the groundwork for the present Howard County Fair in 1953, to be held annually in West Friendship.

[3][6] West Friendship's one-room school house provided a primary education for many residents in the early 1900s.

[3] Strict zoning regulations have largely limited sprawl and preserved the community's bucolic character.

[citation needed] However, as with most areas within an hour's drive of the Baltimore-Washington corridor, West Friendship is seeing a steady rise of residential development.

The racial make-up of West Friendship was 87.1% White, 3.5% African American, 9.1% Asian, and 0.3% Hispanic.

Another popular event is the Howard County Motorcycle Swap meet, hosted several times a year.