About Maryland (MD) State

HISTORY
In 1629, George Calvert, the 1st Baron Baltimore, was the catalyst for the official colonization of the Province of Maryland. Maryland's name was in honor of the Baron´s wife, Queen Henrietta Maria. Maryland remained under British rule until 1776, when the first state constitution defined Maryland's government as an authority of the people as opposed to the kings authority. While no significant Revolutionary War battles took place on MD soil, its soldiers provided exemplary service that impressed General George Washington, who bestowed MD with the title of Old Line State.

While MD was the last state to ratify the Articles of Confederation, on March 28, 1788, it was the seventh state to ratify the Constitution. Maryland was also involved in the War of 1812, and as a border state, took part in the American Civil War, at which time the state maintained its affiliation with the Union. Despite the fact that MD did not experience reconstruction at that time, civil rights issues and racial tensions resulting from slavery would provide social and political unrest for generations to come. The Great Baltimore Fire of 1904, World War I and II, the Great Depression and the Civil Rights Movements would also transform Maryland over the next several decades. Maryland's residents fought valiantly through the trials and tribulations of a burgeoning statehood and emerged as the thriving Free State it is today.

DEMOGRAPHICS
Maryland reported nearly 5.3 million citizens in the 2000 Census. Annapolis, the state capital, accounted for 35,838 of that total, while Baltimore, MDs largest city was home to more than 651,000 individuals. In 2006, Census Bureau estimates projected the current population as closer to 5,615,727,388. This total shows an increase of 26,128 (.5%) from the previous year and an increase of 319,221 (6.0%) from the last official census in 2000. The estimated data from 2006 also indicates a natural increase of 189,158 people (464,251 births minus 275,093 deaths) since the last census and a growth due to net migration of 116,713 people into MD. Foreign immigration accounted for a net growth of 129,730 individuals, while migration from within the U.S. produced a net loss of 13,017 citizens.

Maryland's five largest reported groups of ancestry are German (15.7%), Irish (11.7%), English (9%), American (5.8%) and Italian (5.1%). Many citizens of British descent reside in the areas of Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland, while German-American populations generally reside in Western and Northern MD. Residents of Polish and Italian descent largely concentrate in the bustling city of Baltimore. African-American populations concentrate in Baltimore City, Prince Georges County and the southern portions of the Eastern Shore.

GEOGRAPHY
Maryland, the Old Line State, spreads throughout 12,407 square miles along the eastern coast of the United States. This mid-Atlantic state shares its borders with Pennsylvania in the north, and West Virginia to the west. The Atlantic Ocean and the state of Delaware border MD to the north and east, while the southern borders include the Potomac River, West Virginia and Virginia. Washington, DC interrupts the mid-section of this border, while the stunning Chesapeake Bay nearly bisects the state. The largest urban areas found within Maryland are Annapolis, College Park, Columbia, Frederick, Hagerstown, Ocean City, Rockville and Salisbury.

Maryland features a diverse geographical landscape that ranges from the Atlantic Coast beaches and Chesapeake Bay at sea level to the majestic Appalachian Mountains. At 3,360 feet, Hoye Crest on Backbone Mountain is MDs highest point, while the mean elevation is 344 feet. The rolling hills found in the Piedmont Region and the distinct Delmarva Peninsula also contribute to the uniqueness of the states topography.

ECONOMY
Maryland features a healthy economy that produced a gross state product of $228 billion in 2004 (according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis). In 2005, MD citizens earned a median household income of $61,592, making it the nations second wealthiest state. The higher incomes complement the moderate cost of living in MD, giving the state one of the lowest rates of poverty in the United States.

Maryland's diverse economic base includes 350 biotechnology firms, numerous sophisticated computer industries and scores of high-level government agencies. MD is home to the Census Bureau, Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, Internal Revenue Service, the National Institutes of Health, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Social Security Administration. Important military facilities include Andrews Air Force Base, Camp David, Fort Meade and Webster Field. The Port of Baltimore also plays a major role in the economy, while popular tourist sites such as Chesapeake Bay, Deep Creek Lake and Wisp Resort draw in their share of financial profit.

AGRICULTURE
The fertile lands found in the coastal and Piedmont sections of Maryland contribute to the states prosperous agricultural sector. Dairy plays a primary role in the agricultural economy, while crops such as cucumbers, muskmelons, peas, squash, sweet corn and tomatoes also grow in abundance. MDs southern counties, found along the banks of the Chesapeake Bay, have access to warm enough weather to grow tobacco, while other portions of the state are renowned for their chicken farming.

TRANSPORTATION
A well-maintained highway and interstate system, that includes I-68, I-70 and I-95, stretch throughout the state of Maryland. Interstate 68 links western MD to I-70 in the small town of Hancock. From there, I-70 goes on to Baltimore, while serving as a connection to Frederick and Hagerstown along the way. Interstate 95 passes into MD in the northeast, flows through Baltimore and merges with the eastern section of the Capital Beltway.
Maryland's transportation repertoire also includes state-of-the-art port facilities, as well as local and national bus and train service. The Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is MDs largest airport; however, several additional airports provide commercial services to the state. Easton, Hagerstown and Salisbury are the sites of these commercial facilities.

EDUCATION
Maryland takes great pride in its highly renowned public University System, which encompasses thirteen facilities. These include Bowie State University, Towson University, the University of Baltimore and several campuses of the University of Maryland. In total, Maryland offers approximately sixty accredited institutions of higher education. These fine facilities include Johns Hopkins University, Loyola College of Maryland and the United States Naval Academy.

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City Information (Maryland State)
Baltimore | Bethesda | Bowie | College Park | Columbia | Cumberland | Frederick | Gaithersburg | Germantown | Greenbelt | Hagerstown | Laurel | Rockville | Salisbury | Silver Spring | Takoma Park | Towson | Waldorf

Counties in Maryland State
Allegany | Anne Arundel | Baltimore City | Baltimore County | Calvert | Caroline | Carroll | Cecil | Charles | Dorchester | Frederick | Garrett | Harford | Howard | Kent | Montgomery | Prince George's | Queen Anne's | St. Mary's | Somerset | Talbot | Washington | Wicomico | Worcester

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