Politics of Maryland in 1986
In 1986, Maryland was a state with a rich history of politics and government. The state had been a leader in the nation since its inception, and its political scene was just as vibrant in 1986 as it had been for years prior. The governor of Maryland at this time was William Donald Schaefer, who had been elected to the office in 1987. He served as governor until 1995 and oversaw many major changes within the state including the implementation of income tax reform and the expansion of public education.
The Maryland General Assembly was also active during this period. It was composed of two houses: the Senate and House of Delegates. The Senate consisted of 47 members while the House had 141 members. This legislature passed a number of laws during this period, including legislation on taxes, education funding, criminal justice reform, environmental regulation, health care reform, and other important matters.
At the federal level, Maryland’s congressional delegation included three representatives in the House and two senators in the Senate at this time – Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Paul Sarbanes (D-MD), Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Charles Mathias Jr.(R-MD) and John Glenn Beall Jr.(R-MD). These representatives worked together to ensure that Maryland’s interests were represented both nationally and internationally during this period.
In terms of party politics within Maryland in 1986, there were three main parties: Democratic Party, Republican Party, and Libertarian Party. During this period there were several prominent politicians from each party that held office or ran for office including Parris Glendening (D), Ellen Sauerbrey (R), and John Bambacus (L). Glendening served as Governor from 1995 to 2003 while Sauerbrey ran for Governor twice unsuccessfully during this time frame; Bambacus served in both houses of the legislature between 1983 – 1995 before running for governor unsuccessfully in 1998.
According to Deluxesurveillance, politics in Maryland during 1986 were marked by a number of important events that shaped not only state government but also national politics as well. From new laws passed by the General Assembly to prominent politicians running for office to major changes made by Governor Schaefer – all these events combined made up an exciting political atmosphere within Maryland at that time.
Population of Maryland in 1986
In 1986, the population of Maryland was 4,781,468. This was an increase of 5.7% from the 1980 census figure of 4,216,975 and a decrease of 0.8% from the 1985 estimate of 4,822,973. The state’s population density in 1986 was 617 people per square mile. This was up from 563 people per square mile in 1980 and down from 622 people per square mile in 1985. The population of Maryland is highly concentrated in the Baltimore metropolitan area which accounted for almost 60% of the total population in 1986. According to Bittranslators, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metropolitan area accounted for another 10%. The remaining 30% of the state’s population was spread across a number of smaller cities and rural areas throughout Maryland. In terms of racial composition, whites made up 75%, blacks made up 22%, and other races made up 3%. In terms of age structure, 25% were under 18 years old while those 65 years or older accounted for 13%. The median age was 32 years old in 1986 with males making up 51% and females making up 49%.
Economy of Maryland in 1986
In 1986, the economy of Maryland was largely driven by its strategic location between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. This allowed the state to benefit from both the federal government and a strong private sector. The most important industries in Maryland in 1986 were manufacturing, finance, insurance, real estate, and retail trade. Manufacturing accounted for 17% of total employment in the state while finance, insurance, real estate, and retail trade accounted for another 16%. Other important industries included transportation (9%), construction (8%), and services (6%). The unemployment rate in Maryland was 5% in 1986 which was slightly lower than the national average of 5.7%.
According to Foodezine, the median household income in Maryland in 1986 was $30,585 which was higher than the national average of $25,755. This made Maryland one of the wealthiest states in the nation at that time. The poverty rate was also lower than the national average at 8.3%. In terms of educational attainment, 85% had completed high school or more while 30% had a bachelor’s degree or higher which were both higher than national averages at that time. In addition to this educational attainment level providing a strong workforce for employers to draw from it also gave citizens access to a greater range of economic opportunities as well as better quality jobs throughout the state.
Events held in Maryland in 1986
In 1986, Maryland was home to a variety of events and activities that attracted both locals and visitors alike. One of the most popular annual events in the state was the Maryland State Fair which was held in Timonium every August. The fair featured a variety of entertainers, rides, games, food vendors, and much more. Other popular annual events included the Baltimore Grand Prix which was held in downtown Baltimore every June and the Maryland Film Festival which showcased independent films from around the world in Baltimore each October.
In addition to these annual events, there were also several one-off events that took place throughout 1986 including concerts by big name acts such as Bruce Springsteen at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia and Paul Simon at Cole Field House on the University of Maryland’s campus. Other major events included the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course which is one of the biggest horse races on the East Coast as well as Orioles baseball games at Memorial Stadium throughout the summer months.
Throughout 1986 there were also a variety of other cultural and recreational activities taking place across Maryland including art exhibitions at various galleries and museums throughout Baltimore as well as sailing regattas on Chesapeake Bay. There were also several festivals celebrating different cultural traditions such as Greek Fest in Annapolis or Italian Fest in Little Italy. Finally, there were a variety of outdoor activities available for people to enjoy including hiking trails in Catoctin Mountain Park or camping along Assateague Island National Seashore.