Maryland, state in the United States around Chesapeake Bay on the Atlantic coast; 27,394 km2, 5.8 million population (2010), of which 29% are black. Capital Annapolis, largest city Baltimore. Maryland acceded to the Constitution in 1788 as the 7th state; nickname: The Old Line State.
- COUNTRYAAH.COM: Lists all counties and parishes of Maryland in alphabetical order. Covers county profile and biggest counties by population in the state of Maryland.
The population has nearly quadrupled since 1940; the majority live in and around the port city of Baltimore, which together with Washington, DC, forms the metropolitan area The Washington-Baltimore-Metropolis. Here is a large concentration of research laboratories and high-tech companies (electronics, medicine, biotechnology), which in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University and the Federal National Institute of Health (1997 annual budget: $ 12 billion) has grown since the 1970’s. On the other hand, the traditional industry is predominantly located at the port areas, oil and sugar refineries, fertilizer factories and not least Bethlehem Steels huge iron and steel complex at Sparrow’s Point. Port turnover is significant with large imports of iron ore and exports of cars, including many minivans from the General Motors plant on the outskirts of Baltimore.
In relation to industry, the primary sectors are only of minor and diminishing importance. Nevertheless, the landscape is still characterized by agriculture, which occupies approximately 1/3 of the area, and to a lesser degree of forestry and mining (coal). From the coast there is especially shellfish fishing. Economically and in terms of employment, however, the service sector is most important, including tourism, whose main attraction in the summer is Ocean City on the Atlantic Ocean. Other tourist destinations are the B&O Railroad Museum, historic districts of Baltimore and Annapolis as well as state forests and historic parks north of the Potomac River border in the Allegheny Mountains.. Here are several ski resorts and the state’s highest point, Blackbone Mountain (1025 m). The climate is rainy and temperate with humid hot summers and mild winters, except in mountainous areas.
- AbbreviationFinder: Provides a list of all acronyms in alphabetic order for Maryland. Also includes state overview, population statistics as well as cities and towns belong to Maryland.
History
Maryland was colonized by the English from 1634, after the Calvert family, given the baronial title Baltimore, obtained a royal patent in the area. 1692-1715, however, Maryland was a British crown colony, and the capital was moved in 1694 from St. Mary’s City to Annapolis. Tobacco was the most important crop, and as early as 1640, African slaves were introduced to work on the plantations. Unlike neighboring colonies Virginia and Pennsylvania, Maryland was characterized by a certain religious tolerance. After the American Revolution, Maryland ceded in 1791 the area that became the District of Columbia. Maryland remained in the Union during the American Civil War 1861-65, and here several important battles were fought, by Antietam. After the Civil War, the state was increasingly characterized by industry and commerce around Baltimore and by the close connection to the federal capital.
