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Facts
Famous Natives
Flag
Gov
History
Land
Landforms
Lat/Long
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Time
Travel Info
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Description
Sliced into two parts by the bountiful Chesapeake Bay, the State of Maryland was first inhabited by Algonquin and Susquehannock Indians.
In 1608, Captain John Smith explored the area, and later that century, religious freedom was promised to Christians, and Europeans arrived in great numbers.
The great city of Baltimore was founded in 1729, and in 1767, the colony's official boundaries with Pennsylvania and Maryland were agreed to, and subsequently called, the Mason and Dixon line.
Maryland, like all of the new colonies, protested the high taxes imposed by England, and sent delegates to the Continental Congress. Once the Revolutionary War ended, it became the seventh U.S. State.
It was here, during the War of 1812, and Maryland's defense of Fort McHenry, that Francis Scott Key wrote the Star-Spangled Banner
The Civil War's, most horrific battle - The Battle of Antietam Creek - was fought near Sharpsburg, and over 23,000 troops were either dead or wounded on one day.
The modern State of Maryland is a land of contrast; one with large cities and towns, a picturesque, rural atmosphere with thousands of family farms, and a relaxed island-like mentality.
Maryland is famed for its Chesapeake Bay economy and lifestyle, its northern and southern charms, and its very unique role in the building of America.
Read more about Maryland here!
Facts and Figures
Statehood April 28, 1788 (7th)
Capital Annapolis
Currency U.S. Dollar
(conversion rates) here
Maryland Quarter (new) here
Language English (official)
Largest Cities (by population) Baltimore, Columbia, Dundalk, Bethesda (all cities here)
Lat/Long 38º 97' N, 76º 50' W
Origin of Name Named for Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I of England
Population 5,458,137
(18th)
Population Details (and more)
here
Statewide Business (facts & figures)
here
Flag and Symbols Bird Baltimore Oriole
Flag here
Flower Black-Eyed Susan
Fish Rockfish (Striped Bass)
Gem Tourmaline
Mottos "Manly Deeds, Womanly Words"
Nickname "Old Line State"
Song "Maryland, My Maryland"
State Seal here
Tree White Oak
Land Statistics Area 12,407 sq miles
(42nd)
(Land) 9,775 sq. miles (Water) 2,633 sq. miles Bordering States (4) Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia
Number of Counties (24) map here Largest County (by population) Montgomery, 873,341
Highest Point Backbone Mt., 3,360 ft.
Lowest Point Sea Level, Atlantic Ocean
Length/Width 250 miles/90 miles
Coastline 31 miles
Shoreline 3,190 miles
Mean Elevation 350 ft.
Geographic Center4.5 miles northwest of Davidsonville
LANDFORMS
The eastern half of Maryland is dominated by the Chesapeake Bay, and the surrounding estuaries and coastal plain. Numerous bays, islets, coves, creeks and small islands seem everywhere.
Sandy beach covers the Atlantic Ocean coastline, on the edges of Assateague Island.
To the northwest of Annapolis, the fertile land rises into the hills of the Piedmont Plateau, and on into the northern reaches of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
In the panhandle area of the west, the Appalachian Mountains cross the state, continuing on into Pennsylvania. The state's highest point is located here; Backbone Mountain at 3,360 ft.
The most significant river is the Potomac, as it forms the entire southern border of the state. To the northeast, the Susquehanna River drains into Chesapeake Bay, and central, the Patuxent River empties into the southern reaches of the Bay.
For a closer look at the topography of Maryland, view this map
Chesapeake Bay here
Landforms of America here
Landforms of North America here
Maryland State Parks here
Rivers of North America here
Government Info U.S. President George W. Bush
Maryland Government web site
Maryland General Assembly web site
Famous Natives People listed are almost always native to the state. We do, on occasion, include those that have lived within a state for most of their adult life. "A mostly random selection" Benjamin Bannecker mathematician Eubie Blake pianist, composer Francis X. Bushman actor Anna E. Carroll author Charles Carroll revolutionary war leader Samuel Chase u.s. supreme court justice Tom Clancy author Stephen Decatur naval hero, officer Frederick Douglass social reformer Jimmy Foxx baseball player John Hanson first president elected under the articles of confederation Johns Hopkins merchant, philanthropist Francis Scott Key composer, poet, lawyer Henry Louis Menchen journalist Charles Willson Peale artist, naturalist Dr. Peyton Rous nobel prize winner in medicine Lames Rumsey inventor George "Babe" Ruth baseball player Upton Sinclair author Roger B. Taney u.s. supreme court chief justice Carey M. Thomas educator, feminist Harriet Tubman abolitionist Leon Uris author Mason Locke Weems author Is someone missing?
Submit your famous person here!
USA States
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Maps
Maryland County Map
here
Maryland Outline Map here
Maryland Maps Univ. of Texas here
Maryland Highway Map here
Maryland Historic Map here
Maryland Precipitation Map here
Maryland Satellite Map here
Maryland Topographic Relief Map here
U.S. States & Capitol Cities (a test) here
U.S. MAPS (large selection) here
USA MAP Clip Art (FREE) here
CUSTOM USA MAPS created here
Union Soldier Graves at Antietam Recommended Links Maryland Ancestry/Genealogy web site
Maryland Colleges & Universities here
Maryland Civil War History web site
Maryland Historical Society web site
Maryland Cities web site
NEWSPAPERS
Annapolis Capital web site
Baltimore Sun web site
State of Maryland web site
U.S. National Park Service web site
Time, Weather and more Area Codes here
Time in Maryland
here
Climate
Maryland enjoys the traditional spring, summer, fall and winter seasons.
Summers can be rather warm, July through August, with milder days and cooler nights along the coastal areas. Snow does fall most winters, with the greatest accumulations in the mountains.
Overall, January is the coldest month, with average high temperatures just over 30 degrees. Much colder conditions are common in the mountains of the far west.
June, July and August are the warmest months, with average high temperature near 80 degrees. Days in the 90s are not uncommon.
Annual precipitation averages near 45 inches, with lower amounts in the central panhandle area, and slightly higher amounts in the western mountains.
For Maryland precipitation levels view this map
Current Weather Conditions in:
Timeline of History (1524) Giovanni de Verrazano explores the Chesapeake Bay area (1608) British Captain John Smith arrives in the area, and is the first European to do so (1622) William Claiborne establishes a trading post on Kent Island, and it becomes the first permanent European settlement (1633) Cecil Calvert (Lord Baltimore II) arrives and takes possession of the land granted to him by King Charles I (1649) Maryland grants religious freedom to all Christians, when they pass the Act of Religious Toleration. Significant amount of settlers arrive over the next 10 years (1692) An appointed Royal governor takes control over the Maryland colony (1694) The capital of the colony moves to the new city of Annapolis (1729) Baltimore is founded (1754) A young George Washington participates in the building of Ft. Mt. Pleasant, in an effort to keep the French out of the area (1767) Maryland's official borders with Pennsylvania and Delaware are finally decided by the surveyors, Mason and Dixon, and it would later be called The Mason Dixon Line (1774) Maryland choices its delegates to the Continental Congress (1776) Maryland troops participate in the Battle of Long Island, helping to save Washington's forces (1778) Due to unruly crowds in Philadelphia, the Capital of the new United States was moved to Annapolis (1788) Maryland becomes the seventh U.S. State (1814) While the British were attacking Fort McHenry, during the War of 1812, Frances Scott Key, a local lawyer and poet, composed the Star-Spangled Banner (1828) Construction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (the nation's first) begins (1862) The Battle of Antietam Creek, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, was the most costly battle during the Civil War, as more than 23,000 troops were killed or wounded on one single day (1845) U.S. Naval Academy established at Annapolis (1872) The Radical Republicans hold their national convention in Baltimore (1889) Johns Hopkins Hospital opens (1904) Baltimore severely damaged by out-of-control fire (1912) The Democratic National Convention is held in Baltimore, and Woodrow Wilson is nominated for president (1920s-30s) Maryland refuses to enforce the national Prohibition laws, and was soon given the nickname of Free State (1952) The Chesapeake Bay Bridge opens (1980) Harborplace opens in Baltimore, and helps begin the complete renovation of that city's harbor Traveler Information Attractions (a few major) Antietam National Battlefield, Assateague Island National Park Seashore, Baltimore's Inner Harbor, Chesapeake Bay areas, Harper's Ferry, Fort McHenry National Monument, Ocean City beaches, U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, and much, much more.
Electricity 110/120V, 60Hz
Times to Travel With beautiful coastal areas, numerous historic points-of-interest, and stunning scenery, Maryland offers a wonderful family vacation destination at anytime of the year.
Maryland Accommodations
For hotels all around the State of Maryland here!
Antietam National Battlefield here
Assateague Island National Seashore here
Baltimore Visitor Info here
Chesapeake Bay here
Fort McHenry here
Harpers Ferry here
Maryland Fishing here
Maryland State Parks here
Maryland Tourism here
Maryland Tourism Links here
Maryland Tourism 800.634.7386
Maryland Travel Videos here
Ocean City Beaches here
Roadside America An online guide to offbeat attractions, and more here
U.S. National Park Service web site
Visas United States entry requirements are the same in all states, with most foreign travelers requiring a visa.
There are exceptions as Canadian citizens only need proof of that citizenship. Travelers coming to the U.S. for tourism or business for 90 days or less from qualified countries may be eligible to visit the U.S. without a visa.
Currently, 26 countries participate in the Visa Waiver Pilot Program: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New
etherlands, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Visitors entering on the Visa Waiver Pilot Program cannot work or study while in the U.S. and cannot stay longer than 90 days or change their status to another category.
For the latest information, including required documentation, any interested party should apply at the American Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence.
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