Quick Facts: Maryland

Maryland is a state located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east.

ABBREVIATION: MD
NICKNAME: The Old Line State
POPULATION: 6,263,220 (2024 est.)
CAPITAL: Annapolis
STATE BIRD: Baltimore Oriole
STATE FLOWER: Black-Eyed Susan
AREA: 12,407 sq. mi.
TIME ZONE: Eastern
ENTERED UNION: Apr. 28, 1788
ALTITUDE: High, 3,360 ft. Hoye-Crest
CLIMATE: Hot summers, cool winters in south and east; warm summers, cold winters in west. Ample rainfall.

With Chesapeake Bay penetrating it deeply, the colony of Maryland already had a natural division when in 1767 man created an artificial division that was to affect its history. This was the Mason-Dixon line. Originally drawn to establish the boundary between lands granted to Lord Baltimore of Maryland and William Penn of Pennsylvania, the east-west line in time became the traditional dividing line between North and South.

Though the state lies completely south of the line, Maryland’s population suffered from divided loyalties during the Civil War, and even today vestiges of regional differences persist.

Chesapeake Bay, providing Maryland with an extensive fishing ground, once produced more oysters than any other region in the U.S.; it also contributes to the mild, humid climate which make rich tobacco and truck crops, along with a valuable dairy industry possible. On a northwest inlet of the bay is Baltimore, once the third largest port in the nation (currently 17th busiest) and a major manufacturing center due to the steel industry.

Baltimore once had the world’s largest steel plant (accounting for 80% of the states manufacturing production). Sadly, steel production in America has been drastically reduced towards the end of the last century, while steel production has increased in the developing countries such as China, Brazil, and India.

Both spans of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge

After long arguments over the location of the national capital, Congress in 1790 accepted a joint offer of land from Maryland and Virginia. President Georg Washington himself chose a site 10 miles square on which to build a “Federal City”.

During the first decades it appeared that not all of the land would be required for federal offices, accordingly, the portion given by Virginia was returned to the state in 1846. The present District of Columbia comprises about 70 square miles, all of it ceded by Maryland.

Fun Facts:

The Maryland State House in Annapolis is the oldest state capitol still in continuous use for meetings of the state legislature.
The first successful passenger balloon flight in the U.S. took place in Baltimore on June 24, 1784. The only person onboard was 13-year-old Edward Warren.
In 1860 Baltimore had more free African Americans than any other major U.S. city. The Chesapeake Marine Railway and Dry Dock Company, founded in 1869, was operated by African Americans. Today, Prince George’s Country is one of the wealthiest predominantly black communities in the country.
Annapolis, Maryland is home to the United States Naval Academy founded on October 10, 1845.
The first school in the United States was opened in 1696 and named King Williams School.
The Chesapeake Bay divides Maryland into two sections the Eastern Shore and the Western Shore.

History:

Maryland, one of the original thirteen American colonies, has a rich and varied history that reflects the larger story of the United States. Founded as a haven for religious freedom, it played a vital role in the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the nation’s industrial growth.

From its early days as a colonial experiment to its modern identity, Maryland’s development has been shaped by political, economic, and cultural forces.

Before European settlers arrived, the region was inhabited by Native American tribes such as the Piscataway, Nanticoke, and Susquehannock. These groups lived off the land, fishing, hunting, and farming in the fertile Chesapeake Bay area. Their presence continued to influence the region even after European colonization.

Maryland was founded in 1632 when King Charles I of England granted a charter to George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore. Calvert envisioned Maryland as a refuge for English Catholics facing persecution in Protestant England. After his death, his son Cecil Calvert carried out the plan, and in 1634, settlers established St. Mary’s City, the first capital of Maryland.

The colony became known for its policy of religious tolerance, particularly the Maryland Toleration Act of 1649, one of the first laws to protect religious freedom in the American colonies.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, Maryland’s economy centered on tobacco farming, which relied heavily on enslaved labor. As the colony grew, so did tensions between different religious groups and economic classes.

Despite these challenges, Maryland remained a politically important colony. It played a key role in the events leading up to the American Revolution and was the seventh state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1788.

Maryland’s location made it a strategic border state during the Civil War. Although it remained in the Union, many of its citizens sympathized with the Confederacy. The state was placed under martial law to prevent it from seceding.

One of the war’s most significant battles, the Battle of Antietam, took place near Sharpsburg in 1862. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history and marked a turning point in the war.

After the Civil War, Maryland entered a period of industrial growth. Baltimore became a major port and manufacturing center, especially for shipping, steel, and textiles. The state’s transportation network expanded with the development of railroads and highways, further integrating Maryland into the national economy.

In the 20th century, Maryland became known for its contributions to science, medicine, and education. Institutions such as Johns Hopkins University and the National Institutes of Health placed the state at the forefront of research and public health. Maryland also played a significant role in the civil rights movement, as African Americans fought for equality and justice in a state with a long history of racial segregation.

Today, Maryland is a diverse and dynamic state. Its economy is driven by technology, government, and education, while its rich history is preserved in historic towns, battlefields, and museums. From colonial settlement to modern innovation, Maryland’s story is deeply woven into the fabric of American history.