Columbia Maryland. Maryland is an old frontier state. Population and religion

Maryland is one of the smallest states in the United States: it ranks 42nd in terms of area, with 21% of it being water surface. However, its relief and landscapes are so diverse that the state is often referred to as America in miniature. Algae-strewn sand dunes in the east, wild swampy lowlands and huge cypresses by the bay, rounded hills with oak forests in the north and pine groves in the mountains in the west ... Forests are the main wealth of the state, it is considered one of the most environmentally friendly in America . Characteristically, the rest of the space (in the northern and western parts) is occupied by cities, between which it is difficult to distinguish the boundaries. For a long time, the largest city in the state of Baltimore and 12 other districts of Maryland have been a single agglomeration with the capital of the United States, Washington, in which more than 8 million people live. This figure includes the bulk of the population of Maryland, who have somewhere to work and where to relax. Remarkable conditions for recreation are offered by seaside resorts located in the Ocean City area on the Atlantic coast, where tourists from other US states come, as well as the artificial lake Deep Creek at the western tip of the state. An amazing feature of Maryland is that it does not have a single natural lake, but many artificial reservoirs.

State history

The history of the state began in 1632, when George Calvert, 1st Lord Baltimore, received a Royal Charter from Charles I to settle the lands that were to become the English province of Maryland. The baron, who sought to create a haven for Catholics in the New World, died the same year, but the patent was transferred to his son Cecil. Cecil organized an expedition led by his younger brother Leonard, and on March 25, 1634, the ships Ark and Dove, with the first group of settlers, consisting of 17 gentlemen with their wives, reached the desired shore. This day is considered the founding date of the province of Maryland, named after the wife of Charles I, Queen Henrietta Maria.
Instead of a Catholic paradise, the land became a haven for representatives of various Christian denominations, and most importantly, for tens of thousands of English convicts. In 1949, the province passed a law on religious tolerance, one of the first in America, but it did not save Maryland from the subsequent violent struggle between Catholics and Protestants.
April 28, 1788 Maryland became the seventh state of the United States. In December 1790, the state set aside land for the seat of the federal government of George Washington, where the District of Columbia was formed.
During the North-South Civil War, despite its Confederate (southern) sympathies, the state sided with the Union (northern states) because of its proximity to Washington. In addition, in Maryland at that time, half of the black population was already free. However, 23% of the military fought on the side of the Confederacy.
Maryland's loyalty to the center was again called into question in 1919 when Washington imposed a nationwide alcohol ban. Residents of the state opposed the "dry law". It is for this, oddly enough, that Maryland was nicknamed the "Free State."

general information

The largest city: Baltimore, 631,366 (2006)

English language.

Currency unit: U.S. dollar.

Religion: Protestants - 56%, Catholics - 23%, Jews - 4%.

Major rivers: Potomac, Patuxent.

Major international airport: Baltimore-Washington (Baltimore).

Numbers

Ethnic composition: whites (about 65%), African Americans (about 30%), Asians (about 5%), Natives (less than 1%).

Urban population: 80%.

highest point: Bakbon (1024 m).

Economy

Industry: electronics, metallurgy, precision engineering, chemical, food.

Agriculture: tobacco crops, corn, soybeans, potatoes, various vegetables, grains, legumes; dairy farming, poultry farming.

Fisheries: crabs, oysters, sea bass, Atlantic herring.

Forestry.

In the eastern part of the United States, along the coast of the Chesapeake Bay, lies the state of Maryland with the main city of Annapolis.

Most of the state is occupied by water. The east coast is located on the Delmarva Peninsula. To the west, the Blue Ridge mountain ranges stretched out in a long ridge. At their foot lies the huge Piedmont Plateau. Moving west, you can see how the endless plains turn into dense mixed forests. There are several picturesque waterfalls here.

Maryland has a temperate humid climate. Today Maryland is a major tourist, resort, historical, industrial and cultural region of the United States.

State history

In the early 16th century, the first Europeans landed on the coast of modern Maryland. These were French explorers led by Giovanni da Verrazano.

After 2 years, the Spaniards appeared here, and at the beginning of the 17th century, the British also began to explore the uninhabited lands of Maryland.

Soon, the first European settlement was built on the territory of the state, whose inhabitants were actively trading with the Indians.

In 1632, the British King Charles I decided to sell part of the territory to Baron Baltimore. But the baron died suddenly, and the purchased lands passed to his son Calvert.

For centuries, Marylanders have fought for their rights, freedom and independence.

So, for example, in 1649 they defended the law on freedom of religion. And in 1765 they vehemently opposed stamp duty.

In 1776, the inhabitants of the colony declared their independence from Britain and adopted their own constitution. Despite the fact that the fighting did not affect the territory of Maryland in any way, its inhabitants took an active part in the struggle for freedom.

In 1788, the province of Maryland was given the title of state. A few years later, a civil war broke out. Residents of the state were on opposite sides of the barricades. Some wanted freedom from the US, others were in favor of joining. As a result, US President Lincoln had to send troops into the state to prevent him from separating. During the years of the civil war, several fierce bloody battles took place here.

State Attractions

Ecotourism connoisseurs will enjoy visiting Fort Carroll Island nestled in the bay of the Chesapeake Bay. This is a beautiful artificial island created in the middle of the 19th century. During World War II, a large military training ground was located on its territory. Nearby there was a special point for the passage of ships.

After the war, the island fell into disrepair. Today it has turned into a large natural reserve, on the territory of which a huge number of various birds live. In the near future, the Americans are planning to cultivate the reserve and set up a natural park on its territory.

History buffs just need to visit National Harbor and see the unique sculpture with the beautiful name "Awakening". In the center of the sculptural composition is a huge giant awakened after a long sleep. He fights furiously for freedom, trying to get out from under a pile of heavy stones.

A favorite haunt of many filmmakers is the old abandoned Westport Power Station. It is a gray gloomy building, frightening with its creaking doors and yellowed windows from time to time.

It is known that the science fiction film "12 Monkeys" by Terry Gilliam was filmed on the territory of the power plant.

Arriving in Maryland, you just need to visit Annapolis. On its territory there are many ancient buildings and museums. The hallmark of the city is its Maritime Academy.

Walking along the embankment, you can admire the picturesque natural landscapes that open onto the Chesapeake Bay.

The city of Baltimore is very popular with tourists. Having made a tour of its ancient winding streets, tourists can visit a historical museum or an art gallery, relax at a table in a cozy cafe or restaurant, and go through numerous shops. But the main city attraction is the harbor of Inner Harbor. A huge number of large and small ships are moored off its shores.

The atmosphere of celebration and fun reigns in "Little Italy" - this is how the Baltimoreans call the small Italian district of the city. There are a large number of Italian restaurants and cafes.

Recreation and entertainment

Beach lovers simply need to visit the small resort town of Ocean City.

On the territory of the city there are several wonderful golden beaches. Tourists are given the opportunity to go scuba diving, surfing, windsurfing, yachting. Ocean City provides excellent golf and tennis facilities. Family and children's parks are located throughout the city. Numerous restaurants and cafes are waiting for their visitors.

Winter sports enthusiasts are best off heading to Maryland's Whitetail Ski Resort. Here you can go skiing or snowboarding, try your hand at figure skating and hockey, or just enjoy the magnificent natural scenery, breathe in the mountain air and take a break from the bustle and noise of the city.

Maryland's most welcoming resort is Clear Spring Ski Resort. On the territory of the resort, a lot of festivals and holidays are held annually. And fans of extreme sports will be able to ride a snowboard or skiing.

Maryland has some very bizarre laws:

• It is forbidden to grow thistles in vegetable gardens or orchards.
• Maryland women are not allowed to rummage through their husband's pockets.
• On the streets of Maryland, it is illegal to kiss for more than 1 second.
• It is forbidden to walk in city parks in sleeveless clothes.

Maryland is one of the smallest states in the federation. Geographically, it contains the District of Columbia and the city of Washington. One of Maryland's unofficial nicknames is the "Free State". The fact that he rightfully bears such a proud name can be recognized by looking at historical documents.

History of Maryland

Exploration of the lands south of the Potomac began in the 20s of the 16th century, when French and Spanish expeditions visited here. But the settlement of the territory was begun by the British, only in the first half of the 17th century. The Irish Calvert family received a monopoly on the development of the region, and in 1634 the British town of St. Mary appeared, named after the Queen of England, Henrietta Mary. Hence the toponym of the entire county - Maryland. However, 60 years later the capital was moved to Annapolis, which received its name as a sign of devotion to another queen - Anne Stewart.

In 1749, the district administration passed a fateful resolution - the first American law on tolerance for non-Christians, which received the name "Maryland Tolerance Act" in historical science.
In 1776, Maryland officially announced its secession from the British crown and proclaimed its own constitution. It later became one of 13 European colonies that participated in the War of Independence. In 1788 he entered the United States as its seventh state.

However, the honorary name of the Free State of Maryland was awarded in the 20s of the last century, categorically boycotting the dry law adopted in the country.

Flag of Maryland

Population of Maryland

Despite its modest size, Maryland ranks 19th among other states in terms of population. Almost 6,000,000 people live here, 620,000 of which are in the largest city - Baltimore. The state capital, which to this day is Annapolis, has 40,000 inhabitants.

Maryland is dominated by whites. There are 58% of them here. African Americans make up 29.5%. The number of representatives of indigenous peoples, including collectively Indians, Eskimos and Hawaiians, barely reaches half of one percent. More than 80% of the state's population is Christian, mostly Protestants and Catholics.

Attractions in Maryland

Speaking of the legendary Capitol Hill, which can be considered one of the main attractions of the country, we must remember that it belongs to the state only geographically, and not administratively. Therefore, it cannot be included in the list of interesting places in Maryland, but it is definitely worth a visit.

We will list other, less significant, but also interesting objects.

• The National Aquarium, located in the city of Baltimore, is visited annually by more than one and a half million people. Inside this building is placed almost 8,500 tons of water and 17,000 representatives of marine flora and fauna.
• The first railroad in the United States was built from Baltimore to Ohio. The history of this line is dedicated to the B&O Railway Museum, which offers many exhibits, exhibitions, children's programs and even a ride on an old train.
• The historical sights of Baltimore include Fort McHenry, built by the British colonialists. This fortification, used during the Anglo-American War, is one of the symbols of the heroic struggle for American independence.
• Among the natural attractions of the state, it is worth noting the picturesque Deep Creek Lake in the suburbs of McHenry. This is the territory of the reserve, where many tourist resorts and hotels are located.

Economy of Maryland

The US government is a very large employer that creates many jobs, so it is not surprising that Maryland is one of the most prosperous states. According to the average level of family income, it is in first place in the country.

The state is not rich in minerals, apart from insignificant amounts of coal. But, due to its location on the East Atlantic coast, it is the center of transport hubs - both water and land.

Despite the fact that there are few agricultural areas in Maryland, and industrial enterprises can be counted on the fingers, one of the most developed sectors of the economy here is fishing.
Science, education, culture and tourism are represented at a high level in the state.

Maryland state map:

Maryland (eng. Maryland [ˈmɛrələnd]) is a small state in the eastern United States, one of the so-called Mid-Atlantic states and one of the 13 states that made the American Revolution. Population - 5.296 million people (19th place among the states; 2000 data). The capital is Annapolis (Maryland), the largest city is Baltimore.

Official name: State of Maryland

Capital of Maryland: Annapolis

Largest city: Baltimore

Other major cities: Aberdeen, Buoys, College Park, Cumberland, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt, Hagerstown, Laurel, Rockville, Salisbury, Takoma Park, Westminster, Ocean City.

State Nicknames: Old Frontier State, Cockade State, Free State.

State motto: Deeds of men, words of women

Maryland zip code: MD

State Formation Date: 1788 (7th in order)

Area: 32 thousand sq. km. (Rank 42 in the country.)

Population: more than 5 million people (19th place in the country).

In 1524, Giovanni da Verrazano visited the east coast of North America at the head of a French expedition. In 1526, the Spaniards arrived in the Chesapeake Bay.

Captain John Smith of Virginia was the first to explore the area in 1608. In 1631, William Clairborne founded the first trading settlement here.

In 1632, Charles I granted George Calvert, Irish Baron Baltimore, a patent for the settlement of lands between the 40th parallel and the south coast of the Potomac - the future province of Maryland. In the same year, the baron died, and the land went to his son, Kelicius Calvert. On March 25, 1634, the English colonists founded the settlement of St. Mary here, named after the patron saint of heaven, Queen Henrietta Mary.

In 1649, the colony's legislature passed America's first religious freedom act, the Maryland Toleration Act. From 1692 to 1715 Maryland was ruled by royal governors. In 1694, the provincial capital was moved to Providence, which in 1708 was renamed Annapolis in honor of Queen Anne Stewart.

In 1715 the province was again taken over by the Calverts. To settle territorial disputes between Maryland and Pennsylvania, the rulers of the colonies, Calvert and Penn, appointed two officials, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, who drew the line between the colonies. Since then, the Mason-Dixon Line has been considered the de facto border between the southern and northern states of the United States.

In 1765 the citizens of Maryland opposed the Stamp Act. On July 3, 1776, Maryland announced that it was no longer subject to the king, and four months later became the first of the colonies to adopt its own constitution as a state. Although there was no fighting in the state, fighters from Maryland actively participated in the War of Independence.

April 28, 1788 Maryland became the seventh US state. In 1791, the state gave land to the federal government to create the metropolitan District of Columbia and the city of Washington.

During the war of 1812-1814, the British tried to capture Baltimore and bombarded Fort McHenry, which was defending the city. It was then that Francis Scott Kay wrote the poem "Star Banner", which became the words of the US national anthem.

During the Civil War, Marylanders were divided. After Virginia seceded from the Union, President Lincoln instituted military rule in Maryland to prevent the separation of the state located near the city of Washington. Bloody battles took place in the state (Battle of South Mountain, Battle of Antietam, Battle of Hapers Ferry and Battle of Monokasi).

Geography and climate of Maryland

The area of ​​Maryland is 32.16 thousand km² (42nd place among the states), of which about 21% is water. The state is located on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Its territory is divided into the East Bank (on the Delmarva Peninsula) and the West Bank. To the north, Maryland borders Pennsylvania along the Mason-Dixon line; in the northeast - with Delaware, in the south and west - with Virginia and West Virginia (the border runs along the Potomac, as well as with the metropolitan District of Columbia. In the east, the territory is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The eastern regions of Maryland make up the Coastal Lowland, in the west is the so-called "Line of Falls". The climate is temperate and humid.

Economy of Maryland

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Maryland's GDP in 2005 was $246 billion (15th among states). To a large extent, the modern economy of Maryland depends on the service sector, transport, construction and information technology (proximity to the capital of the state and the presence of large seaports affect. In addition, many federal organizations are stationed in Maryland, in particular NASA, the National Security Agency (NSA), Consumer Product Safety Commission, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), etc.

The state has significant coal reserves, but its production has fallen significantly since the beginning of the 20th century. There are enterprises for the extraction of stone and sand. Agriculture is developed, in particular tobacco growing.

State of Maryland

Maryland borders Pennsylvania to the north, Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean lie to the east, Virginia lies to the south and southwest of it, and the northern part of the western border separates it from West Virginia. One of the oldest British colonies, founded in 1634, Maryland became the 7th US state on April 28, 1788. You have already got acquainted with the history of this colony and the origin of its name in the chapter "English Settlers in America". The most dramatic period in the recent history of the state was the Civil War. Maryland was a slave state, and by the early 1860s whites owned 14,000 blacks. The state's slave owners supported the position of the southern states, many were in favor of Maryland joining the Confederacy, but many more people opposed the use of force against the slave states. The troops of the North passing through the territory of Maryland were attacked by crowds of the local population. To curb the Marylanders, President Lincoln was forced to introduce military rule in the state. In May 1861, the US Army occupied Baltimore, securing the victory of the Republican candidate in the next gubernatorial election. It was not possible to save the state from hostilities, and several major battles took place on its territory. At the same time, Marylanders fought both on the side of the North and on the side of the South. However, in 1864 the new state government abolished slavery there. Maryland was the first state to do so voluntarily.

Maryland lies on the eastern and western shores of the Atlantic Ocean, which cuts deeply into the mainland of the Chesapeake Bay. The eastern part of the state is on the Delmarva Peninsula, which it shares with Delaware. Sandy beaches, shallow lagoons, and salt marshes stretch along the Atlantic coast of the state. Parallel to the coast is a chain of small islands that Maryland shares with Virginia. Sea waves are constantly destroying these islands, changing their shape, erasing them from the face of the earth, while creating new ones. On such islets, the Marylanders built the unique city of Ocean City, but they have to constantly take care that it is not swallowed up by sea water.

Most of the state is located on the Atlantic lowlands, and only in the west the hills begin to rise, turning into the spurs of the Blue Ridge Range of the Appalachian Mountains. In this region is the highest point of the state - the top of Mount Backbone (1025 meters). The state has 25,618 square kilometers but is home to over 5 million people, with over 80 percent of the population living in cities, over two-thirds white, and about 25 percent black Americans.

The main rivers of the state are the Potomac and Patapsco, in the estuary of which lies the largest city of the state and its Spiritual capital, Baltimore, the 14th largest city in the United States, whose population, together with the district, exceeds 2.4 million people. Founded in 1634, Baltimore is a modern bustling city, a major industrial, scientific, educational and cultural center. Among its educational institutions is Johns Hopkins University, founded in 1876, one of the twenty most prestigious universities in the country. This university is famous primarily for its medical faculty. The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore is considered one of the premier medical research centers in the United States. Together with graduates of the Johns Hopkins University, specialists from around the world work there. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is one of the finest musical groups in America. In 1868, the Peabody Conservatory opened in the city.

The capital of Maryland is Annapolis. It is also one of the oldest American cities, becoming the capital of Maryland as early as 1694. The United States Naval Academy is one of the main attractions of Annapolis.

Despite the proximity of the ocean, winters in Maryland are cool, and in the mountains there are 20-degree frosts. But in summer it is hot, during the day the temperature significantly exceeds the 30-degree mark, and the air is saturated with moisture. At the same time, this climate is favorable for agriculture. Today, agricultural products account for only one percent of the value of the state's gross product, although at the dawn of Maryland's history, the well-being of local residents was entirely dependent on tobacco crops. It is still grown in the south of the state, but in small quantities. Modern farmers prefer to engage in cattle breeding and poultry farming, in the east of the state they grow vegetables, gourds, strawberries, in the western regions fruit orchards predominate. The fishing industry brings significant income. The abundance of agricultural and marine products has caused the growth of food processing enterprises throughout the state.

Although forests still cover a third of Maryland, the forest industry in the state is very poorly represented. It should also be noted that Maryland cannot boast of a variety of minerals. Only building stone, gravel and sand are mined here, which are used for local needs.

Since the end of the 19th century, industrial production began to bring Maryland more income than agriculture. The main industrial enterprises of the state are concentrated in the area of ​​Baltimore, Cambridge, Salisbury and Cumberland. There are metallurgical and metalworking plants in the state, but they work on imported primary or secondary raw materials. Ore is delivered here not only from other states, but also from abroad, for example, from Canada, Venezuela and Bolivia. Shipbuilding is well developed, the center of which is Sparrows Point. Fishing trawlers and small pleasure craft are being built in Maryland. The state also produces cars, in particular, heavy trucks are produced in Hagerstone.