Maryland

Maryland
State
Flag Seal
Nicknames: " Old Line State", "Free State", "Little America", [1]"America in Miniature" [2]
Mottoes: "Fatti maschii, parole femine" (English: "Strong Deeds, Gentle Words")[3] The Latin text encircling the seal: Scuto bonæ voluntatis tuæ coronasti nos("With Favor Wilt Thou Compass Us as with a Shield") Psalm 5:12[4]
Map of the United States with Maryland highlighted
Country	United States
Before statehood	Province of Maryland
Admitted to the Union	April 28, 1788 (7th)
Capital	Annapolis
Largest city	Baltimore
Largest county or equivalent	Montgomery
Largest metroandurbanareas	Washington–Baltimore(combined) Baltimore(metro and urban)
Government
•Governor	Wes Moore(D)
•Lieutenant Governor	Aruna Miller(D)
Legislature	General Assembly
•Upper house	Senate
•Lower house	House of Delegates
Judiciary	Supreme Court of Maryland
U.S. senators	Ben Cardin(D) Chris Van Hollen(D)
U.S. House delegation	7 Democrats 1Republican (list)
Area
• Total	12,407 sq mi (32,133 km2)
• Land	9,776 sq mi (25,314 km2)
• Water	2,633 sq mi (6,819 km2) 21%
• Rank	42nd
Dimensions
• Length	250 mi (400 km)
• Width	100 mi (200 km)
Elevation	350 ft (110 m)
Highest elevation ( Hoye-Crest [5] [a])	3,360 ft (1,024 m)
Lowest elevation ( Atlantic Ocean [5])	0 ft (0 m)
Population ( 2020 [6])
• Total	6,177,224
• Rank	18th
• Density	632/sq mi (244/km2)
• Rank	5th
•Median household income	$87,063
• Income rank	1st
Demonym	Marylander
Language
•Official language	None (English,de facto)
Time zone	UTC−05:00(Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00(EDT)
USPS abbreviation	MD
ISO 3166 code	US-MD
Traditional abbreviation	Md.
Latitude	37° 53′ N to 39° 43′ N
Longitude	75° 03′ W to 79° 29′ W
Website	maryland.gov

State symbols of Maryland

List of state symbols
Flag of Maryland
Seal of Maryland
Coat of arms of Maryland
Song	None. Formerly: "Maryland, My Maryland" byJames Ryder Randall(1861), (adopted 1939, repealed 2021)
Living insignia
Bird	Baltimore oriole
Cat breed	Calico cat
Crustacean	Blue crab
Dog breed	Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Fish	Rock fish
Flower	Black-eyed Susan
Horse breed	Thoroughbred
Insect	Baltimore checkerspot butterfly
Reptile	Diamondback terrapin
Tree	White oak
Inanimate insignia
Beverage	Milk
Dance	Square dance
Dinosaur	Astrodon johnstoni
Food	Smith Island cake
Fossil	Ecphora gardnerae gardnerae
Gemstone	Patuxent River stone
Ship	Skipjack
Sport	Jousting Lacrosse
State route marker
State quarter
Released in 2000
Lists of United States state symbols

Maryland(US:/ˈmɛrɪlənd/^ⓘMERR-il-ənd)^[b]is astatein theMid-Atlanticregion of theUnited States.^[8][9]It bordersVirginiato its south,West Virginiato its west,Pennsylvaniato its north,Delawareand theAtlantic Oceanto its east, and the national capital ofWashington, D.C.to the southwest. With a total area of 12,407 square miles (32,130 km²), Maryland is theninth-smallest state by land area,^[10]and its population of 6,177,224 ranks it the18th-most populous stateand thefifth-most densely populated. Maryland's capital isAnnapolis, and the most populous city isBaltimore.^[11]

Maryland's coastline was first explored by Europeans in the 16th century. Prior to that, it was inhabited by severalNative Americantribes, mostly theAlgonquian peoples.^[12]As one of the originalThirteen Colonies, Maryland was founded byGeorge Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, aCatholicconvert^[13][14]who sought to provide a religious haven for Catholics persecuted in England.^[15]In 1632,Charles I of Englandgranted Lord Baltimore acolonial charter, naming the colony after his wife, Henrietta Maria.^[16]In 1649, the Maryland General Assembly passed anAct Concerning Religion, which enshrined the principle oftoleration.^[17]Religious strife was common in Maryland's early years, and Catholics remained a minority, albeit in greater numbers than in any other English colony. Maryland's early settlements and population centers clustered around waterways that empty into theChesapeake Bay. Its economy was heavilyplantation-basedand centered mostly on the cultivation oftobacco. Demand for cheap labor from Maryland colonists led to the importation of numerousindentured servantsandenslaved Africans. In 1760, Maryland's current boundaries took form following thesettlementof a long-running border dispute with Pennsylvania. Many of its citizens playedkey political and military rolesin theAmerican Revolutionary War. Although it was aslave state, Marylandremained in the Unionduring theAmerican Civil War, and its proximity to Washington D.C. and Virginia made ita significant strategic location. After the Civil War ended, Maryland took part in theIndustrial Revolution, driven by its seaports, railroad networks, and mass immigration from Europe.

Since the 1940s, the state's population has grown rapidly, to approximately six million residents, and it is among the most densely populated U.S. states. As of 2015^[update], Maryland had thehighest median household incomeof any state, owing in large part to its proximity to Washington, D.C., and a highly diversified economy spanning manufacturing, retail services, public administration, real estate, higher education, information technology, defense contracting, health care, and biotechnology.^[18]Maryland is one of the most multicultural states in the country; it is one of the six states wherenon-Whites compose a majority of the population, with the fifth-highest percentage ofAfrican Americans, and high numbers of residents born inAfrica,Asia,Central America, and theCaribbean. The state's central role in U.S. history is reflected by its hosting of some of thehighest numbers of historic landmarksper capita.

Thewesternportion of the state contains numerous stretches of theAppalachian Mountains, thecentral portionis primarily composed of thePiedmont, and theeastern side of the statemakes up a significant portion ofChesapeake Bay. Sixteen of Maryland's twenty-three counties, and the city of Baltimore, border the tidal waters of theChesapeake Bay estuaryand its many tributaries,^[19][11]which combined total more than 4,000 miles of shoreline. Although one of the smallest states in the U.S., it features a variety of climates and topographical features that have earned it the moniker ofAmerica in Miniature.^[20]In a similar vein, Maryland's geography, culture, and history combine elements of the Mid-Atlantic,Northeastern, andSouthernregions of the country.

George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore(1579–1632), sought a charter from KingCharles Ifor the territory betweenMassachusettsto the north andVirginiato the immediate south.^[21]After Baltimore died in April 1632, the charter was granted to his son,Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore(1605–1675), on June 20, 1632. Officially, the new "Maryland Colony" was named in honor ofHenrietta Maria of France, wife of Charles I.^[22]Lord Baltimore initially proposed the name "Crescentia", the land of growth or increase, but "the King proposed Terra Mariae [Mary Land], which was concluded on and inserted in the bill."^[15]

The original capital of Maryland wasSt. Mary's City, on the north shore of thePotomac River, and the county surrounding it, the first erected/created in the province,^[23]was first called Augusta Carolina, after the King, and later named St. Mary's County.^[24]

Lord Baltimore's first settlers arrived in the new colony in March 1634, with his younger brother the HonorableLeonard Calvert(1606–1647), as first provincialGovernor of Maryland. They made their first permanent settlement atSt. Mary's Cityin what is nowSt. Mary's County. They purchased the site from theparamount chiefof the region, who was eager to establish trade. St. Mary's became the firstcapitalof Maryland, and remained so for 60 years until 1695. More settlers soon followed. Their tobacco crops were successful and quickly made the new colony profitable. However, given the incidence ofmalaria,yellow fever, andtyphoid, life expectancy in Maryland was about 10 years less than inNew England.^[25]

Maryland was founded to provide a haven for England'sRoman Catholicminority.^[26]Although Maryland was the most heavily Catholic of the English mainland colonies, the religion was still in the minority, consisting of less than 10% of the total population.^[27]

In 1642, a number ofPuritansleftVirginiafor Maryland and founded the city of Providence, now calledAnnapolis, on the western shore of the upperChesapeake Bay.^[28]A dispute with traders from Virginia overKent Islandin the Chesapeake led to armed conflict. In 1644,William Claiborne, a Puritan, seized Kent Island while his associate, thepro-ParliamentPuritanRichard Ingle, took over St. Mary's.^[29]Both used religion as a tool to gain popular support. The two years from 1644 to 1646 when Claiborne and his Puritan associates held sway were known as "The Plundering Time". They captured Jesuit priests, imprisoned them, then sent them back to England.

In 1646,Leonard Calvertreturned with troops, recaptured St. Mary's City, and restored order. The House of Delegates passed the "Act concerning Religion" in 1649 granting religious liberty to allTrinitarianChristians.^[25]

In 1650, the Puritans revolted against the proprietary government. "Protestants swept the Catholics out of the legislature... and religious strife returned."^[25]The Puritans set up a new government prohibiting bothRoman CatholicismandAnglicanism. The Puritan revolutionary government persecuted Maryland Catholics during its reign, known as the "plundering time". Mobs burned down all the original Catholic churches of southern Maryland. The Puritan rule lasted until 1658 when the Calvert family and Lord Baltimore regained proprietary control and re-enacted the Toleration Act.

After England'sGlorious Revolutionin 1688, Maryland outlawed Catholicism. In 1704, the Maryland General Assembly prohibited Catholics from operating schools, limited the corporate ownership of property to hamper religious orders from expanding or supporting themselves, and encouraged the conversion of Catholic children.^[27]The celebration of the Catholic sacraments was also officially restricted. This state of affairs lasted until after theAmerican Revolutionary War(1775–1783). Wealthy Catholic planters built chapels on their land to practice their religion in relative secrecy.

Into the 18th century, individual priests and lay leaders claimed Maryland farms belonging to the Jesuits as personal property andbequeathedthem in order to evade the legal restrictions on religious organizations' owning property.^[27]

The royal charter granted Maryland the land north of thePotomac Riverup to the40th parallel. A problem arose whenCharles IIgranted a charter forPennsylvania. The grant defined Pennsylvania's southern border as identical to Maryland's northern border, the 40th parallel. But the grant indicated that Charles II andWilliam Pennassumed the 40th parallel would pass close toNew Castle, Delawarewhen it falls north ofPhiladelphia, the site of which Penn had already selected for his colony's capital city. Negotiations ensued after the problem was discovered in 1681.

A compromise proposed by Charles II in 1682 was undermined by Penn's receiving the additional grant of what is now Delaware.^[31]Penn successfully argued that the Maryland charter entitled Lord Baltimore only to unsettled lands, and Dutch settlement in Delaware predated his charter. The dispute remained unresolved for nearly a century, carried on by the descendants of William Penn and Lord Baltimore—theCalvert family, which controlled Maryland, and thePenn family, which controlled Pennsylvania.^[31]

The border dispute with Pennsylvania led to Cresap's War in the 1730s. Hostilities erupted in 1730 and escalated through the first half of the decade, culminating in the deployment of military forces by Maryland in 1736 and by Pennsylvania in 1737. The armed phase of the conflict ended in May 1738 with the intervention of King George II, who compelled the negotiation of a cease-fire. A provisional agreement had been established in 1732.^[31]

Negotiations continued until a final agreement was signed in 1760. The agreement defined the border between Maryland and Pennsylvania as the line of latitude now known as theMason–Dixon line. Maryland's border with Delaware was based on aTranspeninsular Lineand theTwelve-Mile Circlearound New Castle.^[31]

Most of the English colonists arrived in Maryland asindentured servants, and had to serve a several years' term as laborers to pay for their passage.^[32]In the early years, the line between indentured servants and African slaves or laborers was fluid, and white and black laborers commonly lived and worked together, and formed unions.Mixed-racechildren born to white mothers were considered free by the principle ofpartus sequitur ventrem, by which children took the social status of their mothers, a principle of slave law that was adopted throughout the colonies, following Virginia in 1662.

Many of the free black families migrated to Delaware, where land was cheaper.^[33]As the flow of indentured laborers to the colony decreased with improving economic conditions in England, planters in Maryland imported thousands more slaves and racial caste lines hardened.

Maryland was one of thethirteen coloniesthat revolted against British rule in theAmerican Revolution. Near the end of theAmerican Revolutionary War(1775–1783), on February 2, 1781, Maryland became the last and 13th state to approve the ratification of theArticles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, first proposed in 1776 and adopted by theSecond Continental Congressin 1778, which brought into being the United States as a united,sovereignandnational state. It also became the seventh state admitted to the Union after ratifying the new federal Constitution in 1788. In December 1790, prior to the move of the national capital fromPhiladelphiain 1800, Maryland donated land selected by first PresidentGeorge Washingtonto thefederal governmentfor its creation. The land was provided along the north shore of thePotomac RiverfromMontgomeryandPrince George'scounties, as well as fromFairfax CountyandAlexandriaon the south shore of the Potomac inVirginia; however, the land donated by the Commonwealth of Virginia was later returned to that state by theDistrict of Columbia retrocessionin 1846.

Influenced by a changing economy, revolutionary ideals, and preaching by ministers, numerous planters in Maryland freed their slaves in the 20 years after theRevolutionary War. Across the Upper South the free black population increased from less than 1% before the war to 14% by 1810.^[34]AbolitionistsHarriet TubmanandFrederick Douglasswere born slaves during this time inDorchester CountyandTalbot County, respectively.^[35][36]

During theWar of 1812, the British military attempted to capture Baltimore, which was protected byFort McHenry. During its bombardment the song "The Star-Spangled Banner" was written byFrancis Scott Key; it was later adopted as the national anthem.

National Road, later renamedU.S. Route 40, was authorized in 1817 as the federal highway, and ran fromBaltimoretoSt. Louis. TheBaltimore and Ohio Railroad(B&O), the first chartered railroad in the United States, opened its first section of track for regular operation in 1830 between Baltimore andEllicott City,^[37]and in 1852 it became the first rail line to reach theOhio Riverfrom the eastern seaboard.^[38]

The state remained in the Union during theAmerican Civil War,^[39]due in significant part to demographics and Federal intervention. The 1860 census, held shortly before the outbreak of the civil war, showed that 49% of Maryland's African Americans werefree.^[34]

GovernorThomas Holliday Hickssuspended the state legislature, and to help ensurethe electionof a new pro-union governor and legislature, PresidentAbraham Lincolnhad a number of its pro-slavery politicians arrested, including the Mayor of Baltimore,George William Brown; suspended several civil liberties, includinghabeas corpus; and ordered artillery placed onFederal Hilloverlooking Baltimore.

In April 1861, Federal units and state regiments were attacked as they marched through Baltimore, sparking theBaltimore riot of 1861, the first bloodshed in the Civil War.^[40]Of the 115,000 Marylanders who joined the military during the Civil War, around 85,000, or 77%, joined theUnion army, while the remainder joined theConfederate Army.^{[citation needed]}The largest and most significant battle in the state was theBattle of Antietamon September 17, 1862, nearSharpsburg. Although a tactical draw, the battle was considered a strategic Union victory and aturning pointof the war.

A new state constitution in 1864abolishedslavery and Maryland was first recognized as a "Free State" in that context.^[41]Following passage of constitutional amendments that granted voting rights tofreedmen, in 1867 the state extended suffrage to non-white males.

TheDemocratic Partyrapidly regained power in the state fromRepublicans. Democrats replaced the Constitution of 1864 with theConstitution of 1867. Following the end of Reconstruction in 1877, Democrats devised means ofdisenfranchisingblacks, initially by physical intimidation and voter fraud, later by constitutional amendments and laws. Blacks and immigrants, however, resisted Democratic Party disfranchisement efforts in the state. Maryland blacks were part of a biracial Republican coalition elected to state government in 1896–1904 and comprised 20% of the electorate.^[42]

Compared to some other states, blacks were better established both before and after the civil war. Nearly half the black population was free before the war, and some had accumulated property. Half the population lived in cities. Literacy was high among blacks and, as Democrats crafted means to exclude them, suffrage campaigns helped reach blacks and teach them how to resist.^[42]Whites did imposeracial segregationin public facilities andJim Crowlaws, which effectively lasted until the passage of federal civil rights legislation in the mid-1960s.

Baltimore grew significantly during theIndustrial Revolution, due in large part to its seaport and good railroad connections, attracting European immigrant labor. Many manufacturing businesses were established in the Baltimore area after the Civil War. Baltimore businessmen, includingJohns Hopkins,Enoch Pratt,George Peabody, andHenry Walters, founded notable city institutions that bear their names, including respectively auniversity,library system,music and dance conservatory, andart museum.

Cumberlandwas Maryland's second-largest city in the 19th century. Nearby supplies of natural resources along with railroads fostered its growth into a major manufacturing center.^[43]

TheProgressive Eraof the late 19th and early 20th centuries brought political reforms. In a series of laws passed between 1892 and 1908, reformers worked for standard state-issued ballots (rather than those distributed and marked by the parties); obtained closed voting booths to prevent party workers from "assisting" voters; initiatedprimary electionsto keep party bosses from selecting candidates; and had candidates listed without party symbols, which discouraged theilliteratefrom participating. These measures worked against ill-educated whites and blacks. Blacks resisted such efforts, with suffrage groups conducting voter education. Blacks defeated three efforts to disenfranchise them, making alliances with immigrants to resist various Democratic campaigns.^[42]Disenfranchisement bills in 1905, 1907, and 1911 were rebuffed, in large part because of black opposition. Blacks comprised 20% of the electorate and immigrants comprised 15%, and the legislature had difficulty devising requirements against blacks that did not also disadvantage immigrants.^[42]

The Progressive Era also brought reforms in working conditions for Maryland's labor force. In 1902, the state regulated conditions inmines; outlawedchild laborersunder the age of 12; mandated compulsory school attendance; and enacted the nation's firstworkers' compensationlaw. The workers' compensation law was overturned in the courts, but was redrafted and finally enacted in 1910.

TheGreat Baltimore Fireof 1904 burned for more than 30 hours, destroying 1,526 buildings and spanning 70 city blocks. More than 1,231firefightersworked to bring the blaze under control.

With the nation'sentry into World War Iin 1917, new military bases such asCamp Meade, theAberdeen Proving Ground, and theEdgewood Arsenalwere established. Existing facilities, includingFort McHenry, were greatly expanded.

After Georgia congressmanWilliam D. Upshawcriticized Maryland openly in 1923 for not passingProhibitionlaws,Baltimore Suneditor Hamilton Owens coined the "Free State" nickname for Maryland in that context, which was popularized byH. L. Menckenin a series of newspaper editorials.^[41][44]

Maryland's urban and rural communities had different experiences during theGreat Depression. The "Bonus Army" marched through the state in 1932 on its way to Washington, D.C. Maryland instituted its firstincome taxin 1937 to generate revenue for schools and welfare.^[45]

Passenger and freight steamboat service, once important throughout Chesapeake Bay and its many tributary rivers, ended in 1962.^[46]

Baltimore was a major war production center duringWorld War II. The biggest operations wereBethlehem Steel's Fairfield Yard, which builtLiberty ships; andGlenn Martin, an aircraft manufacturer.

Maryland experienced population growth following World War II. Beginning in the 1960s, as suburban growth took hold around Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, the state began to take on a more mid-Atlantic culture as opposed to the traditionally Southern and Tidewater culture that previously dominated most of the state. Agricultural tracts gave way to residential communities, some of them carefully planned such asColumbia,St. Charles, andMontgomery Village. Concurrently theInterstate Highway Systemwas built throughout the state, most notablyI-95,I-695, and theCapital Beltway, altering travel patterns. In 1952, the eastern and western halves of Maryland were linked for the first time by theChesapeake Bay Bridge, which replaced a nearbyferryservice.^[47]

Maryland's regions experienced economic changes following WWII. Heavy manufacturing declined in Baltimore. In Maryland's four westernmost counties, industrial, railroad, and coal mining jobs declined. On the lowerEastern Shore, family farms were bought up by major concerns and large-scale poultry farms and vegetable farming became prevalent. In Southern Maryland, tobacco farming nearly vanished due to suburban development and a state tobacco buy-out program in the 1990s.

In an effort to reverse depopulation due to the loss of working-class industries, Baltimore initiatedurban renewalprojects in the 1960s withCharles Centerand theBaltimore World Trade Center. Some resulted in the break-up of intact residential neighborhoods, producing social volatility, and some older residential areas around the harbor have had units renovated and have become popular with new populations.

Maryland has an area of 12,406.68 square miles (32,133.2 km²) and is comparable in overall area withBelgium[11,787 square miles (30,530 km²)].^[48]It is the 42nd-largest and 9th-smallest state and is closest in size to the state ofHawaii[10,930.98 square miles (28,311.1 km²)], the next smallest state. The next largest state is Maryland's neighbor,West Virginia, which is nearly twice the size of Maryland [24,229.76 square miles (62,754.8 km²)].

Maryland possesses a variety oftopographywithin its borders, contributing to its nicknameAmerica in Miniature.^[49]It ranges from sandydunesdotted with seagrass in the east, to low marshlands teeming with wildlife and largebald cypressnear the Chesapeake Bay, to gently rolling hills of oak forests in thePiedmont Region, andpinegroves in theMaryland mountainsto the west.

Maryland is bounded on its north byPennsylvania, on its north and east byDelaware, on its east by theAtlantic Ocean, and on its south and west, across thePotomac River, byWest VirginiaandVirginia. The mid-portion of its border with Virginia is interrupted byWashington, D.C., which sits on land that was originally part ofMontgomeryandPrince George'scounties and includingGeorgetown, Maryland, which was ceded to the United States federal government in 1790 to form the Washington, D.C.Chesapeake Baynearly bisects the state, and the counties east of the bay are known collectively as theEastern Shore.

Most of the state's waterways are part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, with the exceptions of a tiny portion of extreme westernGarrett County(drained by theYoughiogheny Riveras part of the watershed of theMississippi River), the eastern half of Worcester County (which drains into Maryland's Atlantic coastal bays), and a small portion of the state's northeast corner (which drains into theDelaware Riverwatershed). So prominent is the Chesapeake in Maryland's geography and economic life that there has been periodic agitation to change the state's official nickname to the "Bay State", a nickname that has been used byMassachusettsfor decades.

The highest point in Maryland, with an elevation of 3,360 feet (1,020 m), isHoye Crest on Backbone Mountain, in the southwest corner ofGarrett County, near the border with West Virginia, and near the headwaters of the North Branch of the Potomac River. Close to the small town ofHancock, in western Maryland, about two-thirds of the way across the state, less than 2 miles (3.2 km) separates its borders,^[50]theMason–Dixon lineto the north, and the northwards-archingPotomac Riverto the south.

Portions of Maryland are included in various official and unofficial geographic regions. For example, theDelmarva Peninsulais composed of the Eastern Shore counties of Maryland, the entirestate of Delaware, and the two counties that make up theEastern Shore of Virginia, whereas the westernmost counties of Maryland are considered part ofAppalachia. Much of the Baltimore–Washington corridor lies just south of the Piedmont in the Coastal Plain,^[51]though it straddles the border between the two regions.

Earthquakes in Maryland are infrequent and small due to the state's distance from seismic/earthquake zones.^[52][53]TheM5.8Virginia earthquake in 2011was felt moderately throughout Maryland. Buildings in the state are not well-designed for earthquakes and can suffer damage easily.^[54]As well as this, notably a M4.8 earthquake from Tewksbury in central New Jersey was felt slightly throughout Maryland.^[55]

Maryland has no natural lakes, mostly due to the lack of glacial history in the area.^[56]All lakes in the state today were constructed, mostly via dams.^[57]Buckel's Bogis believed by geologists to have been a remnant of a former natural lake.^[58]

Maryland has shale formations containing natural gas, where fracking is theoretically possible.^[59]

As is typical of states on theEast Coast, Maryland's plant life is abundant and healthy. An adequate volume of annual precipitation helps to support many types of plants, includingseagrassand variousreedsat the smaller end of the spectrum to the giganticWye Oak, a huge example ofwhite oak, the state tree, which can grow over 70 feet (21 m) tall.

Middle Atlantic coastal forests, typical of the southeasternAtlantic coastal plain, grow around Chesapeake Bay and on theDelmarva Peninsula. Moving west, a mixture ofNortheastern coastal forestsandSoutheastern mixed forestscover the central part of the state. TheAppalachian Mountainsof western Maryland are home toAppalachian-Blue Ridge forests. These give way toAppalachian mixed mesophytic forestsnear the West Virginia border.^[61]

Many foreign species are cultivated in the state, some as ornamentals, others as novelty species. Included among these are thecrape myrtle,Italian cypress,southern magnolia,live oakin the warmer parts of the state,^[62]and evenhardy palm treesin the warmer central and eastern parts of the state.^[63]USDA planthardiness zonesin the state range from Zones 5and6 in the extreme western part of the state to Zone7 in the central part, and Zone8 around the southern part of the coast, the bay area, and parts ofmetropolitan Baltimore.^[64]Invasive plant species, such askudzu,tree of heaven,multiflora rose, andJapanese stiltgrass, stifle growth of endemic plant life.^[65]Maryland's state flower, theblack-eyed susan, grows in abundance in wild flower groups throughout the state.

The state harbors a considerable number ofwhite-tailed deer, especially in the woody and mountainous west of the state, and overpopulation can become a problem. Mammals can be found ranging from the mountains in the west to the central areas and includeblack bears,^[66]bobcats,^[67]foxes,coyotes,^[68]raccoons, and otters.^[66]

There is a population of rare wild (feral) horses found onAssateague Island.^[69]They are believed to be descended from horses who escaped from Spanish galleon shipwrecks.^[69]Every year during the last week of July, they are captured and swim across a shallow bay for sale atChincoteague, Virginia, a conservation technique which ensures the tiny island is not overrun by the horses.^[69]The ponies and their sale were popularized by the children's book,Misty of Chincoteague.

The purebredChesapeake Bay Retrieverdog was bred specifically for water sports, hunting and search and rescue in the Chesapeake area.^[70]In 1878, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever was the first individual retriever breed recognized by theAmerican Kennel Club.^[70]and was later adopted by theUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore Countyas their mascot.

Maryland's reptile and amphibian population includes thediamondback terrapinturtle, which was adopted as the mascot ofUniversity of Maryland, College Park, as well as the threatenedEastern box turtle.^[71]The state is part of the territory of theBaltimore oriole, which is the official state bird and mascot of theMLBteam theBaltimore Orioles.^[72]Aside from the oriole,435 other species of birdshave been reported from Maryland.^[73]

The state insect is theBaltimore checkerspot butterfly, although it is not as common in Maryland as it is in the southern edge of its range.^[74]

Maryland joined with neighboring states during the end of the 20th century to improve the health of theChesapeake Bay. The bay's aquatic life and seafood industry have been threatened by development and by fertilizer and livestock waste entering the bay.^[75][76]

In 2007, Forbes.com rated Maryland as the fifth "Greenest" state in the country, behind three of thePacific Statesand Vermont. Maryland ranks 40th in total energy consumption nationwide, and it managed less toxic waste per capita than all but six states in 2005.^[77]In April 2007, Maryland joined theRegional Greenhouse Gas Initiative(RGGI) — a regional initiative, formed by all the Northeastern states, Washington, D.C., and three Canadian provinces, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.^[78]In March 2017, Maryland became the first state with proven gas reserves to ban fracking by passing a law against it. Vermont has such a law, but no shale gas, and New York has such a ban, though it was made by executive order.^[59]

Maryland has a wide array of climates, due to local variances in elevation, proximity to water, and protection from colder weather due todownslope winds. The eastern half of Maryland, which includesOcean City,Salisbury,Annapolis, and the southern and eastern suburbs of Washington, D.C., andBaltimore, lies on theAtlantic Coastal Plain, with flat topography and sandy or muddy soil. This region has ahumid subtropical climate(KöppenCfa), with hot, humid summers and cool to cold winters; it falls under USDAHardiness zone8a.^[64]

ThePiedmontregion, which includes northern and western greater Baltimore,Westminster,Gaithersburg,Frederick, andHagerstown, has average seasonal snowfall totals generally exceeding 20 inches (51 cm), and, as part of USDA Hardiness zones 7b and 7a,^[64]temperatures below 10 °F (−12 °C) are less rare. From theCumberland Valleyon westward, the climate begins to transition to ahumid continental climate(KöppenDfa).

In western Maryland, the higher elevations ofAlleganyandGarrettcounties, including the cities ofCumberland,Frostburg, andOakland, display more characteristics of the humid continental zone, due in part to elevation. They fall under USDA Hardiness zones 6b and below.^[64]

Precipitation in the state is characteristic of theEast Coast. Annual rainfall ranges from 35 to 45 inches (890 to 1,140 mm) with more in higher elevations. Nearly every part of Maryland receives 3.5–4.5 inches (89–114 mm) per month of rain. Average annual snowfall varies from 9 inches (23 cm) in the coastal areas to over 100 inches (250 cm) in the western mountains of the state.^[79]

Because of its location near theAtlantic Coast, Maryland is somewhat vulnerable totropical cyclones, although theDelmarva Peninsulaand the outer banks ofNorth Carolinaprovide a large buffer, such that strikes from major hurricanes (category3 or above) occur infrequently. More often, Maryland gets the remnants of a tropical system that has already come ashore and released most of its energy. Maryland averages around 30–40 days of thunderstorms a year, and averages around six tornado strikes annually.^[80]

Monthly average high and low temperatures for various Maryland cities and landmarks (covering breadth and width of the state)

City	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Oakland	34 °F (1 °C) 16 °F (−9 °C)	38 °F (3 °C) 17 °F (−8 °C)	48 °F (9 °C) 25 °F (−4 °C)	59 °F (15 °C) 34 °F (1 °C)	68 °F (20 °C) 45 °F (7 °C)	75 °F (24 °C) 53 °F (12 °C)	79 °F (26 °C) 58 °F (14 °C)	78 °F (26 °C) 56 °F (13 °C)	71 °F (22 °C) 49 °F (9 °C)	62 °F (17 °C) 37 °F (3 °C)	50 °F (10 °C) 28 °F (−2 °C)	39 °F (4 °C) 21 °F (−6 °C)
Cumberland	41 °F (5 °C) 22 °F (−6 °C)	46 °F (8 °C) 24 °F (−4 °C)	56 °F (13 °C) 32 °F (0 °C)	68 °F (20 °C) 41 °F (5 °C)	77 °F (25 °C) 51 °F (11 °C)	85 °F (29 °C) 60 °F (16 °C)	89 °F (32 °C) 65 °F (18 °C)	87 °F (31 °C) 63 °F (17 °C)	80 °F (27 °C) 55 °F (13 °C)	69 °F (21 °C) 43 °F (6 °C)	57 °F (14 °C) 34 °F (1 °C)	45 °F (7 °C) 26 °F (−3 °C)
Hagerstown	39 °F (4 °C) 22 °F (−6 °C)	42 °F (6 °C) 23 °F (−5 °C)	52 °F (11 °C) 30 °F (−1 °C)	63 °F (17 °C) 39 °F (4 °C)	72 °F (22 °C) 50 °F (10 °C)	81 °F (27 °C) 59 °F (15 °C)	85 °F (29 °C) 64 °F (18 °C)	83 °F (28 °C) 62 °F (17 °C)	76 °F (24 °C) 54 °F (12 °C)	65 °F (18 °C) 43 °F (6 °C)	54 °F (12 °C) 34 °F (1 °C)	43 °F (6 °C) 26 °F (−3 °C)
Frederick	42 °F (6 °C) 26 °F (−3 °C)	47 °F (8 °C) 28 °F (−2 °C)	56 °F (13 °C) 35 °F (2 °C)	68 °F (20 °C) 45 °F (7 °C)	77 °F (25 °C) 54 °F (12 °C)	85 °F (29 °C) 63 °F (17 °C)	89 °F (32 °C) 68 °F (20 °C)	87 °F (31 °C) 66 °F (19 °C)	80 °F (27 °C) 59 °F (15 °C)	68 °F (20 °C) 47 °F (8 °C)	56 °F (13 °C) 38 °F (3 °C)	45 °F (7 °C) 30 °F (−1 °C)
Baltimore	42 °F (6 °C) 29 °F (−2 °C)	46 °F (8 °C) 31 °F (−1 °C)	54 °F (12 °C) 39 °F (4 °C)	65 °F (18 °C) 48 °F (9 °C)	75 °F (24 °C) 57 °F (14 °C)	85 °F (29 °C) 67 °F (19 °C)	90 °F (32 °C) 72 °F (22 °C)	87 °F (31 °C) 71 °F (22 °C)	80 °F (27 °C) 64 °F (18 °C)	68 °F (20 °C) 52 °F (11 °C)	58 °F (14 °C) 43 °F (6 °C)	46 °F (8 °C) 33 °F (1 °C)
Elkton	42 °F (6 °C) 24 °F (−4 °C)	46 °F (8 °C) 26 °F (−3 °C)	55 °F (13 °C) 32 °F (0 °C)	67 °F (19 °C) 42 °F (6 °C)	76 °F (24 °C) 51 °F (11 °C)	85 °F (29 °C) 61 °F (16 °C)	88 °F (31 °C) 66 °F (19 °C)	87 °F (31 °C) 65 °F (18 °C)	80 °F (27 °C) 57 °F (14 °C)	69 °F (21 °C) 45 °F (7 °C)	58 °F (14 °C) 36 °F (2 °C)	46 °F (8 °C) 28 °F (−2 °C)
Ocean City	45 °F (7 °C) 28 °F (−2 °C)	46 °F (8 °C) 29 °F (−2 °C)	53 °F (12 °C) 35 °F (2 °C)	61 °F (16 °C) 44 °F (7 °C)	70 °F (21 °C) 53 °F (12 °C)	79 °F (26 °C) 63 °F (17 °C)	84 °F (29 °C) 68 °F (20 °C)	82 °F (28 °C) 67 °F (19 °C)	77 °F (25 °C) 60 °F (16 °C)	68 °F (20 °C) 51 °F (11 °C)	58 °F (14 °C) 39 °F (4 °C)	49 °F (9 °C) 32 °F (0 °C)
Waldorf	44 °F (7 °C) 26 °F (−3 °C)	49 °F (9 °C) 28 °F (−2 °C)	58 °F (14 °C) 35 °F (2 °C)	68 °F (20 °C) 43 °F (6 °C)	75 °F (24 °C) 53 °F (12 °C)	81 °F (27 °C) 62 °F (17 °C)	85 °F (29 °C) 67 °F (19 °C)	83 °F (28 °C) 65 °F (18 °C)	78 °F (26 °C) 59 °F (15 °C)	68 °F (20 °C) 47 °F (8 °C)	59 °F (15 °C) 38 °F (3 °C)	48 °F (9 °C) 30 °F (−1 °C)
Point Lookout State Park	47 °F (8 °C) 29 °F (−2 °C)	51 °F (11 °C) 31 °F (−1 °C)	60 °F (16 °C) 38 °F (3 °C)	70 °F (21 °C) 46 °F (8 °C)	78 °F (26 °C) 55 °F (13 °C)	86 °F (30 °C) 64 °F (18 °C)	89 °F (32 °C) 69 °F (21 °C)	87 °F (31 °C) 67 °F (19 °C)	81 °F (27 °C) 60 °F (16 °C)	71 °F (22 °C) 49 °F (9 °C)	61 °F (16 °C) 41 °F (5 °C)	50 °F (10 °C) 32 °F (0 °C)
[81][82][83][84][85][86][87][88][89][90]

Most of the population of Maryland lives in the central region of the state, in theBaltimore metropolitan areaandWashington metropolitan area, both of which are part of theBaltimore–Washington metropolitan area. The majority of Maryland's population is concentrated in the cities and suburbs surroundingWashington, D.C., and in and aroundBaltimore, Maryland's most populous city. Historically, these and many other Maryland cities developed along theFall Line, the line along which rivers, brooks, and streams are interrupted by rapids and waterfalls. Maryland's capital city,Annapolis, is one exception to this pattern since it lies along the banks of theSevern River, close to where it empties into theChesapeake Bay.

The Eastern Shore is less populous and more rural, as are the counties of western Maryland. The two westernmost counties of Maryland,AlleganyandGarrett, are mountainous and sparsely populated, resembling West Virginia andAppalachiamore than they do the rest of the state. Both eastern and western Maryland are, however, dotted with cities of regional importance, such asOcean City,Princess Anne, andSalisburyon theEastern ShoreandCumberland,Frostburg, andHancockinWestern Maryland. Southern Maryland is still somewhat rural, but suburbanization from Washington, D.C., has encroached significantly since the 1960s; important local population centers includeLexington Park,Prince Frederick,California, andWaldorf.^[91][92]

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	319,728		—
1800	341,548		6.8%
1810	380,546		11.4%
1820	407,350		7.0%
1830	447,040		9.7%
1840	470,019		5.1%
1850	583,034		24.0%
1860	687,049		17.8%
1870	780,894		13.7%
1880	934,943		19.7%
1890	1,042,390		11.5%
1900	1,188,044		14.0%
1910	1,295,346		9.0%
1920	1,449,661		11.9%
1930	1,631,526		12.5%
1940	1,821,244		11.6%
1950	2,343,001		28.6%
1960	3,100,689		32.3%
1970	3,922,399		26.5%
1980	4,216,975		7.5%
1990	4,781,468		13.4%
2000	5,296,486		10.8%
2010	5,773,552		9.0%
2020	6,177,224		7.0%
2023 (est.)	6,180,253		0.0%
Source: 1910–2020[93]

In the2020 United States census, theUnited States Census Bureaufound that population of Maryland was 6,185,278 people, a 7.1% increase from the2010 United States census.^[93]The United States Census Bureau estimated that the population of Maryland was 6,045,680 on July 1, 2019, a 4.71% increase from the 2010 United States census and an increase of 2,962, from the prior year. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 269,166 (464,251 births minus 275,093 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 116,713 people into the state.Immigrationfrom outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 129,730 people, and migration within the country produced a net loss of 13,017 people.^[94]In 2018, The top countries of origin for Maryland's immigrants wereEl Salvador(11%),India(6%),China(5%),Nigeria(5%), and thePhilippines(4%).^[95]Thecenter of populationof Maryland is located on the county line betweenAnne Arundel CountyandHoward County, in theunincorporated communityofJessup.^[96]

Maryland's history as aborder statehas led it to exhibit characteristics of both theNorthernand theSouthernregions of the United States. Generally, ruralWestern Marylandbetween theWest Virginian PanhandleandPennsylvaniahas anAppalachianculture; theSouthernand Eastern Shore regions of Maryland embody aSouthern culture,^[97]while densely populated Central Maryland – radiating outward fromBaltimoreandWashington, D.C.– has more in common with that of theNortheast.^[98]The U.S. Census Bureau designates Maryland as one of theSouth Atlantic States, but it is commonly associated with theMid-Atlantic StatesandNortheastern United Statesby other federal agencies, the media, and some residents.^{[99][100][101][102][103]}

According toHUD's 2022Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 5,349homelesspeople in Maryland.^[104][105]

As of 2011, 58.0 percent of Maryland's population younger than age1 were minority background.^[106]

Note: Births in the table do not add up because Hispanics are counted both by their ethnicity and by their race, giving a higher overall number.

Live births by single race/ethnicity of mother

Race	2013[107]	2014[108]	2015[109]	2016[110]	2017[111]	2018[112]	2019[113]	2020[114]	2021[115]	2022[116]
White:	41,474 (57.6%)	42,525 (57.5%)	42,471 (57.7%)	...	...	...	...	...	...	...
>Non-Hispanic White	32,568 (45.2%)	33,178 (44.9%)	32,412 (44.0%)	31,278 (42.8%)	29,809 (41.6%)	29,585 (41.6%)	28,846 (41.1%)	28,060 (40.9%)	28,193 (41.3%)	27,333 (39.7%)
Black	24,764 (34.4%)	25,339 (34.3%)	25,017 (34.0%)	22,829 (31.2%)	22,327 (31.1%)	21,893 (30.8%)	21,494 (30.6%)	20,869 (30.4%)	20,449 (29.9%)	20,438 (29.7%)
Asian	5,415 (7.5%)	5,797 (7.8%)	5,849 (7.9%)	5,282 (7.2%)	5,276 (7.3%)	4,928 (6.9%)	4,928 (7.0%)	4,595 (6.7%)	4,431 (6.5%)	4,480 (6.5%)
American Indian	300 (0.4%)	260 (0.3%)	279 (0.4%)	104 (0.1%)	127 (0.2%)	114 (0.2%)	113 (0.2%)	79 (0.1%)	83 (0.1%)	113 (0.2%)
Hispanic(of any race)	10,515(14.6%)	10,974(14.8%)	11,750(16.0%)	11,872(16.2%)	12,223(17.1%)	12,470(17.5%)	12,872(18.3%)	13,034(19.0%)	13,164(19.3%)	14,398(20.9%)
Total Maryland	71,953(100%)	73,921(100%)	73,616(100%)	73,136(100%)	71,641(100%)	71,080(100%)	70,178(100%)	68,554(100%)	68,285(100%)	68,782(100%)

Since 2016, data for births ofWhite Hispanicorigin are not collected, but included in oneHispanicgroup; persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

Country of birth (2022) ^{[117] [118]}

Birthplace	Population
United States	4,999,873
El Salvador	105,778
India	60,535
China	43,499
Nigeria	39,185
Guatemala	38,222
Philippines	37,020
South Korea	34,091
Mexico	33,833
Ethiopia	28,554
Jamaica	26,068
Honduras	21,991
Cameroon	19,934
Vietnam	19,082
Peru	17,414
Pakistan	16,386
Ghana	14,722
Dominican Republic	13,880
Nepal	8,646-25,000[c]

As of 2016, the most spoken languages in Maryland other than English wereSpanish(9%),Chinese(1.2%), West African languages (mostlyYorubaandIgbo, 1%),French(1%),Korean(0.7%),Afro-Asiatic languages(mostlyAmharic, 0.6%), andTagalog(0.6%). Other languages with a large number of speakers in Maryland includeVietnamese(0.4%),Arabic(0.4%),Russian(0.4%),Hindi(0.3%),Urdu(0.3%),Persian(0.3%),Nepali(0.3%),Haitian Creole(0.2%), andTelugu(0.2%).^[120][121]

Racial breakdown of population of Maryland

Racial composition	1970[122]	1990[122]	2000[123]	2010[124]	2020[125]
White	81.5%	71.0%	64.0%	60.8%	58.5%
Black	17.8%	24.9%	27.9%	29.8%	31.1%
Asian	0.5%	2.9%	4.0%	5.5%	6.7%
Native American	0.1%	0.3%	0.3%	0.3%	0.6%
Other race	0.1%	0.9%	1.8%	3.6%	–
Two or more races	–	–	2.0%	2.9%	2.9%
Non-Hispanic whites	80.4%	69.6%	62.1%	54.7%	50.0%

In 1970, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Maryland's population as 17.8 percent African-American and 80.4 percent non-Hispanic White.^[126]

In 2019,non-Hispanic white Americanswere 49.8% of Maryland's population (White Americans, includingWhite Hispanics, were 57.3%), which made Maryland amajority minoritystate.^[127]50.2% of Maryland's population is non-white, or is Hispanic or Latino, the highest percentage of any state on theEast Coast, and the highest percentage after the majority-minority states ofHawaii,New Mexico,Texas,California,Nevada, andWashington, D.C.^[128]By 2031, minorities are projected to become the majority of voting eligible residents of Maryland.^[129]Maryland's multiculturalism and diversity can be explained by its historically large African American population, and immigration brought by the importance of the D.C. and Baltimore areas, especially from Central America, Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia.

African Americansform a sizable portion of the state's population, 31.1% as of 2020.^[125]Most are descendants of people transported to the area as slaves from West Africa. Concentrations of African Americans live inBaltimore City,Prince George's County,Charles County, western parts ofBaltimore County, and the southern Eastern Shore. Charles County and Prince George's County are the two counties where African Americans are the most successful monetarily in the country, with average household incomes much higher than in the rest of the country. As a former slave state, Maryland has had a large African-American population for much of its history; African American populations have increased over time with theGreat Migrationto the D.C. and Baltimore areas, and in more recent times with theNew Great Migrationand with movement out from Washington D.C. into Montgomery, Prince George's, and Charles counties, as a result of gentrification and rising housing costs in D.C. causing many African Americans to leave. Prince George's County in particular has been a magnet for African Americans from D.C. to move to for decades; it is often referred to as "Ward 9" of D.C.

Maryland has by far the highest percentage of residents born in Africa out of any state; residents of African descent include 20th-century and later immigrants fromNigeria, particularly of theIgboandYorubatribes;Ethiopia, particularlyAmharaswith significantOromoandTigrayanpopulations;Cameroon,Ghana,Sierra Leone, andKenya.^[130]Maryland also hosts populations from other African andCaribbeannations. Maryland's African immigrant population is generally well-educated and is most concentrated in the inner suburbs of Baltimore and D.C. Nigerians are the fourth-largest immigrant group in Maryland, and are largely concentrated in the Baltimore area and surrounding suburbs, as well as Prince George's county. Many immigrants from theHorn of Africa, especiallyEthiopia, have settled in Maryland, with large communities in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., particularly in Montgomery and Prince George's counties. TheWashington metropolitan areahas the world's largest population ofEthiopiansoutside of Ethiopia.^[131]The Ethiopian community of Greater D.C. was historically based in theAdams MorganandShawneighborhoods of Washington, D.C., but as the community has grown, many Ethiopians have settled inSilver Spring.^[132]The Ethiopian American population in Maryland and the rest of the D.C. area is largelyAmharic-speaking, but there are significant numbers of speakers ofOromoandTigrinyaspeakers as well. The Washington metropolitan area is also home to a largeEritreancommunity.

The top reported ancestries by Maryland residents are:German(15%),Irish(11%),English(8%),American(7%),Italian(6%), andPolish(3%).^[133]

Irish Americanpopulations can be foundthroughout the Baltimore area,^[134]and the Northern and Eastern suburbs of Washington, D.C., in Maryland, who were descendants of those who moved out to the suburbs^[135]of Washington, D.C.'s once predominantly Irish neighborhoods^[135][136]), as well as Western Maryland, where Irish immigrant laborers helped to build the B&O Railroad.^[134]Smaller but much older Irish populations can be found in Southern Maryland, with some roots dating as far back as the early Maryland colony.^[137]This population, however, still remains culturally very active and yearly festivals are held.^[138]

A large percentage of the population of theEastern ShoreandSouthern Marylandare descendants ofBritish Americanancestry. The Eastern Shore was settled by Protestants, chieflyMethodistand the southern counties were initially settled by English Catholics. Western and northern Maryland have largeGerman-Americanpopulations.

More recent European immigrants of the late 19th and early 20th century settled first in Baltimore, attracted to its industrial jobs. These groups were largely ofJewish,Italian,Greek,Polish,Czech,Lithuanian,RussianandUkrainiandescent. The Greek community includes a number ofGreek Jews.^[139]TheseSouthernandEastern Europeanimmigrants were largely concentrated in Southeast Baltimore and significantly influenced the unique culture of the city; although many have moved out into surrounding areas of Baltimore County due to gentrification, the city retains the culture and influence of these immigrants, and cultural events celebrating these communities are common in Baltimore. Maryland has had a significantJewish Americanpresence since the early 20th century, with large numbers of Jewish immigrants to the Baltimore area, followed by Jewish migration to the Washington D.C. area; Maryland has the fifth-highest percentage of Jewish residents in the country (including Washington D.C.), with 239,000 Jews making up four percent of the population, and theWashington–Baltimore combined statistical area, which has the seventh-largest number of Jews of any combined metropolitan area in the country, with a Jewish population estimated at 300,000.^{[citation needed]}

The shares of European immigrants born in Eastern Europe increased significantly between 1990 and 2010. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia, many immigrants from Eastern Europe came to the United States—12 percent of whom currently reside in Maryland.^[140][141]

Hispanic immigrants of the later 20th century have settled inAspen Hill,Hyattsville/Langley Park,Glenmont/Wheaton,Bladensburg,Riverdale Park,Gaithersburg, as well asHighlandtownandGreektownin East Baltimore. Maryland has the highest percentage of residents ofCentral Americanorigin of any state.^{[citation needed]}Salvadoransare the largest Hispanic group in Maryland, and Maryland has the largest percentage of Salvadoran residents of any state.^{[citation needed]}The D.C. area also has the highest percentage of Salvadorans of any American metro area, who are particularly concentrated in Prince George's and Montgomery counties, and has the second-highest total number of Salvadorans after theLos Angeles area. Other Hispanic groups with significant populations in the state includeMexicans,Guatemalans,Hondurans,Dominicans,Peruvians, andPuerto Ricans, along with growing populations ofBrazilians,Colombians,Ecuadorians, andBolivians. Maryland's Hispanic population is especially concentrated in Montgomery County and Prince George's County, with other large populations in the Baltimore area andFrederick County. Maryland has one of the most diverse Hispanic populations in the country, with significant populations from variousCaribbeanandCentral Americannations.^[142]

Caribbean Americans have a significant presence in Maryland, especiallyJamaican Americans, who make up 0.6% of the population and have had a significant presence and influence in Maryland's politics and culture; Maryland's current governor,Wes Moore, is the son of a Jamaican immigrant mother. Other Caribbean American nationalities with a large population in Maryland includeDominicans,Haitians,Trinidadians and Tobagonians, andGuyanese. Caribbean Americans are most concentrated in Prince George's County, the city of Baltimore, and Baltimore County.

Asian Americans are concentrated in the suburban counties surrounding Washington, D.C., and in Baltimore suburbs, especiallyHoward County, withChinese American,Korean AmericanandTaiwanese Americancommunities inRockville,Gaithersburg, andGermantown. Chinese in particular form the second largest group of Asian Americans, and are the largest group in Montgomery County.^{[citation needed]}Maryland also has a large Korean American population, especially in Howard County, where there is aKoreatowninEllicott City.^[143][144]Filipino Americans, the largest group of Southeast Asians, form major communities in Montgomery, Prince George's, and Charles counties; other large groups of Southeast Asians include Vietnamese, who are concentrated in Montgomery County, and Burmese, who are concentrated in Frederick, Howard, and Baltimore Counties.^{[citation needed]}Maryland has a very large and diverseSouth Asian Americanpopulation that has had a major presence in the state since the 1970s.Indian Americansare the largest Asian group in Maryland, making up 1.7 percent of the population, and live throughout the state, especially inMontgomeryandHowardcounties, with large numbers inBaltimore,Frederick, andPrince George'scounties.^{[citation needed]}The Indian American population is culturally and linguistically diverse, with the Indian languages spoken most beingHindi,Gujarati,Telugu, andTamil.^{[citation needed]}There are also largePakistani Americanpopulations throughout the D.C. and Baltimore areas, especially in Baltimore County and Howard County, and a largeBangladeshi Americancommunity in the D.C. area.^{[citation needed]}Maryland has one of the largest populations ofNepali Americans, includingBhutanese Americansof Nepali descent, in the U.S., many of whom are recent immigrants or refugees who sought asylum afterexpulsion from Bhutanor the2015 Nepal earthquake; there are an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 Nepalis in Maryland, concentrated in the Baltimore area with significant populations in the D.C. area.^{[citation needed]}The first Nepali American elected to a state legislature,Harry Bhandari, was elected in Maryland, representing part of Baltimore County.^[145][146]

Attracting educated Asians and Africans to the professional jobs in the region, Maryland has the fifth-largest proportions of racial minorities in the country.^[147]

In 2006, 645,744 were counted as foreign born, which represents mainly people from Latin America and Asia. About four percent areundocumented immigrants.^[148]

According to The Williams Institute's analysis of the 2010 U.S. census, 12,538 same-sex couples are living in Maryland, representing 5.8 same-sex couples per 1,000 households.^[149]

Maryland has been historically prominent toAmerican Catholic traditionbecause the Englishcolony of Marylandwas intended byGeorge Calvertas a haven for English Catholics. Baltimore was the seat of the first Catholic bishop in the U.S. (1789), andEmmitsburgwas the home and burial place of the first American-born citizen to becanonized,St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.Georgetown University, the first Catholic University, was founded in 1789 in what was then part of Maryland; it became a part of the District of Columbia when it was created in the 1790s. TheBasilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Virgin Maryin Baltimore was the first Roman Catholic cathedral built in the United States, and theArchbishop of Baltimoreis, albeit without formal primacy, the United States' quasi-primate,^{[citation needed]}and often a cardinal. Among the immigrants of the 19th and 20th centuries from eastern and southern Europe were many Catholics.

Despite its historic relevance to the Catholic Church in the United States, the percentage of Catholics in the state of Maryland is below the national average of 20%. Demographically, both Protestants and those identifying with no religion are more numerous than Catholics.

According to thePew Research Centerin 2014, 69 percent of Maryland's population identifies themselves asChristian. Nearly 52% of the adult population areProtestants.^[d]Following Protestantism,Catholicismis the second largest religious affiliation, comprising 15% percent of the population.^[150][151]Amish/Mennonitecommunities are found inSt. Mary's,Garrett, andCecilcounties.^[152]Judaismis the largest non-Christian religion in Maryland, with 241,000 adherents, or four percent of the total population.^[153]Jewsare numerous throughoutMontgomery Countyand inPikesvilleandOwings Millsnorthwest of Baltimore. An estimated 81,500 Jewish Americans live in Montgomery County, constituting approximately 10% of the total population.^[154]TheSeventh-day Adventist Church's world headquarters andAhmadiyyaMuslims' national headquarters are located inSilver Spring, just outsideWashington, D.C.

Per thePublic Religion Research Institutein 2020, 61 percent of Maryland's population identified with Christianity.^[155]Protestantism and Roman Catholicism continued to dominate the Christian landscape, and the Jewish community remained at 3% of the total religious population. Of the unaffiliated, the PRRI study determined their increase to 28% of the population.

Maryland has one of the highest percentages of LGBT people in its populace out of any state; 5.7% of Marylanders identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer, the highest of any state. (Washington, D.C. ranks higher with a LGBT population of 8.6%.) Maryland ranks as one of the best states in the nation for rights of the LGBT community, with protections against discrimination enacted since 2001 for sexuality and 2014 for gender, same-sex marriage legalization in 2013, bans on conversion therapy enacted in 2018, abolition of the gay panic defense in 2021, and issuance in 2023 of an executive order protecting the rights of transgender individuals. In 2020, Montgomery County unanimously passed an ordinance implementing an LGBTIQ+ bill of rights.

The first person known to describe himself as adrag queenwasWilliam Dorsey Swann, born enslaved in Hancock, Maryland. Swann was the first American on record who pursued legal and political action to defend theLGBTQ community'sright to assemble.^[156]

In February 2010, Attorney GeneralDoug Ganslerissued an opinion stating that Maryland law should honorsame-sex marriagesfrom out of state. At the time, the state Supreme Court wrote a decision upholding marriage discrimination.^[149]

On March 1, 2012, Maryland GovernorMartin O'Malleysigned the freedom to marry bill into law after it passed in the state legislature. Opponents of same-sex marriage began collecting signatures to overturn the law, which faced a referendum, as Question 6, in the November 2012 election.^[149]A January 2011 Gonzales Research & Marketing Strategies poll showed 51% support for marriage in the state.^[157]

In May 2012, Maryland's Court of Appeals ruled that the state will recognize marriages of same-sex couples who married out-of-state, no matter the outcome of the November election.^[149]Voters upheld the bill, passing Question 6 with 52% to 48% on November 6, 2012. Same-sex couples began marrying in Maryland on January 1, 2013.^[149]

What is now Maryland was originally inhabited by tribes such as thePiscataway(including thePatuxent), theNanticoke(including theTocwogh, theOzinieand other subdivisions), thePowhatan, theLenape, theSusquehannock, theShawnee, theTutelo, theSaponi, thePocomokeand theMassawomeck.^[158][159]Today there are no federally recognized tribes in Maryland, but there are threestate-recognized tribes. A lot of Marylanders identify as being Native American alone (20,420 people in 2010 census and 31,845 in 2020 census) or Native American in combination with one or more other races (38,237 people in 2010 census and 96,805 in 2020 census).^[160]Many Marylanders also reported belonging to a tribe in 2010 census, the largest of which was the Cherokee (11,055 people), and others included for example the Piscataway (1,259 people), the Iroquois (818), the Choctaw (701), the Ojibwe (509), Eastern Tribes tribal grouping (421), the Haliwa-Saponi (290), the Monacan (244), the Lenape (239) and more.^[161]

TheBureau of Economic Analysisestimates that Maryland's gross state product in 2016 was $382.4billion.^[162]However, Maryland has been usingGenuine Progress Indicator, an indicator of well-being, to guide the state's development, rather than relying only on growth indicators like GDP.^[163][164]According to theU.S. Census Bureau, Maryland households are currently the wealthiest in the country, with a 2013 median household income of $72,483,^[165]which puts it ahead ofNew JerseyandConnecticut, which are second and third respectively. Two of Maryland's counties, Howard and Montgomery, are the second and eleventhwealthiest counties in the nationrespectively. Maryland has the most millionaires per capita in 2013, with a ratio of 7.7 percent.^[166]Also, the state's poverty rate of 7.8 percent is the lowest in the country.^{[167][168][169]}Per capita personal incomein 2006 was $43,500, fifth in the nation. As of March 2022, the state's unemployment rate was 4.6 percent.^[170]

Maryland's economy benefits from the state's proximity to the federal government inWashington, D.C., with an emphasis on technical and administrative tasks for the defense/aerospace industry and bio-research laboratories, as well as staffing of satellite government headquarters in the suburban or exurban Baltimore/Washington area. Ft. Meade serves as the headquarters of theDefense Information Systems Agency,United States Cyber Command, and theNational Security Agency/Central Security Service. In addition, a number of educational and medical research institutions are located in the state. In fact, the various components of TheJohns Hopkins Universityand its medical research facilities are now the largest single employer in the Baltimore area.^{[citation needed]}Altogether,white collartechnical and administrative workers comprise 25 percent of Maryland'slabor force,^{[citation needed]}attributable in part to nearby Maryland being a part of theWashington Metro Areawhere the federal government office employment is relatively high.

Manufacturing, while large in dollar value, is highly diversified with no sub-sector contributing over 20 percent of the total. Typical forms of manufacturing include electronics, computer equipment, and chemicals. The once-mighty primary metals sub-sector, which once included what was then the largest steel factory in the world atSparrows Point, still exists, but is pressed with foreign competition,bankruptcies, andmergers.^{[citation needed]}During World War II, the Glenn Martin Company (now part ofLockheed Martin) airplane factory employed some 40,000 people.

Mining other than construction materials is virtually limited to coal, which is located in the mountainous western part of the state. The brownstone quarries in the east, which gave Baltimore and Washington much of their characteristic architecture in the mid-19th century, were once a predominant natural resource. Historically, there used to be small gold-mining operations in Maryland, some near Washington, but these no longer exist.

In 2022, the top private employers by number of employees wereBYK Gardner,Clean Harbors,Holy Cross Hospital,Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center,Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory,Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine,Maryland Neuroimaging Center,Northrop Grumman,University of Maryland, andUniversity of Maryland Medical Center.^[171]

One major service activity is transportation, centered on thePort of Baltimoreand its relatedrailand trucking access. The port ranked 17th in the U.S. by tonnage in 2008.^[172]Although the port handles a wide variety of products, the most typical imports are raw materials and bulk commodities, such asiron ore,petroleum,sugar, andfertilizers, often distributed to the relatively close manufacturing centers of the inlandMidwestvia good overland transportation. The port also receives several brands of imported motor vehicles and is the number one auto port in the U.S.^[173]

Baltimore City is among the top 15 largest ports in the nation,^[174]and was one of six major U.S. ports that were part of the February 2006controversyover theDubai Ports Worlddeal.^[175]The state as a whole is heavily industrialized, with a booming economy and influential technology centers. Its computer industries are some of the most sophisticated in the United States, and the federal government has invested heavily in the area. Maryland is home to several large military bases and scores of high-level government jobs.

TheChesapeake and Delaware Canalis a 14 miles (23 km)canalon the Eastern Shore that connects the waters of the Delaware River with those of the Chesapeake Bay, and in particular with the Port of Baltimore, carrying 40 percent of the port's ship traffic.^[176]

Maryland has a large food-production sector. A large component of this is commercialfishing, centered in the Chesapeake Bay, but also including activity off the short Atlantic seacoast. The largest catches by species are theblue crab,oysters,striped bass, andmenhaden. The Bay also has overwintering waterfowl in its wildlife refuges. The waterfowl support atourism sector of sportsmen.

Maryland has large areas of fertile agricultural land in its coastal andPiedmontzones, though this land use is being encroached upon by urbanization. Agriculture is oriented to dairy farming (especially in foothill and piedmont areas) for nearby large city milksheads, plus specialty perishable horticulture crops, such ascucumbers,watermelons,sweet corn,tomatoes,melons,squash, andpeas(Source:USDA Crop Profiles). The southern counties of the western shoreline of Chesapeake Bay are warm enough to support atobaccocash cropzone, which has existed since early Colonial times, but declined greatly after a state government buy-out in the 1990s. There is also a large automatedchicken-farming sector in the state's southeastern part;Salisburyis home toPerdue Farms. Maryland's food-processing plants are the most significant type of manufacturing by value in the state. Farming suffers from weeds as anywhere else, including an unusualmultiply resistantragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) found by Rousoneloset al., 2012 with bothALS-andPPO-resistances^[177]and which by 2016 had developed a third,EPSP resistance.^[178]This ragweed population is a drag onsoybeancultivation and, as of May 7, 2022^[update], is the worst multiresistant weed problem in the state.^[178]

Maryland is a major center forlife sciencesresearch and development. With more than 400 biotechnology companies located there, Maryland is the fourth largest nexus in this field in the United States.^[179]

Institutions and government agencies with an interest in research and development located in Maryland include theJohns Hopkins University, theJohns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, more than one campus of theUniversity System of Maryland,Goddard Space Flight Center, theUnited States Census Bureau, theNational Institutes of Health(NIH), theNational Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST), theNational Institute of Mental Health(NIMH), theWalter Reed National Military Medical Center, the federalFood and Drug Administration(FDA), theHoward Hughes Medical Institute, theCelera Genomicscompany, theJ. Craig Venter Institute(JCVI), andAstraZeneca(formerlyMedImmune).

Maryland is home to defense contractorEmergent BioSolutions, which manufactures and provides ananthrax vaccineto U.S. government military personnel.^[180]

Tourism is popular in Maryland. Many tourists visit Baltimore, the beaches of the Eastern Shore, and the nature of western Maryland. Attractions in Baltimore include theHarborplace, theBaltimore Aquarium,Fort McHenry, as well as theCamden Yardsbaseball stadium.Ocean Cityon the Atlantic Coast has been a popular beach destination in summer, particularly since theChesapeake Bay Bridgewas built in 1952 connecting the Eastern Shore to the more populated Maryland cities.^[47]The state capital ofAnnapolisoffers sites such as thestate capitol building, thehistoric district, and the waterfront. Maryland also has several sites of interest to military history, given Maryland's role in theAmerican Civil Warand in theWar of 1812. Other attractions include the historic and picturesque towns along theChesapeake Bay, such asSaint Mary's, Maryland's first colonial settlement and original capital.^[181]

As of 2017, the top two health insurers including all types of insurance wereCareFirst BlueCross BlueShieldwith 47% market share followed byUnitedHealth Groupat 15%.^[182]

Maryland has experimented with healthcare payment reforms, notably beginning in the 1970s with anall-payer rate settingprogram regulated by the Health Services Cost Review Commission.^[183]In 2014, it switched to a global budget revenue system, whereby hospitals receive acapitatedpayment to care for their population.^[183]

TheMaryland Department of Transportationoversees most transportation in the state through its various administration-level agencies.^[184]The independentMaryland Transportation Authoritymaintains and operates the state's eight toll facilities.

Maryland'sInterstate highwaysinclude 110 miles (180 km) ofInterstate95(I-95), which enters the northeast portion of the state, travels throughBaltimore, and becomes part of the eastern section of theCapital Beltwayto theWoodrow Wilson Bridge.I-68travels 81 miles (130 km), connecting the western portions of the state toI-70at the small town of Hancock. I-70 enters from Pennsylvania north of Hancock and continues east for 93 miles (150 km) to Baltimore, connectingHagerstownandFrederickalong the way.

I-83has 34 miles (55 km) in Maryland and connects Baltimore to southern central Pennsylvania (HarrisburgandYork, Pennsylvania). Maryland also has an 11-mile (18 km) portion ofI-81that travels through the state near Hagerstown.I-97, fully contained within Anne Arundel County and the shortest (17.6 miles (28.3 km)) one- or two-digit interstate highway in the contiguous US, connects the Baltimore area to the Annapolis area.

There are also severalauxiliary Interstate highwaysin Maryland. Among them are two beltways encircling the major cities of the region:I-695, the McKeldin (Baltimore) Beltway, which encircles Baltimore; and a portion ofI-495, the Capital Beltway, which encirclesWashington, D.C.I-270, which connects the Frederick area withNorthern Virginiaand Washington, D.C. through major suburbs to the northwest of Washington, is a major commuter route and is as wide as fourteen lanes at points.I-895, also known as the Harbor Tunnel Thruway, provides an alternate route to I-95 acrossBaltimore Harbor.

Both I-270 and the Capital Beltway were extremelycongested; however, theIntercounty Connector(ICC;MD200) has alleviated some congestion over time. Construction of the ICC was a major part of the campaign platform of former GovernorRobert Ehrlich, who was in office from 2003 until 2007, and of GovernorMartin O'Malley, who succeeded him.I-595, which is anunsigned highwayconcurrent withUS50/US301, is the longest unsigned interstate in the country and connectsPrince George's Countyand Washington, D.C. withAnnapolisand theEastern Shorevia theChesapeake Bay Bridge.

Maryland also has astate highwaysystem that contains routes numbered from 2through 999, however most of the higher-numbered routes are either unsigned or are relatively short. Major state highways include Routes2(Governor Ritchie Highway/Solomons Island Road/Southern Maryland Blvd.),4(Pennsylvania Avenue/Southern Maryland Blvd./Patuxent Beach Road/St. Andrew's Church Road),5(Branch Avenue/Leonardtown Road/Point Lookout Road),32,45(York Road),97(Georgia Avenue),100(Paul T. Pitcher Memorial Highway),210(Indian Head Highway),235(Three Notch Road),295(Baltimore-Washington Parkway),355(Wisconsin Avenue/Rockville Pike/Frederick Road),404(Queen Anne Highway/ Shore Highway), and650(New Hampshire Avenue).

Maryland's largest airport isBaltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, more commonly referred to as BWI. The airport is named for the Baltimore-bornThurgood Marshall, the first African-AmericanSupreme Court justice. The only other airports with commercial service are atHagerstownandSalisbury.

The Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. are also served by the other two airports in the region,Ronald Reagan Washington National AirportandDulles International Airport, both inNorthern Virginia. TheCollege Park Airportis the nation's oldest, founded in 1909, and is still used.Wilbur Wrighttrained military aviators at this location.^[185][186]

v t e Maryland passenger rail stations
Legend
Capitol Limited toChicago Cumberland ViaWest Virginia Brunswick Line toMartinsburg Northeast Corridor toBoston South Brunswick Perryville Point of Rocks Aberdeen Edgewood Frederick Martin Airport Monocacy Penn Station West Baltimore Dickerson Halethorpe Camden Station Barnesville BWI Airport Boyds St. Denis Dorsey Germantown Odenton Jessup Metropolitan Grove Savage Bowie State Gaithersburg Laurel Race Track Laurel Washington Grove Seabrook Muirkirk Rockville Greenbelt Garrett Park New Carrollton Kensington College Park Silver Spring Riverdale Brunswick Line,Capitol Limited toWashington, D.C. Camden Line toWashington, D.C. Penn LineandAmtrak toWashington, D.C.
Key Brunswick Line Camden Line Penn Line Amtrak

Amtraktrains, including the high-speedAcela ExpressservePenn StationinBaltimore,BWI Airport,New Carrollton, andAberdeenalong theWashington, D.C.toBostonNortheast Corridor. Train service is provided toRockvilleandCumberlandbyAmtrak's Washington, D.C., toChicagoCapitol Limited.

TheWMATA'sMetrorailrapid transitandMetrobuslocal bus systems (the2ndand6thbusiest in the nation of their respective modes) provide service in Montgomery and Prince George's counties and connect them to Washington D.C.. TheMaryland Transit Administration(often abbreviated as "MTA Maryland"), a state agency part of theMaryland Department of Transportationalso provides transit services within the state. Headquartered in Baltimore, MTA's transit services are largely focused on central Maryland, as well as some portions of the Eastern Shore and Southern MD. Baltimore'sLight RailLinkandMetro SubwayLinksystems serve its densely populated inner-city and the surrounding suburbs. The MTA also serves the city and its suburbs with itslocal busservice (the9th largest systemin the nation). The MTA'sCommuter Bussystem provides express coach service on longer routes connecting Washington, D.C. and Baltimore to parts of Central and Southern MD as well as the Eastern Shore. The commuter rail service, known asMARC, operates three lines which all terminate atWashington Union Stationand provide service to Baltimore'sPennandCamdenstations,Perryville,Frederick, andMartinsburg, West Virginia. In addition, many suburban counties operate local bus systems which connect to and complement the larger MTA and WMATA/Metro services.

The MTA will also administer thePurple Line, an under-construction light rail line that will connect the Maryland branches of theRed,Green/Yellow, andOrangelines of the Washington Metro, as well as offer transfers to all three lines of the MARC commuter rail system.^[187][188]

Freight rail transportis handled principally by twoClass I railroads, as well as several smaller regional and local carriers.CSX Transportationhas more extensivetrackagethroughout the state, with 560 miles (900 km),^[189]followed byNorfolk Southern Railway. Majorrail yardsare located in Baltimore and Cumberland,^[189]with anintermodalterminal (rail, truck and marine) in Baltimore.^[190]

Thegovernment of Marylandis conducted according to thestate constitution. The government of Maryland, like the other 49state governments, has exclusive authority over matters that lie entirely within the state's borders, except as limited by theConstitution of the United States.

Power in Maryland is divided among three branches of government:executive,legislative, andjudicial. TheMaryland General Assemblyis composed of theMaryland House of Delegatesand theMaryland Senate.Maryland's governoris unique in the United States as the office is vested with significant authority in budgeting. Unlike many other states, significant autonomy is granted to many of Maryland'scounties.

Most of the business of government is conducted inAnnapolis, the statecapital; however some cabinet departments and state officials have their offices inBaltimore. Elections for governor and most statewide offices, as well as most county elections, are held inmidterm-election years(even-numbered years not divisible by four).

The judicial branch of state government consists of one unitedDistrict Court of Marylandthat sits in every county and Baltimore City, as well as 24Circuit Courtssitting in each County and Baltimore City, the latter being courts of general jurisdiction for all civil disputes over $30,000, all equitable jurisdiction and major criminal proceedings. The intermediate appellate court is known as theAppellate Court of Marylandand thestate supreme courtis theSupreme Court of Maryland. The appearance of the justices of the Supreme Court of Maryland is unique; Maryland is the only state whose justices wear red robes.^[191]

Maryland imposes fiveincome taxbrackets, ranging from 2to 6.25 percent of personal income.^[192]The city of Baltimore and Maryland's 23 counties levy local "piggyback" income taxes at rates between 1.25 and 3.2 percent of Maryland taxable income. Local officials set the rates and the revenue is returned to the local governments quarterly. The top income tax bracket of 9.45 percent is the fifth highest combined state and local income tax rates in the country, behind New York City's 11.35 percent, California's 10.3 percent, Rhode Island's 9.9 percent, and Vermont's 9.5 percent.^[193]

Maryland's statesales taxis six percent.^[194]All real property in Maryland is subject to theproperty tax.^[195]Generally, properties that are owned and used by religious, charitable, or educational organizations or property owned by the federal, state or local governments are exempt.^[195]Property tax rates vary widely.^[195]No restrictions or limitations on property taxes are imposed by the state, meaning cities and counties can set tax rates at the level they deem necessary to fund governmental services.^[195]

Prior to theAmerican Civil War, Maryland's elections werelargely controlledby theDemocrats, which account for 54.9% of all registered voters as of May 2017.^[196]

State elections are dominated byBaltimoreand four populous suburban counties borderingWashington, D.C., and Baltimore:Montgomery,Prince George's,Anne Arundel, andBaltimore counties. As of July 2017,^[197]66 percent of the state's population resides in these six jurisdictions, most of which contain large, traditionally Democraticvoting blocs:African Americansin Baltimore City and Prince George's;federalemployees in Prince George's, Anne Arundel, and Montgomery; andpost-graduatesin Montgomery. The remainder of the state, particularlyWestern Marylandand theEastern Shore, is more supportive ofRepublicans.^{[citation needed]}One of Maryland's best known political figures is a Republican – former governorSpiro Agnew, who pledno contestto tax evasion and resigned in 1973.^[198]

In1980, Maryland was one of six states to vote forJimmy Carter. In1992,Bill Clintonfared better in Maryland than any other state, except his home state ofArkansas. In1996, Maryland was Clinton's sixth best; in2000, Maryland ranked fourth for Gore; and in2004,John Kerryshowed his fifth-best performance in Maryland. In2008,Barack Obamawon the state's 10 electoral votes with 61.9 percent of the vote, toJohn McCain's 36.5 percent.

In 2002, former GovernorRobert Ehrlichwas the first Republican to be elected to that office in four decades, and after one term, he lost his seat toBaltimore Mayorand DemocratMartin O'Malley. Ehrlich ran again for governor in 2010, losing again to O'Malley.

Voter registration and party enrollment in Maryland
as of May 2024 ^[199]

Party		Total	Percentage
	Democratic	2,214,915	52.75%
	Republican	1,000,668	23.83%
	Independents / unaffiliated	907,899	21.62%
	Libertarian	19,018	0.45%
	No Labels	1,858	0.04%
	Other parties	54,299	1.29%
Total		4,185,173	100.00%

The 2006 election brought no change in the pattern of Democratic dominance. After Democratic SenatorPaul Sarbanesannounced that he was retiring, Democratic CongressmanBenjamin Cardindefeated Republican Lieutenant GovernorMichael S. Steele, with 55 percent of the vote, against Steele's 44 percent.

While Republicans typically win more counties in statewide elections by piling up large margins in the west and east, they are usually overcome by the densely populated and solidly Democratic Baltimore–Washington axis. In2008, for instance, McCain won 17 counties to Obama's six (plus Baltimore City). While McCain won most of the western and eastern counties by margins of 2-to-1 or more, he was almost completely shut out in the larger counties surrounding Baltimore and Washington; every large county except Anne Arundel went for Obama, who won by 25 points statewide.^[200]

From 2007 to 2011, U.S. CongressmanSteny Hoyer(MD-5), aDemocrat, was elected asMajority Leaderfor the110th Congressand111th Congressof theHouse of Representatives, serving in that post again from 2019 to 2023. In addition, Hoyer served as House Minority Whip from 2003 to 2006 and 2012 to 2018. His district covers parts ofAnne ArundelandPrince George'scounties, in addition to all ofCharles,Calvert, andSt. Mary'scounties insouthern Maryland.^[201]

In 2010, Republicans won control of most counties. The Democratic Party remained in control of eight county governments, including that ofBaltimore.^[202]

In2022,Wes Moorebecame the first Democrat elected Governor of Maryland since2010, replacing RepublicanLarry Hogan, who did not run for re-election due to term limits. Moore is the first African-American elected Governor of Maryland, and the fifth African-American governor in American history.^[203]

A well-known newspaper in Maryland isThe Baltimore Sun.^[204]Many residents of theWashington metropolitan areareceiveThe Washington Post.^{[citation needed]}

The most populous areas are served by eitherBaltimoreorWashington, D.C.broadcast stations. The Eastern Shore is served primarily bybroadcast mediabased around theDelmarva Peninsula; the northeastern section receives both Baltimore andPhiladelphiastations.Garrett County, which is mountainous, is served by stations fromPittsburgh, and requires cable or satellite for reception. Maryland is served by statewidePBSmember stationMaryland Public Television(MPT).^{[citation needed]}

Education Weekranked Maryland #1 in its nationwide 2009–2013 Quality Counts reports.^[205]The College Board's 9th Annual AP Report to the Nation also ranked Maryland first.^{[citation needed]}Primary and secondary education in Maryland is overseen by theMaryland State Department of Education, which is headquartered inBaltimore.^[206]The highest educational official in the state is theState Superintendent of Schools, who is appointed by theState Board of Educationto a four-year term of office. The Maryland General Assembly has given the Superintendent and State Board autonomy to make educationally related decisions, limiting its influence on the day-to-day functions of public education. Each county and county-equivalent in Maryland has alocal Board of Educationcharged with running the public schools in that particular jurisdiction.

The budget for education was $5.5billion in 2009, representing about 40 percent of the state's general fund.^[207]Data from the 2017 census shows that, among large school districts, four Maryland districts are in the top six for per-pupil annual spending, exceeded only by the Boston and New York City districts.^[208]

Maryland has a broad range of private primary and secondary schools. Many of these are affiliated with various religious sects, includingparochial schoolsof theCatholic Church,Quakerschools,Seventh-day Adventistschools, andJewishschools. In 2003, Maryland law was changed to allow for the creation of publicly funded charter schools, although the charter schools must be approved by their local Board of Education and are not exempt from state laws on education, including collective bargaining laws.

In 2008, the state led the entire country in the percentage of students passingAdvanced Placementexaminations. 23.4 percent of students earned passing grades on the AP tests given in May 2008. This marks the first year that Maryland earned this honor.^[209]Three Maryland high schools (in Montgomery County) were ranked among the top 100 in the country by US News in 2009, based in large part on AP test scores.^[210]

Maryland has several historic and renowned private colleges and universities, the most prominent of which isJohns Hopkins University, founded in 1876 with a grant from Baltimore entrepreneurJohns Hopkins.

The first public university in the state is theUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore, which was founded in 1807 and contains the University of Maryland's only public academichealth, human services, and one of twolaw centers(the other being theUniversity of Baltimore School of Law). Seven professional and graduate schools train the majority of the state's physicians, nurses, dentists, lawyers, social workers, and pharmacists.^[211]The flagship university and largest undergraduate institution in Maryland is theUniversity of Maryland, College Parkwhich was founded as the Maryland Agricultural College in 1856 and became a publicland grant collegein 1864.Towson University, founded in 1866, is the state's second largest university.

In 1974, Maryland, along with seven other states, mainly in the South, submitted plans to desegregate its state universities; Maryland's plans were approved by the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.^[212]

Baltimore is home to theUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore Countyand theMaryland Institute College of Art. The majority of public universities in the state (Bowie State University, Coppin State University, Frostburg State University, Salisbury University and the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore) are affiliated with theUniversity System of Maryland. Two state-funded institutions,Morgan State UniversityandSt. Mary's College of Maryland, as well as two federally funded institutions, theUniformed Services University of the Health Sciencesand theUnited States Naval Academy, are not affiliated with the University System of Maryland. TheUniversity of Maryland Global Campusis the largest public university in Maryland^[213]and one of the largest distance-learning institutions in the world.^[214]

St. John's CollegeinAnnapolisandWashington CollegeinChestertown, both private institutions, are the oldest colleges in the state and among the oldest in the country. Other private institutions includeMount St. Mary's University,McDaniel College(formerly known as Western Maryland College),Hood College,Stevenson University(formerly known as Villa Julie College),Loyola University Maryland, andGoucher College, among others.

Maryland's 24 public library systems deliver public education for everyone in the state of Maryland through a curriculum that comprises three pillars: Self-Directed Education (books and materials in all formats, e-resources), Research Assistance & Instruction (individualized research assistance, classes for students of all ages), and Instructive & Enlightening Experiences (e.g., Summer Reading Clubs, author events).

Maryland's library systems include, in part:

• Anne Arundel County Public Library
• Baltimore County Public Library
• Cecil County Public Library
• Enoch Pratt Free Library
• Frederick County Public Library
• Harford County Public Library
• Howard County Public Library
• Montgomery County Public Libraries
• Prince George's County Memorial Library System
• St. Mary's County Public Library^[215]

Many of the library systems have established formalized partnerships with other educational institutions in their counties and regions.^[216]

With two major metropolitan areas, Maryland has a number of major and minor professional sports franchises. TwoNational Football Leagueteams play in Maryland, theBaltimore RavensinBaltimoreand theWashington CommandersinLandover. TheBaltimore Coltsrepresented the NFL in Baltimore from 1953 to 1983 before moving toIndianapolis.

TheBaltimore Oriolesare the state'sMajor League Baseballfranchise. TheNational Hockey League'sWashington Capitalsand theNational Basketball Association'sWashington Wizardsformerly played in Maryland, until the construction of an arena in Washington, D.C. in 1997 (now known asCapital One Arena).University of Maryland's team is theMaryland Terrapins.

Maryland enjoys considerable historical repute for the talented sports players of its past, includingCal Ripken Jr.andBabe Ruth. In 2012,The Baltimore Sunpublished a list of Maryland's top ten athletes in the state's history. The list includes Babe Ruth, Cal Ripken Jr,Johnny Unitas,Brooks Robinson,Frank Robinson,Ray Lewis,Michael Phelps,Jimmie Foxx,Jim Parker, andWes Unseld.^[217]

Other professional sports franchises in the state include three affiliatedminor league baseballteams, oneindependent league baseballteam, theBaltimore Blastindoor soccer team, two indoor football teams and three low-level outdoor soccer teams. Maryland is also home to one of the three races in horse racing's annual Triple Crown, thePreakness Stakes, which is run every spring atPimlico Race Coursein Baltimore.The Baltimore Stallionswere a Canadian Football Team in theCFLthat played the 1994–95 season.

Congressional Country Clubhas hosted three golf tournaments for theU.S. Openand aPGA Championship.

The official state sport of Maryland, since 1962, isjousting; the official team sport since 2004 islacrosse.^[218]TheNational Lacrosse Hall of Fameis located inSparks, Marylandat theUSA Lacrosseheadquarters. In 2008, intending to promote physical fitness for all ages,walkingbecame the official state exercise. Maryland is the first state with an official state exercise.^[219]

Maryland has relationships with many provinces, states, and other entities worldwide.

• BongandMaryland Counties, inLiberia^[220]
• Jalisco,Mexico(1996)^[221]
• Cross RiverandOndo States,Nigeria^[222][223]
• Kwazulu-Natal,South Africa^[224]
• Medan Marelan,Indonesia^[225]

• Index of Maryland-related articles
• Outline of Maryland
• List of people from Maryland
• USSMaryland, 4 ships

• Official website
• Maryland Office of TourismArchivedJanuary 5, 2009, at theWayback Machine
• Energy Data & Statistics for Maryland
• USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Maryland
• U.S. Census Bureau
• Catholic Encyclopedia articleArchivedJune 12, 2010, at theWayback Machine
• Maryland State Facts from USDAArchivedAugust 24, 2016, at theWayback Machine
• MarylandatCurlie
• Geographic data related toMarylandatOpenStreetMap
• Maryland State Archives: Special Collections, Map CollectionsArchivedNovember 10, 2018, at theWayback Machine
• Maryland Historical Society: County MapsArchivedJuly 19, 2020, at theWayback Machine
• The Huntingfield Map CollectionArchivedJune 30, 2020, at theWayback Machine
• Maryland: State Resource Guide, from the Library of CongressArchivedApril 19, 2023, at theWayback Machine

Preceded by Massachusetts

List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union RatifiedConstitutionon April 28, 1788 (7th)

Succeeded by South Carolina

39°N77°W / 39°N 77°W /39; -77 (State of Maryland)