Baltimore, Maryland

The Baltimore community has many points of interest to offer including: golf courses, parks and entertainment areas, culture centers, and many others to visit and explore. Performing arts and music are other passions that the city exudes. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Hippodome theatre are a proof of the interest that people take in the arts here.

The city of Baltimore began as a shipping and manufacturing hub and has transitioned into a service oriented community. It is a city known for its research and development in the area of life sciences and has also been declared as the 3rd best place to shop.

The city has its own characteristic with the majority of the population being African America. It has many distinct neighborhoods and has a unique diversity that makes it a great place to live or visit. Each one of the residents in the city finds their own niche and community that they feel comfortable with.

The independently run city is well managed as highlighted in the manner in which law and order is enforced . While the crime rate did become a concern at one point in time, there have been adequate measures that have been taken to ensure that the miscreants are punished and the situation controlled.

Baltimore is a city of diversity. The culture is diverse. The industries and businesses are diverse. The lifestyle and people also celebrate great diversity.

The community is known for its commerce as well as its entertainment and recreational options. Residents and visitors alike enjoy a wide variety of tastes and experiences.

Baltimore History

The Port of Baltimore was created at Locust Point in 1706 by the Maryland colonial General Assembly. It was mainly created to develop the tobacco trade at that point in time. The town was founded in 1729 and was named after Lord Baltimore who was the first governor of the Province of Maryland. In the 18th century the town grew and came to be known for the storehouses that it had for sugar producing colonies in the Caribbean. The profits that accrued from this sugar trade helped the city grow in other areas as well.

The city has a role to play in the American Revolution. There were leaders that joined the resistance to the British taxes and various merchants in the city also signed agreements to avoid any kind of trade with Britain. It is interesting to note that Baltimore was practically the capital of the United States for a short period between December 1776 and January 1777. Fells Point and Jonestown were included in the city of Baltimore in 1796. But the city was a part of the Baltimore County until about 1851, after which it became an independent city.

Baltimore was the site for the Battle of Baltimore in 1812. When the British forces attacked the harbor, the armed forces were able to defend the harbor from Fort McHenry. The city's population increased rapidly after the war. The National Road (now the US Route 40) was funded and the Baltimore and Ohio Road was also made. The major markets of the country were connected to the city converting it into a shipping and manufacturing hub. Churches and monuments were built during this time and the city started to acquire a culture and lifestyle of its own. It also got its name 'The Monumental City' at this time around 1827.

Maryland did not withdraw from the Union during the American Civil war and the Baltimore Riots of 1861 caused the troops to occupy Baltimore. The recession or Panic of 1873 led to an attempt of reduction in factory worker wages, something that led to the great Railroad Strike of 1877. The Great Baltimore Fire of 1904 is also an event that cannot be ignored. About 1500 buildings were destroyed in downtown Baltimore. The damages were estimated to be around $150 million at that time.

Since then the relative size of the African American population of Baltimore grew from about 23 percent to 46 percent and then to 63 percent in the present. The independent city has come a long way since then and is now a thriving town with a more service oriented economy as compared to the initial years when it had a manufacturing focus.

About Baltimore, Maryland

Baltimore is the largest independent city in the state of Maryland in the United States. This means that it is not part of any county. The place is also called Baltimore City to differentiate it from the county that shares the same name. The city was founded in 1729 and it is the largest seaport in the US in the Mid Atlantic. Baltimore's Inner Harbor now has Harborplace that has many shopping malls and areas of entertainment. It is also a great place for tourism. The Forbes magazine declared Baltimore as the 3rd best place to shop in 2010. While the city was a manufacturing hub at one time, it shifted to a more service based economy after the decline of manufacturing.

Baltimore is situated on the Patapsco River close to where it empties into the Chesapeake Bay. The Piedmont Plateau and the Atlantic Coastal Plain divides the city into the upper city and the lower city. Locals sometimes refer to the city as 'Balamer' due to the specific Baltimorese accent that they have.

According to the 2010 census, the city limits cover an area of more than 92 square miles. Out of this about 12 percent is estimated to be water. The population of Baltimore is estimated to be more than 620,000. The Baltimore Metropolitan Area, however, has a population of approximately 2.7 million and is the 21st largest in the United States. The city has about 63 percent African Americans, 33 percent whites and about 2 percent Asians.

The climate of Baltimore can be classified as humid subtropical climate. With average temperatures of about 87 degrees Fahrenheit, the hottest month of the year is July. January is the coldest month with average temperatures of around 36 degrees Fahrenheit. Precipitation in the city is evenly spread throughout the years as is the case in most east coast cities.

Architecture in the city is worth talking about. Baltimore showcases architectural wonders of more than 2 centuries. Works of famous architects such as Benjamin Latrobe, John Russell Pope and George A. Frederick can be seen lining the cityscape. Some of the buildings worth noting are the Baltimore Basilica, the Phoenix Shot Tower, the World Trade Center and the Brown Presbyterian Church.

The city is sometimes called the 'city of neighborhoods' with 72 historic districts that are occupied by different ethnic groups. Fells Point and Little Italy are places that are worth visiting for tourists and residents alike.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1916 and is now an internationally acclaimed orchestra. There is also the Baltimore Opera for those who are connoisseurs. Some of the popular sports in the area are baseball and football. It boasts of being the birth place of Babe Ruth in 1895. There are also various football teams that play in the city.

The city also has various things that you can do when you are visiting. The after-hours activities in the city are extremely unique and interesting. Arts and culture also flourishes here and there are obviously many places that you can shop at. Don't miss the Chesapeake Bay while you are here to saturate your senses.

About Baltimore County, Maryland

Baltimore County is located in the northern part of the United States as part of the state of Maryland. It is often mistaken for the city of Baltimore which is an independent community and not included in the Baltimore County at all. The county seat of the Baltimore County is Towson. The name of the county was derived from the Proprietor of the Maryland colony, Second baron Baltimore in County Longford.

The northern parts of the county are basically formed by the Piedmont Plateau and are mostly rural in nature. One can experience green rolling hills and forest for miles at end. In the southern part of the county lies the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The areas here are suburban in nature.

The earliest records of the county from a political aspect date as far back as 1659. However, there is no specific record of the county being instated. The government of the county is a charter government and it has a county executive and a county council. The judiciary is handled by the County State's Attorney and felony, misdemeanor and juvenile cases are handled here. The Baltimore County Police Department is responsible for ensuring law and order in the area.

Some of the largest employers in the county include the Baltimore County Public Schools, Social Security Administration, County of Baltimore, University of Maryland, Franklin Square Hospital Center and Greater Baltimore Medical Center.

With a total area of 682 square miles (almost 88 percent of which is land), Baltimore County has a highest elevation point of 960 feet. Some of the adjacent counties are York County, Carroll County, Harford County, Anne Arundel County and Howard County. The Hampton National Historic Site is a nationally protected area that also exists in the Baltimore County.

The University System of Maryland manages two universities