Maryland ( The Free State / The Old Line State ) It's believed that Lord Baltimore, who received a charter for the land in 1632, named the state after Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I. One of the original 13 states to join the Union (in 1788), Maryland is in the middle of the Eastern Seaboard. The Mason and Dixon line - marking the boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland - was drawn in the 1760s to settle a dispute between the Penn and Calvert families. In addition it is the traditional boundary between the North and the South. Chesapeake Bay, which cuts deep into Maryland, provides the state with several excellent harbors including Baltimore and Annapolis, the home of the United States Naval Academy. The long Chesapeake Bay shoreline offers opportunities for boating, fishing and swimming. Old mansions and historic sites throughout the state appeal to visitors. One of Maryland's most famous annual events is the Preakness Stakes, a horse race run each May at the Pimlico race track in Baltimore. Some of the famous celebrities that were born in Maryland include: Sisqo, Barry Levinson, Edward Norton, David Hasselhoff, The Flag of Maryland Ratified the Constitution in 1788 as the seventh State; flag adopted in 1904. The coat of arms of the Lords Baltimore unites symbols of the Calvert and Crossland families. Maryland has used similar flags since at least 1638.   Largest Cities in the State (2000) Baltimore, 651,154; Frederick, 52,767; Gaithersburg, 52,613; Bowie, 50,269; Rockville, 47,388; Hagerstown, 36,687; Annapolis, 35,838; College Park, 24,657; Salisbury, 23,743; Cumberland, 21,518   Business and Trade in Maryland Agriculture: Seafood, poultry and eggs, dairy products, nursery stock, cattle, soybeans, corn. Industries: Electric equipment, food processing, chemical products, printing and publishing, transportation equipment, machinery, primary metals, coal, tourism. State Symbols and Emblems Bird: Baltimore Oriole Flower: Black-Eyed Susan (rudbeckia hirta) Tree: White Oak Song(s): Maryland, My Maryland Motto: Fatti Maschii Parole Femine (Manly deeds, womanly words) Maryland Travel - Vacation Destinations & Recreation National parks and historic locations suitable for family vacations or day trips. • Potomac State Forest - Oakland • Catoctin Mountain Park - Thurmont • Point Lookout State Park - Scotland • Gambrill State Park - Thurmont • Smallwood State Park - Marbury

Capital: Annapolis     Local Weather  Statehood: 1788-04-28  Population: 5,296,486 (541.9 mi2)   Geographic Area (mi2)     Total 12,406.68     Water 2,632.86     Land 9,773.82     Rank 42nd Largest   State Education:     Pub & Prv Schools     College & University     Libraries   Border States: Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia   Health Information:     Illicit Drug Use   Housing: In Maryland, there are 2,145,283 housing units, averaging to 219.5 per sq mile.   Related Magazines:     American Journalism Review     Baltimore Business Journal   Posters and Artwork Washington Reviewing the Western Army at Fort Cumberland, Maryland, after 1795 Giclee Print 24" x 18" • Aerial View, Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland Pre-Matted Print 14" x 11" • Lazzarreto Lighthouse, Baltimore, Maryland Art Print 17" x 11" • Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland Pre-Matted Print 11" x 14" • Fine Silk And Chenille Needlework Picture,Saint Joseph's Academy, Maryland, Circa 1840 Giclee Print 24" x 18" • Camden Station, Baltimore, Maryland Art Print 17" x 11"