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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - USA
Baltimore is an independent city located in the U.S. State of Maryland. As
of July 1, 2002, the population is 638,614, down from 651,154 in the 2000
Census. It is the largest city in Maryland, named after the founding
proprietor of the Maryland Colony, Cćcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore.
This city is a major part of the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Area.
Because there is also a Baltimore County adjacent to (but not including) the
city, it is sometimes referred to as Baltimore City when a clear distinction
is desired.
History
Baltimore was founded on July 30, 1729 and is named after Cćcilius Calvert,
2nd Baron Baltimore who was the first Proprietary Governor of the Province
of Maryland. Baltimore grew swiftly in the mid-late 18th century as the
granary for sugar producing colonies in the Caribbean. The value of sugar
encouraged the maximum possible cultivation of cane and the importation of
food. The relatively shorter distance between Baltimore and the Caribbean
colonies allowed swift transport and minimized the spoilage of flour.
Baltimore's harbor is the location of Fort McHenry, which came under attack
by British forces in the War of 1812 and whose defense inspired Francis
Scott Key to write the poem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," which furnishes the
lyrics to the United States national anthem.
Baltimore became an independent city in 1851, being detached from Baltimore
County at that time.
1888 German map of BaltimoreThe Great Baltimore Fire on February 7, 1904
destroyed over 1,500 buildings in 30 hours.
Baltimore is the location of the Baltimore World Trade Center, the world's
tallest equilateral five-sided building (the five-sided JPMorganChase Tower
in Houston, Texas is taller, but has unequal sides).
Baltimore is also the location of Pimlico Race Course, the home of the
Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.
The Preakness has been been run since 1873.
In recent years, efforts to redevelop the downtown area have led to a
revitalization of the Inner Harbor. In 1979, the Baltimore Convention Center
was opened and was subsequently renovated and expanded in 1996. Harborplace,
a modern urban retail and restaurant complex, was opened on the waterfront
in 1980, followed by the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland's largest
tourist destination, in 1981. In 1992, the Baltimore Orioles of Major League
Baseball moved downtown to Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and in 1998 the
Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League moved next door into the
newly renamed M&T Bank Stadium, formerly known as PSINet Stadium until
PSINet went bankrupt.
A 60-car train derailment occurred in a tunnel in Baltimore on July 18,
2001. The derailment sparked a chemical fire that raged for six days and
virtually shut down the downtown area until the heat caused a water main to
rupture, largely extinguishing the fire but also causing significant
flooding in the streets above. Three weeks later, manhole covers flew into
the air as underground explosions along West Pratt Street followed due to
residual explosive chemicals from the fire left in the sewers.
In 2003, the Baltimore Development Corporation announced that three hotel
projects were being reviewed. The hotel is expected to be built near the
Baltimore Convention Center. The City of Baltimore hopes to have it finished
and opened by 2005 or 2006.
Also in 2003, Baltimore was affected by Hurricane Isabel from flooding as a
result of tidal surge, affecting primarily the Fells Point community and the
Inner Harbor and surrounding low areas. Many places were flooded including
the ESPN Zone and the Baltimore World Trade Center that remained closed for
several days after the hurricane moved out of the area.
Law and Government
Baltimore is an independent city; in other words, not part of any county.
Mayor
The current Mayor of Baltimore is Martin O'Malley. Despite being a
conservative democrat in a city with a deep progressive history, O'Malley
has maintained a high approval rating through both of his terms in office.
His ambition to run for governor of Maryland is well known. For a full list
of mayors that served the city, see: List of Baltimore Mayors
Baltimore City Council
Grassroots pressure for reform, voiced as Question P, restructured the City
Council in November of 2002, against the will of the Mayor, the Council
President, and the majority of the Council. A coalition of union and
community groups, organized by ACORN, backed the effort.
The Baltimore City Council is now made up of 14 single member districts and
one elected at large Council President. Sheila Dixon is the currect Council
President. She is currently up for re-election, with Joan Floyd, a Green
Party candidate, challenging her.
Geography
Baltimore is in the north central part of the state of Maryland, on the
Patapsco River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of
238.5 km˛ (92.1 mi˛). 209.3 km˛ (80.8 mi˛) of it is land and 29.2 km˛ (11.3
mi˛) of it is water. The total area is 12.24% water.
Transportation
Public transit in Baltimore City is provided by the Maryland Transit
Administration. Baltimore City has many bus routes, and a light rail and a
subway system. Additionally, MARC commuter rail connects Washington, DC's
Union Station with the city's two rail stations, Camden Station and Penn
Station. The major highways serving the city are I-695 (the Baltimore
Beltway), I-95 and I-83.
Airports
Baltimore-Washington International Airport - Located in neighboring Anne
Arundel County
Martin State Airport - (general aviation)
Demographics
In the 1830, 1840, and 1850 censuses of the United States of America,
Baltimore was the second largest city in population. It has been among the
top 10 cities in population in the U. S. in every census up to the 1980
census.
As of the census of 2000, there are 651,154 people, 257,996 households, and
147,057 families residing in the city. The population density is 3,111.5/km˛
(8,058.4/mi˛). There are 300,477 housing units at an average density of
1,435.8/km˛ (3,718.6/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city is 31.63% White,
64.34% African American, 0.32% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 0.03% Pacific
Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 1.70% of
the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 257,996 households out of which 25.5% have children under the age
of 18 living with them, 26.7% are married couples living together, 25.0%
have a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% are non-families.
34.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.3% have someone
living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is
2.42 and the average family size is 3.16.
In the city the population is spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18,
10.9% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who
are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100
females there are 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there
are 82.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $30,078, and the median
income for a family is $35,438. Males have a median income of $31,767 versus
$26,832 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,978. 22.9% of
the population and 18.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the
total people living in poverty, 30.6% are under the age of 18 and 18.0% are
65 or older.
Colleges and Universities
Private
Johns Hopkins University
College of Notre Dame of Maryland
Loyola College in Maryland
Baltimore Hebrew College
Peabody Institute
Maryland Institute College of Art
Public
Morgan State University
University of Baltimore
Baltimore City Community College
Coppin State University
University of Maryland, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
Library
Enoch Pratt Free Library
Museums
Walters Art Museum
Baltimore Museum of Art
Sports Teams
Baltimore Orioles (Major League Baseball)
Baltimore Ravens (National Football League)
Baltimore Bayhawks (Major League Lacrosse)
Baltimore Blast - (Major Indoor Soccer League)
Defunct (or moved) Sports Teams
Football
Baltimore Stallions - (Canadian Football League )
Baltimore Stars - (United States Football League)
Baltimore Colts - (National Football League)
Basketball
Baltimore Bullets - (National Basketball Association)
Baltimore Claws - (American Basketball Association)
Baltimore Bayrunners - (International Basketball League)
Soccer
Baltimore Bays - (North American Soccer League)
Hockey
Baltimore Blades - (World Hockey Association )
Baltimore Bandits - (American Hockey League)
Baltimore Clippers - (American Hockey League)
Baltimore Skipjacks - (American Hockey League, Eastern Hockey League,
Southern Hockey League)
Lacrosse
Baltimore Thunder - (National Lacrosse League) - moved to Pittsburgh, then
D.C.; now Colorado.
Famous Residents/Natives
Carmelo Anthony
Eubie Blake
Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues
Charles Joseph Bonaparte
David Byrne
Cab Calloway
Charles R. Drew
Johnny Gill
Philip Glass
David Hasselhoff
Billie Holiday
Francis Scott Key
Barry Levinson
Jim McKay
H.L. Mencken
Kweisi Mfume
Mo'Nique
Nancy Pelosi
Jada Pinkett-Smith
Edgar Allan Poe
Cal Ripken, Jr.
Babe Ruth
Johnny Unitas
John Waters
Frank Zappa
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