Maryland
18858
226079199
2008-07-16T19:03:22Z
Ohnoitsjamie
507787
Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/72.166.46.129|72.166.46.129]] ([[User talk:72.166.46.129|talk]]) to last version by Rjwilmsi
{{Otheruses1|the U.S. State}}
{{redirect3|The Free State|For the former state of Ireland, see [[Irish Free State]]}}
{{US state
|Name = Maryland
|Fullname = State of Maryland
|Flag = Flag of Maryland.svg
|Flaglink = [[Flag of Maryland]]
|Seal = Great Seal of Maryland reverse.png
|Map = Map of USA MD.svg
|Nickname = Old Line State; Free State
|Demonym = Marylander
|Motto = [[Fatti maschii, parole femine]]<br />(Manly deeds, womanly words)
|Capital = [[Annapolis, Maryland|Annapolis]]
|LargestCity = [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]]
|LargestMetro = [[Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area]]
|Governor = [[Martin O'Malley]] (D)
|Lieutenant Governor = [[Anthony G. Brown]] (D)
|Senators = [[Barbara Mikulski]] (D) <br />[[Ben Cardin]] (D)
|PostalAbbreviation = MD
|OfficialLang = None (English, ''de facto'')
|AreaRank = 42<sup>nd</sup>
|TotalAreaUS = 12,407
|TotalArea = 32,133
|LandAreaUS = 9,774
|LandArea = 25,314
|WaterAreaUS = 2,633
|WaterArea = 6,819
|PCWater = 21
|PopRank = 19<sup>th</sup>
|2000Pop = 5,600,388
|DensityRank = 5<sup>th</sup>
|2000DensityUS = 541.9<!--US census info-->
|2000Density = 209.2
|MedianHouseholdIncome = $65,144<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://sungazette.net/articles/2007/08/30/fairfax/news/ffx513.txt
|title=Fairfax Overtakes Loudoun on Household Income Ranking
|author=Scott McCaffrey
|publisher=Sun Gazette Newspaper
|date=[[August 30]], [[2007]]
|accessdate=2007-11-29
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/census/ACS2006/State_Ranking/acs06_med_household_inc.pdf
|title=Median Household Income (In 2006 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars): 2006
|publisher=U. S. Census
|date=2007-08-28
|accessdate=2007-11-29
|format=PDF}}</ref>
|IncomeRank = 1<sup>st</sup>
|AdmittanceOrder = 7<sup>th</sup>
|AdmittanceDate = [[April 28]], [[1788]]
|TimeZone = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]: [[UTC]]-5/[[Daylight saving time|-4]]
|Latitude = 37° 53′ N to 39° 43′ N
|Longitude = 75° 03′ W to 79° 29′ W
|WidthUS = 101
|Width = 145
|LengthUS = 249
|Length = 400
|HighestPoint = [[Backbone Mountain|Hoye Crest]]<ref name=usgs>{{cite web| date =[[29 April]] [[2005]] | url =http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Highest| title =Elevations and Distances in the United States| publisher =U.S Geological Survey| accessdate = November 6| accessyear = 2006}}</ref>
|HighestElevUS = 3,360
|HighestElev = 1,024
|MeanElevUS = 344
|MeanElev = 105
|LowestPoint = [[Atlantic Ocean]]<ref name=usgs/>
|LowestElevUS = 0
|LowestElev = 0
|ISOCode = US-MD
|Website = www.maryland.gov
|State Animal = [[Horseshoe crab]]
}}
<!-- ** ATTENTION ** ATTENTION ** ATTENTION ** Do not modify text relating to the classification of Maryland as a Northern, Mid-Atlantic, South-Atlantic, and/or Southern state without providing appropriate references. Discussion regarding this issue has been opened on a subpage accessible through the Talk tab. Disregard for this warning will result in reversion of your edit(s) with possible warning and administrative action should violations persist. ** ATTENTION ** ATTENTION ** ATTENTION ** -->
'''Maryland''' ({{IPAEng|ˈmɛrələnd}}) is a [[U.S. state|state]] located in the [[Mid Atlantic States|Mid Atlantic region]] of the [[United States]]. Historically it was part of the Chesapeake Bay Colony where planters cultivated tobacco as a cash crop dependent on slave labor.<ref>[http://www.census.gov/geo/www/reg_div.txt U.S. Census Bureau]</ref><ref>While the [http://www.census.gov/geo/www/reg_div.txt U.S. Census Bureau] designates Maryland as one of the [[South Atlantic States]], many consider it to be a part of the [[Mid-Atlantic States]] and/or [[Northeastern United States]]. Examples include other U.S. government agencies (such as the [http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/rrhtml/regdef.html Library of Congress], [http://geology.er.usgs.gov/states/mid_atl.html Geological Survey], [http://www.epa.gov/region03/index.htm Environmental Protection Agency], [http://www.nps.gov/nero/nero.htm National Park Service], and [http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/natural_gas/analysis_publications/ngpipeline/northeast.html Department of Energy]), and public service organizations (such as [http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/Page/Browse_Routes_Page&c=Page&cid=1081256321410&ssid=134 Amtrak] and the [http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/regional/region_northeast.asp Princeton Review]). [http://www.google.com/Top/Regional/North_America/United_States/Maryland/ Google's] categorization scheme includes it in both the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions.</ref> It is comparable in size to the [[Europe]]an country of [[Belgium]].<ref>{{cite web
| url= https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/be.html
| title= Belgium
| accessdaymonth= 15 May
| accessyear= 2008
| date= 2008-05-15
| work= CIA World Factbook
| publisher= Central Intelligence Agency
| quote= Area – comparative: about the size of Maryland
}}</ref> According to the most recent information provided by the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], as of August 2007, Maryland is now the wealthiest state in the United States, with a median household income of US$65,144, ahead of [[New Jersey]] which had previously held that title.<ref>{{cite news
| first = Les
| last = Christie
| title = The richest (and poorest) places in the U.S.
| url = http://money.cnn.com/2007/08/28/real_estate/wealthiest_states/index.htm
| publisher = CNN Money.com
| date = [[2007-08-31]]
| accessdate = 2007-10-15
| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/5Y2lDIuWr
| archivedate = 2008-05-23
| quote = The typical Maryland household earned $65,144 in 2006, propelling it past New Jersey, which came in second with earnings of $64,470, but had led the nation in 2005.
}}</ref>
It was the seventh state to ratify the [[United States Constitution]] and bears two nicknames, the ''Old Line State'' and the ''Free State''. Its history as a [[border states (Civil War)|border state]] has led it to exhibit characteristics of both the [[Northern United States|Northern]] and [[Southern United States|Southern]] regions of the United States. Generally, the rural [[Western Maryland|Western]],{{Fact|date=July 2008}} [[Southern Maryland|Southern]] and [[Eastern Shore of Maryland|Eastern Shore]] regions of Maryland reflect a [[Culture of the Southern United States|Southern culture]],<ref>{{cite web
| title = The South As It's Own Nation
| publisher = League of the South
| year = 2004
| url = http://dixienet.org/New%20Site/thesouthasitsownnation.shtml
| accessdate = 2008-05-23
| quote = On the other hand, areas beyond these thirteen States maintain their Southern culture to varying degrees. Much of Missouri remains basically Southern, as do parts of southern Maryland and Maryland’s eastern shore.
}}</ref> while densely-populated Central Maryland{{mdash}}radiating outward from [[Baltimore City]] and the [[Washington Beltway]]{{mdash}}exhibit characteristics of the [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]].<ref>{{cite web
| author = Beck, John; Randall, Aaron; and Frandsen, Wendy
| title = Southern Culture: An Introduction
| date = 2007-06-27
| publication-place = Durham, North Carolina
| format = PDF
| publisher = Carolina Academic Press
| pages = 14-15
| url = http://www.cap-press.com/pdf/1517.pdf
| accessdate = 2008-05-23
| quote = Kentucky, Missouri, West Virginia [...] and Maryland —slaveholding states and regions before the Civil War that did not secede from the Union – are also often included as part of the South. As border states, these states always were crossroads of values and customs, and today [...] parts of Maryland seem to have become part of the “Northeast.
}}</ref>
Maryland is a [[life sciences]] hub with over 350 biotechnology firms, making it the third-largest such cluster in the nation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://choosemaryland.com/businessinmd/Biosciences/bio.html |title=Business in Maryland: Biosciences|accessdate=2007-10-15 |publisher=Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development }}</ref> Institutions and agencies located throughout Maryland include [[University System of Maryland]], [[Johns Hopkins University]], [[Howard Hughes Medical Institute]], [[Celera Genomics]], [[Human Genome Sciences]] (HGS), [[The Institute for Genomic Research]] (TIGR), the [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA), the [[National Institutes of Health]] (NIH) and the [[National Institute of Standards and Technology]] (NIST).
==Geography==
===Physical geography===
{{See also|List of islands in Maryland|List of rivers in Maryland}}
Maryland possesses a great variety of [[topography]], hence its nickname, "America in Miniature."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mdisfun.org/planningamarylandvisit/kidsroom/Kids%20Room%20Maryland%20Facts1.html |title=Maryland Facts |accessdate=2008-05-19 |work=Kids Room |publisher=Maryland Office of Tourism}}</ref> It ranges from sandy [[dunes]] dotted with seagrass in the east, to low marshlands teeming with water snakes and large [[Taxodium|bald cypress]] near the bay, to gently rolling hills of [[oak]] forest in the [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont Region]], and mountain [[pine]] groves in the west.
[[Image:ChesapeakeTidalWetlands.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Tidal wetlands of the Chesapeake Bay, largest freshwater estuary in the world and the largest physical feature in Maryland.]]
[[Image:Marylandregions.gif|300px|thumb|right|Geographic regions of Maryland]]
Maryland is bounded on the north by [[Pennsylvania]], on the west by [[West Virginia]], on the east by [[Delaware]] and the [[Atlantic Ocean]], and on the south, across the [[Potomac River]], by [[West Virginia]] and [[Virginia]]. The mid-portion of this border is interrupted on the Maryland side by [[Washington, DC]], which sits on land that was originally part of Maryland. The [[Chesapeake Bay]] nearly bisects the state, and the counties east of the bay are known collectively as the [[Eastern Shore of Maryland|Eastern Shore]]. Most of the state's waterways are part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, with the exceptions of a portion of [[Garrett County, Maryland|Garrett County]] (drained by the [[Youghiogheny River]] as part of the watershed of the [[Mississippi 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 the [[Delaware River]] watershed). 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 name currently used by [[Massachusetts]].
The highest point in Maryland is [[Backbone Mountain|Hoye Crest on Backbone Mountain]], in the southwest corner of [[Garrett County, Maryland|Garrett County]], near the border with West Virginia and near the headwaters of the North Branch of the Potomac River. Maryland's only ski area, [[Wisp Resort|Wisp]], is located close to Backbone Mountain. Near the small town of [[Hancock, Maryland|Hancock]], in western Maryland, about two-thirds of the way across the state, the state is only about {{convert|1|mi|km|0|sing=on}} wide. This geographical curiosity makes Maryland the narrowest state, bordered by the [[Mason-Dixon Line]] to the north, and the north-arching Potomac River to the south.
[[Image:Maryland.JPG|thumb|Maryland state welcome sign]]
Portions of Maryland are included in various official and unofficial geographic regions. For example, the [[Delmarva Peninsula]] comprises the Eastern Shore counties of Maryland, the entire State of Delaware, and the two counties that make up the [[Eastern Shore of Virginia]], while the westernmost counties of Maryland are considered part of [[Appalachia]]. Much of the Baltimore-Washington corridor lies just south of the piedmont in the Coastal Plain,<ref>http://dnrweb.dnr.state.md.us/download/gp_coastal_west.pdf</ref> though it straddles the border between the two regions.
A quirk of Maryland's geography is that the state contains no natural lakes.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.mgs.md.gov/esic/fs/fs15.html
|title=Maryland’s Lakes and Reservoirs: FAQ
|publisher=Maryland Geological Survey
|date=[[January 24]], [[2007]]
|accessdate=2008-02-03
}}</ref> During the last [[Ice Age]], glaciers did not reach as far south as Maryland, and therefore did not carve out deep natural lakes as exist in northern states. There are numerous man-made lakes, the largest being [[Deep Creek Lake]], a reservoir in [[Garrett County]]. The lack of glacial history also accounts for Maryland's soil, which is more sandy and muddy than the rocky soils of [[New England]].
===Human geography===
{{See also|List of counties in Maryland|List of incorporated places in Maryland|List of census-designated places in Maryland}}
[[Image:Map of maryland counties.jpg|280px|thumb|right|Maryland counties]]
The majority of Maryland's population is concentrated in the cities and suburbs surrounding [[Washington, DC]] and Maryland's most populous city, [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]]. Historically, these and many other Maryland cities developed along the [[fall line]], the point at which rivers are no longer navigable from sea level due to the presence of rapids or waterfalls. Maryland's capital, [[Annapolis, Maryland|Annapolis]], is one exception to this rule, lying along the [[Severn River (Maryland)|Severn River]] close to where it empties into the Chesapeake Bay. Other major population centers include suburban hubs [[Columbia, Maryland|Columbia]] in [[Howard County, Maryland|Howard County]], [[Silver Spring, Maryland|Silver Spring]], [[Rockville, Maryland|Rockville]] and [[Gaithersburg, Maryland|Gaithersburg]] in [[Montgomery County, Maryland|Montgomery County]], [[Frederick, Maryland|Frederick]] in [[Frederick County, Maryland|Frederick County]] and [[Hagerstown, Maryland|Hagerstown]] in [[Washington County, Maryland|Washington County]]. The eastern, southern, and western portions of the state tend to be more rural, although they are dotted with cities of regional importance such as [[Salisbury, Maryland|Salisbury]] and [[Ocean City, Maryland|Ocean City]] on the [[Eastern Shore of Maryland|Eastern Shore]], [[Lexington Park, Maryland|Lexington Park]] and [[Waldorf]] in [[Southern Maryland]], and [[Cumberland, Maryland|Cumberland]] in [[Western Maryland]].
<gallery>
Image:Annapolis street.jpg|[[Annapolis, Maryland|Annapolis]]
Image:btown.jpg|[[Baltimore City, Maryland|Baltimore City]]
Image:Bethesda downtown panorama.jpg|[[Bethesda, Maryland|Bethesda]]
Image:McKeldin Library, front view, mid-afternoon light, August 21, 2006.jpg|[[College Park, Maryland|College Park]]
Image:cumberland md downtown.jpg|[[Cumberland, Maryland|Cumberland]]
Image:Ellicott City Main Street.jpg|[[Ellicott City, Maryland|Ellicott City]]
Image:Frederick Public Library.jpg|[[Frederick, Maryland|Frederick]]
Image:Gaithersburg City Hall 1.jpg|[[Gaithersburg, Maryland|Gaithersburg]]
Image:GreenbeltRooseveltCtr1.jpg|[[Greenbelt, Maryland|Greenbelt]]
Image:Hagerstown Downtown Potomac St.JPG|[[Hagerstown, Maryland|Hagerstown]]
Image:LaurelMuseum.jpg|[[Laurel, Maryland|Laurel]]
Image:Ocean City Maryland aerial view north.jpg|[[Ocean City, Maryland|Ocean City]]
Image:Rockvillemd.jpg|[[Rockville, Maryland|Rockville]]
Image:Ellsworth-ssmd.png|[[Silver Spring, Maryland|Silver Spring]]
<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: Image:Salisbury, Maryland.jpg|[[Salisbury, Maryland|Salisbury]] -->
</gallery>
==Climate==
Maryland has wide array of climates for a state of its size. It depends on numerous variables, such as proximity to water, elevation, and protection from colder weather due to [[downslope wind]]s.
The eastern half of Maryland lies on the [[Atlantic Coastal Plain]], with very flat topography and very sandy or muddy soil. This region has a [[humid subtropical climate]], with hot, humid summers and a short, mild to cool winter. This region includes the cities of [[Salisbury, MD|Salisbury]], [[Annapolis]], [[Ocean City, MD|Ocean City]], and southern and eastern greater [[Baltimore]].
[[Image:Sunset over the marsh at Cardinal Cove - NOAA.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Sunset over a marsh at Cardinal Cove, on the [[Patuxent River]].]]
Beyond this region lies the [[Piedmont (United States)|Piedmont]] which lies in the transition between the [[humid subtropical climate]] zone and the [[humid continental climate]] zone (Köppen ''Dfa''), with hot, humid summers and moderately cold winters where average annual snowfall exceeds 20 inches and temperatures below 10°F are annual occurrences. This region includes [[Frederick, MD|Frederick]], [[Hagerstown, MD|Hagerstown]], [[Westminster, MD|Westminster]], [[Gaithersburg, MD|Gaithersburg]] and northern and western greater [[Baltimore]].
Extreme western Maryland, in the higher elevations of [[Allegany County, Maryland|Allegany County]] and [[Garrett County]] lie completely in the [[Humid continental climate]] (Köppen ''Dfa'') due to elevation (more typical of inland [[New England]] and the Midwestern U.S.) with milder summers and cold, snowy winters. Some parts of extreme western Maryland possess the cool summer Humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb), with summer average temperatures below 71 °F.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.tufts.edu/med/informid/seasonality/seasonality.htm
|title=Seasonality - InforMID
|publisher=Tufts University Initiative for the Forecasting and Modeling of Infectious Diseases
|accessdate=2007-10-03
}}</ref><!-- Tuft's not a reliable source for the information because they're reporting someone else's data (no source given), and are not experts in that particular area. --><ref>For example, [[Oakland, Maryland|Oakland]] has an average July temperature of 68 °F. [http://www.weather.com/outlook/homeandgarden/garden/wxclimatology/monthly/USMD0294 Average Weather for Oakland, MD]</ref>
Precipitation in the state is very generous, as it is on most of the East Coast. Annual rainfall ranges from 40-45 inches (1000-1150 mm) in virtually every part of the state, falling very evenly. Nearly every part of Maryland receives 3.5-4.5 inches (95-110 mm) per month of precipitation. Snowfall varies from 9 inches (23 cm) in the coastal areas to over 100 inches (250 cm) a winter in the western mountains of the state.<ref>[http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/lwx/Historic_Events/md-snow-avg.gif Snowfall Map]</ref>
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Marylandwinter.jpg|thumb|left|A snowy scene in southern Maryland.]] -->
Because of its location near the [[Atlantic Coast]], Maryland is somewhat vulnerable to [[tropical cyclones]], although the [[Delmarva Peninsula]], and the outer banks of [[North Carolina]] to the south provide a large buffer, such that a strike from a major hurricane (category 3 or above) is not very likely. More often, Maryland might get the remnants of a tropical system which has already come ashore and released most of its energy. Maryland averages around 30-40 days of thunderstorms a year, and averages around 6 tornado strikes annually.<ref name= "Annual average number of tornadoes"> [http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/img/climate/research/tornado/small/avgt5304.gif] NOAA National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved on October 24, 2006.</ref>
{| class="wikitable" "text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:120%;background:#E8EAFA;"|Monthly normal high and low temperatures for various Maryland cities
|-
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color: #000000" height="17" | City
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Jan
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Feb
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Mar
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Apr
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | May
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Jun
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Jul
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Aug
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Sep
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Oct
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Nov
! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" | Dec
|-
! style="background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Hagerstown
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 38/21
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 42/23
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 52/31
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 63/41
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 74/51
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 82/60
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 86/64
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 84/62
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 77/55
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 66/43
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 54/35
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 43/27
|-
! style="background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Frederick
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 41/25
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 46/27
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 56/35
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 67/44
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 77/54
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 85/62
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 89/67
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 87/66
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 80/59
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 68/47
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 57/38
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 46/30
|-
! style="background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Baltimore
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 44/29
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 47/31
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 57/39
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 68/48
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 77/58
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 86/68
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 91/73
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 88/71
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 81/64
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 70/52
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 59/42
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 49/33
|-
! style="background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" height="16;" | Ocean City
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 44/28
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 46/30
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 53/35
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 61/44
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 70/53
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 79/62
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 84/67
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 83/67
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 78/62
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 68/51
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 58/41
| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" | 49/32
|-
| colspan="13" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;background:#E8EAFA;"|''[http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USMD0295?from=search]''
|}
{{clear}}
===Flora and fauna===
[[Image:mdusdamap.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The 2003 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the state of Maryland]]
As is typical of states on the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]], Maryland's plant life is abundant and healthy. A good dose of annual precipitation helps to support many types of plants, including [[seagrass]] and various [[Phragmites|reeds]] at the smaller end of the spectrum to the gigantic [[Wye Oak]], a huge example of [[White oak]], the state tree, which can grow in excess of 70 feet (20 m) tall. Maryland also possesses an abundance of pines and [[maple]]s among its endemic tree life. Many foreign species are cultivated in the state, some as ornamentals, others as novelty species. Included among these are the [[Lagerstroemia|Crape Myrtle]], [[Italian Cypress]], [[live oak]] in the warmer parts of the state,<ref>[http://www.prairiefrontier.com/pages/hardiness/zone.html Zone Hardiness Map through Prarie Frontier]</ref> and even [[hardy palms|hardy palm trees]] in the warmer central and eastern parts of the state.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=tkwOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA24&lpg=PA24&dq=palm+trees+in+maryland&source=web&ots=cOPcWEVNkT&sig=ti4fZ99gLgfbFfzmMWbg-Yrm0Ns&hl=en#PPA24,M1 The History of Maryland, From its first settlement, in 1633, to the restoration, in 1660, with a copious introduction, and notes and illustrations.]</ref> USDA plant [[hardiness zone]]s in the state range from Zone 5 in the extreme western part of the state to 6 and 7 in the central part, and Zone 8 around the southern part of the coast, the bay area, and most of [[Baltimore Metropolitan Area|metropolitan Baltimore]]. Large areas of Maryland have problems with [[kudzu]], an invasive plant species that chokes out growth of endemic plant life.<ref>[http://www.mdinvasivesp.org/species/terrestrial_plants/Kudzu.html Invasive Species of concern in Maryland]</ref> Maryland's state flower, the [[Black-eyed Susan]], grows in abundance in wild flower groups throughout the state where it often becomes a favorite of the state insect, the [[Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly]].<ref>[http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/insect.html Maryland at a glance]</ref>
[[Image:100 2680 edited.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Sunset over [[Hunt Valley, Maryland]].]]
The state harbors a great number of [[deer]], particularly in the woody and mountainous west of the state, and overpopulation can become a problem from year-to-year. The [[Chesapeake Bay]] provides the state with its huge{{Fact|date=January 2008}} cash crop of [[blue crab]]s, rockfish,{{Fact|date=January 2008}} and numerous seabirds.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} Mammals can be found ranging from the mountains in the west to the central areas and include bears,<ref name="Maryland Wildlife"> [http://www.sailor.lib.md.us/MD_topics/res/env_ani.html] ''Maryland's Public Information Network'' Retrieved on [[April 9|4-9]]-2008.</ref> mountain lions,{{Fact|date=January 2008}} foxes, raccoons, and Otters.<ref name="Maryland Wildlife"> [http://www.sailor.lib.md.us/MD_topics/res/env_ani.html] ''Maryland's Public Information Network'' Retrieved on [[April 9|4-9]]-2008.</ref> Maryland is famous for its population of rare<ref name="Maryland Wildlife"> [http://www.sailor.lib.md.us/MD_topics/res/env_ani.html] ''Maryland's Public Information Network'' Retrieved on [[April 9|4-9]]-2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.assateagueisland.com/wildlife/pony.htm Assateague Island National Seashore Wild Ponies]</ref> wild horses found on [[Assateague]] island. Every year an event occurs during which members of the horse population are captured and waded across a shallow bay to [[Chincoteague]], Virginia. This conservation technique ensures the tiny island is not overrun by the horses. Another purebred animal from Maryland is the Chesapeake Bay Retriever dog, which was bred specifically for water sports, hunting and search and rescue in the Chesapeake area.<ref name="Maryland1">[http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeds/chessies.html Chesapeake Bay Retriever History]</ref> The Chesapeake Bay Retriever was also the first breed recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1878.<ref name="Maryland1"/> Maryland's reptile and amphibian population is led by the [[Diamondback Terrapin]] turtle, which was adopted as the mascot of [[University of Maryland, College Park|University of Maryland]]. The state also hosts the [[Baltimore Oriole]], which is the official state bird and mascot of the MLB team the Baltimore Orioles.<ref>[http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/bird.html Maryland Government Website - Maryland State Bird]</ref>
Lawns in Maryland carry a variety of species, mostly due to its location in the Transition Zone for [[lawn]]grasses. The western part of the state is cold enough to support [[Kentucky Bluegrass]], and Fine Fescues, which are widespread from the foothills west. The area around the [[Chesapeake Bay]] is usually turfed with transition species such as [[Zoysia]], Tall fescue, and [[Bermudagrass]]. [[St. Augustine grass]] can be grown in the parts of the state that are in Zone 8.
==History==
{{main|History of Maryland}}
{{see also|Province of Maryland}}
{{see also|Annapolis Convention}}
[[Image:Calvertcecil.jpg|185px|thumb|left|Cecil Calvert, 1st Proprietor of the Maryland colony.]]
In 1629, [[George Calvert, 1st Lord Baltimore]] in the [[Irish House of Lords]], fresh from his failure further north with [[Newfoundland (island)|Newfoundland's]] Avalon colony, applied to [[Charles I of England|Charles I]] for a new royal charter for what was to become the [[Province of Maryland]]. Calvert's interest in creating a colony derived from his [[Catholicism]] and his desire for the creation of a haven for Catholics in the new world. In addition, he was familiar with the fortunes that had been made in tobacco in Virginia, and hoped to recoup some of the financial losses he had sustained in his earlier colonial venture in Newfoundland. George Calvert died in April 1632, but a charter for "Maryland Colony" (in [[Latin]], "Terra Maria") was granted to his son, [[Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore|Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Lord Baltimore]], on [[June 20]], [[1632]]. The new colony was named in honor of [[Henrietta Maria of France|Henrietta Maria]], Queen Consort of Charles I.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/name.html |title=Maryland's Name |accessdate=2008-01-21 |work=Maryland at a Glance |publisher=Maryland State Archives }}</ref> The specific name given in the charter was phrased "Terra Mariae, ''anglice'', Maryland". The English name was preferred over the Latin due in part to the undesired association of "Mariae" with the Spanish Jesuit [[Juan de Mariana]].<ref>{{citation
|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=WrerRiQXet4C&pg=RA1-PA215&lpg=RA1-PA215&dq=%22terra+mariae%22+mariana&source=web&ots=RECDMqsSDO&sig=WFluhB076Cz3bL2_nF423v3iw6o
|title=The English Colonization of America During the Seventeenth Century
|first=Edward Duffield
|last=Neill
|publisher=Strahan & Co.
|date=1871
|pages=214-215
|accessdate=2007-12-09
|}}</ref><ref>{{cite book
|last=Stewart
|first= George R.
|authorlink= George R. Stewart
|title= Names on the Land: A Historical Account of Place-Naming in the United States
|origyear= 1945 |edition= Sentry edition (3rd)
|year= 1967 |publisher= [[Houghton Mifflin]]
|pages= 42-43}}</ref> Leonard, Cecilius' younger brother, was put in charge of the expedition because Cecilius did not want to go.
To try to gain settlers, Maryland used what is known as the [[headright system]], which originated in Jamestown. The government awarded land to people who transported colonists to Maryland.
On [[March 25]], [[1634]], Lord Baltimore sent the first settlers into this area. Although most of the settlers were Protestants, Maryland soon became one of the few regions in the [[British Empire]] where Catholics held the highest positions of political authority. Maryland was also one of the key destinations of tens of thousands of British convicts. The [[Maryland Toleration Act]] of 1649 was one of the first laws that explicitly dictated [[religious tolerance]], though toleration was limited to Trinitarian Christians.
The royal charter granted Maryland the [[Potomac River]] and territory northward to the fortieth parallel. This proved a problem when [[Charles II of England|Charles II]] granted a charter for [[Pennsylvania]], because the grants (which were made using an inaccurate map) overlapped. Maryland's northern boundary would put [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], the major city in Pennsylvania, partially within Maryland, while Pennsylvania's southern boundary would encompass much of Maryland, resulting in conflict between the [[Lord Baltimore|Calvert family]], which controlled Maryland, and the [[William Penn|Penn family]], which controlled Pennsylvania. This led to the [[Cresap's War]] (also known as the Conojocular War), a border conflict between Pennsylvania and Maryland, fought in the 1730s. Hostilities erupted in 1730 with a series of violent incidents prompted by disputes over property rights and law enforcement, 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 final settlement was not achieved until 1767, when the [[Mason-Dixon Line]] was recognized as the permanent boundary between the two colonies.
After [[Virginia]] made the practice of [[Anglicanism]] mandatory, a large number of Puritans migrated from Virginia to Maryland, and were given land for a settlement called Providence (now [[Annapolis, Maryland|Annapolis]]). In 1650, the Puritans revolted against the proprietary government and set up a new government that outlawed both [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholicism]] and Anglicanism. In March 1654, the [[Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore|2nd Lord Baltimore]] sent an army under the command of Governor [[William Stone]] to put down the revolt. His [[Roman Catholic]] army was decisively defeated by a [[Puritan]] army near Annapolis in what was to be known as the "Battle of the Severn".<ref>{{cite book
|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=5U4IAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA208&lpg=PA208&dq=%22battle+of+the+severn%22&source=web&ots=pRTUk3UwBY&sig=sq1jbSeEAr3Gho-X_2ngpvvhVt4
|title=Virginia, a history of the people
|author=John Esten Cooke
|publisher=Houghton, Mifflin
|date=1883
|pages=208-216
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.aacounty.org/AboutAACo/history.cfm
|title=History - Seventeenth Century through the Present
|publisher=Anne Arundel County — Citizens Information Center
|date=2003
}}</ref>
The Puritan revolt lasted until 1658. In that year the Calvert family regained control of the colony and re-enacted the Toleration Act. However, after England's "[[Glorious Revolution]]" of 1688, when [[William III of England|William of Orange]] and his wife Mary came to the throne and firmly established the Protestant faith in England, Catholicism was again outlawed in Maryland, until after the American [[Revolutionary War]]. Many wealthy plantation owners built chapels on their land so they could practice their Catholicism in relative secrecy. During the persecution of Maryland Catholics by the [[Puritan]] revolutionary government, all of the original Catholic churches of southern Maryland were burned down.
[[St. Mary's City, Maryland|St. Mary's City]] was the largest site of the original Maryland colony, and was the seat of the colonial government until 1708. St Mary's is now an archaeological site, with a small tourist center. In 1708, the seat of government was moved to Providence, which had been renamed [[Annapolis]]. The city was renamed in honor of [[Anne of Great Britain|Queen Anne]] in 1694.
Most of the English colonists arrived in Maryland as indentured servants, hiring themselves out as laborers for a fixed period to pay for their passage. In the early years the line between indentured servants and African slaves or laborers was fluid. Some Africans were allowed to earn their freedom before slavery became a lifelong status. Most of the free colored families formed in Maryland before the Revolution were descended from relationships or marriages between servant or free white women and enslaved, servant or free African or African-American men. Many such families migrated to Delaware, where land was cheaper.<ref>[http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/ Paul Heinegg. Free African Americans in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Delaware] Accessed 15 Feb 2008</ref> As the flow of indentured laborers to the colony decreased with improving economic conditions in England, more slaves were imported. The economy's growth and prosperity was based on slave labor, devoted first to the production of tobacco.
[[Image:Ft. Henry bombardement 1814.jpg|200px|thumb|right|An artist's rendering of the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, which inspired the composition of the Star Spangled Banner.]]
Maryland was one of the [[13 colonies|thirteen colonies]] that revolted against British rule in the [[American Revolution]]. On [[February 2]], [[1781]], Maryland became the 13th state to approve the ratification of the [[Articles of Confederation]] which brought into being the United States as a united, [[sovereign]] and [[nation state|national state]]. It also became the seventh state admitted to the US after ratifying the new Constitution. The following year, in December 1790, Maryland ceded land selected by President [[George Washington]] to the federal government for the creation of [[Washington, D.C.]]. The land was provided from [[Montgomery County, Maryland|Montgomery]] and [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's]] Counties, as well as from [[Fairfax County, Virginia|Fairfax County]] and [[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]] in [[Virginia]] (though the lands from Virginia were later returned through [[Retrocession (District of Columbia)|retrocession]]). The land provided to [[Washington, D.C.]] is actually "sitting" inside the state of Maryland (land that is now defunct in theory).
During the [[War of 1812]], the British military attempted to capture the port of Baltimore, which was protected by [[Fort McHenry]]. It was during this bombardment that [[the Star Spangled Banner]] was written by [[Francis Scott Key]].
Despite widespread support for the [[Confederate States of America]] among many wealthy landowners, who had a vested interest in slavery, Maryland did not secede from the Union during the [[American Civil War]]. This may be due in part to the temporary suspension of the Legislature by Governor [[Thomas Holliday Hicks]] and arrest of many of its [[fire eaters]] by President [[Abraham Lincoln]] prior to its reconvening. Many historians contend that the votes for secession would not have been there regardless of these actions. Of the 115,000 men who joined the militaries during the Civil War, 85,000, or 77%, joined the Union army. To help ensure Maryland's inclusion in the Union, President Lincoln suspended several civil liberties, including the writ of habeas corpus, an act deemed illegal by Maryland native Chief Justice [[Roger Taney]]. Lincoln ordered US troops to place artillery on [[Federal Hill, Baltimore, Maryland|Federal Hill]] to directly threaten the city of [[Baltimore]], and helped to ensure the election of a new pro-union governor and legislature. President Lincoln even went so far as to jail certain pro-South members of the state legislature at [[Fort McHenry]] including the Mayor of Baltimore, [[George William Brown]]. Ironically, the grandson of [[Francis Scott Key]] was included in those jailed. The Constitutionality of these actions is still a source of controversy and debate. Because Maryland remained in the Union, it was exempted from the anti-slavery provisions of the [[Emancipation Proclamation]] (The Emancipation Proclamation only applied to states in rebellion). A [[constitutional convention (political meeting)|constitutional convention]] was held during 1864 that culminated in the passage of a new state constitution on November 1 of that year. Article 24 of that document outlawed the practice of [[slavery]]. The right to vote was extended to non-white males in 1867.
==Demographics==
{{USCensusPop
|1790 = 319728
|1800 = 341548
|1810 = 380546
|1820 = 407350
|1830 = 447040
|1840 = 470019
|1850 = 583034
|1860 = 687049
|1870 = 780894
|1880 = 934943
|1890 = 1042390
|1900 = 1188044
|1910 = 1295346
|1920 = 1449661
|1930 = 1631526
|1940 = 1821244
|1950 = 2343001
|1960 = 3100689
|1970 = 3922399
|1980 = 4216975
|1990 = 4781468
|2000 = 5296486
|estyear = 2007
|estimate = 5618344
}}
[[Image:Maryland population map.png|thumb|left|250px|Maryland population distribution]]
As of 2006, Maryland has an estimated population of 5,615,727, which is an increase of 26,128, or 0.5%, from the prior year and an increase of 319,221, or 6.0%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 189,158 people (that is 464,251 births minus 275,093 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 116,713 people into the state. Immigration from 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.
In 2006, 645,744 were counted as foreign born, which represents mainly people from Latin America and Asia. About 4.0% are undocumented (illegal) immigrants.<ref>Turner Brinton, "[http://www.journalism.umd.edu/cns/wire/2006-editions/04-April-editions/060405-Wednesday/ImmigrateDebate_CNS-UMCP.html Immigration Bill Could Impact Maryland]," Capital News Service, 5 April 2006. Retrieved 22 July 2007.</ref> Maryland also has a large Korean American population.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.migrationinformation.org/USfocus/display.cfm?id=273
|title=The Foreign Born from Korea in the United States
|first=Jennifer
|last=Yau
|publisher=Migration Policy Institute
|date=2007
|accessdate=2007-12-23
}}</ref> In fact, 1.7% are Korean, while as a whole, almost 6.0% are Asian.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.jhsph.edu/kacp/about_us.html
|title=About Us: Korean Americans in Maryland
|publisher=Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
|accessdate=2007-12-23
}}</ref>
Most of the population of Maryland lives in the central region of the state, in the [[Baltimore Metropolitan Area]] and [[Washington Metropolitan Area]], both of which are part of the [[Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area]]. The Eastern Shore is less populous and more rural, as are the counties of western and southern Maryland.
The two counties of Western Maryland, [[Allegany County, Maryland|Allegany]] and [[Garrett County, Maryland|Garrett]], are mountainous and sparsely populated, resembling [[West Virginia]] more than they do the rest of Maryland.
The [[center of population]] of Maryland is located on the county line between [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel County]] and [[Howard County, Maryland|Howard County]], in the [[unincorporated town]] of [[Jessup, Maryland|Jessup]] [http://www.census.gov/geo/www/cenpop/statecenters.txt].
===Race===
{{Unreferencedsection|date=March 2008}}
The five largest reported ancestries in Maryland are [[German-American|German]] (15.7%), [[Irish American|Irish]] (11.7%), [[British-American|English]] (9%), unspecified [[American ancestry|American]] (5.8%), and [[Italian-American|Italian]] (5.1%[http://www.niaf.org/research/2000_census_4.asp]).
[[African-Americans]] are concentrated in [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore City]], [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's County]], and the southern Eastern Shore. Most of the [[Eastern Shore of Maryland|Eastern Shore]] and [[Southern Maryland]] are populated by Marylanders of British ancestry, with the Eastern Shore traditionally Methodist and the southern counties Catholic. Western and northern Maryland have large [[German-American]] populations. [[Italians]] and [[Poles]] are centered mostly in the large city of [[Baltimore]]. Jews are numerous throughout [[Montgomery County, Maryland|Montgomery County]] and in [[Pikesville]] northwest of [[Baltimore]]. Hispanics are numerous in [[Hyattsville]]/[[Langley Park, Maryland|Langley Park]], [[Wheaton]] and [[Gaithersburg]].
Maryland has one of the largest proportions of racial minorities in the country, trailing only the four [[minority-majority]] states.
<center>
{{US Demographics}}
</center>
===Religion===
Maryland was founded for the purpose of providing religious toleration of England's Catholic minority. Nevertheless, Parliament later reversed that policy and discouraged the practice of Catholicism in Maryland. Despite the founding intent of the colony, Catholics have never been in a majority in Maryland since early Colonial times. Nonetheless, it is the largest single denomination in Maryland. The present religious composition of the state is shown below:
{| class=wikitable
!colspan=6|
<font size=3>'''Religions in Maryland'''
|-
!colspan=4|
Christian
!colspan=2|
Other
|-
|[[Protestantism|Protestant]]
|56%
|[[Roman Catholicism|Roman Catholic]]
|23%
|[[Judaism|Jewish]]
|4%
|-
|[[Baptist]]
|18%
|Other Christian
|3%
|Other Religions
|1%
|-
|[[Methodism|Methodist]]
|11%
|
|
|Non-Religious
|13%
|-
|[[Lutheranism|Lutheran]]
|6%
|
|
|
|
|-
|Other Protestant
|21%
|
|
|
|
|-
|}
Despite the Protestant majority, Maryland has been prominent in U.S. Catholic tradition, partially because it was intended by George Calvert as a haven for English Catholics. Baltimore was the location of the first Catholic bishop in the U.S. (1789), and [[Emmitsburg]] was the home and burial place of the first American-born citizen to be [[canonized]], [[St. Elizabeth Ann Seton]]. [[Georgetown University]], the first Catholic University, was founded in 1789 in what was then part of Maryland.<ref>It became a part of the District of Columbia when that city was created in the 1790s. </ref> The [[Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary]] in Baltimore was the first Roman Catholic cathedral built in the United States.
==Economy==
[[Image:Maryland quarter, reverse side, 2000.jpg|thumb|left|150px|The reverse side of the Maryland quarter shows the dome of the State House in Annapolis.]]
{{see also|List of federal installations in Maryland|List of shopping malls in Maryland}}
The [[Bureau of Economic Analysis]] estimates that Maryland's gross state product in 2006 was US$257 billion.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau's]] 2007 American Community Survey<ref>[http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/010583.html 2007 American Community Survey] U.S. Census Bureau.</ref> released [[August 28]], [[2007]] Maryland is currently the richest state in the country, with a median household income of $65,144 which puts it ahead of [[New Jersey]] and [[Connecticut]], which are second and third respectively. Two of Maryland's counties, Howard and Montgomery, are the third and seventh wealthiest counties in the nation respectively. Also, the state's poverty rate of 7.8% is the lowest in the country.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/28/AR2007082800779.html?nav%3Drss_nation&sub=AR U.S. Poverty Rate Drops; Ranks of Uninsured Grow] washingtonpost.com.</ref><ref>[http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.census29aug29,0,3537917.story?coll=bal_tab01_layout Maryland is ranked as richest state] baltmioresun.com.</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Aug29/0,4670,Poverty,00.html US Poverty Rate Declines Significantly] FOXNews.com.</ref> Per capita personal income in 2006 was US$43,500, 5<sup>th</sup> in the nation. Average household income in 2002 was US$53,043, also 5<sup>th</sup> in the nation.<ref>[http://www.abagmd.org/info-url2446/info-url_show.htm?doc_id=289379 The State of Individual Giving in Maryland - 2005], The Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers.</ref>
Maryland's economic activity is strongly concentrated in the tertiary service sector, and this sector, in turn, is strongly influenced by location. One major service activity is transportation, centered around the Port of Baltimore and its related rail and trucking access. The port ranked 10th in the U.S. by tonnage in 2002 (Source: [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]], "Waterborn Commerce Statistics"). Although the port handles a wide variety of products, the most typical imports are raw materials and bulk commodities, such as [[iron ore]], [[petroleum]], [[sugar]], and [[fertilizer]]s, often distributed to the relatively close manufacturing centers of the inland [[Midwest]] via good overland transportation. The port also receives several different brands of imported motor vehicles and is the number two auto port in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.automotivelogisticsmagazine.com/aml/buyersguide/baltimore.shtml |title=Port of Baltimore |work=Automotive Logistics Buyers' Guide 2007 |accessdate=2008-01-21 |publisher=Ultima Media }}</ref>
A second service activity takes advantage of the close location of the center of government in [[Washington, D.C.]] and emphasizes 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. In addition, many educational and medical research institutions are located in the state. In fact, the various components of [[Johns Hopkins University]] and its medical research facilities are now the largest single employer in the Baltimore area. Altogether, [[white collar]] technical and administrative workers comprise 25% of Maryland's [[labor force]], one of the highest state percentages in the country.
Maryland has a large food-production sector. A large component of this is commercial fishing, centered in Chesapeake Bay, but also including activity off the short Atlantic seacoast. The largest catches by species are the [[blue crab]], [[oysters]], [[striped bass]], and [[menhaden]]. The Bay also has uncounted millions of overwintering waterfowl in its many wildlife refuges. While not, strictly speaking, a commercial food resource, the waterfowl support a tourism sector of sportsmen.
[[Image:CarrollCountyMD.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Agriculture is an important part of the state's economy.]]
Maryland has large areas of fertile agricultural land in its coastal and [[Piedmont Plateau|Piedmont]] zones, although this land use is being encroached upon by urbanization. Agriculture is oriented to dairying (especially in foothill and piedmont areas) for nearby large city milksheads plus specialty perishable horticulture crops, such as [[cucumber]]s, [[watermelon]]s, [[sweet corn]], [[tomato]]es, [[muskmelon]]s, [[Squash (fruit)|squash]], and [[peas]] (Source:USDA Crop Profiles). In addition, the southern counties of the western shoreline of Chesapeake Bay are warm enough to support a [[tobacco]] [[cash crop]] zone, which has existed since early Colonial times but declined greatly after a state government buyout in the 1990s. There is also a large automated [[chicken]]-farming sector in the state's southeastern part; [[Salisbury, Maryland|Salisbury]] is home to [[Perdue Farms]]. Maryland's food-processing plants are the most significant type of manufacturing by value in the state.
Manufacturing, while large in dollar value, is highly diversified with no sub-sector contributing over 20% of the total. Typical forms of manufacturing include electronics, computer equipment, and chemicals. The once mighty primary metals sub-sector, which at one time included what was then the largest steel factory in the world at [[Sparrows Point]], still exists, but is pressed with foreign competition, [[Bankruptcy|bankruptcies]], and company [[merger]]s. During [[World War II]] the [[Glenn L. Martin Company]] (now part of [[Martin Marietta]] airplane factory near [[Essex, MD]] 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-1800s, were once a predominant natural resource. Historically, there used to be small gold-mining operations in Maryland, some surprisingly near Washington, but these no longer exist.
Maryland imposes 5 [[income tax]] brackets, ranging from 2% to 6.25% of personal income.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.bankrate.com/brm/itax/edit/state/profiles/state_tax_Md.asp
|title=Maryland State taxes
|publisher=BankRate.com
|accessdate=2008-04-09
}}</ref> The city of Baltimore and Maryland's 23 counties levy local "piggyback" income taxes at rates between 1.25% and 3.2% 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% is the 5th highest combined state and local income tax rates in the country, behind only New York City's 11.35%, California’s 10.3%, Rhode Island’s 9.9%, and Vermont’s 9.5%.<ref> {{http://individuals.marylandtaxes.com/incometax/localtax.asp}}}}</ref> Maryland's state [[sales tax]] is 6%.<ref>
}}</ref> All real property in Maryland is subject to the [[property tax]]. 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. Property tax rates vary widely. 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. These rates can increase, decrease or remain the same from year to year. If the proposed tax rate increases the total property tax revenues, the governing body must advertise that fact and hold a public hearing on the new tax rate. This is called the Constant Yield Tax Rate process.
Baltimore City is the eighth largest port in the nation, and was at the center of the February 2006 [[Dubai Ports World controversy|controversy]] over the [[Dubai Ports World]] deal because it was considered to be of such strategic importance. 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.
==Transportation==
===Roads===
{{see also|List of Maryland state highways|List of minor Maryland state highways|List of former Maryland state highways}}
[[Image:MD Route 2.svg|thumb|left|150px|The sign used to mark [[List of Maryland state highways|Maryland's state highways]].]]
[[Image:National-atlas-maryland.png|thumb|300px|right|Maryland, showing major cities and roads]]
Maryland's [[Interstate Highway System|Interstate highways]] include [[Interstate 95 in Maryland|I-95]], which enters the northeast portion of the state, goes through [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]], and becomes part of the eastern section of the [[Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway)|Capital Beltway]] to the [[Woodrow Wilson Bridge]]. [[Interstate 68|I-68]] connects the western portions of the state to [[Interstate 70|I-70]] at the small town of Hancock. I-70 continues east to Baltimore, connecting [[Hagerstown, Maryland|Hagerstown]] and [[Frederick, Maryland|Frederick]] along the way. [[Interstate 83|I-83]] connects Baltimore to southern central Pennsylvania ([[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]] and [[York, Pennsylvania]]). Maryland also has a portion of [[Interstate 81|I-81]] that runs through the state near Hagerstown. [[Interstate 97|I-97]], fully contained within Anne Arundel County and the shortest one- or two-digit Interstate highway outside of Hawaii, connects the Baltimore area to the Annapolis area.
There are also several [[List of auxiliary Interstate Highways|auxiliary Interstate highways]] in Maryland. Among them are two beltways encircling the major cities of the region: [[Interstate 695 (Maryland)|I-695]], the McKeldin (Baltimore) Beltway, which encircles Baltimore; a portion of [[Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway)|I-495]], and the Capital Beltway, which encircles Washington, D.C. [[Interstate 270 (Maryland)|I-270]], which connects the Frederick area with Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia through major suburbs to the northwest of Washington, is a major commuter route and is as wide as fourteen lanes at points. Both I-270 and the Capital Beltway are currently extremely [[Traffic congestion|congested]]; however, the '''[[Intercounty Connector|ICC]]''' or '''I'''nter'''c'''ounty '''C'''onnector, which began construction in November 2007, is hoped to alleviate some of the congestion over time. Construction of the ICC was a major part of the campaign platform of former Governor [[Robert Ehrlich]], who was in office from 2003 until 2007, and of Governor [[Martin O'Malley]], who succeeded him.
[[Image:Chesapeake Bay Bridge.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The [[Chesapeake Bay Bridge]], which connects Maryland's [[Eastern Shore of Maryland|Eastern]] and [[Western Shore|Western]] Shores, is the most popular route for tourists to reach the resort town of [[Ocean City, Maryland|Ocean City]].]]
Maryland also has a [[state highway]] system that contains routes numbered from 2 through 999, however most of the higher-numbered routes are either not signed or are relatively short. Major state highways include Routes [[Maryland Route 2|2]] (Governor Ritchie Highway/Solomons Island Road), [[Maryland Route 4|4]], [[Maryland Route 5|5]], [[Maryland Route 32|32]], [[Maryland Route 45|45]] (York Road), [[Maryland Route 97|97]] (Georgia Avenue), [[Maryland Route 100|100]], [[Maryland Route 210|210]] (Indian Head Highway), [[Maryland Route 295|295]] (Baltimore-Washington Parkway), [[Maryland Route 355|355]], and [[Maryland Route 404|404]].
===Airports===
{{see also|List of airports in Maryland}}
Maryland's largest airport is [[Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport]] (formerly known as Friendship Airport and recently renamed for Baltimore-born former and first African-American Supreme Court Justice [[Thurgood Marshall]]). The only other airports with commercial service are at [[Hagerstown Regional Airport|Hagerstown]] and [[Wicomico Regional Airport|Salisbury]]. The Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C., are also serviced by the other two airports in the region, [[Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport]] and [[Dulles International Airport]], both in [[Northern Virginia]].
===Trains===
{{see also|List of Maryland railroads}}
[[Amtrak]] trains serve Baltimore's [[Pennsylvania Station (Baltimore)|Penn Station]], [[BWI Rail Station|BWI Airport]], [[New Carrollton (Washington Metro)|New Carrollton]], and Aberdeen along the [[Northeast Corridor]]. In addition, train service is provided to [[Rockville, Maryland|Rockville]] and [[Cumberland, Maryland|Cumberland]] on the [[Amtrak]] [[Capitol Limited (Amtrak)|Capitol Limited]]. [[MARC Train|MARC]] commuter trains, operated by the State's Transit Authority, connect nearby [[Washington, D.C.]], [[Frederick]], [[Baltimore]], and many towns between. The [[Washington Metro]] subway and bus system serve Montgomery County and Prince George's County. The [[Maryland Transit Administration]]'s light rail and short subway system serve Baltimore City and adjacent suburbs.
==Law and government==
{{main|Government of Maryland}}
The [[Government of Maryland]] is conducted according to the [[Maryland Constitution|state constitution]]. The Government of Maryland, like the other 49 [[Politics of the United States#state government|state governments]], has exclusive authority over matters that lie entirely within the state's borders, except as limited by the [[Constitution of the United States]]. Maryland is a republic; the [[United States]] guarantees her "republican form of government"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articleiv.html#section4 |title=Article IV |accessdate=2008-01-21 |work=United States Constitution |publisher=[[Legal Information Institute]] }}</ref> although there is considerable disagreement about the meaning of that phrase.
Power in Maryland is divided among three branches of government: [[executive branch|executive]], [[legislative branch|legislative]], and [[judicial branch|judicial]]. The [[Maryland General Assembly]] is composed of the [[Maryland House of Delegates]] and the [[Maryland Senate]]. [[Governor of Maryland|Maryland's governor]] is unique in the United States as the office is vested with significant authority in budgeting. The legislature may not increase the governor's proposed budget expenditures. Unlike most other states, significant autonomy is granted to many of Maryland's [[County (United States)|counties]].
Most of the business of government is conducted in [[Annapolis, Maryland|Annapolis]], the state [[capital]]. Virtually all state and county [[election]]s are held in even-numbered years not divisible by four, in which the [[President of the United States]] is not elected - this, as in other states, is intended to divide state and [[Federal government of the United States|federal]] politics.
The judicial branch of state government consists of one united District Court of Maryland that sits in every county and Baltimore City, as well as 24 Circuit Courts sitting in each County and Baltimore City, the latter being courts of general jurisdiction for all civil disputes over $25,000.00, all equitable jurisdiction and major criminal proceedings. The intermediate appellate court is known as the "[[Maryland Court of Special Appeals|Court of Special Appeals]]" and the [[state supreme court]] is the "[[Maryland Court of Appeals|Court of Appeals]]". The appearance of the judges of the Maryland Court of Appeals is unique in that Maryland is the only state whose judges wear red robes.<ref>http://www.lawlib.state.md.us/Scarlettext.doc</ref>
===Politics===
Since pre-[[American Civil War|Civil War]] times, Maryland politics has been largely controlled by the [[U.S. Democratic Party|Democrats]]. Even as the politics of the Democratic party have shifted, over the last century, the views of the state have shifted with them. Blue-collar "[[Reagan Democrats]]" frequently vote Republican, but Maryland is nonetheless well-known for its loyalty to the Democratic Party, especially inside metropolitan areas. The state is dominated by the two urban/inner suburban regions of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. . In addition, many jobs are directly or indirectly dependent upon the federal government. As a result, Baltimore, Montgomery County and Prince George's County often decide statewide elections. This is balanced by lesser populated areas on the Eastern Shore, Western Maryland, and outer suburbs that tend to support Republicans, even though seven of nine Shore counties have Democratic-majority voter rolls.
[[Image:Spiro Agnew.jpg|thumb|left|175px|[[Spiro Agnew]], former [[Vice President of the United States]] and the highest-ranking political leader in Maryland's history.]]
Maryland has supported the Democratic nominee in the last four presidential elections, and by an average of 15.4%. In 1980, it was one of just six states to vote for [[Jimmy Carter]]. Maryland is often among the Democratic nominees' best states. In 1992, [[Bill Clinton]] fared better in Maryland than any other state except his home state of [[Arkansas]]. In 1996, Maryland was Clinton's 6th best, in 2000 Maryland ranked 4th for Gore and in 2004 [[John Kerry]] showed his 5th best performance in Maryland.
Both Maryland Senators and six of its eight Representatives in Congress are Democrats, and Democrats hold super-majorities in the state Senate and House of Delegates. The previous Governor, [[Robert Ehrlich]], was the first Republican to be elected to that office in four decades, and after one term lost his seat to [[Baltimore]] [[Mayor]] [[Martin J. O'Malley]], a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]].
U.S. Congressman [[Steny Hoyer]] ([[Maryland's 5th congressional district|MD-5]]), a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], is the [[Majority Leader]] for the [[110th United States Congress|110th Congress]] of the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]. His district covers parts of [[Anne Arundel County, Maryland|Anne Arundel]] and [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's]] counties, in addition to all of [[Charles County, Maryland|Charles]], [[Calvert County, Maryland|Calvert]] and [[Saint Mary's County, Maryland|St. Mary's]] counties in [[southern Maryland]].<ref>[[Steny Hoyer]], [[Maryland's 5th congressional district|Fifth Congressional District of Maryland]]. [[U.S. House of Representatives]]. Retrieved December 8, 2006 from http://hoyer.house.gov</ref>
[[John Kerry]] easily won the state's 10 electoral votes in 2004 by a margin of 13 percentage points with 55.9% of the vote. However, presidential election years are not deeply contested as national party resources are spent mostly in [[swing states]].
The 2006 election cycle witnessed no significant change in this pattern of Democratic dominance, even though there were two major highly-contested races. After Democratic Senator [[Paul Sarbanes]] announced that he was retiring, Democratic Congressman [[Benjamin Cardin]] defeated Republican Lieutenant Governor [[Michael S. Steele]], with 55% of the vote, against Steele's 44%. The governorship was also a point of interest, as Republican incumbent [[Robert Ehrlich]] was defeated by Democratic challenger [[Martin O'Malley]], the Mayor of Baltimore, 53% to 46%. Montgomery County Executive [[Doug Duncan]], another leading candidate for the Democratic slot, pulled out of the highly anticipated primary, announcing his withdrawal on [[June 22]], [[2006]], citing [[clinical depression]].
While Maryland is a Democratic party stronghold, perhaps its best known political figure is a Republican - former Governor [[Spiro Agnew]], who served as United States Vice President under [[Richard Nixon]]. He was Vice President from 1969 to 1973, when he resigned in the aftermath of revelations that he had taken [[bribes]] while he was Governor of Maryland. In late 1973, a court found Agnew guilty of violating tax laws.
The late Supreme Court Justice [[Thurgood Marshall]] was raised in Baltimore, and during his time on the bench represented the liberal wing of the court that allowed abortion on a federal level, and uphold laws eliminating racial discrimination in the public and private spheres.
==Education==
===Primary and secondary education===
[[Image:Memorial Chapel at UMCP, front view off-center, August 21, 2006.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Memorial Chapel at the [[University of Maryland, College Park]], Maryland's largest university.]]
{{see also|List of school districts in Maryland|List of high schools in Maryland}}
Public primary and secondary education in Maryland is overseen by the [[State education agency|Maryland State Department of Education]]. The highest educational official in the state is the [[Superintendent (education)|State Superintendent of Schools]], currently [[Nancy Grasmick|Dr. Nancy Grasmick]], who is appointed by the [[Board of education|State Board of Education]] to 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 own influence on the day to day functions of public education. Each county and county-equivalent in Maryland has a [[List of school districts in Maryland|local Board of Education]] charged with running the public schools in that particular jurisdiction.
Maryland has a broad range of private primary and secondary schools. Many of these are affiliated with various religious sects, including [[parochial schools]] of the [[Catholic Church]], [[Quaker]] schools, [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]] schools, and [[Judaism|Jewish]] schools. 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.
On [[January 21]], [[2008]], [[Philippine]] [[Consul]] Rico Fos announced that [[Baltimore, Maryland]] will employ an additional 178 new [[Filipino people|Filipino]] public school teachers this school year, bringing to a total of 1,000, the number of Filipino teachers in the metropolitan [[Washington]] (which includes parts of Maryland and [[Virginia]]). Maryland has a yearly shortage of 6,000 teachers.<ref>[http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=106362 Abs-Cbn Interactive, Baltimore to hire 178 Pinoy teachers]</ref>
===Colleges and universities===
{{See also|List of colleges and universities in Maryland}}
The oldest college in Maryland, and the third oldest college in the United States, is [[St. John's College]], founded in 1696 as King William's School. Maryland has 18 other private colleges and universities, the most prominent of which is [[Johns Hopkins University]], founded in 1876 with a grant from Baltimore entrepreneur [[Johns Hopkins]].
The first and largest public university in the state is the [[University of Maryland, College Park]], which was founded as the Maryland Agricultural College in 1856 and became a public [[land grant college]] in 1864. [[Towson University]], founded in 1866, is the state's second largest university. The majority of public universities in the state are affiliated with the [[University System of Maryland]]. Two state-funded institutions, [[Morgan State University]] and [[St. Mary's College]], as well as two federally funded institutions, the [[Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences]] and the [[United States Naval Academy]] are not affiliated with the University System of Maryland.
==Sports==
[[Image:CamdenYards 2005-05-08.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Oriole Park at Camden Yards]]]]
{{see also|List of Professional Sports Teams in Maryland}}
With two major metropolitan areas, Maryland has a number of major and minor professional sports franchises. Two [[National Football League]] teams play in Maryland, the [[Baltimore Ravens]] in Baltimore and the [[Washington Redskins]] in [[Prince George's County, Maryland|Prince George's County]]. The [[Baltimore Orioles]] are the state's [[Major League Baseball]] franchise, with the [[Washington Nationals]], located nearby in [[Washington D.C.]] The [[National Hockey League]]'s [[Washington Capitals]] and the [[National Basketball Association]]'s [[Washington Wizards]] formerly played in Maryland, until the construction of a Washington arena in 1997 (originally known as MCI Center, renamed [[Verizon Center]] in 2006). Maryland enjoys considerable historical repute for the talented sports players of its past, including: [[Cal Ripken Jr.]] and [[Babe Ruth]].
Other professional sports franchises in the state include five affiliated [[minor league baseball]] teams, one [[independent league baseball]] team, an indoor soccer team, two indoor football teams, and three low-level outdoor soccer teams.
The official state sport of Maryland, since 1962, is [[jousting]]; the official team sport since 2004 is [[lacrosse]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/sport.html |title=State Symbols |accessdate=2007-12-06 |publisher=Maryland State Archives}}</ref> In 2008, intending to promote physical fitness for all ages, a bill was introduced in the state legislature to add walking as the official state exercise.<ref>{{cite news |first=Philip |last=Rucker |title=Lawmakers Seek to Sweeten the List of Md. Symbols |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/20/AR2008022002747.html |work=The Washington Post |publisher=The Washington Post Company |date=[[2008-02-21]] |accessdate=2008-04-05 }}</ref>
{{clear}}
==See also==
*[[List of Maryland-related topics]]
{{portal|Maryland|Flag of Maryland.svg|left=yes}}
{{clear}}
<!-- Please place links to all topics directly related to the State of Maryland in the [[List of Maryland-related topics]] -->
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==Further reading==
*Robert J. Brugger. '' Maryland, A Middle Temperament: 1634-1980'' (1996)
*Suzanne Ellery Greene Chappelle, Jean H. Baker, Dean R. Esslinger, and Whitman H. Ridgeway. ''Maryland: A History of its People'' (1986)
*Lawrence Denton. '' A Southern Star for Maryland'' (1995)
==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
*[http://www.maryland.gov/ Official website of the State of Maryland]
*[http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=MD Energy Data & Statistics for Maryland ]
*[http://www.usgs.gov/state/state.asp?State=MD USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Maryland]
*[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24000.html U.S. Census Bureau]
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09755b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia article]
*[http://www.ers.usda.gov/StateFacts/MD.htm Maryland State Facts]
*{{wikia|world:Maryland|Maryland}}
*{{wikitravel}}
*{{dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Maryland}}
{{-}}
{{Maryland|expand}}
{{United States}}
{{US South}}
{{succession
| preceded = [[Massachusetts]]
| office = [[List of U.S. states by date of statehood]]
| years = Ratified [[Constitution of the United States of America|Constitution]] on [[April 28]], [[1788]] (7th)
| succeeded = [[South Carolina]]
}}
{{coor title d|39|N|76.7|W|region:US-MD_type:state}}
[[Category:1788 establishments]]
[[Category:Maryland]]
[[Category:States of the United States]]
[[Category:Southern United States| ]]
{{Link FA|am}}
[[af:Maryland]]
[[am:ሜሪላንድ]]
[[ang:Maryland]]
[[ar:ماريلاند]]
[[frp:Maryland]]
[[az:Merilend]]
[[bn:মেরিল্যান্ড]]
[[zh-min-nan:Maryland]]
[[bs:Maryland]]
[[br:Maryland]]
[[bg:Мериленд]]
[[ca:Maryland]]
[[cs:Maryland]]
[[cy:Maryland]]
[[da:Maryland]]
[[de:Maryland]]
[[et:Maryland]]
[[es:Maryland]]
[[eo:Marilando]]
[[eu:Maryland]]
[[fa:مریلند]]
[[fo:Maryland]]
[[fr:Maryland]]
[[fy:Marylân]]
[[ga:Maryland]]
[[gd:Maryland]]
[[gl:Maryland]]
[[ko:메릴랜드 주]]
[[hy:Մերիլենդ]]
[[hr:Maryland]]
[[io:Maryland]]
[[bpy:মেরিল্যান্ড]]
[[id:Maryland]]
[[ik:Maryland]]
[[os:Мэриленд]]
[[is:Maryland]]
[[it:Maryland]]
[[he:מרילנד]]
[[pam:Maryland]]
[[ka:მერილენდი]]
[[ks:मेरिलैंड]]
[[kw:Tir Maria]]
[[sw:Maryland]]
[[ht:Merilann]]
[[ku:Maryland]]
[[lad:Maryland]]
[[la:Terra Mariae]]
[[lv:Mērilenda]]
[[lt:Merilandas]]
[[lij:Maryland]]
[[hu:Maryland]]
[[mk:Мериленд]]
[[ml:മെരിലാന്ഡ്]]
[[mi:Maryland]]
[[mr:मेरीलँड]]
[[ms:Maryland]]
[[nl:Maryland]]
[[ja:メリーランド州]]
[[no:Maryland]]
[[nn:Maryland]]
[[oc:Maryland]]
[[uz:Maryland]]
[[pms:Maryland]]
[[nds:Maryland]]
[[pl:Maryland]]
[[pt:Maryland]]
[[ro:Maryland (stat SUA)]]
[[ru:Мэриленд]]
[[sq:Maryland]]
[[simple:Maryland]]
[[sk:Maryland]]
[[sl:Maryland]]
[[sr:Мериленд]]
[[fi:Maryland]]
[[sv:Maryland]]
[[ta:மேரிலாந்து]]
[[th:มลรัฐแมริแลนด์]]
[[vi:Maryland]]
[[tr:Maryland]]
[[uk:Меріленд]]
[[ur:میری لینڈ]]
[[vec:Maryland]]
[[vo:Maryland]]
[[diq:Maryland]]
[[bat-smg:Merilands]]
[[zh:马里兰州]]