Maryland is one of the smallest states that located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders Pennsylvania to its north; Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to its east; Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west. Maryland has several nicknames such as: “Old Line State”, “Free State”, “Little America”, and “America in Miniature”. This article will talk more about 10 interesting Maryland facts.
1. Maryland is Named After Henrietta Maria
Maryland is one of the original one of the original Thirteen Colonies of England. It was founded by George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore. Charles I of England granted Lord Baltimore a colonial charter in 1632, and it’s named after his wife, the French-born queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland, Henrietta Maria that known then in England as Mary.
2. The Capital City of Maryland is Annapolis, While Baltimore is Its Largest City
Annapolis is the capital city of Maryland. It’s situated on Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River. The largest city in Maryland is Baltimore. Baltimore Metropolitan Area or also called Central Maryland is the largest Metropolitan area of Maryland. Together with the Washington Metropolitan Area, it forms The Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area.
3. The Chesapeake Bay is the Largest Estuary in the United States
An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. The northern portion of Chesapeake Bay is located in Maryland while the southern part is in Virginia. Chesapeake Bay is an important feature for the ecology and economy for both Maryland and Virginia.
4. Maryland is 9th Smallest State but Features a Variety of Climates and Topographical Features
Maryland is the 9th smallest state by area. It’s a little larger than Hawaii but only half of the size of its neighbour West Virginia. Although it’s the 9th smallest state, Maryland features a variety of climates and topographical features that give it “America in Miniature” nickname.
5. Maryland Has the Highest Numbers of Historic Landmarks Per Capita
Maryland is not ranked 1st in the number of Historic Landmark per state. New York is the state with most Historic Landmark. But when it comes to the highest numbers of historic landmarks per capital, we can find that Maryland is the state with the highest numbers of historic landmarks per capita.
6. Maryland is One of the States with the Highest Median Household Income
With a highly diversified economy and its proximity to Washington DC, Maryland has one of the highest median household incomes among all US States. It had the highest Median Household income before 2015 and is still on the top 3 of the states with the highest median household income in 2019.
7. Hoye-Crest is the Highest Natural Point of Maryland
At 3,360 feet (1,020 m) elevation, Hoye-Crest is the highest natural point of Maryland. Hoye-Crest is a summit along the Backbone Mountain that is located in Garrett County, Maryland. Hoye-Crest is named after Captain Charles E. Hoye (1876–1951), the founder of the Garrett County Historical Society.
8. Baltimore Oriole is the Official State Bird of Maryland
In 1947, the Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula) was designated as the official state bird of Maryland. The Baltimore oriole is a small migratory-breeding bird that is commonly found in eastern North America. The Baltimore oriole received its name from its male’s colors that resemblance the coat-of-arms of 17th century Lord Baltimore.
9. Black-eyed Susan is the Official State Flower of Maryland
The official state flower of Maryland is Black-eyed Susan that was designated in 1918. Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a flowering plant that is native to Eastern and Central North America. But Black-eyed Susan is naturalized in western part of the United States as well so that we can find Black-eyed Susan in all 48 contiguous states of the United States.
10. White Oak is the Official State Tree of Maryland
White Oak (Quercus alba) is the official state tree of Maryland. It was designated as the state tree of Maryland in 1941. The white oak is a long-lived oak, native to eastern and central North America. White oak is also the official state tree of Illinois and Connecticut. Wye Oak was the largest white oak tree in the United States that became the state tree of Maryland from 1941 until its destruction in June 6, 2002 during a severe thunderstorm.
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