Maryland has several different nicknames, these include the "Cockade State," the "Free State," the "Monumental State," the "Old Line State," and the "Terrapin State." The two most common are "the Old Line State" that originated during the American Revolution when The Maryland Line, Maryland’s regiments of regulars, achieved a reputation as the saviors of the Continental Army and the cause of independence[1] and the "Free State," nickname came later when Maryland was first recognized as a "Free State" on November 1, 1864. On that date, the Maryland Constitution of 1864 took effect. By its provisions, slavery within the State's borders was abolished, and Maryland, indeed, became a free state.[2]
Maryland became the 7th state to join the Union on April 28, 1788.[3] The total area of Maryland is 12,407 square miles (32,133 km²), making it the 9th smallest state.[4] Maryland’s economy ranks 17th in size among states and Washington, DC.[5] The largest sector in 2022 was government, followed by finance, insurance, and real estate, and then professional and business services. In the 3rd quarter of 2023, the real GDP for Maryland was $518.7 billion in goods and services per year.[5]
Some of the state’s most attractive features include the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine, the National Aquarium, and the diverse landscapes that range from gently rolling hills to pine groves, to sandy dunes, and marshlands near the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland is also the location of the United States Naval Academy. The state is sometimes referred to as “America in Miniature” due to its diverse topography.[3]
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History of Maryland
The first European settlement in Maryland was St. Mary’s Fort, built in 1634 by the first English colonists to reach the western side of the Chesapeake Bay.[6] The colonial Province of Maryland was granted by King Charles I to Sir George Calvert in 1632. Land patents, also known as land grants, were issued for the years 1730 to 1830, covering the area of the current Washington County, Maryland.[7]
Annapolis, Maryland became the US capital of the newly forming American nation when the Continental Congress met from in November 1783 (from the 26th to June 3, 1784).[8]
Despite some popular support for the cause of the Confederate States of America, Maryland did not secede during the Civil War.[9] The first casualties of the war occurred in Baltimore during the Baltimore riot of 1861. The Maryland Campaign, also known as the Antietam Campaign, was Robert E. Lee’s first invasion of the North during the Civil War.[10]
For more than 300 years, the Port of Baltimore has been the center of industry for the state.[11] Linking with the first U.S. commercial railroad, the B&O, Baltimore became a major East Coast shipping and manufacturing center.[11] Attracted by shipbuilding and manufacturing jobs, as well as the railroad, Locust Point became the third largest port of entry for European immigrants.[11]
In the late 19th century, the state transferred government records into the historical society’s care.[12] The rise of Baltimore from a sleepy town trading in tobacco to a city rivaling Philadelphia, Boston, and New York began when Dr. John Stevenson, a prominent Baltimore physician and merchant, began shipping flour to Ireland.[13] Throughout the 20th century, the growing diversity of Maryland’s population prompted a dramatic shift in the study of American history.[12] Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington D.C were among the cities that saw the most rapid expansion at this time.[14]
Demographics of Maryland
The population of Maryland has the following demographic distribution:[15]
- White: 52.67%
- Black or African American: 29.83%
- Asian: 6.46%
- Two or more races: 5.4%
- Other race: 5.32%
- Native American: 0.28%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.05%
Researching family history in Maryland
Because Washington D.C. is located in the State of Maryland, the family history and genealogy resources of Washington D.C. are readily available from Maryland. Both the Library of Congress and the U.S. National Archives are in Washington D.C. There is also a National Archives branch repository in College Park, Maryland. The Washington National Records Center is located in Suitland, Maryland.
The Maryland Genealogical Society promotes genealogical research through publications, programs and workshps, resources, and outreach. The society publishes a journal and newsletter and maintains a surname registry, databases of photos, tax lists, cemetery, and church records. The Maryland Historical Trust Library houses journals and 5,000 books primarily about archeology (terrestrial and maritime), Native Americans, architecture, history, historic preservation, decorative, building conservation for Maryland and surrounding regions. The Trust Library also has an oral history collection. The Maryland State Archives has a major collection of historic documents dating back to the original European settlement. Some of the records are available online.
Many records are available in the local county and city libraries.
Maryland county list
Maryland has 23 counties and one independent city, Baltimore City. [16]
| Allegany | Carroll | Harford | St. Mary's |
| Anne Arundel | Cecil | Howard | Somerset |
| Baltimore City | Charles | Kent | Talbot |
| Baltimore County | Dorchester | Montgomery | Washington |
| Calvert | Frederick | Prince George's | Wicomico |
| Caroline | Garrett | Queen Anne's | Worcester |
See also
Explore more about Maryland
MyHeritage.com has 39 collections of records specific to Maryland. The largest of these collections include Baltimore, Maryland Passenger Lists, 1891-1943 and Maryland Newspapers, 1790-2009. You can see the entire list of Maryland resources at the Maryland Collection Catalog.
References
- ↑ Archives of Maryland Online
- ↑ Maryland's Nicknames
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 52 Interesting Facts About Maryland
- ↑ 88 Mesmerizing Facts About Maryland
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Economy of Maryland Statistics and Data Trends: GDP ranking, unemployment rate, and economic growth | USAFacts
- ↑ Researchers Discover Ruins of Maryland's Earliest Colonial Site, a 386-Year-Old Fort
- ↑ Land patents of Washington County, Maryland (1730-1830) | Western Maryland's Historical Library
- ↑ When was Annapolis the capital of the US?
- ↑ Civil War and the Maryland General Assembly, Maryland State Archives
- ↑ Battle of Antietam - Winner, Date & Civil War
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Then and Now: Industry
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Maryland Center for History and Culture
- ↑ Baltimore City, Maryland - Historical Chronology, 1800-1899
- ↑ Columbia, Maryland in Context
- ↑ Maryland Population 2024 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs)
- ↑ Maryland Counties, local government