Baltimore

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.

The Great Baltimore Fire on February 7, 1904 destroyed over 1,500 buildings in 30 hours.

In the last few decades Baltimore has become a model of urban decay. The mass exodus of the middle class has left Baltimore with a steadily declining population. Crime is a serious problem and heroin addiction is prevalent.

Baltimore is the location of the Baltimore World Trade Center, the world's tallest five sided building.

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 revitilization 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 fire that raged for six days and virtually shut-down the downtown area. Weeks after the train derailment, traffic in downtown Baltimore was totally gridlocked and most major streets were closed. A convention occurred on July 26-28, 2001 in the Baltimore Convention Center most of the major streets in downtown Baltimore still remained closed and traffic was still gridlocked, on the early morning hours of July 26-27, manhole covers flew into the air and there were underground explosions along West Pratt Street. West Pratt Street was subsequently closed and the fire department came and opened fire hydrants which virtually turned West Pratt Street into a gushing river to flush out the chemicals in the sewer lines.

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. To see more detailed information and the latest information regarding Baltimore's convention center headquarters hotel, go here: Baltimore Convention Center Hotel Project.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 238.5 km² (92.1 mi²). 209.3 km² (80.8 mi²) of it is land and 29.2 km² (11.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 12.24% water.

• Baltimore-Washington International Airport
• Martin State Airport - (general aviation)

Demographics

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/km² (8,058.4/mi²). There are 300,477 housing units at an average density of 1,435.8/km² (3,718.6/mi²). 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.

Private

• Johns Hopkins University
• Goucher College
• College of Notre Dame of Maryland
• Loyola College

Public

• Morgan State University
• University of Baltimore
• Baltimore City Community College
• Coppin State College
• University of Maryland at Baltimore

Schools

• Lake Clifton Eastern High School

Sports Teams

• Baltimore Orioles (Major League Baseball)
• Baltimore Ravens (National Football League)
• Baltimore Bayhawks (Major League Lacrosse)

Defunct (or moved) Sports Teams

Football

• Baltimore Stallions - (Canadian 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 Blast - (Major Indoor Soccer League)
• Baltimore Bays - (North American Soccer League)

Hockey

In 1674, a portion of Baltimore County, as well as a portion of Kent County, was split off to form Cecil County. In 1748, a portion of Baltimore County, as well as a portion of Prince George's County, was split off to form Frederick County. In 1773, Harford County was split off from Baltimore County. In 1837 a part of Baltimore County was combined with a part of Frederick County to form Carroll County. As mentioned above, in 1851 the city of Baltimore was detached from Baltimore County.

Unincorporated areas are also considered as towns by many people, but they lack local government. The United States Census Bureau recognizes the following Census-Designated Places in Baltimore County:

1. Arbutus
2. Carney
3. Catonsville
4. Cockeysville
5. Dundalk
6. Edgemere
7. Essex
8. Garrison
9. Hampton
10. Kingsville
11. Lansdowne-Baltimore Highlands
12. Lutherville-Timonium
13. Mays Chapel
14. Middle River
15. Milford Mill
16. Overlea
17. Owings Mills
18. Parkville
19. Perry Hall
20. Pikeville
21. Randallstown
22. Reisterstown
23. Rosedale
24. Rossville
25. Towson
26. White Marsh
27. Woodlawn (Note: this is also the name of a CDP in Prince George's County!)

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,766 km² (682 mi²). 1,550 km² (599 mi²) of it is land and 216 km² (83 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 12.23% water.

There are 299,877 households out of which 30.20% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.40% are married couples living together, 12.80% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.80% are non-families. 27.30% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.10% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.46 and the average family size is 3.00.

In the county the population is spread out with 23.60% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 23.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 90.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $50,667, and the median income for a family is $59,998. Males have a median income of $41,048 versus $31,426 for females. The per capita income for the county is $26,167. 6.50% of the population and 4.50% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 7.20% are under the age of 18 and 6.50% are 65 or older.

Also located in the county:

• Goucher College (in Towson)
• Towson University (formerly known as Towson State University, and before that Towson State Teachers' College) (in Towson)

Cities and Towns

Franchise history

• to be written

Players of note

Baseball Hall of Famers

• Luis Aparicio
• Roger Bresnahan
• Reggie Jackson
• Joe Kelley
• George Kell
• Joe McGinnity
• John McGraw
• Eddie Murray
• Jim Palmer
• Robin Roberts
• Brooks Robinson
• Frank Robinson
• Wilbert Robinson
• Hoyt Wilhelm

Current stars

• Tony Batista
• Marty Cordova

Not to be forgotten

• Brady Anderson
• Jimmy Austin
• Paul Blair
• Harlond Clift
• Boog Powell
• Cal Ripken, Sr
• Earl Weaver
• Ken Williams
• Cal Ripken, Jr

Retired numbers

• 4 Earl Weaver
• 5 Brooks Robinson
• 8 Cal Ripken, Jr
• 20 Frank Robinson
• 22 Jim Palmer
• 33 Eddie Murray
• 42 Jackie Robinson (retired throughout baseball)

External links

Geography

Demographics

There are 92 households out of which 34.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.5% are married couples living together, 7.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 18.5% are non-families. 7.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 2.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.72 and the average family size is 2.88.

In the town the population is spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 32.8% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 125.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 111.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $44,375, and the median income for a family is $46,964. Males have a median income of $28,750 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income for the town is $17,260. 7.0% of the population and 2.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 2.9% are under the age of 18 and 0.0% are 65 or older.