Skip to main content

12 Fun Facts About Maryland

Maryland, a Mid-Atlantic state characterized by its plentiful coastlines and waterways on the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic, doesn't get as much hoopla as states like New York and Massachusetts.

Yet, it's still steeped in unbridled history and charm, making the state known for blue crabs worthy of a Fun Facts post of its own.

Without further ado, here are 12 interesting facts about the Old Line State:

  • Many people mistakenly think that Baltimore is the capital of Maryland. While Baltimore is the state's largest city, Annapolis is its capital.
  • The state is named after Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I of England and mother of Charles II and James II.
  • One of the thirteen original colonies, Maryland is considered the birthplace of religious freedom in America, not Massachusetts. It was formed in the early 17th century as a refuge for persecuted Catholics from England by George Calvert, the first Lord of Baltimore.
  • It became the thirteenth state to approve the ratification of the Articles of Confederation and the seventh state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
  • It played a chief role in the founding of Washington D.C., which was established on land donated by Maryland.
  • During the War of 1812, the British attempted to capture Baltimore, which was protected by Fortune McHenry. During the bombardment, Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner, which was later adopted as the national anthem.
  • Maryland is the 9th smallest state. The next smallest state is Hawaii and the next largest is West Virginia, which is almost twice the size of Maryland.
  • With an elevation of over 3,000 feet, Hoye Crest on Backbone Mountain is the highest point in Maryland.
  • The state remained with the Union during the Civil War, due in large part to federal intervention.  Roughly 80% of the men from Maryland who joined the military during the War fought for the Union. A new state constitution in 1864 abolished slavery.
  • The state's most prominent university is John's Hopkins University, founded in 1876. The first public university in the state, the University of Maryland, Baltimore, was founded in 1807.
  • Mount Clare Station, built in Baltimore in 1830, was the nation's first railroad station. Just two years earlier, America's first umbrellas were produced in Baltimore.
  • In the 1760s, the Mason-Dixon line was drawn between Pennsylvania and Maryland to settle a border dispute. It is traditionally thought of as the dividing line between the country's north and south.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it?  After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...
6 comments
Read more

Women vs. Men: Who likes to backstab more?

Whether it's on TV or in the workplace, the general consensus seems to be that women gossip, backstab, and stir up more conflict than men do. But, as with every other topic, I thought it only fair to put this so-called stereotype under the microscope. If you watch reality shows like Celebrity Apprentice, you'll notice it's the women who spend far more time bickering. While the men do at times become embroiled in tit for tat, it's the women who are portrayed as meaner and more hostile. In the workplace, I have noticed that women seem to gossip far more than their male counterparts. I haven't really seen any cases where a person blatantly backstabs the other, but I have caught both men and women in little white lies. If it is true that women are generally more into backstabbing and gossiping than men, why is this the case? I believe that it isn't fair to make a blanket statement like "all women play these games while all men keep to themselves and pre...
1 comment
Read more

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is  still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...
6 comments
Read more