Good Thursday afternoon friend, today we are going to look at the great state of Maryland. Enjoy the read... Maryland is the 19th most populous and the 42nd most extensive of the 50 states of the United States. It is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The state attained statehood on April 28, 1788, becoming the 7th state to join the union. Its four bordering states are Delaware , Pennsylvania , Virginia , and West Virginia . Maryland (nicknamed: Cockade State, Free State, Monumental State, Old Line State, Terrapin State) has 23 counties and one independent city (Baltimore City). The state’s capital is Annapolis. People who live in MD or who come from Maryland are referred to as Marylanders. The postal abbreviation for Maryland is MD. With these facts about Maryland, let us learn more about its history, geography, economy, people, culture, and much more. 1). Paleo-Indians first inhabited what is now the state of Maryland. They believe the Paleo-Indians came from other parts of North America to hunt bison and caribou. In later years, Native American tribes moved into the region, including the Lenape, Nanticoke, Susquehannock, Shawnee, and Powhatan tribes. 2). Maryland gets its name from Queen Henrietta Maria of England. Her husband, George Calvert created the colony, but before the settlement could begin, he died and his son Cecilius continued on. Cecilius wanted to create safe place for Roman Catholics that were coming from England. 3). Maryland is sometimes called “America in Miniature”. It has a wide topography that ranges from gently rolling hills to pine groves, to sandy dunes, and marshlands near the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland is home to lakes, rivers, and the Atlantic ocean. 400 types of birds, 90 species of mammals, 93 species of reptiles and amphibians, and hundreds of freshwater and marine fish inhabit the borders of Maryland. 4). The Chesapeake Bay is the largest of more than 100 estuaries (a partially enclosed body of water where fresh water from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the ocean) in the United States. It splits Maryland into two halves and covers an area of about 64,000 square miles (103,000 square km). Captain John Smith was one of the first Europeans to visit the bay. 5). MD joined the Union during the Civil War even though it was a slave state south of the Mason-Dixon line. Being a border state, it had major divisions in its support, even among family members. The state was a battleground where some of the most decisive battles of the war were fought. 6). In Sharpsburg, Maryland, the Battle of Antietam was fought on September 17, 1862. The battle is considered as the bloodiest battle of the American Civil war because an estimated 23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat. According to some sources, it is also the eighth-costliest land battle of the American Civil War. 7). Another Maryland nickname is the “Old Line State”. During the Revolutionary War, 400 American soldiers led by Colonel William Smallwood, fought against 10,000 British soldiers in a 1776 battle. The “Maryland Line” was able to hold off the advancing British soldiers long enough for George Washington, leading the remaining American soldiers, to make their escape. 8). Maryland has a state crustacean. The blue crab was named the state crustacean (crustacean comes from the Latin word crusta, which means shell) in 1989. The blue crab is commonly called the “Maryland crab”, even though a large amount of blue crabs are caught off the waters of Virginia. The crabs are in peak season from April to November, and Marylanders are known to eat their crabs with Old Bay or Chesapeake Bay seasoning. 9). Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland and was founded in 1729. It was originally created as a grain and tobacco shipping point. 10). The first successful passenger balloon flight in the United States took place in Baltimore on June 24, 1784. It is said that a 13 year old boy from Baltimore embarked in this balloon since it was too small to carry its creator. 11). The Maryland State Police, established in 1921, is the oldest statewide law enforcement agency in the United States. They became a separate branch of the state’s government in 1935. 12). Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland. Although born into slavery, Harriet Tubman rose above her traumatic past and became a historic leader, fighting against slavery. Part of her famous underground railroad can be toured in Maryland at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center. The journey lasts 125 miles starting in Cambridge to Goldsboro passing through country roads to off state highways and part of the Great Chesapeake Bay Loop. 13). The Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore is the birthplace of the U.S. national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The “Flag House” has been there since 1793. 14). Francis Key Scott, a Maryland lawyer, wrote the “Star-Spangled Banner” in 1814. It became America’s national anthem in 1931. The Francis Key Scott bridge is a 1,200-foot long bridge that crosses the Patapsco River in Baltimore. It is the second longest continuous truss bridge in the nation. 15). Annapolis, MD, is home to the United States Naval Academy. The Naval Academy was founded in 1845 and has been training officers for the Marine Corps and Navy ever since. Visitors can explore the campus and take a guided tour to get an up-close look at what student life in the academy is really like. There are many gorgeous, old buildings to see, from the main chapel to Bancroft Hall’s Memorial Chapel. For those lucky enough to be there around lunchtime, the daily noon formation of 4,000 midshipmen can be observed as they form for roll call. (Source comes from 52 Interesting Facts About Maryland - The Fact File Have a blessed day... Take care and GOD bless.
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