Welcome to Maryland
"The Old Line State" Of the original 13 colonies, Maryland's patriotic contributions often get overshadowed by those of showier states like Connecticut and New York. But the state was the birthplace of the revolutionary group Sons of Liberty (featuring future national heroes Paul Revere, John Adams, and Patrick Henry), and the Treaty of Paris was signed in Annapolis, which at the time served as not only Maryland's capital, but also the capital of the entire nation. Maryland is even known as the "Old Line State" due to the many war contributions of Maryland Line troops. Later, during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key penned the words to what would become "The Star Spangled Banner" on a battlefield in the state. Situated on the precipice between the North and South, Maryland can be seen as an amalgamation of both. More than anything, Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the U.S., defines its geography—and to a large extent its people. The Port of Baltimore is a key shipping and transportation area, and commercial fishing is central to its food-production industry. According the 2008 U.S. Census, Maryland households garner the highest average income in the country. Perhaps that makes up for the fact that the state was the first to institute a sales tax. State Name: Maryland State Nicknames: "The Old Line State," "The Free State" State Motto: Fatti maschii, parole femine ("Strong deeds, gentle words") Name for Residents: Marylander Abbreviation: MD Time Zone: Eastern, GMT/UTC -5 / -4 (Daylight Savings Time) Capital City: Annapolis Date of Statehood: April 28, 1788 Statehood Rank: 7th State Area: 12,407 square miles (32,133 km²) Area Rank: 42 of 50 Number of Counties: 24 State Population: 5,633,597 (2008 estimate) Largest Cities:     Baltimore - 636,919 (2007)     Bethesda - 55,277 (2000)     Annapolis - 36,524 (2008) Major Rivers:     Potomac River - Length: 383 mi (665 km)     Younghiogheny River - Length: 122 mi (196 km)     Pocomoke River - Length: 73 mi (117 km) Highest Point: Hoye Crest, 3,360 ft (1,024 m) Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean, (sea level) Bordering States and Countries:     Pennsylvania (North)     Delaware (East)     Washinton, D.C. (South)     Virginia (South)     West Virginia (Southwest) Record High Temperature:     109°F (43°C)     July 10, 1936 at Cumberland Record Low Temperature:     -40°F (-40°C)     January 13, 1912 at Oakland
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	Author: World Trade Press