The Mid-Atlantic state of Maryland is on the east coast of the U.S., bordering a total of four other states. Pennsylvania to the north, Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Virginia to the south, and West Virginia to the west.
Little America is renowned for its abundant coastlines and waterways that span along the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Like other states encompassing the east coast, Maryland, and in particular, Baltimore has a long history as a major U.S. seaport.
Due to consistent seasonal weather, hot, dry summers, and cold snowy winters, accompanied by a high quality of life, laid-back residents, and a stable economy, Maryland is always a major draw for those that want to relocate to the state. However, there is so much more to this glorious state than meets the eye, so, let’s check out some of the most interesting facts about Maryland!
48 Interesting Facts About Maryland
1. The name ‘Maryland’ was adopted by Queen Henrietta Maria of England. Her husband, George Calvert formed a colony; however, before the settlement could commence, he tragically died, but his son, Cecilius continued in his footsteps. The son’s vision was to create a safe haven for Roman Catholics that were arriving from England.
2. Maryland is home to the NFL football team, The Baltimore Ravens. The Raven’s were actually named after Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem, ‘The Raven’. So, the state’s biggest and most well-known football team is named after a poem!
3. Jousting became Maryland’s official sport in 1962 and lacrosse became the state’s official team sport in 2004.
4. Out of all 50 states, it is Maryland’s flag that arguably stands out the most, with a black and gold design on the quartered flag, this famous state flag is based on the country’s English heritage, resembling the coat of arms of the Calvert family.
5. Marylanders, which is a term used to describe the residents of the state, are extremely proud and happy with their flag. You can see the flag and variations of it on everything, from schools to sports teams, and even on a Southwest Airlines 737!
6. The Chesapeake Bay consists of over 100 estuaries, making it the largest Bay in the U.S.
7. Maryland is the narrowest of all US states, with the thinnest point being less than 2 miles wide, in the Hancock area of the state.
8. There were two states that selflessly gave up a percentage of their land to help form the nation’s capital, Washington D.C in 1790. The two states were Delaware and Maryland!
9. The United States first-ever post office was created in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1774.
10. Maryland’s famous city of Annapolis was actually the capital of the United States for a brief period between 1783-1784.
Maryland ranks 1st in Concentration of Computer Scientists and 3rd in Concentration of Aerospace Engineers in the US! Scroll to the bottom of the page to discover all the economic and job-related facts about Maryland. You won’t want to miss them!
11. Chesapeake Bay’s enormous number of estuaries creates the perfect environment for crabs and clams. So, it comes as very little surprise to hear that Maryland produces the highest number of blue crabs and soft clams in the US by a country mile. Marylanders are renowned for flavoring their crabs in Old Bay or Chesapeake Bay’s famous seasonings.
12. Compared with most other states, Maryland has a deep history and many influences from England and the British Empire, as a whole. During the mid-1700s, the British government transported tens of thousands of English convicts to Maryland to then live out their sentences.
13. An interesting fact about Maryland that you may not be aware of is that it is an aerospace and defense hotspot. Housing the majority of the United States’ top aerospace companies and defense contractors. Maryland is home to the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, along with defense contractors such as Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.
14. Oddly enough, Maryland was the first state to introduce a state exercise, walking!
15. The world’s first-ever telegraph line was initially set up between Washington, DC, and Baltimore (about 40 miles). Samuel Morse sent America’s first telegram on May 24th, 1844. These messages became know as Morse Code.
Fun Facts About Maryland
Maryland is a fun state, which results in many fun facts about Maryland. There is so much to do and see when visiting this historical and culturally-rich state.
Here are some more fun facts about Maryland
16. Maryland was the 7th state to be officially admitted to the Union, contributing to the formation of all 50 states today.
17. Statehood was granted on April 28, 1788.
18. Despite not being the capital city of the country anymore, Annapolis is still the state’s capital city!
19. The largest city in Maryland is not Annapolis regardless of it being the capital, the largest city is actually Baltimore with a population of over 590,000.
20. The state’s population is over 6 million, ranking it 19th out of all 50. This may come as a surprise to many due to the state’s small geographical size.
21. Residents of Maryland are known as Marylanders.
22. “Maryland, My Maryland” is the official state song.
23. Maryland has three main nicknames that have been adopted for a multitude of reasons and throughout the course of many years:
- Free State.
- Old Line State.
- Little America.
24. Annapolis has been described by many as the sailing capital of the world.
25. Despite the small size (10,460 square miles), Maryland is considered to be “America in Miniature” because of how diverse the state is!
26. The largest non-navigable river in North America is in Maryland, the Susquehanna River is 440 miles long.
27. The maximum speed limit in Maryland is 65 mph.
28. Almost half of Maryland’s land area is covered by forest, which is probably why there are 47 state parks and 8 national parks situated in Maryland’s deep wilderness.
Moving on to more serious matters, the next array of facts about Maryland highlight the state’s economy, business climate, and cost of living!
Economic Facts About Maryland
There is a lot to consider when looking into the economic facts about Maryland. The state has been observed by many over the years as being one of the most perfect environments for growth and development for businesses and entrepreneurs alike.
If you would like to learn how to register a business in Maryland so you can start your entrepreneurial journey, we have created a checklist walking you through the process.
Economic Facts About Maryland
- Maryland’s GDP is around $374 billion.
- Maryland has a progressive income tax rate of 2% – 5.75%.
- The sales tax rate in Maryland is 6%.
- Maryland ranks 5th for business opportunities (US News & World Report).
- The minimum wage in Maryland is $11.75, which is significantly higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25.
- Maryland ranks 8th for healthcare (US News & World Report).
- According to WBAL-TV 11 News, Maryland’s economy ranks 8th in the country!
- The average house price in Maryland is $326,553, however, this number is seasonally adjusted. To keep updated, take a look at Zillow’s website.
- Maryland’s top industries are as follows, Agriculture & Fishing, Manufacturing, BioHealth & Life Sciences, Tourism, IT & Cybersecurity, Advanced Manufacturing, Military & Federal, Aerospace & Defense, Financial Services, and Energy & Sustainability.
- Maryland ranks 1st in Median household income.
- Maryland ranks 2nd in innovation among the states.
- Maryland ranks 2nd in professional & technical workers within the financial services industry.
- Maryland also ranks 4th in growth entrepreneurship.
- The median household income in Maryland is over $81,868 (annually).
- The state of Maryland sits at number 1 in the concentration of computer scientists.
- Maryland has the second most professional and technical workers within the aerospace and defense industry.
- Maryland also is 3rd for the concentration of aerospace engineers.
- Little America produces the 3rd largest amount of poultry in the US.
- Maryland actually produces the largest number of spices in the world!
- There are over 168 craft beverage businesses operating out of Maryland.
- There are more than 604,000 small businesses in Maryland, which employ over 1.2 million employees.
- The corporate income tax rate in Maryland is 8.25%.
All of these economic facts about Maryland corroborate the reasons why people move to the state for work opportunities or to start a new business or franchise, and it’s hard to argue why they wouldn’t!
