Higher Education  

Maryland has twenty-three college and universities, and nineteen community colleges. The University of Maryland is the largest state school, with campuses in Baltimore, Catonsville, College Park, and Princess Anne. Other state institutions include Morgan State University, Towson University, and Coppin State College, all in the Baltimore area; Bowie State College, in Bowie; Frostburg State University, in Frostburg; St. Mary's College of Maryland, in St. Mary's City; and Salisbury State University, in Salisbury. Johns Hopkins University is the state's most famous private university. Other private institutions include St. John's College, in Annapolis; Loyola College and University of Baltimore, in Baltimore; Western Maryland College, in Westminister; Hood College, in Frederick; Washington College, in Chestertown; and Villa Julie College, in Stevenson.

Geography

Maryland's five main geographical regions are the Appalachian Plateau, the Appalachian Ridge and Valley, the Blue Ridge, the Piedmont, and the Atlantic Coastal Plain. In the northwest corner of the state, the Appalachian Plateau is part of the great Appalachian mountain chain. Fertile valleys cut by high ridges characterize the Appalachian Ridge and Valley region. The Blue Ridge region is part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which run from Pennsylvania to Georgia. A fertile agricultural area, the Piedmont covers the west-central portion of the state. Over half of the state lies within the Atlantic Coastal Plain, a low-lying area divided by the Chesapeake Bay. The Potomac River forms Maryland's southern border with Virginia and West Virginia. Maryland has 50 kilometers of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. The state's major cities include Annapolis (capital), Baltimore, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Silver Spring, Columbia, and Bethesda. Maryland's population is approximately 5 million.

Climate

Although Maryland is a relatively small state, temperatures vary from the coastal area to the western mountain region. In Baltimore, the average January temperature is 4° C, while the average July temperature is 24° C. The western mountain region averages -1.6° C in January and 20° C in July. Annual precipitation averages around 108 cm in Baltimore and 94 cm in the western mountain region.

Cultural Profile

The Lyric Theater in Baltimore hosts the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Ballet, and Baltimore Opera. The Peabody Conservatory, also in Baltimore, sponsors a variety of musical performances throughout the year. Baltimore's Morris A. Mechanic Theater and Center Stage Repertory regularly stage dramas and comedies. Maryland's many colleges and universities annually hold musical, dance, and dramatic performances.

Among Maryland's museums are the Baltimore City Life Museums, the Maryland Historical Society, and the Baltimore Museum of Art, in Baltimore; the United States Naval Academy Museum, in Annapolis; the Calvert Marine Museum, in Solomons; and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

Recreation

Maryland has thirty-three state parks and nine state forests. State parks include Calvert Cliffs State Park, Assateague Island State Park, Patuxent River State Park, Dan's Mountain State Park, Rocky Gap State Park, Fort Frederick State Park, and Washington Monument State Park. Maryland's state forests include Potomac State Forest, Savage River State Forest, Green Ridge State Forest, Cedarville State Forest, and Pocomoke State Forest. Popular outdoor activities include fishing, boating, swimming, hiking, picnicking, and camping.

Interesting Facts

The United States Naval Academy is located in Annapolis, Maryland. Both the Peabody Conservatory of Music and the Maryland Institute's College of Art are in Baltimore. America's national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," was written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key, who witnessed the British attack on Fort McHenry in Maryland. Jousting is Maryland's state sport. Famous Marylanders include Francis Scott Key (lawyer and composer of America's national anthem), Frederick Douglass (anti-slavery activist), Thurgood Marshall (first black supreme court justice), "Babe" Ruth (baseball player), Upton Sinclair (writer), Adrienne Rich (poet), John Barth (novelist), Billie Holiday (jazz and blues singer), and Cal Ripken, Jr. (baseball player).