Baltimore

I

Introduction

Baltimore, city in northern Maryland, adjacent to Baltimore County. Baltimore is located at the head of navigation of the Patapsco River, near its mouth on Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland and is one of the busiest ports in the United States. It is a major industrial, research, and educational center.

II

Population

Baltimore’s population has steadily declined since World War II (1939-1945), when many people began leaving the city to move to the suburbs. The population of Baltimore decreased from 786,775 in 1980 to 651,154 in 2000. According to the 2000 census, blacks represented 64.3 percent of the population; whites, 31.6 percent; Asians, 1.5 percent; and Native Americans, 0.3 percent. Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders numbered 222 at the time of the census. People of mixed heritage or not reporting race were 2.1 percent of inhabitants. Hispanics, who may be of any race, made up 1.7 percent of the population. In 2005 Baltimore's population was estimated to be 635,815.

While the population of Baltimore proper has been steadily decreasing, the population of the metropolitan area has been increasing. The Baltimore area had 2,655,675 inhabitants in 2005, up from 2,382,172 in 1990. The Baltimore area is also part of the larger Washington-Baltimore Consolidated Metropolitan Region, which had a population of 7.6 million in 2000.

III

Economy

With one of the world’s largest natural harbors, Baltimore has always been a port city. Excellent rail, road, and air connections make it attractive for industry, manufacturing, and trade. Today, however, Baltimore’s economy focuses on research and development, especially in the areas of aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies and services. In addition to private laboratories, the city is home to more than 60 federal research laboratories.

---

---

IV

The Urban Landscape

Baltimore covers a land area of 209.3 sq km (80.8 sq mi). The older sections of Baltimore are laid out in a grid pattern superimposed on a radial pattern of principal arteries. The city is characterized by row houses, most of which are brick, and by winding, tree-lined streets with freestanding homes, most of which are in the outlying sections. Baltimore is a city of greenery, with about 2,600 hectares (about 6,400 acres) of land devoted to parks.

	More from Encarta
	•  Presidential Myths Quiz •  Coffee break: Recharge your brain