Baltimore is an
independent city located in the
U.S. State of
Maryland. As of
2000, the population is 651,154. It is the largest city in
Maryland, named after the founding proprietor of the Maryland Colony,
Lord Baltimore.
Baltimore's harbor is the location of
Fort McHenry, which came under attack by
British forces in the
War of 1812 and whose defense inspired
Francis Scott Key to write the poem, "
The Star-Spangled Banner," which furnishes the lyrics to the United States
national anthem.
Baltimore became an independent city in 1851, being detached from Baltimore County at that time.
A fire in the city on February 7, 1904 destroyed over 1,500 buildings in 30 hours.
Baltimore is an independent city; in other words, not part of any
county.
The current Mayor of Baltimore is
Martin O'Malley.
A full list:
- James Calhoun 1794-1804
- Thorowgood Smith 1804-1808
- Edward Johnson 1808-1816
- George Stiles 1816-1819
- Edward Johnson 1819-1820
- John Montgomery 1820-1822
- Edward Johnson 1822-1824
- John Montgomery 1824-1826
- Jacob Small 1826-1831
- William Steuart 1831-1832
- Jesse Hunt 1832-1835
- Samuel Smith 1835-1838
- Sheppard C. Leakin 1838-1840
- Samuel Brady 1840-1842
- Solomon Hillen, Jr. 1842-1843
- James O. Law 1843-1844
- Jacob G. Davies 1844-1848
- Elijah Stansbury, Jr. 1848-1850
- John Hanson Thomas Jerome 1850-1852
- John Smith Hollins 1852-1854
- Samuel Hinks 1854-1856
- Thomas Swann 1856-1860
- George William Brown 1860-1861
- John C. Blackburn 1861-1862
- John Lee Chapman 1862-1867
- Robert T. Banks 1867-1871
- Joshua Van Sant 1871-1875
- Ferdinand Claiborne Latrobe 1875-1877
- George Proctor Kane 1877-1878
- Ferdinand Claiborne Latrobe 1878-1881
- William Pinkney Whyte 1881-1883
- Ferdinand Claiborne Latrobe 1883-1885
- James Hodges 1885-1887
- Ferdinand Claiborne Latrobe 1887-1889
- Robert C. Davidson 1889-1891
- Ferdinand Claiborne Latrobe 1891-1895
- Alcaeus Hooper 1895-1897
- William T. Malster 1897-1899
- Thomas Gordon Hayes 1899-1903
- Robert M. McLane 1903-1904
- E. Clay Timanus 1904-1907
- J. Barry Mahool 1907-1911
- James H. Preston 1911-1919
- William Frederick Broening 1919-1923
- Howard W. Jackson 1923-1927
- William Frederick Broening 1927-1931
- Howard W. Jackson 1931-1943
- Theodore R. McKeldin 1943-1947
- Thomas L. J. D'Alessandro, Jr. 1947-1959
- J. Harold Grady 1959-1962
- Philip H. Goodman 1962-1963
- Theodore R. McKeldin 1963-1967
- Thomas L. J. D'Alessandro III 1967-1971
- William Donald Schaefer 1971-1987
- Clarence H. Burns 1987
- Kurt L. Schmoke 1987-1999
- Martin O'Malley 1999-
Baltimore is in the north central part of the state of Maryland, on the
Patapsco River[?].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 238.5 km² (92.1 mi²). 209.3 km² (80.8 mi²) of it is land and 29.2 km² (11.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 12.24% water.
In the
1830,
1840, and
1850 censuses of the
United States of America, Baltimore was the second largest city in population. It has been among the top 10 cities in population in the U. S. in every census up to the
1980 census.
As of the census of 2000, there are 651,154 people, 257,996 households, and 147,057 families residing in the city. The population density is 3,111.5/km² (8,058.4/mi²). There are 300,477 housing units at an average density of 1,435.8/km² (3,718.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 31.63% White, 64.34% African American, 0.32% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 257,996 households out of which 25.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 26.7% are married couples living together, 25.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% are non-families. 34.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.42 and the average family size is 3.16.
In the city the population is spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 82.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $30,078, and the median income for a family is $35,438. Males have a median income of $31,767 versus $26,832 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,978. 22.9% of the population and 18.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 30.6% are under the age of 18 and 18.0% are 65 or older.
Other places in the United States named Baltimore:
Baltimore is also the name of a song recorded in 1979 by singer/songwriter
Tori Amos (then known by her birth name of Myra Ellen.) Pressed on just 500 7" vinyl records, it was given a citation by the mayor of Baltimore. As of the year 2002, a copy of this record complete with original sleeve sells for anywhere between $2,000 and $5,000.