Baltimore calls itself “The Greatest City in America!” That’s quite a claim. Could it be because of the beautiful Inner Harbor and all the exciting happenings there --- lively arts and culture, great shopping, restaurants, night life, boat taxi rides, and the bustling downtown? Or could it be because of the distinctive variety of neighborhoods and beautiful parks? I’ll let you be the judge.
Location
Baltimore is located in Maryland approximately 30 miles northeast of Washington D.C. It sits on the Chesapeake Bay. Philadelphia is 112 miles away.
Baltimore divides the city neighborhoods by direction such as central, north, south, east and west.
Water taxis in the Inner Harbor connect the city to Fells Point, Canton and Fort McHenry.
Airports
Ronald Regan Washington Airport is located about 43 miles from Baltimore in Arlington.
Baltimore-Washington International Airport is about 11 miles from Baltimore in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
Andrews Air Force Base in located 39 miles away in Camp Springs, Maryland.
Local public use airports in the Baltimore area include Essex Skypark, Martin State Airport and Tipton Airport.
Terrain
Baltimore’s land area if approximately 81 square miles and its elevation is 100 feet.
Baltimore’s Harbor encompasses in 6,492 acres. The harbor is actually the northwest branch of the Patapsco River.
The lakes in Baltimore include Druid Lake, Lake Montebello, Lake Ashburton and Fort Armistead Lake. Baltimore also has many rivers and streams.
Population
The estimated population as of July 2004 was 636,200 people.
Jobs
Many corporations are headquartered in Baltimore including Environmental Elements Corp, First Mariner Bancorp, Verizon Maryland, Municipal Mortgage and Equity, Harbor Bankshares Corp, Educate Inc, and Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.
Industries providing employment include educational, health and social services at 27%, and professional, scientific, management, administrative at 10%.
Colleges/Universities
Baltimore is home to many excellent colleges and universities including Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Morgan State University, Loyola College, University of Baltimore, Baltimore City Community College, Coppin State College, College of Notre Dame of Maryland, Goucher College, Maryland Institute College of Art, and the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute
Housing
Baltimore’s neighborhoods each have a unique character. Diversity is the key word. There is something for everyone – from older restored homes to luxury condos on the waterfront.
Low interest rates have stimulated a trend by smart investors to look at homes in the older neighborhoods in the Baltimore area. Many neighborhoods are being revitalized. Older homes can be “diamonds in the rough”, bought for a very low price and sold quickly after renovation for a good profit. There are numerous government funded revitalization projects throughout the city for homebuyers and investors.
Baltimore City average home selling price is $120,000. Baltimore County average home selling price is $244,000.
Historical Interesting Tidbits
Baltimore has been a major US industrial seaport since the early 1700’s. It has been only since the 1970’s that it has become such an important tourist attraction and cultural center.
Baltimore is known as “The City of Firsts” as throughout American history the city has been first in so many significant events. Just some of these “firsts” are listed here.
First professional sport organization in 1743.
First US stage coach route from Baltimore to Philadelphia in 1773.
First hot air balloon ride with a human inside in 1784.
First Sugar Refinery in the U.S. in 1796.
First railroad for commercial transportation in 1828.
First coal burning locomotive in 1830.
First YMCA in 1859.
First Animal Welfare Organization in 1878.
First municipal orchestra supported by the public in 1916.
First to manufacture stainless steel in 1920.
First photograph of earth from space produce at Johns Hopkins in 1946.
First baseball player to be named MVP in both leagues, Frank Robinson, in 1966.
First African-American to serve on the US Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall in 1967.
Baltimore is the birthplace of several famous individuals including Spiro Agnew, Frank Zappa, Tom Clancy, and Thurgood Marshall.
Parks/Sports/Recreation/Golf
Baltimore is home to the Baltimore Orioles, and the Baltimore Ravens.
Many water lovers enjoy Baltimore where they can enjoy water sports including boating, yachting, and great fishing.
Baltimore is the birthplace of the sport of duckpin bowling.
The beautiful Cylburn Arboretum is a nature preserve and city park located in Baltimore. The Arboretum's centerpiece is the gorgeous Cylburn Mansion. Cylburn Arboretum is a place of open space, beauty, and quiet.
Parks in Baltimore include University Square Park, Uplands Park, Latrobe Park, Venable Park, Cherry Hill Park, and Lafayette Square.
At the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore you can stroll the boardwalk and see elephants, rhinos, zebras, leopards, cheetahs, lions, giraffes, penguins, gazelles, warthogs, primates and more among natural habitats.
Special Attractions
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is within walking distance of Oriole Park at Camden Yard, home of the Baltimore Orioles, and the M&T Bank Stadium, home of Baltimore Ravens football.
Arts and Culture in Baltimore are exceptional. Great places to see include The Walters Art Museum, American Visionary Art Museum, The Baltimore Maritime Museum, Baltimore Museum of Industry, Port Discovery, the Children’s Museum, The USS Constellation Museum, Maryland Science Center, National Aquarium, Harborplace and The Gallery at Harborplace that includes over 100 unique shops, many eateries and entertainment on the waterfront. Art galleries include fine art by local artists in many mediums, antiques, handcrafted items, and much more.
Chesapeake Bay Cuisine is unique to Baltimore and includes a large assortment of international and ethnic cuisine as well as native Maryland seafood specialties.
- NUMBER1EXPERTS™ 
