America at 250 : Maryland Uncovered — 20 Facts About the Old Line State, the Birthplace of the National Anthem and “America in Miniature”

America at 250: Maryland Uncovered — 20 Facts About the Old Line State, the Birthplace of the National Anthem and “America in Miniature”

As the United States celebrates 250 years of independence, a state-by-state journey — from Fort McHenry and the Star-Spangled Banner to the Chesapeake Bay, Johns Hopkins and the Naval Academy — through the numbers, the history and the emergency lifelines every traveler should carry.

As the United States marks the landmark 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026 — its semiquincentennial — our state-by-state journey reaches Maryland: the “Old Line State,” one of the original thirteen colonies and the birthplace of the national anthem itself. It was over Baltimore’s Fort McHenry in 1814 that Francis Scott Key saw the flag that inspired “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Nicknamed “America in Miniature” for its remarkable variety of landscapes packed into a small area — mountains, farmland, cities and the great Chesapeake Bay — Maryland is also one of the wealthiest, best-educated states in the nation. What follows is a fact-checked portrait drawn from official sources — the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, state agencies and federal registries — followed by the safety information every visitor to the Old Line State should keep close at hand.

How Big Is Maryland? About 6.3 Million People Across 12,406 Square Miles

Maryland is a small but densely populated and prosperous state. The U.S. Census Bureau put its population at about 6.3 million in 2024, ranking it around 18th nationally, packed into roughly 12,406 square miles — the ninth-smallest state by area. It curves around the Chesapeake Bay and reaches from the Atlantic coast to the Appalachian Mountains in its narrow western “panhandle.”

The largest city is Baltimore, a historic port on the Chesapeake, while the capital is Annapolis, home of the U.S. Naval Academy. Much of Maryland’s population lives in the wealthy, densely developed suburbs of Washington, D.C. — Montgomery and Prince George’s counties — and Maryland consistently ranks as the state with the highest median household income in the nation, thanks in part to its many federal employees and contractors.

Maryland’s nickname “America in Miniature” is well earned: within its compact borders lie sandy Atlantic beaches (Ocean City), the vast Chesapeake Bay and its blue crabs, rolling Piedmont farmland, and the forested Appalachian highlands of the west. The Chesapeake — the largest estuary in the United States — defines the state’s geography, cuisine and identity.

A Founding History: The 7th State, With Roots in 1634

Maryland was founded in 1634 as an English colony and a refuge for Catholics, named for Queen Henrietta Maria, and its 1649 Toleration Act was an early landmark in religious freedom. One of the original thirteen colonies, Maryland ratified the U.S. Constitution to become the 7th state on April 28, 1788, and it later ceded the land that became Washington, D.C.

During the War of 1812, the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore Harbor inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that became “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the U.S. national anthem. Maryland was a divided border state in the Civil War — the site of the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest single day in American history — and its Eastern Shore was home to Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, giants of the fight against slavery.

The Economy: About $490 Billion GDP and the Nation’s Highest Incomes

Maryland’s economy, with a GDP of roughly $490 billion, is one of the most affluent and knowledge-intensive in the country. Its proximity to Washington, D.C., makes the federal government a huge economic engine: Maryland is home to the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, and countless federal agencies and contractors.

The state is a national leader in biotechnology and life sciences (clustered around the “DNA Alley” corridor and Johns Hopkins), cybersecurity, higher education and health care. The Port of Baltimore is a major East Coast trade gateway, and the Chesapeake Bay supports fishing, tourism and the state’s iconic blue-crab and seafood industries. Maryland regularly ranks first among states in median household income.

Schools and Universities: About 880,000 Pupils and Johns Hopkins

Maryland’s public schools enroll roughly 880,000 K-12 students, and the state’s schools — particularly in its wealthy Washington suburbs — regularly rank among the best in the nation, though with significant disparities between districts.

In higher education, Maryland is a powerhouse. Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore is one of the world’s leading research and medical universities and the nation’s first research university. The University of Maryland, College Park is the flagship public research university, and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis trains officers for the Navy and Marine Corps. Historically Black institutions such as Morgan State and a strong community-college system round out the landscape.

Hospitals and Health Care: More Than 60 Hospitals

Maryland’s health-care system is world-renowned, anchored by The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore — for decades ranked among the very best hospitals in the United States and the world — along with the University of Maryland Medical System and MedStar Health. The state has more than 60 acute-care hospitals within a broader network of health facilities.

Maryland is unique in operating an “all-payer” hospital rate-setting system, a decades-old model in which the state sets hospital prices for all insurers — a distinctive approach to controlling health costs. The Maryland Department of Health coordinates statewide public-health services, and the presence of the NIH and FDA makes the state a global center of medical research.

Getting Around: 2 State Airports and a Major Port

Maryland’s main airport is Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), one of three airports serving the Washington–Baltimore region and among the busiest in the country. The state itself owns and operates BWI and Martin State Airport, part of a system of around 33 public-use airports.

On the ground, Maryland sits at the heart of the busy Northeast corridor: Interstate 95 runs through Baltimore, Amtrak and commuter rail connect the state to Washington and points north, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge links the Western Shore to the Eastern Shore. The Port of Baltimore is one of the nation’s leading ports for automobiles and heavy cargo.

Culture: Fort McHenry, Crab Feasts and the Preakness

Maryland’s culture is inseparable from the Chesapeake Bay and its patriotic history. Fort McHenry National Monument in Baltimore preserves the birthplace of the national anthem, and the city’s Inner Harbor, the National Aquarium and Fort McHenry draw millions. The state’s beloved blue crabs — steamed and seasoned with Old Bay — and its crab feasts are a way of life.

Maryland hosts the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, the second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown. Annapolis preserves colonial and naval history, and the state’s museums, from the Baltimore Museum of Art to the many sites of the Star-Spangled Banner Trail, celebrate a heritage stretching back to the founding.

Sport and the Outdoors: 4 Major Pro Teams and the Chesapeake

Maryland is home to major professional franchises including the Baltimore Ravens (NFL, two-time Super Bowl champions), the Baltimore Orioles (MLB), and — just outside Washington — teams the region shares. College sports, led by the University of Maryland Terrapins, add to the mix, along with the Preakness and a strong lacrosse tradition (Maryland is a national capital of the sport).

Outdoors, the Chesapeake Bay is a paradise for boating, sailing, crabbing and fishing; the Atlantic beaches of Ocean City draw summer crowds; and the western mountains offer hiking, skiing and the scenery of the Appalachians. Maryland’s compact size means bay, beach and mountains are all within a short drive.

Faith and Places of Worship: Thousands of Congregations

Maryland’s religious history began with its founding as a haven for Catholics, and Roman Catholicism remains strong, especially around Baltimore — the oldest Catholic archdiocese in the United States. The state is religiously diverse, with substantial Protestant, historically Black church, Jewish, Muslim and other communities, particularly in the cosmopolitan Washington suburbs.

Because no single official registry counts every congregation, the closest reliable measures come from religious censuses and the U.S. Census Bureau’s County Business Patterns data on religious organizations, which together point to thousands of congregations statewide.

The Justice System: About 16,000 People Incarcerated

The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services oversees roughly 16,000 incarcerated people, a population that declined during the pandemic but has been rising again. Maryland is notable for the large share of its prison population that is Black — among the highest such shares in the nation — a fact that has fueled criminal-justice reform efforts.

The state has pursued sentencing and juvenile-justice reforms, and it faces ongoing challenges with corrections staffing. Its unified state system handles most incarceration, with local detention centers operated by counties and Baltimore City.

5 Maryland Laws and Distinctions That Set It Apart

Maryland’s laws reflect its progressive politics and unique geography:

1. All-payer hospital rates: Maryland is the only state that sets uniform hospital prices for all insurers under a federal waiver — a singular approach to health-cost control.

2. Death penalty abolished: Maryland repealed capital punishment in 2013.

3. Recreational cannabis: Maryland voters approved recreational marijuana in 2022, with legal sales beginning in 2023.

4. Strong gun laws: Maryland requires a license to purchase handguns and has enacted some of the stricter firearm regulations in the country.

5. Chesapeake Bay protection: Maryland has extensive environmental laws and interstate agreements aimed at restoring the Chesapeake Bay, the nation’s largest estuary.

Famous Marylanders: World-Changing Talent From the Old Line State

Maryland has produced extraordinary figures. Baseball’s greatest legend, Babe Ruth, was born in Baltimore, as was Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first Black justice, and swimmer Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time. Record-setting swimmer Katie Ledecky is from Maryland’s Washington suburbs.

The state is also tied to towering figures of American history: Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman both escaped slavery on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and Francis Scott Key, author of the national anthem, was born in Frederick County. From music (Frank Zappa, Baltimore) to politics and sport, Maryland’s influence far exceeds its size.

Who Runs Maryland? Governor Wes Moore and His Cabinet

Maryland’s executive branch is led by Governor Wes Moore, a Democrat who took office in January 2023 as the first Black governor of Maryland and only the third elected in U.S. history. A U.S. Army combat veteran, Rhodes Scholar, best-selling author and former nonprofit CEO, Moore has emphasized economic growth, service, ending child poverty and expanding opportunity.

He works with a cabinet of secretaries who lead the state’s executive departments, alongside Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller — the first immigrant and first person of Indian descent to hold the office. Key members of state leadership include:

As listed by the Office of the Governor (governor.maryland.gov), key members of state leadership include:

Source: Office of the Governor of Maryland (governor.maryland.gov). The Attorney General and Comptroller are independently elected; cabinet secretaries are appointed. Officeholders change over time.

Traveling to Maryland? 1 App for Every Emergency Number

Whether you are exploring Maryland during this 250th-anniversary year, following its history, or simply passing through, one piece of preparation matters more than any other: knowing who to call in an emergency. The free InfoCons app puts that information in your pocket. Its dedicated SOS section gathers the essential emergency and consumer-protection numbers for the United States and for the individual states, so travelers and residents alike can reach the right service instantly — without searching, without roaming confusion, and without wasting the precious minutes that matter most in a crisis.

Nationwide Emergency Numbers (as listed in the InfoCons app)

Across the United States, the single universal emergency number is 911, which connects callers to police, firefighters, and ambulance services alike. For non-emergency municipal services and information in many cities, 311 is available. The app also lists 1-800-342-3377 for telecommunications complaints and 202-326-2180 for consumer-protection matters at the federal level.

Maryland Emergency and Assistance Numbers (as listed in the InfoCons app)

For Maryland specifically, the InfoCons SOS section provides a detailed directory. The core lifelines are:

Police, Ambulance, and Firefighters: 911. Terrorism tip hotline: 1-800-492-8477. Arson hotline: 1-800-492-7529. Road conditions: 800-327-3125. Electricity emergency: 877-778-2222. Gas emergency: 877-778-7798. Water supply emergency: 301-206-4002.

Consumer protection: Office of the Attorney General — Consumer Mediation: 410-528-8662; Consumer Information: 410-576-6550; Medical billing complaints: 410-528-1840. Identity theft: 1-877-438-4338. Labor, Licensing & Regulation: 410-230-6077 and 1-888-784-0136. Insurance: 1-800-492-6116. Securities: 1-888-743-0023. Utilities (Public Service Commission): 1-800-492-0474.

Support: Child abuse reporting: 1-800-422-4453. Domestic violence and sexual assault hotline: 410-222-7273 and 410-222-6800. (The nationwide Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached at any time by dialing 988.)

These numbers are provided for convenience and may change over time; in any life-threatening situation, always dial 911 first.

The InfoCons Travel Passport: 1 App, 33 Languages, Every Destination

The InfoCons app is more than an emergency directory — it is designed to function as a genuine “travel passport” for the modern consumer. Available free of charge and offered in 33 internationally spoken languages, it gives users access to accurate, transparent, and independent information wherever they go. For a traveler moving between states — or between countries — that means the emergency numbers, consumer-protection contacts, and practical guidance for each destination are all gathered in a single place, ready before you even land.

The idea is simple but powerful: your safety information should travel with you as reliably as your passport does. Whether you are exploring Maryland during this 250th-anniversary year or planning a trip abroad next month, the InfoCons app aims to be the first thing you check when you arrive somewhere new — helping you make informed decisions, protect your rights as a consumer, and know exactly whom to call if something goes wrong. Download the free InfoCons app and let your phone become your travel passport for a safer, smarter 250th-anniversary year and beyond.

A Fitting Way to Celebrate 250 Years of Independence

Maryland’s story — of a colony founded on religious tolerance, of the flag that inspired the national anthem over Fort McHenry, of the Chesapeake’s crabs and the labs of Johns Hopkins and the NIH — is woven into the very fabric of the American republic. As one of the original thirteen, Maryland helped found the nation whose 250th anniversary the country now celebrates.

To visit Maryland is to stand where the Star-Spangled Banner was born and to taste the bounty of the Chesapeake. And to visit it prepared — with the InfoCons app and its emergency lifelines close at hand — is simply to travel wisely. Here is to the next 250 years — happy semiquincentennial, America.

InfoCons Communication Department