Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a South Atlantic state bordered by Pennsylvania to the north, Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Virginia to the south, and West Virginia to the west. Washington D.C. occupies a small area along the state's border with Virginia. The two areas of Maryland separated by the Chesapeake Bay are known as the Eastern Shore and the Western Shore. The bay gives the state some excellent harbors. Annapolis is the state capital. Baltimore, located on the bay, is one of the most important port cities in the world and Maryland's largest city. The state's landscape includes shorelines, river valleys, rolling hills, mountains, plateaus, and farmland. About 40 percent of Maryland is forested.

Maryland is a state with an interesting history. The state was named after England's Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I. Charles I granted the region to the first Lord Baltimore. Maryland was one of the original 13 colonies. Maryland has been considered a border state between the North and South. The northern part of the state resembles the industrialized North, while the eastern and southern regions of the state are more like the South.

Maryland changed from an agricultural economy to an industrial one during the first half of the 20th century. Products manufactured in the state include electrical equipment, electrical devices, and processed food. However, farms can still be found in Maryland. You can find many chicken and dairy farms in the state. Maryland is also an important producer of clams, soft-shell crabs, and oysters. In addition to manufacturing and agriculture, service industries including government and trade are very important to Maryland's economy. In fact, because the state borders Washington DC and the United States Naval Academy is located in Annapolis, the federal government employs more of the state's residents than anyone else does.

Although the majority of undergraduates enrolled in colleges and universities in Maryland are state residents, international students studying in Maryland will find that the diversity and culture of the state’s higher education institutes will fit their needs. John Hopkins University, located in Baltimore is an independent college opened in 1876 as the United State’s first research university. Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore is the oldest continuously degree-granting college of art in the nation. The city of Baltimore will not disappoint students who are looking for a busy, urban lifestyle.

List of colleges and universities in Maryland

Official Website of the State of Maryland

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