History of Baltimore, Maryland
Baltimore is an independent city located in the U.S. state|state of Maryland in the United States of America. As of 2005, the population of Baltimore City was 641,943. The city is a major U.S. seaport, situated closer to major Midwestern United States|Midwestern markets than any other major seaport on the East Coast. Once an industrial town with an economic base in manufacturing, Baltimore's economy has now shifted primarily to a service sector-oriented, with its largest employer no longer Bethlehem Steel but Johns Hopkins University and The Johns Hopkins Hospital.
The Baltimore Metropolitan Area, which includes the city's surrounding suburbs, has approximately 2.6 million residents. Baltimore is also part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area (CMSA) of approximately 8.1 million residents. Baltimore is the largest city in Maryland, and its metropolitan area is the List of United States metropolitan areas|19th largest in the country.
The city is named after the founding proprietor of the Maryland Colony, Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore|Lord Baltimore in the Irish House of Lords. Baltimore himself took his title from Baltimore in County Longford in Ireland, which is the English transliteration of the Irish language Baile an Tà Mhoir, or "Home of The Big House".[http://www.n-ireland.co.uk/genealogy/placenames/placenamesb2.htm Placenames.] Northern Ireland. Genealogy. URL retrieved March 29 2007. Baltimore became the second leading port of entry for immigrants to the United States during the 1800s.
Because there is also a Baltimore County, Maryland|Baltimore County surrounding (but not including) the city, it is sometimes referred to as Baltimore City when a clear distinction is desired.
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