Baltimore is an independent city and the largest city and cultural center of the U.S. state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore City in order to distinguish it from surrounding Baltimore County. Founded in 1729, Baltimore is a major U.S. seaport and is situated closer to major Midwestern markets than any other major seaport on the East Coast. Baltimore’s Inner Harbor was once the second leading port of entry for immigrants to the United States and a major manufacturing center. The harbor is now home to the Harborplace, a shopping, entertainment, and tourist center, and the National Aquarium in Baltimore. After a decline in manufacturing industries, Baltimore shifted to a service sector-oriented economy. Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Hospital are now the city’s largest employers.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Maryland has the highest median household income of any state, having surpassed New Jersey in 2006; Maryland’s median household income was $68,080 in 2007. For 2009, Maryland ranked first—for the third year in a row—as the U.S. state with the highest median income for 2008, with a median income of $70,545.

It was the seventh state to ratify the United States Constitution and bears two nicknames, the Old Line State and the Free State. Maryland is a life sciences hub with over 350 biotechnology firms, making it the third-largest such cluster in the nation.

The Maryland State Flag is a very colorful design that stands out from the rest of the U.S. state flags – nothing else resembles it. Flag shirts are popular to express local pride. The Maryland Flag kids baseball jersey is a great way to get your child interested in state history and to take pride in his or her heritage.