Baltimore City
Baltimore is truly an American success story. Since the redevelopment of the Inner Harbor in the late 1970s, Baltimore has set the standard for urban renewal and is now a major travel destination welcoming nearly 13 million business and leisure visitors each year. It is also an ideal place to live and thousands of families interested in a high quality of life and a fine place to raise a family come to Baltimore every year.
Baltimore is the 12th largest city in the United States and is named "Charm City" for its residents’ well-established concern for quality of life in this vibrant city. Long considered a southern town, Baltimore owed much of its early growth and prosperity to its desirable location. It lay farther west than any other major Atlantic port, endearing its harbor to shippers. Baltimore now ranks fifth among United States ports, with major railways and trucking lines carrying cargoes to and from docks at Canton and Curtis Bay, as well as raw materials to the city's many factories.
The crown jewel of Baltimore is the Inner Harbor, a scenic and popular waterfront area with dozens of retail stores, restaurants and attractions. Since the 1600's, the Inner Harbor has been welcoming people, ships and goods from all over the world.
Baltimore plays hosts to several festivals and events year-round. One of its major tourist attractions is the Preakness, a segment of the horse racing Triple Crown. This event takes place in May and draws a huge crowd. The city holds many waterfront and neighborhood festivals during the summer as well, including Artscape, a three-day event honoring the arts.
Baltimore's economy and cultural life, in addition to its geography, influenced its local development. Baltimoreans tend to have roots in clearly identified neighborhoods, and this sense of local identification has helped counter the alienation associated with modern city life.
Baltimore’s growth is continuing unabated in the 21st century. Development is moving both east and west of the Inner Harbor with more projects on the way. Baltimore is currently enjoying a second renaissance with more than $1 billion in new development planned between now and the year 2002.
Calvert County
Calvert County, the smallest county in Southern Maryland, is one of the fastest growing counties in the State. Located only 46 miles from Washington, D.C., it retains its rural character and agrarian roots, offering good schools, a clean environment and good quality of life. Calvert is a peninsula, bounded by the Chesapeake Bay on the east and the Patuxent River on the west. Steep cliffs and woods predominate on the bay side while along the Patuxent, rolling fields slip gently down to the river. The County's many creeks provide refuge for wildlife as well as scenic areas for boating and fishing. Containing approximately 219 square miles, the County is nine miles wide at its widest point, and 35 miles from the Anne Arundel line to Solomons.
Prince Frederick, the County seat, is located 35 miles southeast of Washington, D.C., and 55 miles south of Baltimore. There are two incorporated towns in Calvert County: North Beach and Chesapeake Beach, located on the bay at the northeast corner of the county. In addition, the Comprehensive Plan identifies seven "town centers." These include (from north to south) Dunkirk, Owings, Huntingtown, Prince Frederick, St. Leonard, Lusby, and Solomons.
Carroll County
Carroll County was formed in 1836 from the western part of Baltimore County and the eastern part of Frederick. It includes what were in the 1800s, the North Hundred, Pipe Creek Hundred, Delaware Upper and Lower Hundred of Baltimore County and the Pipe Creek, Westminster, Unity, Burnt House, Piney Creek, and Taneytown Hundreds of Frederick County. A hundred was a land unit which was carried over from England to Maryland as a subdivision of a county or shire and its terminology was derived from the fact that in each area there lived approximately one hundred men who could be called for military duty. Because Carroll County was one of the later counties to be established, much of its history is the history of northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania.
Carroll County has a land area of 456 square miles and it measures about 27 miles in both width and length. It is hilly with many streams flowing through its valleys. Two ridges known as Parr's Ridge and Dug Hill form a divide in the county with streams to the east flowing in a southeasterly direction to the Patapsco and Gunpowder rivers and streams to the west flowing southwest to the Monocacy River and then to the Potomac River.
Hampstead is the quintessential American small town and a popular place to live in Carroll County. Main Street Hampstead is filled with small businesses and neighborhoods that offer a range of housing options ranging from remodeled Victorian homes to newly developed luxury homes. Hampstead is a family-oriented community with excellent schools, churches and many recreational opportunities including popular youth sports programs.
Westminster is a city steeped in tradition and history but progressive when it comes to technology and business development. As the county seat of Carroll County, Westminster is the center of a fast growing commercial and industrial base, much of the latter located in the campus surrounding the modern Air Business Center. Westminster is close to both Washington DC and Baltimore.
Cecil County
Moments after leaving the hustle and bustle of I-95, you’re in beautiful Cecil County. Resting along the upper banks of the Chesapeake Bay, halfway between Philadelphia and Baltimore, Cecil offers its residents a change of pace, and breathtaking scenery. Once you catch a glimpse of the shimmering harbors, rolling hillsides and horse country, the antiques and outlets, and unforgettable eateries you’ll realize you’ve found home!
Charles County
Charles County, is a community on the grow— a community that respects heritage while welcoming and celebrating the diversity of new residents. Blessed with a natural environment that still includes beautiful open spaces, rural areas, wildlife and wildlife habitats, scenic rivers, and waterfront vistas, Charles County has become a popular location for families looking to relocate in Maryland. Residents of Charles County take pride in the growing urban areas as well as the amenities and opportunities that are part of smart growth and dynamic development.
Frederick County
Nestled in the breathtaking Shenandoah Valley lies a place steeped in heritage, from pre-Colonial times to modern-day history makers. Bustling with charm, Frederick County is a respite from every-day cares.
In addition to a plethora of condos and apartment rentals, the area has seen growth in new housing developments. According to the Metropolitan Real Estate Information System, the average selling price of a home in Frederick County for 2005 was $308,771.
Harford County
Harford County is part of the Greater Baltimore Region, strategically located on I-95 in the heart of the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic United States markets.
Harford County offers residents a wealth of opportunities and amenities for exploration and entertainment. Scenic parks, world-class golf courses, state-of-the-art sports complexes, unique shopping, and dining options provide a superior quality of life for families and anyone who enjoys living life to the fullest.
Howard County
Howard County is a county of contrasts— a successful melding of old and new, urban and rural, where the rolling green hills of the Piedmont meet the rocky fall line of the glaciers. From the small town flavor of historic mill towns to the thriving model city of Columbia, Howard County makes everyone feel at home.
Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.
Many consider Howard County to be one of the most affluent and educated communities in the nation. Our quality of life is highly prized and fiercely protected by active citizens who pride in their neighborhoods.
With schools that are top-notch, a local government that is responsive, and a thriving arts community, it’s no wonder families as well as businesses are choosing to settle here.
Montgomery County
Montgomery County is Maryland's most populous jurisdiction and it’s most affluent. The County is located adjacent to the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., and includes 497 square miles of land area. The topography is rolling with small hills. Montgomery County is a recipient of the prestigious "All America Community" Award, in recognition of its outstanding quality of life. As a vibrant and growing center for the arts, culture and entertainment and already exceptional recreational opportunities, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Montgomery.
Montgomery County is the leading job center in Maryland as well as the most highly educated community in the United States, with 59% of it’s workforce holding a Bachelors Degree or higher, and 38% holding a post graduate degree.
Prince George’s County
Prince George's County is an area rich in history yet still connected to tomorrow's technology. It is a county with a diverse population and geographical make-up. The result is a rich multi-cultural medley of people that possess a valuable array of talents, interests, dedication to education, and commitment to community.
