Maryland

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State of eastern USA bordered to the north by Pennsylvania, along the Mason–Dixon Line, to the east by Delaware, to the south by Virginia, and to the south and west by West Virginia; area 25,315 sq km/9,774 sq mi; population (2000) 5,296,500; capital Annapolis. The Coastal Plain and Chesapeake Bay dominate the eastern half of the state, while plateaux, valleys, and ridges occupy the west, the two regions being divided by the area known as the Fall Line. Maryland shares most of the Delmarva Peninsula with West Virginia, and its southern boundary is mainly defined by the Potomac River. At the point where the Anacostia River joins the Potomac is the District of Columbia (DC), which was carved out of Maryland and Virginia in 1790. Maryland's most populous city is Baltimore, 95 km/60 mi to the northeast of Washington, DC. The Baltimore–Washington Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area contains 90% of Maryland's population, many of whom live in the major cities of Columbia, Silver Spring, Dundalk, and Bethesda. US federal agencies, defence contractors, and biotechnology, chemical, electronics, and software industries are located here. Other economic activities include tourism, boatbuilding, and the processing of poultry, dairy foods, fish, and shellfish. Maryland was originally home to several Algonquian Indian peoples, including the Piscataway, Accohannock, Assateague, Nanticoke, and Pocomoke. The first European settlement was established on Chesapeake Bay by the English in 1634. One of the original Thirteen Colonies, Maryland ratified the US Constitution in 1788, becoming the 7th state to join the Union.

The yellow of the emblem is said to denote Angola's natural wealth. Red is said to stand for the blood spilt by the freedom fighters. Black represents Africa. Effective date: 11 November 1975. >>