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Annapolis is the capital of Maryland, which is a state of the United States of America, and the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It is a city with a population of 36,217 according to the 2004 census. The city is a part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area, It is situated on the Severn River about 2 miles from its entrance into Chesapeake Bay, 26 miles south of Baltimore and about the same distance east of Washington D.C. It is also home to the United States Naval Academy and St. John's College.
Colonial & early United States (1649-1808)
Civil War era (1849-late 1800s) During this period, a Parole Camp was set up in Annapolis. As the war continued, the camp expanded to a larger location just outside of the city. The area is still referred to as Parole. The city was also the location of a major hospital where wounded Union (and captured Confederate) soldiers could be brought by ship to be treated. Contemporary (1900s to present) To the north of the state house is a monument to Thurgood Marshall, the first black justice of the US Supreme Court and formerly a Maryland lawyer who won many important civil rights cases. Close by are the state treasury building, erected late in the 17th century for the House of Delegates; Saint Anne's Protestant Episcopal church, in later colonial days a state church, a statue of Roger B. Taney (by W.H. Rinehart), and a statue of Baron Johann de Kalb. There are a number of residences of 18th century architecture, and the names of several of the streets--such as King George's, Prince George's, Hanover, and Duke of Gloucester--recall the colonial days. The United States Naval Academy was founded here in 1845. Annapolis is the seat of St. John's College, a non-sectarian private college that was once supported by the state; it was opened in 1789 as the successor of King William's School, which was founded by an act of the Maryland legislature in 1696 and was opened in 1701. Its principal building, McDowell Hall, was originally intended for a governor's mansion; although £4000 current money was appropriated for its erection in 1742, it was not completed until after the War of Independence. On September 26th to 27th, 2003, Hurricane Isabel created the largest storm surge in Annapolis history, cresting at 7.58 feet, which easily surpassed the prior record from the 1933 hurricane of 6.35 and the 5.5 feet recorded during Hurricane Hazel in 1954. As a result, much of downtown Annapolis was flooded and many businesses and homes in outlying areas were damaged.* The State House The Maryland State House is the oldest in continuous legislative use in the United States. Construction started in 1772, and the Maryland legislature first met there in 1779. It is topped by the largest wooden dome built without nails in the nation. The Maryland state house housed the workings of the government from November 26 1783 to August 13 1784, and the Treaty of Paris was ratified there on January 14, 1784, so Annapolis became the first peacetime capital of the US. It was in the Maryland state house that George Washington famously resigned his commission before the Continental Congress on December 23 1783. George Washington, who had argued vigorously for Annapolis to become the permanent home to the United States Capitol, had a strong attachment to the Maryland state house and instructed Pierre L'Enfant to model the dome of the Capitol building in Washington DC after it. United States Naval Academy Naval Academy. Bancroft Hall. Photo early 1900's. http://www.bfcollection.net/cities/usa/md/annapolis/histor01/annapolis_hist01.html Boris Feldblyum Collection Theatre Annapolis has a thriving community theatre scene which includes two venues in the historic district. On East St. is Colonial Players, a company that produces approximately six shows a year on its small theatre-in-the-round stage. During the warmer months, Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre presents three shows on its stage, which is visible from the City Dock. All shows put on by King Williams Players, the student theatre group at St. John's College, are free and open to the public. Other The Annapolis area was the home of a VLF-transmitter called NSS Annapolis, used by the United States Navy to communicate with its Atlantic submarine fleet. Geography Annapolis is located at (38.972945, -76.501157), 28 miles east of Washington DC, and is the closest state capital to the national capital, Washington, DC. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.7 km² (7.6 mi²). 17.4 km² (6.7 mi²) of it is land and 2.3 km² (0.9 mi²) of it (11.70%) is water. Climate The city is a part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, and is relatively flat. The climate is a warm temperate climate, with hot summers and chilly winters. Demographics As of the census of 2000, there were 35,838 people, 15,303 households, and 8,676 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,056.0/km² (5,326.0/mi²). There were 16,165 housing units at an average density of 927.4/km² (2,402.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 62.66% White, 31.44% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.81% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.22% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 6.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The Hispanic population of Annapolis however has continued to grow in recent years and will encompass significantly more of Annapolis' population percentage by the next census reading. There were 15,303 households out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.6% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.3% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.93. In the city the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $49,243, and the median income for a family was $56,984. Males had a median income of $39,548 versus $30,741 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,180. About 9.5% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over. Education Annapolis is served by the Anne Arundel County Public Schools system. Annapolis High School, located near Annapolis, serves Annapolis. St. Mary's High School and Elementary School are located in downtown Annapolis on Spa Creek. Facts Noted natives and residents Neighborhoods and suburbs Sister Cities Annapolis is a sister city of these municipalities: See also | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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