According to Countryaah, Maryland is home to some of the most beautiful cities in the country. Annapolis is the capital city of Maryland and offers attractions such as The U.S. Naval Academy and The William Paca House & Garden. Baltimore is a vibrant city with plenty of cultural attractions including The National Aquarium and The American Visionary Art Museum. Other popular cities in Maryland include Columbia, Silver Spring, Frederick, Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Ocean City. Each of these cities has something special to offer from outdoor activities like biking or sailing to historical sites like Antietam National Battlefield or Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine.
Politics of Maryland in 2013
The politics of Maryland in 2013 were largely characterized by the re-election of Governor Martin O’Malley. O’Malley, a Democrat, had been elected in 2006 and was seeking his second term as governor in 2013. He was widely seen as a popular and successful governor, with a focus on improving the economy and creating jobs. His opponent, Republican Larry Hogan, ran a strong campaign but ultimately lost to O’Malley by a margin of 14%.
In addition to the gubernatorial race, Maryland also held elections for state legislature in 2013. Democrats maintained their majority in both houses of the legislature, with 28 seats in the Senate and 91 seats in the House of Delegates. This majority allowed O’Malley to pass several pieces of legislation during his second term including an increase to the minimum wage and legislation legalizing same-sex marriage.
At the national level, Maryland’s congressional delegation consisted mainly of Democrats. In 2013 this included Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski as well as seven Democratic Representatives from Maryland’s eight districts. This delegation voted largely along party lines on most issues including healthcare reform and gun control legislation.
On social issues, Maryland generally took a progressive stance throughout 2013. The state passed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage that year and also began recognizing same-sex marriages from other states that had already legalized it. Other progressive measures included increasing access to health care for low-income families through Medicaid Expansion and increasing funding for public education programs such as Pre-Kindergarten classes.
Overall, 2013 was an important year for Maryland politics with Governor O’Malley’s re-election solidifying Democratic control over state government for at least another four years. The progressive stance taken on social issues further cemented Maryland’s status as one of the most liberal states in America while also helping to promote equality across all walks of life regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
Population of Maryland in 2013
In 2013, the population of Maryland was estimated at around 5,928,814 people. This population included a diverse mix of ethnic backgrounds and religious affiliations. The largest group was White Americans, accounting for 59.5% of the population, followed by African Americans at 29.3%. Hispanics and Latinos made up 6.2%, Asians 4.7%, and Native Americans 0.3%. Other ethnic groups accounted for a small percentage of the population. Check ehuacom for more information about the capital city of Maryland.
The religious makeup of Maryland in 2013 showed that 51% identified as Christian, with 25% being Catholic and 22% belonging to Protestant denominations. Judaism was the second largest religion in the state at 8%, followed by Islam at 3%. Other religions made up 1% or less of the population in 2013 while 32% identified as having no religious affiliation. The median age in Maryland was 37 years old while 23% of residents were under 18 years old and 14% were 65 or older. The gender breakdown showed that there were slightly more women than men living in Maryland with 50.6 % being female and 49.4 % male. Check anycountyprivateschools for business education in Maryland.
Economy of Maryland in 2013
In 2013, the economy of Maryland was heavily dependent on its federal government and defense contractors. The state’s unemployment rate that year was 6.2%, slightly below the national average, and its GDP per capita was $55,817, making it one of the wealthiest states in the country. The majority of Maryland’s workforce was employed in professional and business services (21%) followed by education and health services (18%). Trade, transportation, and utilities accounted for 12%, leisure and hospitality 11%, manufacturing 10%, construction 7%, financial activities 6%, and other services 5%. The state also had a large agricultural sector with poultry being the most common farm product.
The median household income for Maryland in 2013 was $71,122 while the poverty rate was 9.2%. Major industries included aerospace products and parts manufacturing, computer systems design, biotechnology research and development, food processing, chemical production, tourism, financial services such as banking and insurance companies. Government spending has also been a major contributor to Maryland’s economy with federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health located in Montgomery County accounting for a large number of jobs. Major corporations based in Maryland include Lockheed Martin Corporation; Northrop Grumman Corporation; Marriott International; Giant Food; McCormick & Company; Perdue Farms; Under Armour; T Rowe Price Group Inc.; W. R. Grace & Co.; Black & Decker Corporation; Host Hotels & Resorts Inc.; Marriott International Inc.; BGE Inc., among others.
Events Held in Maryland in 2013
In 2013, Maryland hosted a number of events that attracted tourists from around the country and the world. The Maryland Renaissance Festival was held in Annapolis in August and September, drawing thousands of visitors with its recreation of a 16th century English village complete with costumed performers, artisans, and food vendors. The Baltimore Comic-Con took place in September and featured appearances by comic book writers, artists and publishers as well as seminars, workshops and costume contests.
The National Folk Festival was held in Salisbury over Labor Day weekend with performances by traditional musicians from across the country. The Great Chesapeake Bay Schooner Race was also held that year with participants racing their boats from Baltimore to Portsmouth, Virginia. The Ocean City Air Show celebrated its 20th anniversary with performances by military jets, civilian aerobatic teams and stunt planes.
The Maryland State Fair at the end of August drew more than 500,000 people for rides, games, livestock shows and concerts featuring both local and national acts. Other popular events included the annual Maryland Seafood Festival on Solomons Island; the Easton Waterfowl Festival; the Flower & Garden Show at Timonium; the National Hard Crab Derby in Crisfield; the Annapolis Arts & Crafts Festival; and the Taste of Cambridge on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
The state also hosted several music festivals throughout 2013 including SummerFest at Merriweather Post Pavilion; Sweetlife Music Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion; Charm City Bluegrass Festivals at Druid Hill Park; Artscape in Baltimore; Howard County Summer Concert Series in Columbia; DelFest near Cumberland; Moonrise Music Festival at Pimlico Race Course; Mid-Maryland Celtic Festivals near Frederick; Camp Bisco near Darlington; Reggae Fest near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor as well as numerous other musical events across Maryland throughout 2013.