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2 /Maryland at a Glance
POPULATION
In the 1990 federal census, the State's population was
4,781,468. Maryland ranks 19th in population
among the states; in 1991 ranks 6th in population
density with 497.2 persons per square land mile.
Incorporated Cities over 10,000 Population
1990 Census
Baltimore ......... 736,014 Grcenbelt. ......... 21,096
Rockvillc ......... 44,835 Salisbury .......... 20,592
Frederick ......... 40,148 Laurel ............ 19,438
Gaithcrsburg ...... 39,542 Takoma Park ....... 16,700
Bowic. ........... 37,589 Hyattsville......... 13,864
Hagerstown....... 35,445 Aberdeen.......... 13,087
Annapolis. ........ 33,187 Westminster. ....... 13,068
Cumberland....... 23,706 New Carrollton . . . . . 12,002
College Park. ...... 21,927 Cambridge. ........ 11,514
Unincorporated Areas over 20,000 Population
1990 Census
Silver Spring. ...... 76,046 Chillum .......... 31,309
Columbia .......... 75,883 North Bcthesda .... 29,650
Dundalk. ......... 65,800 St. Charles ........ 28,717
Bcthesda. ......... 62,938 South Gate ........ 27,564
Wheaton-Glenmont. 53,720 Bel Air South ...... 26,421
Towson .......... 49,445 Randallstown ...... 26,277
Potomac. ......... 45,634 Sevcrna Park. ...... 25,879
Aspen Hill ........ 45,494 Carncy ........... 25,578
EUicott City ....... 41,398 Lochearn ......... 25,240
Essex ............ 40,872 Pikesville. ......... 24,815
Glen Burnic ....... 37,305 Middle River. ...... 24,616
Oxon Hill-Glassmanor 35,794 Severn ........... 24,499
Gcrmantown ...... 41,145 Ft. Washington ..... 24,032
Catonsville ........ 35,233 Edgewood ........ 23,903
Woodlawn ........ 32,907 Oincy ............ 23,019
Montgomery Village . 32,315 Perrv Hall......... 22,723
Suitland-Silver Hill. . 35,111 Milford Mill ....... 22,547
Parkville .......... 31,617 Arnold ........... 20,261
LOCATION
Highway distance from Central Maryland (in
miles): Boston, 392; Chicago, 668; New York City,
196; Philadelphia, 96; Pittsburgh, 218; Richmond,
143; Washington, DC, 37.
DISTANCES
Longest east-west, 198.6 miles—Fairfax Stone to
Delaware Line; north-south, 125.5 miles—Penn-
sylvania line to Virginia line at Smith Point on south
shore mouth of Potomac River; shortest north-
south, 1.9 miles—Pennsylvania line to south bank
of Potomac River near Hancock; farthest points,
northwest corner to southeast corner at Atlantic
Ocean, 254.7 miles.
PHYSIOGRAPHY
Divided into three provinces with progressively
higher altitudes from east to west: Coastal Plain
province extends from Atlantic Ocean to Fall Line,
a natural line running from Delaware boundary,
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Maryland Manual 1994-1995
around head of Chesapeake Bay, through Balti-
more, and southwest to Washington, where streams
drop to lower land level; Piedmont or "Foothill"
province from Fall Line to base ofCatoctin Moun-
tains; Appalachian province from base of Catoctin
Mountains to western boundary of State. Mean
elevation, 350 feet; maximum elevation, 3,360 feet
at Backbone Mountain.
AREA
Land ....................... 9,837 sq. miles
Inland Water .................. 626 sq. miles
Chesapeake Bay. .............. 1,726 sq. miles
Total ...................... 12,189 sq. miles
Ranks 42nd among the states.
CLIMATE
Generally moderate, varies from mild to hot in
summer, and in winter from moderate in the east
and south to very cold in the western mountains.
Average annual rainfall: 41.82 inches. Average sea-
sonal snowfall: 21.6 inches, ranging from 10 inches
on the southern Eastern Shore to 110 inches in
Garrett County. Average annual temperature: 55.1
degrees Fahrenheit, with high temperatures in July,
the warmest month, averaging in the low 80s and
the low temperatures in January, the coldest month,
averaging in the low 30s. Duration of the freeze-free
period averages 185 days, ranging from 130 days in
Garrett County to 230 days in the southern
Chesapeake Bay area.
FOREST AREA
Approximately 2.7 million acres, or 43% of the land
surface. Oak and hickory are the dominant hardwood
or deciduous forest type, making up 60% of forested
areas. Loblolly pine is the most prevalent softwood
and is the predominant forest wood on the Eastern
Shore. Chief forest products are lumber, pulpwood,
and piling. The total value of all manufacturing relat-
ing to wood and forest products in the State exceeds
5500,000,000 annually Nine State forests, one State
forest nursery, and four demonstration forests cover
134,018 acres.
STATE PARKS & RECREATION AREAS
Forty-seven operational State parks, including 7 parks
with waterfront areas, covering 90,239 acres; 15
State-owned lakes and ponds open to public fishing;
9 State forests and portions of 15 State parks open to
public hunting; 36 wildlife management areas, cover-
ing 88,348 acres, open to public hunting; 6 natural
environment areas containing 7,676 acres.
CHIEF RIVERS
Bush, Chester, Choptank, Elk, Great Bohemia,
Gunpowder, Magothy, Miles, Nanticoke, North-
east, Patapsco, Patuxent, Pocomoke, Potomac, Sas-
safras, Severn, South, Susquehanna, Tred Avon,
Wicomico, and Wye.
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