MARYLAND, a State in the South Atlantic Division of the North American Union; bounded by Pennsylvania, Dela ware, Virginia, West Virginia, and the Atlantic Ocean; one of the original 13 States; counties, 24; area, 9,860 square miles; pop. (1890) 1,042,390; (1900) 1, 188,044; (1910) 1,295,346; (1920) 1,449, 661. Capital, Annapolis.
Topography.—The surface of the State is varied, with three prominent divisions, the Coast Plain, including the Western Shore, between the ocean and Chesa peake Bay; the Piedmont plateau, extend ing from the bay W. to the Catoctin Mountains, and the Appalachian Moun tain region. The Chesapeake Bay cuts the State in two parts, and with its prin cipal affluent, the Potomac river, forms the principal water system of the State. The mountains in the W. are divided into three ranges, the Blue Ridge, Appalach ian, and Allegheny, and reach an eleva tion of 3,000 feet. The Atlantic coast has no good harbors, but the bay with its numerous coves and estuaries gives ex cellent facilities for water transporta tion. The principal rivers are the Po tomac on the S. boundary, the Susque hanna flowing in from Pennsylvania on the N. and emptying in the bay, and the Patuxent, Patapsco, Gunpowder on the Western Shore; and the Elk, Sassafras., Chester, Choptank, Nanticoke, Wicomico, and Pocomoke, on the Eastern Shore, all of which empty into Chesapeake Bay.
Geology.—Nearly every geological period is represented in Maryland, the Archman deposits are found over nearly the whole State. Metamorphosed rocks, such as granites, gneisses, basalt, and marble, occur in the Piedmont Plateau, and in western Maryland the Silurian, Devonian, and Carboniferous series are found. The Eastern Shore presents sands, clays, and granites of more recent origin. The Upper Jurassic period is represented by dinosaurian remains in Prince George's county.
Soil.—The soil in the E. part of the State is a light sandy loam, and is espe cially adapted to truck farming and mar ket gardening. The soil in the valleys of the N. and central portions is especially adapted to grass and wheat cultivation.
The climate is equable, and not subject to sudden changes, the thermometer seldom falling below zero. The principal forest trees include cypress, gum, cedar, juni per, dogwood, holly, magnolia, elm, cherry, oak, locust, sycamore, sassafras, poplar, maple, walnut, ash, birch, chest nut, hickory, and pine.
Mineral Production.—Practically the only mineral production in the State is coal, and of this between three and four million tons are produced annually. About 6,000 men are employed in the coal mines of the State, and the product is valued at about $4,000,000. Other min eral products are sandstone, granite. slate, pottery, and mineral waters.
Agriculture.—In addition to the regu lar farm crops, the State is a large pro ducer of truck garden products, including tomatoes and fruits. The production and value of the principal crops in 1919 were as follows : corn, 28,413,000 bushels, valued at $39,778,000; oats, 1,820,000 bushels, valued at $1,492,000; wheat, 10,655,000 bushels, valued at $22,930,000; tobacco, 19,575,000 pounds, valued at $5,872,000; hay, 630,000 tons, valued at $15,120,000; potatoes, 5,170,000 bushels, valued at $6,721,000. The figures for live stock were as follows: horses, about 170,000, valued at about $20,000,000; mules, about 25,000, valued at about $3,500,000; milch cows, about 175,000, valued at about $10, 000,000; other cattle, about 120,000, val ued at about $3,600,000; sheep, about 223,000, valued at about $1,660,000; swine, about 350,000, valued at about $3, 400,000. The production of wool annual ly amounts to about 750,000 pounds.
Manufactures.—The State has great manufacturing importance, especially in and around Baltimore. The total num ber of establishments in 1914 was 4,797, the total number of wage earners, 111, 585, the capital invested amounted to $293,211,000, the amount paid in wages, $53,792,000, the value of materials, $238, 972,000, and the value of the completed products at $337,749,000.