Annapolis: Economy

views updated Jun 27 2018

Annapolis: Economy

Major Industries and Commercial Activity

Annapolis has long had its economic base in federal, state, and local government, aided by its quick access to Washington, D.C. But in more recent years Annapolis is rapidly becoming a center for high-tech industrial development as well. The city's location in the high-tech corridor between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. helps attract and retain technology companies and services. New companies concentrate primarily in the areas of fiber optics, telecommunications, computer-related technologies, Internet-based services, regional data centers, medical equipment and supplies distribution, and environmental concerns.

The main industries in the city are the production of radar electronic equipment and underwater military devices, as well as research and development, and communications. Annapolis is a port of entry and a farm produce shipping center for nearby agricultural areas.

Anne Arundel County's largest employer, the National Security Agency, is a high-technology organization responsible for the collection and processing of foreign signals intelligence and for the communications and computer security of the U.S. government. The county's second largest employer, Fort George G. Meade, has been evolving from a troop training facility into a federal business park for military and civilian tenants.

Tourism is a thriving industry in Annapolis, with many tourists drawn by the city's authentic colonial character and the U.S. Naval Academy. Tourism brings more than $1.4 billion annually into Anne Arundel County, with more than 12,000 people employed in the industry.

Items and goods produced: radar and electronics equipment, undersea warfare equipment, seafood processing, small boats, concrete products, plastic, beverages

Incentive ProgramsNew and Existing Companies

Local programs

The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation (AAEDC) provides loans of up to $300,000 to county-based or new companies seeking a county presence. Loans are made through the Arundel Business Loan Fund in the form of direct loans and Small Business Administration guaranteed loans.

State programs

The Maryland Industrial Development Financing Authority (MIDFA) provides financing assistance for capital assets and working capital to small and mid-sized businesses that demonstrate a significant economic impact. This assistance includes programs that insure loans made by financial institutions up to 80% and not exceeding $2.5 million; taxable bond financing; tax-exempt bond financing for 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations and manufacturing facilities; linked deposits that provide loans below market rates to qualified small businesses in rural areas with high unemployment rates; and trade financing for industrial or commercial businesses that are engaged in the export and import of goods through Maryland ports and airport facilities. Other programs are the Maryland Industrial Land Act, the Community Development Block Grant for Economic Development, and the Economic Development Opportunities Program Fund. The Maryland Small Business Development Financing Authority (MSBDFA) provides financing for small businesses through a variety of programs, including a contract financing program, an equity participation investment program, a long-term guaranty program, and a surety bonding program.

Major incentive programs include Job Creation Tax Credits amounting to the lesser of $1,000 or 2.5 percent of annual wages for each qualifying permanent job, Employment Opportunity Tax Credit, Neighborhood Partnership Program Tax Credit, Research and Development Tax Credit, and Employer Commuter Tax Credit. Some areas of the state are also eligible for Enterprise Zone Tax Credits. The Clean Energy Incentive Act of 2000 also provides a number of tax incentives and exemptions for businesses that purchase products that use less energy and generate less pollution, including solar energy systems, hybrid electric vehicles, and biomass energy fuel sources.

Job training programs

The Office of Business and Industry Training at Anne Arundel Community College offers business training programs in computers, management and leadership, communication, and customer service. The University of Maryland provides training specialists to review, analyze, and recommend safety training programs.

The Maryland Industrial Training Program helps with training for new employees, and Partnership for Workforce Quality targets training grants to firms to improve business competitiveness and worker productivity. The Partnership for Workforce Quality (PWQ) offers skill training grants and support services designed to improve the competitive ability of small and mid-sized manufacturing and technology companies throughout the state. The Maryland Community Colleges' Business Training Network (MCCBTN) serves as a clearinghouse for workforce training at the 16 community colleges serving the state of Maryland. Other programs help employers who wish to establish apprenticeship programs and provide customized technology training.

Development Projects

Major projects in Anne Arundel County underway in early 2005 include Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole, a 33-acre site featuring 650,000 feet of retail space, 90,000 square feet of office space, 900 residential units, and a full-service hotel; the 500,000 square foot Arundel Mills Corporate Park; the 1,622-acre Odenton Town Center; Park Place, an 11-acre development designed to offer 250,000 square feet of office space in two five-story office buildings, plus retail stores, a four-star hotel, a performing arts center, and a concierge condominium complex; and the 100,000 square foot National Business Office Park.

Economic Development Information: Annapolis Economic Development & Public Information Office, 160 Duke of Gloucester St., Annapolis, MD, 21401; telephone (410)263-7940; email [email protected]. Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, 2660 Riva Road, Suite 200, Annapolis, MD 21401; telephone (410)222-7415; email [email protected]

Commercial Shipping

Freight carriage is provided by the Chessie System and the Consolidated Rail Corporation (CONRAIL). More than 100 motor freight common carriers serve Anne Arundel County. The international Port of Baltimore is nearby, providing a 42-foot shipping channel. To take advantage of the channel by bringing its products to the port, Anne Arundel County has invested in the local transportation infrastructure by upgrading and expanding its highway, commuter, and light rail system.

Labor Force and Employment Outlook

Maryland's is among the best educated and highly skilled work forces in the nation. It is projected to grow 14 percent by 2008. More than 82 percent of the Annapolis work force has a high school diploma and 38.7 percent hold a college degree. Anne Arundel County has 223 businesses that employ 100 or more workers.

The following is a summary of annual data regarding the Annapolis/Baltimore metropolitan area labor force as of 2003.

Size of nonagricultural labor force: 1,246,400

Number of workers employed in . . .

construction and mining: 73,700

manufacturing: 80,200

trade, transportation, and utilities: 237,000

information: 20,600

financial activities: 81,800

professional and business services: 172,000

educational and health services: 199,500

leisure and hospitality: 107,100

other services: 55,700

government: 218,900

Average hourly earnings of production workers employed in manufacturing: $15.75 (state of Maryland, 2003 average)

Unemployment rate: 3.7% (December 2004, state of Maryland)

Largest employers (Anne Arundel County)Number of employees
National Security Agency16,000
Ft. Meade14,150
A.A. County Public Schools10,500
State of Maryland9,396
Northrup Grumman ES3/Oceanic7,500
Anne Arundel County3,800
Anne Arundel Health System, Inc.2,432
Southwest Airlines2,425
U.S. Naval Academy2,052
Computer Sciences Corporation1,829

Cost of Living

In 2004 the average cost of a home in Annapolis was $335,746. The following is a summary of data regarding several key cost of living factors for the Annapolis area.

2004 (3rd Quarter) ACCRA Average House Price: Not reported

2004 (3rd Quarter) ACCRA Cost of Living Index: Not reported

State income tax rate: 24.75% (corporate business tax rate, 7%)

State sales tax rate: 5%

Local income tax rate: None

Local sales tax rate: None

Property tax rate: $6.93 per $100 of assessed value (2005)

Economic Information: Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, 49 Old Solomon's Island Road, Suite 204, Annapolis, MD 21401; telephone (410)266-3960; fax (410)266-8270; email [email protected]

Annapolis: Recreation

views updated May 23 2018

Annapolis: Recreation

Sightseeing

Charming Annapolis boasts more surviving colonial buildings than any city in the country, and the entire downtown is a registered National Historic Landmark. More than 60 eighteenth-century structures survive in the Annapolis downtown area. Annapolis is a great city to tour on foot with its unusual street layout in the center citythere are two major circles with streets spoking around them. Sightseers can observe an attractive mix of Colonial, Federal, and Victorian architecture, especially in the National Historic Landmark District. Visitors can also observe the comings and going of yachts at the waterfront.

The focal point of sightseeing in Annapolis is the Maryland State House with its unique narrow dome, which is topped by an unusual tower and observation deck. Built in 1779, it is the oldest capital building in the United States that has been in continuous use. The old Senate Chamber was the site of the meetings of the Continental Congress during 178384 and also functioned as the U.S. capitol. It was here that George Washington resigned his position as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in 1784. Just a few weeks later, the building was the site of the signing of the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War. Tours of the building are offered daily.

From the State House visitors can see the colorful streets featuring houses and shops from different periods and in various styles as they wander down to the riverfront and Market Square, a popular tourist spot. City Dock is the only remaining pre-Revolutionary seaport in the country.

Annapolis provides tours of a number of interesting private residences. The Banneker-Douglass Museum, set in the first African Methodist Episcopal Church of Annapolis, dates from 1803. It houses the Douglass Museum of African American Life and History. The Charles Carroll House, with its terraced gardens, is also open for visitors. It was the home of the only Roman Catholic to sign the Declaration of Independence.

Tours of the Chase-Lloyd House, with its large and magnificent facade, allow visitors to view its prized interior woodwork, furniture from three centuries, and a dramatic arched triple window. The brick Hammond-Harwood House, the Georgian masterpiece work of famed architect William Buckland, contains unique wood-carved trim and an authentic period garden. The William Paca House and Garden was the home of a three-term Maryland Governor and signer of the Declaration of Independence. The Georgian mansion, built in the 1760s, has a carved entrance and formal rooms and stands as another fine example of William Buckland's design skills. Another residence, called The Barracks, is a typical dwelling of a colonial tradesman and is furnished to depict the life of a Revolutionary War soldier.

Tours are available of the magnificent grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy, often referred to as "the Yard," where highlights of the history of the American Navy are represented by statues, artifacts, paintings, and ships. Memorial Hall honors Academy graduates who were killed in action. The Lejeune Physical Education Center contains the Athletic Hall of Fame. Among other highlights of a visit to the academy grounds are the U.S. Naval Academy Museum, the crypt of naval hero John Paul Jones, and the 600-year-old Liberty Tree, the site where in 1652 the early settlers made peace with the local Susquehannock Indians.

Arts and Culture

Annapolis is home to excellent museums and performing arts groups. The Maryland Federation of Art Gallery on the Circle provides juried exhibitions by regional artists. The Mitchell Art Gallery at St. John's College features art shows, gallery talks, and tours.

Local residents and visitors enjoy performances by the Annapolis Chorale, a 150-member chorus; the Annapolis Opera, which presents one full opera each year plus special events such as vocal competitions and children's operas; the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, which features a family series, a classic series, and a pops series, plus an annual gala event, the Black and White Ball; and the Annapolis Brass Quintet. The Ballet Theatre of Maryland, the state's largest professional ballet company, offers a mix of classical and modern ballet. Patrons can take a variety of classes from pottery to puppetry at the Maryland Hall for Creative Arts. Other local arts groups include the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, featuring Broadway and Shakespearean productions; the Chesapeake Music Hall, a dinner theater; the Colonial Players of Annapolis theater group; the Talent Machine Company, a children's theater group; and Them Eastport Oyster Boys, who provide a comical musical history of the area.

Festivals and Holidays

September brings The Anne Arundel County Fair and the Maryland Seafood Festival, both of which provide many opportunities for food and fun. October's highlights are the U.S. Sailboat Show and Powerboat Show and the Scottish Highland Games, which feature piping, fiddling, and physical fitness competitions. Candlelight tours through historic homes and public buildings and the Lights on the Bay holiday displays herald the arrival of the holiday season. December features include the Lights Parade of decorated sailboats and First Night Annapolis, a New Year's Eve celebration of jugglers, dancers, and choirs. January is enlivened by the Annapolis Heritage Antique Show. The City Dock is the site of April's Spring Boat Show, while May offers the Waterfront Arts Festival and the Children's Fair.

Summer activities include June's Annapolis JazzFest and the Star-Spangled Celebration and Fourth of July fireworks. August's Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival at St. John's College commemorates the landing of the ancestors of Alex Haley, the author of Roots, the book and television series that tell the story of Haley's family who were slaves in America. Also in August, the Annapolis Rotary Club Crab Feast is the world's largest event of its kind. The Maryland Renaissance Festival takes place in an English village setting with ten stages and a jousting arena and continues through October.

Sports for the Spectator

Annapolis calls itself the Sailing Capital of the World. Sailboat racing is a popular sport and enthusiastic fans can watch water events such as regattas, boat festivals, and races. The Chesapeake Bay Yacht Racing Association provides information on the racing scene. March brings the Marlborough Hunt Races in which horses race around a three-mile track. Sports fans also enjoy athletic events at the U.S. Naval Academy including football, basketball, and lacrosse contests as well as women's basketball.

Sports for the Participant

Annapolis provides endless opportunities for yachting and water sports. The Annapolis Department of Recreation and Parks maintains more than 15 neighborhood parks on 96 acres, including street-end or "pocket" parks; they have basketball courts, ball fields, tennis courts, playgrounds, and boating facilities. The department offers a variety of programs including athletic tournaments, arts and crafts, and fun runs. Truxton park offers outdoor activities on 70 acres, including 12 tennis courts, 5 basketball courts, 3 outdoor playing fields, and 1 multi-purpose facility. The public may also use recreational facilities at public schools in Anne Arundel County for sports and leisure activities. The Arundel Olympic Swim Center has a 50-meter pool, wading pool, poolside spa, and diving boards. Residents can also enjoy the county's parks, sports leagues, fitness and self-defense classes, and other activities.

Shopping and Dining

The city is served by Annapolis Mall, also known as Westfield Shoppingtown, which features more than 175 specialty stores and restaurants, including Nordstrom, JC Penney, Lord and Taylor, and Hecht's. Other malls include the Annapolis Harbour Shopping Center, boasting more than 290,000 square feet of retail space, and Harbor Square Mall. The city's downtown has a variety of exclusive gift and specialty shops, galleries, antique shops, and jewelry stores. The city is also served by the Colonial Parole, Eastport, and Forest Plaza shopping areas.

Annapolis has a fine array of restaurants. Although many of them specialize in seafood, there are also Mexican, French, Mediterranean, Chinese, Italian, Irish, and Japanese dining spots to enjoy. The Treaty of Paris Restaurant offers fine dining in a lovely eighteenth-century dining room. The 49 West Cafe is a European-style café providing light gourmet fare in a relaxed atmosphere filled with art, music, books, and newspapers.

Visitor Information: Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Conference & Visitors Bureau, 26 West St., Annapolis, MD 21401; telephone (410)280-0445; email [email protected]

Annapolis: History

views updated May 14 2018

Annapolis: History

Early settlement

Before white settlers arrived in Maryland, the Algonquin and other Native American tribes occupied the region. By the time Annapolis was settled in 1649, the Algonquins were gone from the area, forced out by raiding parties of the Susquehannock tribe.

The original white settlement of the area near Annapolis was at Greenbury Point, although the land is now mostly covered by the Severn River. In the middle of the seventeenth century, Puritans living in Virginia were threatened with severe punishments by the Anglican Royal Governor if they did not conform to the worship of the Anglican church. Then Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore, offered the Pilgrims generous land grants, freedom of worship, and trading privileges if they agreed to move to Maryland, which he wanted to have settled. In 1649 they started a community on a site at the mouth of the Severn River on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay.

The Puritans named their new settlement Providence. In 1650, Lord Baltimore, the overseer of the colony, granted a charter to the county that surrounded Providence. He named it Anne Arundel County after his beloved wife, Anne Arundel, who had died shortly before at the age of thirty-four. But the Puritans refused to sign an oath of allegiance to Lord Baltimore, in part because he was a Roman Catholic. In 1655 he sent the St. Mary's militia, headed by Governor William Stone, to force the Puritans into submission. A battle between the two groups took place on March 25, 1655. The Puritans won the conflict, which was the first battle between Englishmen on the North American continent. Eventually, Maryland became a royal colony. The capital was moved further north in 1694 to the site of present-day Annapolis. By that time, for reasons unknown, the Puritan settlement of Providence had all but disappeared.

Development of Annapolis

Over time a small community began to develop on the peninsula that is the site of present-day Annapolis. It was known as Anne Arundel Town, taking its name from the county. The settlement grew and by the late 1600s the population of the province had reached nearly 25,000 residents. People started to object that the then-capital, St. Mary's, was too far away from where the majority of the people lived.

Royal Governor Francis Nicholson decided a more centrally located capital was needed and chose the site of what is now Annapolis. He named the new capital Annapolis in honor of Princess Anne, who became queen of England in 1702. It was Nicholson who determined that the city be built on a grand baroque street plan much like the great capitals of Europe. Streets were designed to radiate from a circle that was to contain the capitol. In a second circle was built an Anglican church. Residential areas were built for the prosperous families, for artisans, and for working men and their families. In 1696, Nicholson granted a charter to King William's School, which was built in Annapolis's center.

During the second half of the seventeenth century, the people of colonial Anne Arundel County had violent encounters with the Algonquins and other tribes along the shores of the Magothy River. The Indians staged raids there to try to protect their tribe and their lands from colonists, who often used devious methods to take advantage of them. Eventually the colonists won out.

Annapolis Prospers

In time Annapolis became the political, social, cultural, and economic hub of Maryland. The city gained its charter in 1708. Annapolis and Anne Arundel County continued to grow into a major shipping port. By the last third of the 1700s, the only town in Maryland to rival Annapolis as a shipping center was Baltimore.

Those were prosperous times for some. With the help of the fertile soil and a slave economy, plantation owners and wealthier citizens were able to furnish their houses with luxury items from Europe. Young ladies and gentlemen wore elegant clothing and attended fancy balls at various large homes.

During the years shortly before the start of the Revolutionary War, and even during wartime, citizens of Annapolis enjoyed racing, dancing, and gambling. Luckily for Annapolitans, the Revolutionary War and the wars of the nineteenth century bypassed the area. During the war's later years, French volunteer Marquis de Lafayette helped enliven the city's social scene.

Site of Annapolis Convention

From 1783 to August 1784, Annapolis served as the United State's first peacetime national capital. There in 1783 General George Washington resigned from the Continental Army. The next year, the Treaty of Paris ending the American Revolution was ratified there. In 1786 the city served as the seat of the Annapolis Convention, at which delegates from five states met to discuss proposed changes to the Articles of Confederation by which the country was then run.

During this period slavery played a large role in the economy. Alex Haley, the late author of the world-famous account of his family entitled Roots, was able to trace back the arrival of his ancestors, who had been kidnapped from Africa, to the Annapolis City Dock. Although Maryland was formally a slave state, many of its citizens opposed the institution. Archaeologists have found that there was a large, free African American population in the area before the Civil War.

From Post-Revolution to Civil War Times

After the Revolutionary War, Baltimore forged ahead of Annapolis as a center of commerce. However, in 1808, Fort Severn was built on Windmill Point to prevent the British from attacking Annapolis during the War of 1812. (Soldiers inhabited the fort until 1845. Then the post was transferred to the U.S. Navy, becoming the U.S. Naval Academy in 1850.)

As early as 1800 Annapolis had developed into a city of stately residences and public buildings patterned on those in London, England. Members of local high society enjoyed such diversions as fox hunts and racing meets. During the Civil War years most Annapolitans sympathized with the South but did not engage in acts of violence. At that time, facilities at the Naval Academy and St. John's College were used to house injured soldiers.

Agriculture and Tourism

Until well into the nineteenth century, Anne Arundel County remained agrarian, with tobacco the main crop. Other important crops were wheat, corn, and fruit. Seafoods such as oysters and crab were also a mainstay of the local diet. The addition of steamboats to the local scene after the Civil War brought many visitors to the area, as vacationers fled to the shore to leave behind the heat of the larger cities. This prompted the growth of resorts, beaches, yacht clubs, and summer communities.

In the 1880s the railroad brought a period of development in the area. By 1890 the population of the city had reached 7,604 people. Crops were shipped to markets in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and beyond.

The City in the Twentieth Century

During the twentieth century, the area continued to develop, due to such factors as the growth of the state government, the presence of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard facilities, the completion of a bridge to the Delmarva peninsula, and the development of Baltimore-Washington International Airport. The population grew from 7,657 people in 1900 to 10,047 people by 1950.

Today, Annapolis remains a thriving naval and government center. It has enjoyed the benefits of having its own developing local high-tech firms, while also serving as a commuter community for nearby Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.

Historical Information: Maryland Historical Society, PO Box 385, 7101 Aviation Boulevard, Linthicum, MD 21090-0385; telephone (410)685-3750. Anne Arundel County Historical Society, telephone (410)768-9518; email [email protected]

Annapolis: Education and Research

views updated Jun 11 2018

Annapolis: Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

Annapolis students attend the Anne Arundel County Public Schools, ranked in 2005 as the 41st largest school system in the United States and the 5th largest school system in Maryland. In addition to basic academic subjects, the school system offers classes in computer education, music, art, health, physical education, foreign languages, library media, and technology. It also boasts a special gifted and talented program.

The following is a summary of data regarding the Annapolis public school system as of the 20042005 school year.

Total enrollment: 75,000

Number of facilities

elementary schools: 77

middle schools/combined: 19

senior high schools: 12

other: 12

Student/teacher ratio: 16.6:1

Teacher salaries

minimum: $34,691

maximum: $73,525

Funding per pupil: $7,793 (2002-03)

The city is also served by two private schools and one parochial school.

Public Schools Information: Anne Arundel County Public Schools, 2644 Riva Rd., Annapolis, MD 21401; telephone (410)222-5000

Colleges and Universities

Annapolis is home to St. John's College, the third oldest college in the nation. The co-educational, four-year liberal arts institution, with a 1:8 faculty-student ratio, has an enrollment of about 1,000, and offers bachelor and master of arts degrees. It has a second campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Rather than employing typical college classes and lectures, St. John's instructors teach primarily by way of seminars, tutorials, and laboratories. St. John's students follow a curriculum that is based on in-depth reading of the major works of European thought.

Annapolis is also served by the University of Maryland's University College, which provides undergraduate and graduate courses at its Annapolis Center. In addition, Anne Arundel Community College, a public two-year college, enrolls more than 14,400 students at its two campuses near Annapolis.

The United States Naval Academy in downtown Annapolis, founded in 1845, provides undergraduate education for the members of the U.S. Navy. On its more than 338-acre campus, the institution enrolls more than 4,000 students from every state and several foreign countries. The academy offers a core curriculum of required courses as well as a choice of 18 major fields of study. The Brigade of Midshipmen, as the student body is known, undergoes a rigorous academic program and intense physical training to prepare them for being commissioned as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps.

Libraries and Research Centers

The Anne Arundel County Public Library, founded in 1921, has its headquarters in Annapolis. Its 15 countywide library branches contain more than one million items, and the staff responds to more than 300,000 inquiries annually. In addition to popular materials and information services, the library provides storytime programs, special business and health collections, a bookmobile, and services for disabled persons and adult new readers. Public Internet access is available at all branches.

The U.S. Naval Academy's Nimitz Library houses more than 413,000 books in its general collections and some 27,000 books in special collections that focus on naval history, naval and military science, and science and technology. The U.S. Navy Library, with 12,000 volumes, focuses on energy research and materials and environmental control.

Other libraries in the city include the Maryland State Archives Library, the Maryland State Law Library, the Maryland Department of Legislative Services Library, St. John's College Library, the Anne Arundel Medical Center Library, the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Analytical Services Library, and The Capital Newspaper Library.

A number of research institutes make their home in Annapolis. The Historic Annapolis Foundation Research Center has special subject interests in architecture, city planning, urban design, and local and state history. The ITT Research Institute Technical Information Services concentrates on communications and electronics equipment areas. The Center for Public Justice offers public policy research from a Christian perspective, while the Environmental Research Foundation examines toxic, hazardous, and solid waste problems.

Public Library Information: Anne Arundel County Public Library, 5 Harry S Truman Pkwy., Annapolis, MD 21401; telephone (410)222-7371

Annapolis: Communications

views updated Jun 11 2018

Annapolis: Communications

Newspapers and Magazines

The Capital is Annapolis's daily paper. Publick Enterprise is the local twice-monthly community newspaper, and the

Maryland Farmer is an area agricultural newspaper. The city's local magazine is called Inside Annapolis.

Other locally published magazines include Chesapeake Bay Magazine, a boating publication; Chesapeake Family, a consumer parenting magazine; the Maryland Register, which focuses on public administration and law; Municipal Maryland, a publication of the Maryland Municipal League aimed at elected and appointed Maryland city officials; the Naval Institute's Proceedings, a magazine on naval and maritime news; and alumni magazines of the local colleges.

Television and Radio

The city is served by seven commercial television stations and one public station from metropolitan Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Annapolis area radio stations include FM stations WHFS, an alternative/modern rock station and WFSI, a religious station, and AM stations WNAV, an adult contemporary station and WBIS, a business news station. The U.S. Naval Academy broadcasts on station WRNV, while Anne Arundel Community College is served by station WACC.

Media Information: Capital Gazette Newspapers, 2000 Capital Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401; telephone (410)268-5000

Annapolis Online

Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce. Available www.annapolischamber.com

Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Conference & Visitors Bureau. Available www.visitannapolis.org

Anne Arundel County Public Library. Available www.aacpl.lib.md.us

Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation. Available www.aaedc.org

Anne Arundel Medical Center. Available www.aahealthsystem.org

The Capital newspaper. Available www.capitalonline.com

City of Annapolis. Available www.ci.annapolis.md.us

Selected Bibliography

Martin, William, Annapolis (New York, NY: Warner Books, 1997)

Risjord, Norman K., Builders of Annapolis: Character and Enterprise in a Colonial Capital (Baltimore: Maryland Historical Society, 1997)

Annapolis: Population Profile

views updated May 23 2018

Annapolis: Population Profile

Metropolitan Area Population (CMSA)

1990: 6,727,050

2000: 7,608,070

Percent change, 19902000: 13.1%

U.S. rank in 1980: 4th (CMSA)

U.S. rank in 1990: 4th (CMSA)

U.S. rank in 2000: 4th (CMSA)

City Residents

1980: 31,740

1990: 33,195

2000: 35,876

2003 estimate: 36,178

Percent change, 19902000: 10.2%

U.S. rank in 2000: 878th (State rank: 15th, in 2002)

Density: 5,326 people per square mile (in 2000)

Racial and ethnic characteristics (2000)

White: 22,457

Black or African American: 11,267

American Indian and Alaska Native: 60

Asian: 650

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 11

Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 2301

Other: 796

Percent of residents born in state: 50.6% (2000)

Age characteristics (2000)

Poplation under 5 years old: 2,385

Poplation 5 to 9 years old: 2,160

Poplation 10 to 14 years old: 2,005

Poplation 15 to 19 years old: 2,102

Poplation 20 to 24 years old: 2,455

Poplation 25 to 34 years old: 6,352

Poplation 35 to 44 years old: 5,620

Poplation 45 to 54 years old: 5,137

Poplation 55 to 59 years old: 1,907

Poplation 60 to 64 years old: 1,439

Poplation 65 to 74 years old: 2,241

Poplation 75 to 84 years old: 1,564

Population 85 years and over: 471

Median age: 35.7 years

Births (Anne Arundel County, 2003)

Total number: 6,913

Deaths (Anne Arundel County, 2003)

Total number: 3,567 (of which, 56 were infants under the age of 1 year)

Money income (1999)

Per capita income: $27,180

Median household income: $49,243

Total households: 15,231

Number of households with income of . . .

less than $10,000: 1,405

$10,000 to $14,999: 652

$15,000 to $24,999: 1,716

$25,000 to $34,999: 1,636

$35,000 to $49,999: 2,330

$50,000 to $74,999: 3,051

$75,000 to $99,999: 1,937

$100,000 to $149,999: 1,508

$150,000 to 199,999: 518

$200,000 or more: 478

Percent of families below poverty level: 9.59% (41.6% of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 2,330

Annapolis

views updated May 21 2018

Annapolis

Annapolis: Introduction
Annapolis: Geography and Climate
Annapolis: History
Annapolis: Population Profile
Annapolis: Municipal Government
Annapolis: Economy
Annapolis: Education and Research
Annapolis: Health Care
Annapolis: Recreation
Annapolis: Convention Facilities
Annapolis: Transportation
Annapolis: Communications

The City in Brief

Founded: 1649 (chartered 1708)

Head Official: Mayor Ellen O. Moyer (D) (since 2001)

City Population

1980: 31,740

1990: 33,195

2000: 35,876

2003 estimate: 36,178

Percent change, 19902000: 10.2%

U.S. rank in 2000: 878th (State rank: 15th, in 2002)

Metropolitan Area Population (CMSA)

1990: 6,727,050

2000: 7,608,070

Percent change, 19902000: 13.1%

U.S. rank in 1980: 4th

U.S. rank in 1990: 4th

U.S. rank in 2000: 4th

Area: 7.2 square miles (2004)

Elevation: 92 feet above sea level

Average Temperatures: January, 35.5° F; July, 85.2° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 39.03 inches of rain; 14.4 inches of snow

Major Economic Sectors: Services, trade, government, technology

Unemployment rate: 3.7% (State of Maryland, December, 2004)

Per Capita Income: $27,180 (1999)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 2,330

Major Colleges and Universities: U.S. Naval Academy, Saint John's College, Anne Arundel Community College

Daily Newspaper: The Capital

Annapolis: Transportation

views updated Jun 27 2018

Annapolis: Transportation

Approaching the City

Major highways to Annapolis include U.S. 50/301 (I-595) and Maryland Route 2/170/450. U.S. 50/301 passes on the city's west side and continues eastward over the Bay Bridge. Coming from the north, I-97 exits onto Route 50/301 just west of the city. Coming from the South, Maryland Route 2 enters the city in the Parole area, and U.S. Route 301 comes northward and joins U.S. Route 50 west of the city.

The closest major airport to Annapolis is Baltimore-Washington International, about 20 miles northwest of downtown, which has 18 scheduled carriers. Air travelers can proceed from the airport to Annapolis via Light Rail, passenger trains, limo, van, or taxi service.

The Maryland Mass Transit Administration (MTA) operates several bus routes and light rail to Washington and nearby suburbs. Carolina Trailways operates limited bus service through nearby Baltimore and Glen Burnie, and Greyhound also provides bus service. Amtrak offers rail service to Baltimore's Penn Station, and Union Station in Washington, D.C.

Traveling in the City

Annapolis's main east-west thoroughfare is West Street, also known as Route 50. Radiating northwest and southeast from downtown's Church Circle is Duke of Gloucester Street. College Avenue runs northeast from the circle.

Annapolis Transit has five bus routes that serve more than 180 stops throughout the city and the Eastern Shore area, including stops at Annapolis Mall, Anne Arundel Medical Center, and many area hotels. There are also commuter shuttles from downtown to nearby Kent Island and to the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Gasoline-powered trolleys run within the central business district. Several taxi and limousine companies also serve the city. Local waterways are served by the Jiffy Water Taxi, which can be picked up at the water-front. Bicycles are a welcomed form of transportation in Annapolis. The city offers several designated bike routes that use a combination of grade-separated trails and city streets. Most city buses have bike racks. Helmet use is encouraged for bicycle riders in the city, and visitors to the U.S. Naval Academy are required to wear helmets there.

Annapolis: Geography and Climate

views updated May 23 2018

Annapolis: Geography and Climate

Annapolis is located in central Maryland on the south bank of the Severn River, near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. It is 27 miles south-southeast of Baltimore and 27 miles east of Washington, D.C. The lowest land in Annapolis is near sea level at the City Dock, and the level climbs to 92 feet between Bay Ridge Avenue and Forest Drive. Excluding the U.S. Naval Academy, the city has 17 miles of waterfront.

Annapolis has a temperate mid-latitude climate with warm, humid summers and mild winters. The weather during spring and autumn is generally pleasant. There are no pronounced wet and dry seasons, but summer often bring sudden heavy showers, damaging winds, and lightning. Breezes from the Chesapeake Bay and nearby creeks moderate the city's temperature. Regional rainfall averages slightly more than 39 inches annually, while snowfall averages below 15 inches per year.

Area: 7.2 square miles (2004))

Elevation: 92 feet above sea level

Average Temperatures: January, 35.5° F; July, 85.2° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 39.03 inches of rain; 14.4 inches of snow

Annapolis: Health Care

views updated Jun 27 2018

Annapolis: Health Care

Annapolis is served by the city's Anne Arundel Medical Center, which treats patients at its location at the Carl A. Brunetto Medical Park. The Medical Center, which provides 303 beds, served more than 22,100 patients in the year ending June 30, 2004. The Clatanoff Pavilion offers a variety of women's health care services, including obstetrics and gynecology services, maternity suites, and a critical care nursery; more than 4,600 babies are delivered there each year. The Donner Pavilion houses the DeCesaris Cancer Institute, a state-of-the-art cancer treatment center. Patients needing same-day surgery are treated at the Edwards Surgical Pavilion, where more than 600 surgeries are performed every month. The Sajak Pavilion includes the hospital's Breast Center, focusing on the needs of breast cancer patients, as well as other medical and administrative offices such as Anne Arundel Diagnostics, the Diabetes Center, and the AAMC Foundation. The Medical Park also makes available critical care treatment, outpatient surgery, and health education.

Health Care Information: Anne Arundel Medical Center, 2001 Medical Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21404; telephone (443)481-4700; email [email protected]

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